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MTJLFS AFP E0RS5S 
BUFFALO GNAT (Simulium pecuarum liley) 
Mississippi R. v.". Harned (February 26): ,'e are having a serious outbreak 
of the "buffalo gnats in parts of Uississippi. (riarch 2S) : On 
March 5, Dr. J. F. Barnett, a -ell-known veterinarian in Yazoo 
County, wrote as follows: "',7e have had the buffalo gnat here 
for several days. I had more calls than I could fill for two 
or three days until I could get the owners ox stock to spray 
and grease the animals. They thought the animals had colic and 
in a fe-j hours the animals were in such condition that I could 
do them no good. At first they roll and sQuat and act like they 
have colic. Some swell and at first there is a little rise in 
temperature, "but in two or three hours the heart is affected 
and the pulse can not be felt. They get in a stupor or coma, 
run against objects, and soon fall dead. Most of the animals 
were dead or past doing anything ^or them by the time I could 
get to them. I was able to save Quite a number where I reached 
them before the pulse was too weak and the temperature subnormal. 
I used raw linseed oil and stimulants such as carbonate of ammo- 
nia, aromatic spirits of ammonia, and camphor in whiskey. 
During the cold snap the gnats disappeared, but now that it is 
warm again they are plentiful in places. It seems that the 
wind carries them and they appear and disappear. Since the peo- 
ple are spraying and greasing no cattle are dying. Some farmers 
use smokers. I have been practicing here for ?5 years and I 
believe they v;ere worse this time than ever before. Some 50 to 
75 head died in this county from gnats. Mules and horses are af- 
fected more than cattle and other animals. " 
Chesley Hines, Inspector for the State Plant Board with head- 
Quarters at Yazoo City, made some investigation in regard to the 
buffalo gnat and reported as follows: "Although the mats '--ere 
mighty bad in the delta proper, there v.-as a greater loss of 
mules and horses in the locality of Eden west of Zeiglersville 
which is from 5 to 10 miles from the river and in the hills. In 
this particular locality, I have learned from reliable sources 
that 25 head of mules and horses died. One man in this part of 
the county lost seven out of the 3 males he had. Another man 
living about k miles east of Yazoo City in the hills lost the 
only two mules he had. I would say that the total number of 
mules and horses lost in the county would be around 65 or 70. " 
All kinds of stoe£ seem to be attacked by the gnat, but I 
have not heard of any dying except mules and horses and more 
mules than horses. I noticed several cows with their udders 
covered with blood caused from the bites of the gnats. 
I have made special inquiry as to the condition of the ani- 
mals that succumbed from the bite:, of the gnats and from all 
indications the healthy ones were affected as severely as the 
poorly cared for. The gnats attack the animals under the 
belly, as well as along the legs. Some few have advanced the 
