432 EEPOUT OF THE 15UHEAU OF ANIMAL 



3 of them died, 1 on August 23, after a sickness of 3 days, another on 

 the 30th, a week later, after "being apparently sick 3 days; the third, 

 animal died on September 4, late at night, of the same symptoms. 

 The post-mortem examination of the third cow proved beyond doubt 

 that the animal died of Southern cattle fever. The others, up to 

 September 8, continued well. 



Messrs. Long and Boston each lost a native cow, 1 on August 25, 

 and 1 on August 26. These cows have essentially the same history. 

 They stray on the commons, and from their bells are known as the 

 bell team. They are known to have grazed along the Liberty road 

 on the same day after the Devilbiss herd of 72 cattle passed, and it 

 has been said that they mixed with this herd for a distance. 



Mr. Henry Dorsey lost a cow about that time, which a day or two 

 before had passed over a piece of the same road, 'but as this cow was 

 ill before the llth of August, and died in a very few days after, no 

 reliance can be placed on the rumor that she died of Texas fever. 



In regard to ante-mortem symptoms of the-.e animals there is not 

 much to be said. As in other outbreaks, the attack is so virulent 

 and quickly over after it is first noticed that one living at a distance 

 has scarcely time to arrive on the ground before the last animal has 

 died. 



So far as I could learn none of the farmers had reason to suspect 

 the presence of disease in their cattle until the 21st or 22d of August, 

 and but one at that time. Mr. Isaiah Nussbaum noticed at this date 

 that his cattle were not feeding as they should. The invariable testi- 

 mony of the remaining farmers is that the cattle were well up to 

 within two days of their death. One or two may have noticed it as 

 early as three days. At this period the cattle were not feeding; their 

 ears lopped; their coats were rough and staring; their backs were 

 arched and flanks tucked up, and their heads hung, and were slightly 

 extended. If aroused they moved off to browse a little, only to stop 

 shortly after. One or two of the farmers noticed that their horns 

 were hot at this stage. Later some said their horns became cold. 

 On the day of, and on the day preceding, their deaths, they mani- 

 fested various symptoms. Some stood with their heads pressed 

 against some firm object; some supported themselves in their weak- 

 ness by leaning against a wall or fence; the gait of all became weak 

 and tottering; some manifested thirst; a few would try to eat even 

 to the time of death; if there were a number together they crowded 

 each other; others, when approached while standing still, seemed 

 combative and either did or tried to attack the person approaching; 

 some died in or near water; others died with their horns interlocked 

 with the fences. 



It was my fortune to be able to take the temperature of a few. Tho 

 temperature of the last of Mr. Charles Poole's steers that died was 

 106 F., taken about two hours before death. The temperature of 

 the third cow that died of Mr. George Norris' herd, was 103 F., 

 taken about noon September 4, but at 2 o'clock p. m. the tempera- 

 ture was 106 F. The cow died that night. The temperature of Mr. 

 George Gaither's remaining heifer was 106 F., taken about 6 p. m., 

 September 5. On the following day it had fallen to 103 F., and the 

 animal appeared much better. This animal was taken sick Monday 

 evening. The temperatures of 3 of Mr. William Boland's cattle, 

 taken on the 28th of August by Dr. A. M. Farrington, were 105, 

 106, and 107 F. Two of these died that evening and the third on 

 August 31. 



