CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 449 



TEXAN FEVER. 



This disease has been described as anthrax. In this conntry the 

 term is applied to diseases arising from various causes, as ticks, 

 and want of water during hot months. Dr. Salmon and Dr. Cam- 

 bridge claim through their experiments that the disease is due to 

 a particular micrococcus, and that by vaccination the animal is 

 able to resist the contagium. I have frequently met with fever 

 in cattle confined to low lands, especially in the cattle of Virginia. 

 Cattle brought from the low lands of Virginia to the moun- 

 tainous parts of the State suffer greatly with the disease. It 

 occurs during the hot summer months when grasses are ripe and 

 the water becoming low. I have seen as many as fifteen die in 

 a herd in one day. This condition was caused by malarial in- 

 fluences. 



Symptoms. — The animal will be noticed to stray from the herd, 

 its head hanging low and the breathing rapid. The muzzle is 

 hot and dry, and the animal greatly fevered. The bowels are con- 

 stipated and the urine dark or of a violet color. The animal after 

 about twelve hours sickness grates its teeth, shows abdominal 

 pain, the breathing becomes more labored, and the eyes take on 

 an amaurotic condition. The animal staggers, falls, and dies in 

 a few hours. 



Treatment. — Medicinal remedies are of no use, either in 

 young or old cattle. Purgatives of every description, and in 

 various quantities, have no effect on the bowels, and when the 

 disease once attacks an animal no remedies can save it. The dis- 

 ease indicates the use of purgatives, enemas, and the chlorate of 

 potash, but, as stated liefore, a cure cannot be affected. 



Preventive Treatment. — I have always changed the ani- 

 mals to another pasture, selecting a field of new clover or new, 

 fresh pastures. If in low countries, where the new grasses can- 

 not be ol)tained, they may be lierded around the swamps, eating 

 grasses in close proximity to the water only. Each animal should 

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