258 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



resulting iu most cases in increased absorption in the third stomach, 

 and in lesions in the fourth stomach and a part of the intestines, is 

 demonstrated by the morbid changes usually found in those organs at 

 post moytcm examinations. It is, however, also possible that the bac- 

 teria, or a large number of them, reach the liver, the i)rincipal and, 

 according to my observations, primary seat of the morbid process, in a 

 more direct way — through the duodenum. Tlie bacteria, if once passed 

 beyond the second stomach, or domiciled in interior organs, for instance^ 

 in the liver, spleen, &c., cannot very well ascend to the mouth, there 

 mingle with the saliva and mucous secretions, and thus be deposited 

 on the ground; consequently Northern (;attle <'annot very well infect 

 pastures, «&c., unless every day a new h)t of bacteria is taken up and 

 propagated iu the ])aunch, as is the case with Southern cattle. Of 

 course the explanation Just given I wish to be considered onl3'_as a 

 strong hint. Something more definite may be said after it has been 

 conclusively demonstrated what bacterium constitutes the true cause 

 of the southern fever. 



When returning to Texas last spring — I arrived in San Antonio about 

 the 1st of May — it was my intention, as I explained on the 24:th of April, 

 when in Washington, to collect and to prepare what I believe to be in- 

 fectious material, and to return to the Xorth in about a month to com- 

 plete my preparations (bacillus cultivations, i&c), and then to put them 

 to a practical test. I intended to return to the North for two reasons: 

 First, no southern cattle fever could be found in Texas, nor could it be 

 expected to occur before December, because the native Texas cattle 

 possess immunity, and the Texas ranchmen, at least the more intelli- 

 gent ones, and all those who have had any exi)erience with the South- 

 ern fever, take care not to iu)port any Northern cattle except late in 

 the fall and in the winter, for they have fouiul that to be the least dan- 

 gerous season of the year. Secondly, my proi)osed experiments could 

 only be expected to give satisfactory results if made on susceptible 

 Northern cattle, and at a place where a natural infection is out of the 

 question. But in the latter part of May, when my preparations were 

 nearly completed, and I about ready to leave for the North, circum- 

 stances beyond my control compelled me to remain in Texas. Of course 

 my plans could not be carried out, my preparations could not be used, 

 and the question I was so anxious to decide for the time being had to 

 renuiin unsolved. 1 had orders to investigate, besides southern cattle 

 fever, also other infectious diseases of more than local importance. 

 But in Texas the infectious and contagious diseases of domesticated 

 animals, which are of general interest, or of an e[)izootic character, are 

 very few in number, and without any fear of contradiction I may say 

 there is hardly a country on the globe in which cattle and live stock in 

 general are less subject to disease than in Texas. It is true Texas 

 ranchmen sometimes sutfer great losses, particularly in the latter part 

 of winter, but these losses are not caused by disease, and almost with- 



