1 Juny, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 85 
to any of the cattle, their parents had matured on an unnatural host—the sheep 
‘-which is naturally insusceptible to tick fever; therefore this break in the line 
of descent might possibly cause the tick to lose its pathogenic properties ; and, 
if this be correct, then the disease can only be caused by ticks which are the 
progeny of those from inoculated animals, unless, of course, the tick has some 
unknown properties of acquiring its pathogenic micro-parasite from external 
nature. In consequence of several unforescen obstacles, it has never yet been 
proved experimentally whether ticks matured on sheep retain or lose their 
power of conveying, through their progeny, tick fever in any form to healthy 
susceptible cattle. 
With reference to the inoculation of the St. Helena herd, I may mention 
the following interesting facts which are worthy of consideration of every dairy 
farmer: Over 70 animals were inoculated twice, the second inoculation 
being with blood which has never been known to fail for the past two years. 
The results of the two operations were as follow :— 
1st Inoculation (13th January, 1899).—Outward symptoms of fever very 
slight; no temperatures taken. Of12 cows in milk, there were only a 
few that showed a noticeable diminution in the milk yield. 
2nd Inoculation (28th March, 1899).—No apparent signs of sickness 
throughout the herd, except 2 animals—a young heifer and a ten-year- 
old cow; the latter animal became very sick, refused food, ceased 
chewing the cud, and went completely off her milk for several days, 
but eventually recovered, and in due course her normal supply of 
milk returned. It is only fair to state that the recovery was pro- 
bably enhanced by the fact that during the fever stage this cow 
received nothing but diet of a laxative nature, such as bran-mash, 
linseed-meal, and fresh green feed, also an occasional drench of 
castor oil. 
The cattle inoculated at St. Helena consisted of — 
1 Six-year-old bull. 
10 Yearling bulls. 
30 Cows, 12 of which were in milk, and the majority in various 
stages of pregnancy ; none of these aborted. 
30 Heiters and calves. : ; 
In my opinion the success of the inoculation of this herd was due to the 
following facts :— 
(i.) On each occasion proved reliable blood was used. 
Qi.) The process of inoculation was conducted steadily and quietly. 
(ii.) Most important of all, after the operation the animals were (as 
they always have been) treated kindly. ; 
(iv.) No fast driving was indulged in. 
(v.) Whips and dogs are never used in bringing the cattle to the 
milking yards. 
(vi.) The animals are milked regularly to the minute, every night and 
morning. 
(vii.) The animals have free access to a plentiful supply of fresh clean 
water. 
(viii.) The feed is more or less green, and altogether of a laxative 
nature. ; . 
(ix.) Up to the present time (20th June) no natural tick feyer has made 
its appearance among the St. Helena cattle. 
A paragraph lately appeared in’ the Courier to the effect that four 
inoculated cows from St. Helena were removed to the Indooroopilly quarantine 
rounds. This is a misapprehension of facts, the cows not having been 
inoculated before removal. 
