96 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



OUTBRKAKS OF SCABIES IN CATTLE. 



Katlier extensive outbreaks of scabies in cattle occurred last winter 

 in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada — three States formerly not affected. 

 As soon as these outbreaks were discovered, the bureau took prompt 

 and vigorous action to assist the State authorities concerned in pre- 

 venting any further spread of the disease, and at as early a date as 

 weather conditions would permit detailed employees to inspect all 

 animals in affected localities and to supervise the dipping of all 

 diseased and exposed cattle. In Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, 

 Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and ^lontana, and other range 

 Statis in which cattle scabies prevails quite extensively, satisfactory 

 progress has bt en made. 



In view of the spread of the disease to the three States first men- 

 tioned, however, it is doubtful whether the situation on the whole is 

 any better than a year ago. In accordance with the usual custom, 

 such employees as can be spared from public stockyards work during 

 the sj^ring months Avill be detailed to those sections where this disease 

 is causing the most trouble. The inspections and dippings of cattle 

 for scabies in the field during the past fiscal year were 1,508,924 and 

 453,708, respL'ctively. 



Mr. AxDERSON. Is this on eradication basis? 



Doctor MoHLER. Yes, sir; it is on a complete eradication basis. 



Mr. Anderson. And you are proceeding consistently to try to get 

 rid of it altogether? 



Doctor MoHLER. Yes, sir. In some States we have not had any 

 scabies for a number of years. I told you last year, however, that 

 since the war we have had three or four years of drought. That ob- 

 tains at the present time in Arizona and New Mexico, particularly, 

 with our sheep work, and in the Northern Great Plains section — 

 Montana and through the Dakotas and "Wj'oming — with our cattle 

 work. When we get these droughts we are sensible enougli not to 

 insist on the full enforcement of our regulations. The ranchmen do 

 not have enough water to spare for dipping purposes, and under 

 those conditions we allow the cattle to go to market for slaughter 

 without any restrictions, except to keep them from coming in contact 

 Avith liealthy animals. 



Mr. Bi'CHANAN. What causes scabies? 



Doctor Mohij:r. It is a small mite or parasite. 



Ml". BrniANAN. It is not a tick? 



Doctoi- MoiiEER. No, sir. It is nuich smaller than the tick. Vou 

 cannot see it with the naked eye. The only thing you see is the 

 effect, where it buiTows in the skin and forms little tunnels under 

 the surface and destroys the wool of the sheep and kills the hair 

 on the cattle, Avith resulting anemia and emaciation. 



SUPERVISION OK INTERSTATK TRANSPORTATION OK I.IVK STOCK. 



Another item in this i)roji'ct is the supervision of interstate 

 transj)ortation of live stock. TTnder this project all live stock re- 

 ceived at stockyards iiic insjiected for contagious, infectious and 

 connnuniciible diseases and M|)|)ro|»riMte treatment, when indicated, 

 is sii|)er\ised by bureau employeivs in oi'dei' that the animals nuiy 

 be shipped to country points for feeding, bleeding, ami stocking 



