Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1914-04-11
TICK FEVER AREA
GREATLY REDUCED
1HE CONVENIENT CAMPAIGN
AGAINST PARASITE SHOW.
ING MiRkED RE-l'LTs


descrihcd IN bulletin Just issued
by The United States Department Of
Agriculture This disease aas ey-
isied Tor many years in The southern
part Of the niied state. ana be-.
sides causing heavy losses has stood
in the way o. raising better cattle
IN that section. Seven year ago
the Government. In cooperation with
some ~ the StateH. began sygtema-
ne campaign 20 eYtermiuate the tick.
and up 10 this time more than one
lourih Of the territory originally In
ircird has been cleared Of ticks
ne name Texas fever although
the term most commonly IN use 10
this country, b. eomoWhat misleading
a. " Is likely 10 give The impression
That the disease d. confined 10 the
State 81 Toxas. Probably The most
appropriate name ~ "tlck fever.
Among other names IN ne are south
rrn cattle fever. red water. black
wafer, disiemper. acclimaii0n fever.
murraln. splenic or splenctic fever.
hNH HbflH' iNdidilds
The disease va probably lntroduc-
ed with the imporlaiions Of cattle by
The Spanlarda during the early colo
nilaiiOn ~ Mexico and southern
United Statef II cuused continual
losses year after year during the
early hiator yof this country. Eyper-
fence showed that the inyariable re-
suit Of The tran poriatlon ~ sou d.
'rn cattle into the Northern States
was the death OF all northern cattle
along the roads and on the pastures
over which the southern cattle had
Travelled. although the latter animals
remained perfectly healthy. In the
same way northern cattle taken south
almois Invariably Wucumhod 10 the
malady.
For a long time Tho cause ~ Tex.
az i'yer remained mystery but this
vas cleared 40 hy investigation of
scientists Ia the bureau of Animal
Industry about 1890. This work
showed conclusyely that the disease
Is caused by q minute parasite liv-
iur within the blood cells OF The
cattle, and that the intermediate
stage Of development OF this para
site occurs In certain species of
cattle lick fMargaropus annulatusl
thus making this tick the Indirect hut
absolutely essential factor In the ma
tural productions ~ the disease This
discovery established new prlnci-
pal in medical science which has
since been found 10 apply to num-
Der Of diseases transmitted by in
scots. notably yellow fever aud ma
laria which are carried by certain
kinds OF mosquitoes
After the mhutc Tevas-fovor pa.
rasiie eIs'<rs'eSNsblosd ora suarepti.
BILE animal by means OF the bite Of
the tick. II attacks the red corpus
cles. causing them to break down
The disease ig characterized bv high
fever. destruction OF red corpuscles
and conseuuent passing OF coloring
matter OF he blood by the Kidneys.
causing a reddish di4cOloralion OF
the urine by enlarged spleen. en-
Rorged liver more or less iaundice.
and emariaiion. Death follows In
from 10 per cent OF tho chronic to
30 per cent OF the acute cases
4 popularity OF the dioases Is
that the animals responsible for its
spread do not show outward signs OF
the disease. although they do con-
tain the parasite In their blood. This
Is because they have become immune
throught infection early in life. with
perhaps a mild attack at the disease
Although such cattle may be- appar-
emily healthy. the parasites persist
In their blood for many years. ready
~ any time 10 start the disease when
hey are transferred 20 susceptible
cattle by ticks. This phase OF the.
disease has made Il hard for many
southern cattle owners 10 understand
why their animals. which seem 20 he
perfectly healthy. should be- regard
ed as dangerous 90 others aud sub
lec to quarantine. Cattle OF this
Kind are somewhat similar TO the
class OF typhoid carriers known as
Typhoid Marys'. So called after the
famous case ~ cook In a New York
restaurant, Nho. after recovering
from typhoid fever aud apparently
regaining perfect health, continued
to harbor and distribute the germs
OF typhoid fever and was the source
of Is other known cases.
Texas fever appears In two distinct
types. the acute and the chronic. de-
pending upon the time OF the year
and the susceptibility OF the animals
In the acute form the temperature
rises 20 lOf degrees or los degrees
T. within 20 or Is hours and Il g.
evident thar the animal Is affected
with severe malady Death NAV
occur within three or four DAYS. or
the animal may recover. but recovery
g. usually slow The chronic form
Is mildcr. and while the animal may
become greatly omaciated, death Is
infrcquent.
Since Texas fever Is spread only
through the bite OF the cattle itch.
4, follows that by eXterminating the
ticks the disease can be- eradicatcd
\ KNOWLEDGE OF the habits and life
history OF The ticks Is therefore 81
sential 10 the control OF the disease
When the mature female tick. at
tached 10 an animal and enEorged
with blood is ready 10 lay eggs. she
loosens her hold and drops 20 the
ground. She may liz quietly TOR sey-
eral days before depositing her eggs.
which may consume from four TO
eight days IN summer and two weeks
or even LONGER IN the fall. The num-
Der OF eggs aid by a fully develop
ed female varies from 800 20 2 goo
After laying is finished the female
Is small aud ihriveled up. and having
fulfilled her mission. soon dies From
tho eggs the larvae or seed ticks are
Matched after a period which varies
rim - haN. 10 & mil. nnnonIlnn