The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-25

Chicago. by w. J. Davis Co. JacksO

ment of agriculture, having the interest
of all the people of the nation in mind,
felt that it was a sheer waste of so much
money to permit this insect to prey upon
the cattle owner In 1906 Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 for the purpose of CO.
operating with the respective states in
tick determination. A total of more than
100000 square miles. or nearly one-third
of the original tick infested area has
been absolutely freed of the parasite and
released from quarantine. The work is
making greater progress year by year, so
that it is expected that a compare
lively few years the whole southern ter
ritory of the United States will be free
from this costly pest.
The success of the work depends upon
the cooperation of the people, and it is
believed that the people are cooperating
in this work as well as in any public
work that is being conducted.
In the territory under the supervision
of the Birmingham office, comprising the
states of Alabama. Mississippi and Ten
nessee, there We're in operation during
1913 more than 1900 concrete dipping watts,
constructed not by the government, or the
state, or the counties, but by the people
themselves In these vats We're dipped
twice every month approximately 100000
head of cattle. There We're dipped during
the season of 1913 a total of nearly 4000,-
poisonous drug and when quantities Of
the arcenical solution is consumed by
cattle it will kill them. the number of
fatalities is infnitesimal 1t Is recon-
mended in all instances that the owners
or care takers of the cattle water them
before driving them through the dipping
vat The owners who object to the dip
ping of their cattle in 'arsenical solution
are quickly convinced by observing the
effect of it upon their neishbors stock.
1t not only destroys the tick, but lice.
1t reduces the number of flies, stimulates
the hide, produces a luxurious growth of
hair which produces a sheen that marks
dipped cattle so that they are easily iden-
titled from those which have not been
afforded the sanitary toilet Owners of
work oxen are reluctant to dip them at
first because of fear of not being able to
drive them over the roads after the i'm
merson. Their fears are quickly elm
mated after a few demonstrations and
owners report that their oxen are not in
Jured, but greatly benefited, that yoke
sores and harness gals are quickly
healed and this is readily accounted for.
as the arsenic is one of the best blood
purifiers.
Always Becomes Booster
Every user of the dipping vat and ar
senical solution is a promoter of tick
spreads from county to county. The
county authorities are not asked to en-
force rigid regulations and compulsory
dipping. The state sanitary board and
the government in corporation ask the
authorities of the respective counties to
provide a few dipping watts for demon
stration purposes with the assurance
that for each vat built sentiment for 9TH
ers is quickly created until the county
is fully provided with them. Then the
regulations which are absolutely neces-
sary for the complete tick eradication
are adopted. and these regulations pro-
vide that cattle Shall be dipped regularly
and systematically under supervision
every two weeks until ticks have been ex-
terminated.
With 10 years experience the sanitary
boards and the bureau of animal industry
are absolutely certain that ticks can be
eradicated from any farm, any field any
county, or any state. providing the people
viii cooperate to the extent of dipping,
their cattle regularly every two weeks
from early spring until fall.
The bureau of animal industry, which
was established in 1884, supervises the ex-
termination of all disea ses of live stock.
and also has charge of the federal meat
inspection work.
This bureau successfully eradicated two
outbreaks of contagious foot-and mouth
disease which was introduced into this
country in 1902 and 1908 respectively. This
is a very contagious disease, which now
prevails in the British isles and d large
number of the continental countries OF
Europe. If the nation had not been
equipped with efficient corps of ex-
perts to attack this disease at it's outset,
It is very doubtful II II could have ever
been even held under control If 1t had
reached the vast cattle raising section of
the west
The same bureau. in the department of
agriculture, succeeded in discriminating
Q very threatening outbreak of pleuro-