136 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



TICK ERADICATION DIVISION. 



Further progress Avas made in the work conducted by the Tick 

 Eradication Division, under Dr. R. A. Ramsa}-, chief, for the suppres- 

 sion of Texas or tick fever of cattle and the eradication of the ticks 

 which transmit this disease. 



TICK ERADICATION. 



As a result of the work done in cooperation with the authorities of 

 various Southern States for the extermination of the cattle ticks, 

 areas aggregating 29,563 square miles were released from quarantine 

 during the fiscal year. This action makes available 42 additional 

 counties and- 7 parts of counties into which better-bred cattle from 

 tick- free States may be taken without danger of loss from tick fever. 

 The result, as shovrn in areas previously freed of ticks, is an increase 

 in meat and dairy products and an improvement in grade of cattle 

 hides to a degree which renders them from 20 to 50 per cent more 

 valuable. 



The total area released from quarantine since the beginning of 

 this work, in 190G, and remaining free at the close of the fiscal year, 

 amounts to 523,837 square miles, or close to 72 per cent of the 729,852 

 square miles originally infested. 



The following table shoAvs, by States, the territory released during 

 the last fiscal year : 



Areas released from qvarantine as a result of eradicating cattle ticks, fiscal year 



1922. 



The continued presence and spread of ticks in certain areas that 

 had previously been released from quarantine made it necessary to 

 requarantine some counties and parts of counties in order to protect 

 tick-free areas in adjacent counties and States from reinfestation. 

 This condition arose from the failure of local officials, because of 

 lack of funds, to maintain quarantine over the few remaining tick- 

 infested herds and to complete the eradication of ticks in the re- 

 leased areas. In nearly every case, however, the requarantine has 

 had the desired effect, and ways and means have been found by local 

 officers and cattle owners to finish the work. 



During the year 48,089,005 inspections or dippings were made of 

 cattle for the eradication of ticks, as compared with 34,935,635 in the 

 preceding ;fear. There were in operation 31,148 cattle-dipping vats 

 where cattle were dipped under Federal or State inspection to rid 

 them of ticks. As an indication that the dipping of cattle is not 

 attended by any great loss or danger, it may be stated that the 

 fatalities from dipping were only 7 per million cattle dipped and 

 handled, besides which only 5 per million were injured. 



