200 JOURNAL OF TIIE TRINIDAD 



Now the presence of these ticks on the poorer cattle in 

 numbers was very naturally put down as the cause of their 

 emaciation. Eat, upon considering the matter carefully, it seems 

 quite as likely that the animals were really dying of starvation, 

 and the ticks, according to their well known habit, congregated 

 upon the animals about to succumb. 



Similar accounts might be quoted of the cattle in South 

 Africa, and large ticks of almost identical appearance and size 

 with our Cold tick arc found there (Amblyomma hebrceum.) 



Although, then, it is perhaps much too readily assumed that 

 dying cattle covered with ticks are succumbing from that cause, 

 enough has been said to show that ticks consitute one of the 

 most formidable enemies of the stock-breeder, 



The infested animals are undoubtedly much Aveakened by 

 the constant drain upon their blood supply. The irritation and 

 consequent lack of rest caused by the presence of ticks may 

 well be held responsible for bringing the creatures to a low 

 condition. There arc, however, oth< r and graver charges to be 

 laid to the door of these parasiti 



We read the following in a report by one of the Cape 

 veterinary surgeons : — " Ticks have some curious effects on and 

 sustain relationships to the animals they infest which are but 

 little understood. 



"A single tick will paralyse a lamb, or a kid. so that it 

 appears as if its spine were injured, and if not relieved will die. 

 And the curious thing is that if relieved of the vermin the lamb 

 will in a few minutes after appear nearly as well as ever. " 



A friend took a horse to the sea : in a few days the horse 

 fell dead lame, and hobbled about in a useless condition for two 

 or three weeks. Presently it was found that a male bont tick 

 (similar to our gold tick Ed.) was under its fore-arm, or in the 

 arm pit. It was taken away and the horse ridden the next day 

 as well as ever." 



In certain cases at least it has been now definitely established 

 that ticks are immediately concerned in the spread of deadly 

 disease. The idea that there is a close connection between ticks 

 and various forms of animal disease is by no means new, having 

 recurred to stock-owners long before the tedious and difficult 

 scientific proof was forth-coming. 



We thus read of a disease among lambs called "heart- 

 water" at the Cape. This is regarded by many as connected 

 with the presence of ticks. When the lambs are infested with 

 ticks in this region they very soon die of the disease. If on the 

 other hand they are dipped early, they do not suffer from "heart- 

 water " nor are they troubled by ticks. 



A good deal again has been written about a disease among 

 sheep in Scotland called "louping-ill " or " trembling." There 



