492 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



cattle tick is something enormous and represents about 16 per cent of 

 the total valuation of the cattle in that region. It must be admitted 

 that this is by far too great a barrier to the successful operation of any 

 business. Such a series of encumbrances as those recorded could be 

 carried by the cattle industry of no other section of the country but 

 the South, whose excellent pastures, rich soil, and salubrious climate 

 are the only reasons for its ability to overcome such obstacles in meet- 

 ing the competition of tlie West. And it is the inherent capacity of 

 the South for greatly increasing its herds and enlarging its pasture 

 lands that makes the actual loss even secondary to the potential loss 

 due to restrictions necessitated by the presence of the cattle tick. 

 This potential loss may be described as the difference between the 

 value of the cattle industry of the South to-day and the extent to 

 which this indu.stry would be increased if farmers and ranchmen 

 were assured that their lands and cattle would not become infested 

 with fever ticks. Could this assurance be given, the beneficial effects 

 would extend over the entire country, because the market of the 

 northern breeder would thereby become greatly extended. 



These appalling losses and annual sacrifices of the cattle raisei-s of 

 the infected district can be entirely effaced, and this at a small pro- 

 portionate cost: for. with enthusiastic stockmen, satisfactory State 

 legislation, sufficient money, and a trained corps of inspectors, the 

 cattle tick may be exterminated, and every dollar expended in this 

 work will be returned many fold during each succeeding year. 



The so-called period of in<?uljation. — After the young ticks have 

 attached themselves to cattle the fever appears about 10 days there- 

 after, in midsummer. When the weather is cool, as in autumn, this 

 period may be a little longer. The actual period of incubation may 

 be shorter than this, for if blood from a case of Texas fever be in- 

 jected into the blood vessels of healthy cattle the fever may appear 

 within five days. When cattle gi-aze upon pastures over which south- 

 ern cattle have passed, the time when the disease appears varies 

 within wide limits. When the animals have been put upon pastures 

 inmiediately after southern cattle have infected them with ticks, it 

 may take from 30 to 60 days, or even longer, before the disease 

 appears. This will be readily understood when we recall the life 

 history of ticks. The southern cattle leave only matured ticks which 

 have dropped fi'om them. These must lay their eggs and the latter 

 be hatched befoi-e any ticks can get upon native cattle. The shortest 

 period is thus not less than 30 daj's if we include 10 days for the 

 period of incubation after the young tick has attached itself to native 

 cattle. When the infection of pastures with ticks has taken place 

 early in the s-eason. or Avhen this is cold, the period will be much 

 longer, because it takes longer for the eggs to hatch. 



