REMARKS ON SOUTHERN CATTLE FEVER. 
143 
veterinarians are the reports of the United States Agricultural 
Department and the Bureau of Animal Industry, beginning with 
special report No. 22, 1880. 
I had my first serious outbreak to contend with in the fall of 
1886, on the farm of Col. A., in Chesterfield County. Many of 
this herd were born and raised on the farm, others were brought 
from Maryland and other States, added from time to time as the 
owner secured valuable animals to improve his herd. 
About twenty of the cattle were effected with the disease, 
either in the mild or acute types. About six died, including a 
noted cow, which cost her owner $3,250.00. From the first I 
did not hesitate in my diagnosis of Texas fever. Post mortem 
examinations confirmed my opinion. My standard authority 
was Dr. Salmon’s article on the subject, in special report No. 22. 
The history, symptoms and post mortem lesions, as given in 
that article, are to-day the best extant for the general prac¬ 
titioner so far as I know. 
Col. A. would not believe that the cattle were affected with 
Texas fever, because they had no ticks on them. Thorough 
search was made for ticks, but none were found. The cattle 
stable was a clean, well kept place, thoroughly ventilated and 
drained. The cows were cleaned daily, and when I tell you 
that they were cleaned with a curry-comb and brush, and with 
water and soap, if necessary, you will understand what I mean 
by saying they were cleaned daily. You will also probably 
understand why no ticks could be discovered on them. 
This was my first experience with the tick theory, which I 
did not believe, and, as a consequence, I was both amused and 
annoyed by the Colonel’s obstinacy in regard to it, because, at 
that time, all I knew about the disease I learned from special 
report No. 22, in which Dr. Salmon says: 
“One of the most widely spread opinions in regard to the causation of Southern 
fever is the pathogenic influence of the ticks with which Southern cattle are gen¬ 
erally covered, and which migrate in large numbers to the bodies of other cattle with 
which they mix. But the acceptance of this view is simply an evidence of the desire 
of the human mind to explain the origin of mysterious phenomena. The same 
principle is exhibited in the popular views regarding the pathogenic nature of hollow- 
