14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



members of the convention to memorialize Congress to make a 

 siifificient appropriation to enable the War Department to fully 

 and thoroughly investigate and report upon the nature, mode 

 of development, and propagation and treatment of the Texas 

 Cattle Disease. 



After congratulatory remarks by the President, to the mem- 

 bers, and his thanks to Governor Oglosby for the zeal he had 

 manifested in the matter, and for his presence at the conven" 

 tion, the convention adjourned sine die. 



THEORIES. 



Many theories have been brought forward, and earnestly 

 advocated, among which are the following : — 



First. That the Texas steer carries within him a virus which 

 is, in some way, deposited upon the soil where he grazes ; that 

 the virus is produced by the food which the animal obtains in 

 its native pastures. It is asserted that native cattle driven to 

 Texas contract disease and die. 



The Spore Theory. The blood of the Texas and of the dis- 

 eased and healthy native cattle has been examined under the 

 microscope. It was found that cryptogamic plants, or spores, 

 existed in the blood of all Texas cattle, also abundantly in 

 diseased native cattle, but were not to be found in the blood 

 of healthy native cattle. The same result was obtained in 

 Chicago. 



It is believed that the fungoid plants, or spores, are thrown 

 out in the excrement or urine, and are taken into the stomach 

 with the food by the native cattle. 



The Tick Theory. It is said that Texas cattle, on their 

 arrival in the "Western States, have a large number of ticks 

 attached to the skin, in various parts of the body, and that they 

 adhere until filled with blood, when they drop to the ground, 

 and are reproduced in large numbers — in fact, to the extent 

 that every animal feeding in the field must consume millions of 

 these insects daily. 



SYMPTOMS. 



The symptoms which the ordinary observer would notice 

 would be those of intense fever, witli pulse ranging from 60 

 to 120 per minute ; breathing often labored, and generally fre- 



