VETERINARY SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. 191 



From various parts of the State reports were received of a skin dis- 

 ease, identified as Texas itch, caused by the mite Psoroptes communis 

 bovis. In the outbreaks observed the mite was introduced on cattle 

 from the ranges of the South and West. The disease spreads rapidly 

 through a bunch of cattle, apparently by contact of the diseased and 

 healthy animals, and indirectly by posts, feed-racks, etc. As remedies, 

 emulsions of creolin and zenoleum (the latter in the proportion of 1 to 3 

 and applied with sponges, cloths, andscrubbing brushes) gave the best 

 results. The cost is 2 to 3 cts. per head. The lime-sulphur remedy is 

 also recommended. 



In opposition to the usual statement that blackleg is more prevalent 

 in low and wet lands, the fact is noted that it seems to cause greater 

 losses in the western part of Kansas, where the altitude is almost 4,000 

 ft. and the rainfall less than L'O in., than in the eastern part at an altitude 

 of less than 1,000 ft. and an annual rainfall of nearly 40 in. Treat- 

 ment is thought unsatisfactory and the best remedy is prevention by 

 vaccination. 



The results of tuberculin tests are given. From the fact that, accord- 

 ing to records collected from various sources, of 11,394 cattle tested in 

 the United States 5,759 reacted, and that the number of errors was 12 

 or about 1 in 950, the author concludes that the test is very reliable. 

 From the same sources it was found that different breeds seem to be 

 affected in different degrees, as shown in the accompanying table: 



Table showing the distribution of tuberculosis by breeds. 



Breed. 



Number Number 

 tested, reacting. 



Jersey, pure and grades Ill 77 



Short 1 1. piii, pure ami grades 293 91 



Holstein. pure and grades 283 127 



Ayresliire, pure and grades 18 ■ 112 



Guernsey, pure and grades 13 7 



Devon, pure and grades 20 11 



lied Polled, pure and grades 7 



A berdeen-Angus. pure and grades 



Experiments were performed in infecting cattle with Texas fever by 

 means of Hoophilus bovis, which completely confirmed conclusions 

 arrived at by Dinwiddie, Francis, Connoway, and the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry. An account is given of several outbreaks of Texas fever. 

 In one case infected cattle were shipped into Kansas from north of the 

 national quarantine line, but were found to have first come from south 

 of it. In another case 170 head of cattle from California communicated 

 the disease to a herd of 350 natives, 30 of which were lost. The com- 

 paratively small loss is attributed to the small number of ticks on the 

 California cattle. 



Although remedial treatment is not satisfactory, it is thought that 

 some relief may be given by removing sick cattle to shady and com- 

 fortable quarters, drenching them with sweet milk and removing the 

 ticks. The quarantine method is the most effective remedy. 

 4485— No. 2 7 



