70 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



to induce the animals to take a sufficient aiuonnt of water. Holes cut 

 tbrougb the ice soon freeze over, and the weatlier is frequently so severe 

 tbat tbe cattle will drink only a few swallows of water before tbey will 

 leave to seek a sbelterfi-om the cuttin^;- wiTids, and when, later in the day, 

 they try to obtain more water, tbe drinkinfj boles are frozen over. 

 Where ergotism i)revails tbe waterin^,^ sbould receive close attention. 



Ergotism can probably be entirely prevented by cutting the hay be- 

 fore tbe seeds have formed. Both in Missouri and Illinois I saw tbe 

 clearest examples of this. Hay comi)Osed of the same kinds of grass, 

 cut upon tbe same laud, was free from ergot or largeh' infested with it, 

 according asithad been cut green or ripe. This matteriswortbyof care- 

 ful consideration. Hay cut green is more digestible and in every way 

 more A'aluable than tbat wbicb is allowed to become ripe and woody; 

 and tbe latter is much more liable to produce severe disease, such as in- 

 digestion, impaction, and ergotism. 



This fatal disorder may, therefore, l>e prevented in the future by 

 proper and careful management ; tbe chief points in this being to cut the 

 hay before tbe seeds have formed, to see that the animals have a suffi- 

 cient quantity of drinking water, to keep tbem in good condition by 

 tbe liberal use of nutritious food, and to protect tbem as much as possi- 

 ble from the inclement weather. When It is found necessary to feed 

 hay which contains a considerable quantity of ergot it is of course doul)ly 

 important to look after tbe water supply and tbe shelter. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN CATTLE FEVER. 



An approximately correct outline of tbe district permanently infected 

 with southern fever is a matter of supreme importance, not only to tbe 

 people who live within and near this district, but to those interested in 

 live-stock in every part of tbe country. The losses which occur every 

 summer, and which in some years, have been really disastrous to the 

 stock owners of certain sections, have been largely the result of igno- 

 rance of the districts from which it is dangerous to bring cattle in sum- 

 mer, and to which adult cattle cannot be taken with safety at any sea- 

 son of the year, unless they are to be slaughtered for beef within a short 

 time after their arrival. 



An attempt to make efficient laws to guard against this malady by 

 regulating the movement of cattle from infected localities has generally 

 failed to give relief, because these districts could not be accurately 

 designated. States, therefore, as well as individuals, have been unable 

 to protect themselves, and tbe losses have gone on year after year in 

 spite of individual i)recautions and State laws. Tbe cheap cattle of 

 Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Southeastern Virginia, and 

 other infected sections are at times carried to the most remote sections 

 of tbe country, and when this is done in spring or sumn)er extensive 



