174 SOME MINUTE ANIMAL PARASITES 



that known as cattle piroplasmosis, this name being 

 given to the malady because it is due to the action 

 of small pear-shaped organisms inhabiting the red 

 blood-corpuscles of the host, in which bodies growth 

 and multiplication of the parasite occurs. The 

 organism is often known as a Piroplasma. Cattle 

 piroplasmosis is variously known as "redwater," 

 " redwater fever," and " Texas fever," but it is 

 distributed in cattle practically throughout the 

 world, though most virulent in the tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries. In North America great losses 

 of cattle occur in certain districts in Canada, but 

 these are slight compared with the condition of 

 affairs in the United States, where it is estimated 

 that the monetary loss due to deaths of cattle from 

 piroplasmosis may amount to 8,500,000 yearly. 

 In Queensland the loss is also extremely severe, but 

 is rather on the decrease than on the increase. New 

 South Wales and Victoria also suffer. Considering 

 that 50 per cent, of the meat consumed in England 

 comes from America and Australia, and that both of 

 these countries are increasing their home consump- 

 tion, the shortage due to disease cannot help but 

 have a deleterious effect on England, especially when 

 combined with a decline in home production. 

 Practically 4,000,000 worth of imported living 

 oxen, cows, and calves are slaughtered for food in 

 England each year, while 14,000,000 per annum 

 is spent on food imported as dead cattle. 10,000,000 

 is expended annually on "fresh" (or refrigerated) 

 mutton, and it may be mentioned that piroplasmosis 

 affects sheep badly as well as cattle. The national 



