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were found diseased as in our native cattle that had died of what we call Span- 
ish fever. One Texas steer was so badly diseased as to cause marked attention, 
and his spleen was found to be three feet long and fifteen inches wide. If it 
should become necessary, I can, at any time, bring forward the affidavits of 
good men in proof of the above statement. 
This disease is not like the r7nderpest of Europe, nor is it like the pleuro 
pneumonia of the eastern States. Any careful observer can readily detect the 
difference in the symptoms. It is to be.regretted that some of our agricultural 
papers have been duped into the error of calling them the same disease. 
So far, the facts point to the Texas cattle being diseased, and it is probably 
confined to localities in the south. ‘That part of them were diseased is proved 
by post mortem examination. 
It is a singular fact that the diseased cattle will eat dry food to the last. I 
saw one in particular that took water and old corn, chewed her cud, and licked 
herself a few hours before death, and this is not an uncommon thing. 
I am sorry to be compelled to differ so widely with Professor Gamgee. As 
to his theory of eating certain kinds of plants in the south, not injurious to them, 
and retained until they arrive here, when it is thrown off in the excrement and 
proves poisonous to our cattle, it is not probable. If it were true, the meat of 
the Texas cattle would be poisonous to man. 
Any plant containing sufficient poison to render the urine or feces poisonous 
to other cattle, three to twelve weeks after eating it, would poison the cattle that 
eat it. 
Tf these cattle leave 'Texas in March or April, feed on dry feed on the way, 
and arrive here in July or August, they will hardly have the same food in them 
that they ate in Texas. 
It is now proved that the native cattle will take the disease from the Texas 
cattle when separated by afence. This being the case, how can it be the drop- 
pings from the Texas cattle? These native cattle have not been out of their 
pasture since the Texas cattle came, nor for some time before. 
The Professor says: “ Native cattle will not give it to other native cattle.” 
How does he know this? His first visit to Tolono was on the 1st of August, 
and the second visit to Tolono and this place on August 5th, and his report was 
made on the 7th, two days after his last visit. The first case of fever was on 
the 27th of July, being eleven days to test the reality of our native cattle giv- 
ing the disease to others. He hints at characteristic signs of blood disease, but 
will not, as yet, own it. 
May not a solution of this desperate malady be found in some one of the para- 
site tribe, developed under certain conditions, and killing both Texas and native 
eattle, when circumstances favor its development ? 
The above is worthy of consideration. 
We have the trichina in the hog, and the proof that the hog will fatten 
with this parasite in it, while if man partakes of the meat infested it is sure 
death. It would seem that under some peculiar law of development they gen- 
erate in man faster than in hogs; so it may be with the Texas cattle disease, 
and if it should prove to be true the changes could be accounted for. 
The above is submitted for consideration, feeling thankful if I can only be 
the means of causing investigation to be made, whereby the cause and cure of 
this awful malady may be found out and made public. 
Respectfully, 
A. CATRON. 
Hon. Horace Capron, 
Commussvoner of Agriculture. 
Our Ford county, Illinois, correspondent states that the Spanish fever has 
been prevalent in that county for some time past; about forty cows having died 
