Texas Fever 371 



days after the young ticks are established on the sus- 

 ceptible cattle, the animals begin to show symptoms of 

 Texas fever. Ordinarily from thirty to forty days 

 elapse after southern cattle pass over and infest the 

 ground, before northern cattle come down with the 

 fever; but this time may be extended several weeks, 

 depending on the temperature. When susceptible north- 

 ern cattle are taken into southern territory that is in- 

 fested by the cattle -tick, the symptoms of the fever 

 usually appear in about ten days. The mortality 

 from Texas fever is high, varying from twenty -five to 

 ninety per cent, depending on the weather and the 

 amount of infection. 



In some regions in the South close to the quarantine 

 line, Texas fever is quite common among cows that 

 run at large, or on the commons. In localities farther 

 north, cattle that run at large get the ticks from the 

 litter cleaned from cars in which southern cattle have 

 been shipped; the disease is then commonly known as 

 the "town -cow disease," but it is Texas fever. 



There is loss of appetite and suspended rumination, 

 although these sj'mptoms are preceded \>j a high fever, 

 the temperature going as high as 105° to 108° F. 

 There is great weakness and prostration as the disease 

 progresses, with trembling of the voluntary muscles 

 and difficulty in getting up. The head droops, the 

 ears lop, the flanks are "tucked up." There is usually 

 constipation, though in some cases there is diarrhea in- 

 stead. Diarrhea is considered a good symptom, as more 

 of such cases recover. In milch cows, the secretion of 

 milk is stopped. The urine is a dark cherry -red in 



