1 Aprit, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 295 
According to Dr. Cary, of the Alabama Station, the best time for the work 
in the south is between Ist November and the following Ist March; never 
during hot weather. He-also advises allowing a mild infestation with ticks two 
months after inoculation, and keeping off an excess of ticks during the hot 
summer months. This can be done by pasturing in fields where ticks are 
known not to be plentiful, or by applying, once weekly, to the dewlap, udder, 
and escutcheon, crude Beaumont oil, or 20 per cent. kerosene oil emulsion. 
The statistics of Dr. Francis of the Texas Experiment Station, given by 
Dr. Cary, show that out of 1,500 animals inoculated by him, only 34 per cent. died 
from inoculation fever, and less than 7 per cent. by exposure, and less than 
that proportion after they had recovered from the blood inoculation, a loss of 
about 10 per cent. 
In Texas, the animals were placed in large pastures, where no attempt 
was made to keep down excessive infestation. At the same time, 
northern animals placed upon the same pastures, without being immunised, 
had a mortality of 50 to 90 per cent. It is possible that where 
the infestation, subsequent to inoculation, can be governed, a still smaller 
ercentage of loss would occur. In Texas the ages of the animals ranged 
om a few months to two years; yearlings being preferred. As regards the 
medicinal treatment of Texas fever, there is unfortunately little to be said. 
Such havoc is played with the blood that the animal has very little chance of 
recovering. Being a blood disease, one would naturally turn to the medical 
agents which are known as blood medicines. Foremost among these is iron. 
Then the stomach tonics should be added to promote the appetite, a good one 
being gentian. The addition of quinine to combat the fever, and nux vomica 
for its general effect as a tonic, would be a rational addition. Some prescribe 
saline purges, but, personally, I cannot agree unless a purge is urgently 
required, as we have a disease which is wasting the blood, and such purges 
only promote the waste. At the first opportunity, I shall try the injection of 
large quantities, say a half-gallon, of G6 per cent. solution of warm sodium 
chloride directly into the jugular vein with the expectation of beneficial results. 
Were it possible to transtuse a considerable quantity of blood from a healthy 
immune southern animal into the veins of the sick one, itis probable that a 
beneficial effect or even a cure and thorough immunisation would result. The 
above is entirely practicable and should be given a trial. 
A remedy which combines the above indicates that medicinal agents might 
tide an animal over a critical period and help to bring about a recovery; it could be 
prescribed and used as follows:—Take of sulphate of iron and powdered gentian, 
3 oz. each; sulphate of quinine, 6 drams; and of nux vomica, 1 oz. Mix 
and divide into twelve powders. Give each animal one powder three times a 
day, made into a paste with syrup, placing upon the tongue by the means of a 
small paddle. House the animals at night. Provide plenty of fresh water, 
and give soft feed. If constipated, give rectal injections of oil, or castile soap 
water. If bloating occurs, give half-ounce chloride of lime, dissolved in half- 
pint of tepid water, every half-hour till relieved. It may be well to state here 
also that Texas cattle fever never attacks any other animals than cattle. 
Carcasses are absolutely harmless so far as the power to perpetuate the disease 
is concerned. The virus is not carried to other cattle by means of carnivorous 
birds or animals. In order for the dead animals to become a source of infection 
some of its blood would have to be carried by biting insects and inoculated into 
the skin of a susceptible bovine. Cattle have been drenched with the blood of 
an animal dead from the disease, and no harm resulted. 
_A recent inquiry from a correspondent is, ‘‘ How are we to distinguish 
the cattle tick?” Gurtice says, “Cattle ticks are called ‘oldfteld ticks,’ 
“shingle ticks,’ ‘blue ticks,’ ‘fever ticks,’ ‘dog ticks,’ and many other names. 
All large female ticks look much alike. They are harmful and live upon blood. 
The three most common kinds of ticks are the cattle tick, which has a chestnut- 
brown head ; the ‘lone-star’ tick, which has a bright metallic spot on the back 
of its head ; and the ‘ dog tick’ (also called the deer tick, bear tick, or terrapin 
tick), which has a whitish border around its head.” — Kissimmee Valley Gazette. 
