IXODIC ANJiMIA — TEXAS FEVER, ETC. 429 



tlie animals had a staggering gait, particularly if hurried or 

 excited. In several instances they fell to the ground when 

 moved sharply or turned round suddenly ; in one instance the 

 animal fell down dead, so great w^as the general prostration and 

 weakness of the heart's action. 



The skin about the shoulders, lower portion of the neck, and 

 other parts easily rubbed by the animal, was generally denuded 

 of hair, and in many instances presented a rough scaly appear- 

 ance. This symptom has been described as one preceding the 

 advent of the tick, but such is not the case, as it was found 

 upon close examination that the skin was covered with ticks 

 underneath the undisturbed hair of the host. I therefore con- 

 clude that this symptom is a sequence to and not a precursor 

 of the disease, as supposed. Some penkeepers call this '•' mange," 

 and seem to think that it has no connection with the disease. 

 On close examination it was found that there were not only 

 fully matured parasites present, but many in an emljryonic 

 stage, — that is to say, covered by a shell of thin membrane ; 

 upon breaking which, two young ticks, namely, a male and 

 a female, were usually found in close contact, the male being of 

 a brownish colour and having four pair of longish legs, the female 

 larger, also having four pair of whitish legs, and paler iii 

 colour than the male. 



The surface of the body was generally more or less covered 

 with ticks, which presented at least three varieties, viz. — 1st. the 

 large blue cow tick, also called the dog tick — Ixodes ricinus — the 

 first tick known on this island, and not supposed to be injurious ; 

 2d. the silver shield tick — Ixodes scapulatus — which clings much 

 more tenaciously to its host, and is difficult to remove. This 

 tick has four maxillary palpi, which, when close together, re- 

 semble a spear, but separate from each other at their points 

 when the skin is pierced. These two kinds of ticks, as well as 

 the grass lice, or the young ticks of both kinds, are supposed to 

 be non-injurious to cattle, but I cannot subscribe to this, as 

 they must do harm, and at least assist in the induction of the 

 ansemia or bloodlessness which follows. The third form — the 

 one stated to have been unknown by the majority of penkeepers 

 and others until pointed out to them — was brought before my 

 notice about the third day of our investigation, having been 

 found shortly before upon a lot of cattle badly attacked by the 

 wasting disease. Upon examining this tick I arrived at the con- 



