SPOTTED FEVER (TICK FEA'ER) OF THE ROCKY 
MOUXTAIXS: A XEW DISEASE. 
By JoHX F. Axdeesox, 
Pmsed Assistant Surgeon and Assistant Director Hygienic Lahoratory, P. S. Puhlic Health 
and Marine- Hosjjital Service. 
INTRODUCTION. 
In obedience to instructions of April ' 1 ' 2 . 1903. to proceed to Mon- 
tana to investigate the so-called spotted fever which has prevailed at 
times in the Bitter Root Valley. 1 left Washington April 21. 
I first visited Great Falls. Mont., for the purpose of conferring 
with Dr. A. F. Longeway. secretary of the Montana State Board of 
Health; from there 1 went to Missoula, situated at the foot of the' 
Bitter Root Valley, and made that place my headquarters. The Mon- 
tana State University very courteously ofl'ered me the use of its 
laboratory. Dr. J. J. Buckley, chief surgeon of the Xorthern Pacific 
Railroad, also ofi'ered me the use of his laboratory, which was accepted. 
As is .shown in the report, the disease is not confined to the Bitter 
Root ^^alley. but exists in Xevada and Idaho; and since writing my 
report I have been informed of cases in Wyoming. 
The good results that have followed the administration of large 
doses of quinine — the five cases in which it was used having recovered — 
give much hope that this disease, which is so much dreaded, may in 
the future be robbed of many of its terrors. 
I have suggested as a name for the disease "Tick Fever.** as there 
are already two diseases sometimes called ** spotted fever.*’ 
I desire to express to Dr. J. J. Buckley, of Missoula, for the use of 
his laboratory, and to the physicians of Missoula and the Bitter Root 
Valley, my sincerest thanks for their kind assistance in m}* investiga- 
tion of the disease and for many personal courtesies; also, to Dr. L. B. 
^Vilson, of the University of Minnesota, for help and data in regard 
to the disease. 
To Surg. Gen. Walter Wyman I am much indebted for the detail 
and resulting opportunity to study this new and most interesting 
disease. 
