VETERINARY MEDICINE. 385 



Ing these 8 or 9 months it is necessary for the inspector to be present at each 

 dipping and supervise the mixing of the dipping fluid in person." In order 

 to prevent the entrance of infested Mexican live stoclc, a stock-proof fence is 

 being erected along the international line. 



"As a result of 4 years' work by the Bureau and state officials, California 

 has only 9,315 square miles, instead of 69,755 square miles, of territory in 

 quarantine for Texas-fever ticks. Of this area remaining in quarantine a large 

 percentage is at present tick free and should soon be in a condition to be re- 

 leased. Of the original 153,476 cattle infested there remain under local 

 quarantine 41,906. This number includes all herds on which the slightest in- 

 festation has been found in 1910, and many of these will no doubt be free 

 with the close of this season's work. Half of this number are on one large 

 ranch where eradication work has been slow on account of its size, the rough- 

 ness of the range, and lack of cooperation from the owner. 



" Prior to the inauguration of tick eradication in California condemnations 

 for Texas fever were numerous in the abattoirs having federal inspection. 

 During the past 2 years not a single condemnation for this disease has occurred 

 in Los Angeles, where the majority of the cattle from the quarantined area are 

 slaughtered. In the past year deaths from Texas fever on the ranges, where 

 some years back losses annually reached into the thousands of head, have 

 been so few as to be hardly worthy of notice. Our experience has proved that 

 tick eradication is not only possible but with stringent laws and proper methods 

 is very practicable. When attained it returns to the individual owner and the 

 cattle industry at large many times more than the cost of its accomplishment." 



Woody aster (Xylorrhiza parryi), O. L. Pbien and L. C. Raiford (Wyom- 

 ing Sta. Bui. 88, pp. 3-20, figs. 4). — This bulletin records information collected 

 which indicates that the woody aster is the cause of serious loss of sheep in 

 Wyoming. This plant grows only on alkalied gumbo-clay soils and, except for 

 one recorded season, is always heavily infested with a fungus (Puccvnia 

 xylorrhizce) which may add to the poisonous character of the plant. 



Aster poisoning i« characterized by lassitude, difficult respiration, muscular 

 weakness, bloat, and final prostration. From 90 to 100 per cent of the animals 

 affected die. The duration of the illness is from a few hours to several days. 

 Gastro-enteritis results from fermentation of ingesta acting an an irritant; a 

 general passive congestion is due to weak and impeded heart action, and in part 

 by reason of diaphragmatic pressure on the lungs produced by tympany. There 

 Is an albuminoid degeneration of the liver and kidneys due to the precipitation 

 of proteids by a toxin or toxins. The treatment is purely symptomatic and is 

 not uniformly successful. It consists in the administration of stimulants in 

 small doses, carminatives, and antiferments. 



The results of feeding-pen experiments are reported as follows : " Although 

 purged, and fasted for a day, before placing in the feeding pens, the sheep 

 persistently refrained from eating the growing plant other than in a few in- 

 stances. After nibbling of it slightly they would exhibit considerable lassitude 

 and dejection and thereafter avoid it entirely. A young ewe, taken from the 

 reserve and penned May 22, ate of the aster somewhat on May 23 and again 

 on May 24 and on the morning of May 25 was found dead. An old wether, 

 placed in the feeding pen May 31, after the usual preparation, avoided eating 

 the plant for a time, but finally ate of it freely, dying June 2. . . . 



"A young ewe and an old wether, both freshly penned June 11, were given 

 small amounts of the dried plant on June 15. They were allowed to eat as 

 freely of it as they wished on June 16 and 17 and they did seem to relish it 

 more than had been the cage with the growing plant. On June 17 the young 



