REVIEWS. 
105 
poisoning, as in the case of ‘ darn/ is quite probable, but such 
a case fails lamentably in all its chief elements to account for 
the terrible and highly infectious disease which has been 
sweeping whole districts in Illinois and Indiana. The recep¬ 
tion of either mineral or vegetable poison into the system 
would not give rise to such a disease, neither could it give an 
infectious character to the disease. Besides, as incontest¬ 
able evidence shows, those Texan cattle which come from the 
northern part of the State, where there is no live oak, present 
the disease in all its malignancy, and have the same power of 
infection. The cattle brought by the way of Abilene, and 
those brought by southern routes, are equally affected by the 
plague, and are equally potent as media of contamination. 
“Another theory is that the disease is due to the long journey 
from Texas ; that the cattle become foot-sore, and that, as in 
the case of foot and mouth disease, the virus oozing from the 
feet of the animals affected contaminates others. No doubt, 
many animals, which come overland from Texas, become 
lame; but, unfortunately for this theory, native cattle affected 
by this plague show no disease in their feet; neither are their 
mouths affected, as in the case of cattle having foot and 
mouth disease. Besides, cattle which come by the way of 
New Orleans are as much diseased as those which come 
overland. 
“ The remaining theory is that the plague is caused by the 
ticks or parasites which infest many of the Texas cattle. It 
is said by the advocates of this theory than when the ticks 
have attained their full growth, they drop from the cattle and 
reproduce their species in large numbers on the grass, with 
which they are taken into the stomachs of the cattle and 
form an acrid poison. This theory is so absurd and so gene¬ 
rally discredited that it is unnecessary to comment on it. 
“ Your committee are of opinion that the disease is one 
peculiar to the Gulf States and to Georgia and Florida. They 
think that it is a species of low typhoid fever, somewhat 
analogous to yellow fever in the human subject, and that it is 
due, in great measure, to climatic influence, having its origin 
in a climate near the tropics and extending its infection 
northward, as it may he conveyed there by natives of that 
climate, only during the hot season of the year, which is not 
only specially favorable to its extension, but is essential to 
its existence ; because it is well known that this disease 
never appears in cold and frosty weather, even when there 
are large importations of Texan cattle. 
Your committee discredit the idea that the Texan cattle 
are not themselves affected by the plague—large numbers of 
XLIl. 8 
