TEXAS OR TICK FEVER 187 



cattle in this country. At first the bowels are constipated, hut 

 later diarrhea is not uncommon. The mucous membranes are 

 usually pale and sometimes slijjrhtly yellow. As death approaches 

 and the symptoms become aggravated, the animal iLSually re- 

 mains down. Occasional periods of excitement, or even convul- 

 sions, may oceur. 



The ticks are usually to be found on the tender parts of 

 the skin, such as between the hind legs, on the escutcheon, on 

 the inside of the elbows, or on the brisket, which is most exposed. 

 Since the disease may develop within ten days after ticks attack 

 the animal, and this time is not sufficient for them to become 

 larger than twice the size of a pinhead, it will be readily ap- 

 preciated that to find the ticks is not always an easy matter, 

 especially if they are not numerous. 



Post-mortem appearances. — Only in animals that die during 

 an acute attack are the changes well marked, and of those just 

 the more pronounced will be given. Other changes may be seen, 

 but they are often slight, or else absent. Small ticks on the 

 parts mentioned are very significant. The hlood is very thin 

 and watery. 



The subcutaneous tissue may be slightly yellow and infiltrated 

 with yellow-colored serum. 



In cases that succumb during the height of or just after the 

 subsidence of the fever, the spleen is much enlarged and dark 

 colored. When held up by one end, the contents of the cap- 

 sule will tend to gravitate to the lower end. When cut it is 

 found to be black, soft, and engorged with blood. 



The liver is enlarged, yellowish, and usually mottled in color, 

 due to bile-injection. The gall bladder is distended wath bile, 

 which is dark colored, thick and ropy. 



The kidneya are usually engorged and dark, and the bladder 

 contains urine varying in color from slightly red to almost 

 black. 



Treatment. — Treatment usually proves unsatisfactory, and the 

 results scarcely justify the expense and trouble which it entails, 

 except in very valuable animals, and in mild cases. The whole 

 herd should be moved to non-infested ground and the ticks re- 

 moved at least from the sick animals. During the first stages, 

 when constipation is present, a purgative of about one pound 

 of Epsom salts may be given. The salts sliould be followed by 

 quinin 30 to 90 grains or an equivalent four times a day. If 



