REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 315 



Mr. G. E. Waters, Albany, Shackelford County: 



As I have been devoting part of my time to raising of fine Hereford cattle on my 

 ranch in Shackelford County, I thought it might be right for me to answer the let- 

 ter of Commissioner Colman regarding cattle brought here from northern States. 

 From 1881 up to date I have shipped in 117 head of cattle as follows: In December, 

 1881, I landed a car of Missouri cattle, mostly bulls, 23 in all. I kept them on my 

 ranch until May of 1882, when, owing to drought, I moved them to Tom Green 

 County, southwest of here. In doing so I had to cross and travel awhile on the 

 route over which cattle from southern Texas had that year passed. Nearly all of 

 my cattle were sick, and I lost 9 head. Balance got all right and lived. In No- 

 vember, 1883 ,J[ shipped 24 head from Ohio. They were unloaded at Cairo, 111., and 

 Texarkana, Tex., in same pens where Texas cattle were held. As there had been 

 but light frost I lost 7 head out of this lot. They began dying one week from time 

 I got them home, and all died within a short time thereafter. Since then I have 

 lost none of them with this disease. I put this car-load on a fresh pasture where 

 no other cattle had been since June. In 1885 I shipped in 37 more from Ohio. That 

 year I waited until late in November, until after a very big frost and cold spell, and 

 had better success, although I had to use the common pens along the route. Of 

 this lot I only lost 2 head, and am confident one of them was killed by medicine, 

 given to move his bowels. I gave him, besides other things, a very large dose of 

 croton oil, and just before it acted, as it was some time, I gave him another big dose, 

 and it was too much for him. In the early part of February, 1888, I received 33 

 head, and they are all fine and healthy. They came from Missouri. All the deaths 

 I have reported were caused by what is known as Texas fever drooping ears, weak 

 loins, sunken eyes, stiffness, and fever. I turn my cattle in when I receive them, 

 (except the lot in 1883) with my native cattle. All these shipments were high grade 

 or registered thoroughbred Herefords, and I have some very fine cattle from them 

 now. 



Mr. P. A. Graham, Albany, Shackelford County: 

 Replying to your circular of February 13, I will state that I have lived in this 

 county for twelve years, and in the adjoining county of Stephens five vears, and 

 have noticed the effect the cattle driven through here have had on native cattle. 

 Living as I have on the route used by through cattle, I have had good opportunities 

 to observe the same. It is a well-known fact that cattle along this trail, over which 

 cattle from south and east are driven, die more or less every year, and the cattle that 

 die are always in good fix and to all appearances healthy, and I believe they die in 

 a very few days after becoming affected. They have the drooping ears, stiffness in 

 limbs, weak loins, sunken eyes, and fever, which is called Texas or splenic fever. It 

 is part of my work to hunt over the adjoining country for my scattering cattle, and 

 in all my rounds I have never noticed an animal away from the cattle trails that 

 had this disease. I have never known an animal to die with this fever before the 

 passing of these trail herds in the spring, but always after these herds come along. 

 I am satisfied native cattle kept from contact with through cattle from south arid 

 east do not have this fever, but when they come in contact with them more or less 

 are affected and die. About five years ago Cochran shipped from Illinois some 60 

 grade and thoroughbred bulls, locating them near southern line of this county. I 

 bought of this lot 1 bull and kept him off the trail. He is alive and a fine animal 

 to-day. Others living 011 the trail bought bulls out of this lot, and not thinking or 

 believing any danger to them from the trail herds allowed them to come in con- 

 tact, lost heavily, as did Mr. Cochran, who kept some of the lot for use in his own 

 herd. The five years I lived near the line of this county, and before any trail 

 passed through this section, or any incoming of cattle from south or east occurred, 

 such a thing as ticks or lice on our cattle or diseased cattle was unknown among 

 our herds, and I know that I am right in asserting that it is dangerous to our herds 

 to have southern and eastern cattle driven through or herded in their range. 



Mr. J. A. Matthews, Albany, Shackelford Connty: 

 In reference to acclimating bulls north of the south line of Kansas, I will say that 

 I bought 4 thoroughbred Shorthorn bulls in Missouri and had them shipped to this 

 county in November, 1886. During the following winter 1 died. The bull became 

 a little unwell and was filled full with different kinds of medicines,which I consid- 

 ered at the time and do yet the cause of the animal's death. The other 3 bulls were 

 never sick that I know of, and are living now. Never used any preventive what- 

 ever. The bulls were turned loose with the range cattle soon after they arrived 

 here. In reference to cattle from eastern counties communicating disease, I would 

 say that no such cases have come under my observation, but I have heard of cases 

 not far from me where roads run through pastures and herds of eastern 'cattle 



