S F

967

B17

A7

1898

BIOS

History, Cause & Treatmen
Archibald

-NRLF

.
in

CO

o

TEXAS FEVER.

[Its History, Cause and Treatment.

A Paper Kead Before a Meeting of -the California
•Veterinary Medical Association, Dec. 13th, 1898, by I>r. -i^.'A..

•Archibald, Oakland, Cal., Veterinarian to the State Board of
lip'*
•Health; Member and Secretary of the State Veterinary Medical

*^

•Board; Member and President of the California State Veterinary
•Medical Association; Member of the American Veterinary

•nCAjliAAl

Health,

Association;
Etc.

Bacterologist to the Oakland Board of

A great variety of names have been
•given to this disease, such as Southern

[cattle fever, splenetic fever, Spanish cat-

•
•tie fever, Texas cattle fever, Carolina

•cattle distemper, bloody murrain, Mexi-

— T«JI«« ~*.ii., ,]!«A. . j:~i.~ _

and have continued to die in numbers
proportional to the movement and num-
ber of cattle involved.

This occurred about the beginning of
the eighteenth century. Carolina cat-
tle were infected from Florida or Cuban
cattle, Virginia cattle were infected by
Carolina cattle and by cattle introduced
by coastwise traders who traded be-
tween Cuba and other West Indian
Islands and the Main.

As the Spanish cattle spread over
Texas, and when the great markets of
the north began to require meat, the
Texas cattle were driven over trails
northward and spread the disease along
their route. The disease from these cen-
ters gradually spread unhindered by
law or man, until it was checked by the
laws of nature, which restricted the
distribution of the disease.

The Spanish invader on the continent
lico and California, and the North Euro- l was responsible for many things, but

•can or Indian cattle disease, distemper,
|red water, haematuria, splenic fever,
haemaglobinura, tick fever, acclimatiza-
tion fever, etc. I am, however, present-
ping this disease under the name of Texas
fever, not because Texas has anything
more to do witn the malady than some
of the other Southern States, but be-
cause it is tiie name the disease is pop-
[ulany Known by.

HISTORY.— In the 16th, 17th and 18th
[century this country was colonized by
two classes of people who brought their
cattle with them. Those of you who
are familiar with history will remember
[that the Spanish colonized the West In-
lies, Florida, Mexico, Texas, New Mex-

pean nations the thirteen colonies.
The Spanish endeavored to push north-
ward along the Atlantic Coist, or at
least to hold the southern advance of
the northern pioneers. Until the cattle
of the Spanish began to mingle with
those of the English, those of the latter
prospered and multiplied, but after that
[northern cattle died from Texas feyer

could he have planned, as diligently as
lie did inquisition methods, to have left
behind him a cattle plague, which would
harass his foemen, he could scarcely
have found a better means than by dis-
tributing this disease which time has
proved to have been the greatest known
curse to the stock industry of our south-
era. States.

2 TEXAS

NATURE OF THE DISEASE. — Texas fever
is directly due to the presence of a plas-
modium, or more correctly speaking a
haematozoa, an organism that lives
within the red blood corpuscles and

• ;:br*eaks tltejA :uj> &d destroys them. It
*wa*s discovered By Dr.. Theobald Smith

FEVER

somewhat eccentrically placed. Careful
focusing under the microscope leaves no
doubt as to their being bodies within
the corpuscles. They may occur singly
or in pairs or very rarely three or four
in the same corpuscle. When cover-
glass preparations are dried, fixed and

/• • j&« l§g£ v.rho ^

i.t the "Pyrosoma j stained with the ordinary analine dyes,

Bigemium" on account of its pyroform the intra-globular bodies stain as readily
outline and the fact that it often occurs as nuclei and bacteria, and hold the
in pairs within the corpuscle. i stain with similar tenacity. The small-

It maybe well to state at this time est forms then appear like deeply stained
that the germ of Texas fever is very dis- cocci about % to 1 micron (1-50,000 to
tinct in its origin, mode of development 25,000 inch) in diameter, situated
and attack from the anthrax germ and j within the circle of the corpuscle. Oc-
has absolutely no connection with it, in
spite of the misnomer of "splenic fever"
occasionally given to Texas fever by
those ignorant of its cause and dissemi-
nation. The germ of Texas fever is pecu-
liar to the Southern States and cannot
live outside of an animal iu the Northern
States, whereas the anthrax germ can

casionally the bodies are nearly two
microns (1-12,000) inch in diameter
and in these the staining may
be less intense. Besides the spheri-
cal forms ovide forms are frequent-
ly observed. These usually occur in
pairs \uthin the red blood cor-
puscle. Still another, the pear shaped

be transplanted any where and can thrive | form, is encountered in stained prepara-
on mountain peaks and marahy bottoms, tions of the blood. These are rounded
The germ of Texas fever does not belong at one pole and pointed at the other
to the class of bacteria, but to the "pro- | and are described by some as being
tozoa." It is not a microscopic plant, drawn out as a short filament. These
as is the germ of anthrax, but belongs forms invariably occur in pairs, a cor-
to the lowest forms of the animal king- puscle being occupied by a single pair.
dom. It kills by the direct destruction Some investigators claim that .he pair is
of the red blood corpuscles and not by | the result of a division of the single
the secretion of a poison. A correct ap- j body within the corpuscle. One other
preciation of the difference between the ' abnormal form has been described as
two diseases is very important in ( being found in the blood and may w-.-ll
regulating measures necessary for ; be mentioned. When dried cover-glass
their prevention, especially as it has is stained with the usual analine dyes a
been claimed in the past by those ignor- ; few red blood corpuscles appear as if
ant of its true nature, that Texas fever their surface had been dusted over with

was "anthracoid"
The pyrosoma

in character,
bigemium in Texas

minute specks of coloring matter. Whe-
ther they are due to anaemia, improper

fever is represented by peculiar bodies j staining, or whether they are connect-
in the red corpusles. i ed with the life history of the parasite,
In fresh blood they are visible as

round or oval bodies, nearly colorless
from Yz to 2 microms (1-50,000 to 1-12,-
000 inch) in diameter on the disk of the
red blood corpuscles, and are usually

remains to bd determined experimently.
As to the relative number of parasites
in the different parts of the body of the
same animal, it may be stated that
about 20 per cent of the red blood cor-

TEXAS FEVER

puacles in the blood of the superficial
circulation containing the parasite in
acute cases, while about 80 per cent of
the corpuscles in the kidneys, spleen,

we can realize what a task is imposed on
the excretory organs in disposing of the
waste products due to the wholesale des-
truction ot red blood corpuscles, the re-

iiver and heart (right Ventricle) con- j mains, as it were of the destroyed cor-

tains the intra-globular bodies.
This organism does not belong to the

puscles and their coloring matter must
either be converted into bile or execre-

class of diseases producing organism ted unchanged. The natural result of
known as bacteria but to the class known | the effort to excrete this material by
as micro-parasites or protozoa. So many I the liver is extensive disease of that
people have got into the habit of class- j organ.

ing this disease in the same category The bile secreted by the liver contains
with anthrax, when the fact is that if 8O much 8olid debris that U occlude8
we omit the note mortem symptoms of the bile capillaries, this in time inter-
the affected animal, no similaritv what- fere8 with the ™trition °f the liver and
ever exists. This is a point that ! ^tty degeneration is the result, conse-
should receive careful notice as it is of ^aentl-v' the PM'-'logical functions of

the greatest importance when we come
to the consideration of methods toward
the eradication and control of these two
diseases.

This organism multiplies with great
rapidity in the blood causing an enor-
mous destrnction of red blood corpuscles
in a few days. For instance, during
health, there are about 5,500,000 red
blood corpuscles in a cubic millimeter
of blood, but in Texas fever actual count
shows that the ravages of this organism
reduces the number as low as 1,500,000
at which point the animal usually dies.
Or to put it in another form, according
to experimental determination by the
U. S. Bureau of Animal Industry which
consists in counting the number of cor-
puscles in a given quantity of blood from
day to day in an animal affected with
this disease in the acute form, shows

the liver are suspended. The kidneys
are the organs where the greatest num-
ber of corpuscles contain the parasite;
as a consequence ereat destruction of
corpuscles take place in these organs,
hence the reason of the blood colored
urine in these cases due to the hemo-
globin of the destroyed blood corpuscles,
this condition is so constant in cases of
Texas fever that it may almost be con-
sidered as pathognomonic.

That the cause of Texas fever is the
above mentioned red blood corpuscle
estroying micro-organism, there jan be
no possible doubt as its presence in the
Llood ot affected animals can be always
demonstrated. The evidence in support
of this statement may be briefly sum-
marized as follows:

1st. — That microscopicol examinations
show the constant presence of the micro-
parasite in the red blood corpuscles of

that the corpuscles contained in from i infectuous southern cattle.

five to ten pounds of blood may be des-
troyed within 24 hours. The importance

2nd. — That microscopical examina-
nations show the constant presence of

of this is apparent when we realize that the same micro parasite, but in greatly

in a steer weighing 1,000 pounds the
blood in his body will probably amount
to about 50 pounds. Reasoning from
the above facts it is easy to understand
the manner in which the symptoms and
post-mortem lesions are produced and

increased numbers in the blood corpus-
cles of northern cattle suffering from
Texas fever.

3rd. — That microscopical examinations
show the absence of the micro-parasite
in the blood of healthy northern cattle.

4 TEXAS

4tu§ — That microscopical examination
shows the absence notwithstanding the
result of BilHngs investigations, in the
blood of an animal affected with Texas
fever, of other organisms when the ex-
aminations was made previous to death
or very soon after.

5th.— It has been demonstrated that
the intravenous injection of blood from
infectious southern cattle into northern
cattle resulted in the contraction of Tex-
as fever by the latter. In these cases
the presence of the micro-parasite was
demonstrated by microscopic examina-
tion.
•MANEER OF TRANSMISSION. — In the

year 1889-90 Dr. F. L. Kil borne dem-
onstrated that the transmission of the
pyrosoma bigemium from southern cat-
tle to native northern cattle in natural
outbreaks is effected by the Texas fever
cattle tick (Boophilus Bovis) "Ox Idv-
ing") and by this means only, and this
claim is substantiated by the following
experiments :

1st.— Northern cattle were exposed for

.several weeks to southern cattle, the lat-
ter being infested with ticks. Results :—
The native northern cattle contracts!
Texas fever. Young ticks were found
upon them. The pyrosoma, bittemium,
upon microscopical examination was?
•found in their blood.

2nd. — Northern cattle were exposed
to southern cattle from which ticks had
been removed, the ticks having been
picked off by hand. Result:— Northern
cattle showed no signs of fever.

3r(jt — A pasture was infested with ticks
taken from southern cattle, no southern
cattle were admitted to the pastures
Northern cattle were turned into the
pasture. Result: Texas fever and death.

4th, — Young ticks hatched artificially
from eggs laid by adult ticks picked
from southern cattle were placed upon
northern cattle. Result :— Texas fever
and death. Pyrosoma bigemium dem-
onstrated in the blood by microscopical
examination.

FEVER

5th. — Experiments were made showing
the disease is not transmissible by means
of the excretions of southern cattle.

The above experiments have on nu-
merous occasions, been repeated and
corroborated, by the Bureau of Animal
Industry, Experimental stations of Tex-
as, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and
other southern states situated on and
below the Federal quarantine line, sep-
erating the infected from the non-infec-
ted district. Consequently, notwith-
standing the skepticism of stockmen
throughout the south we are absolutely
bound to acknowledge the fact that the
tick is the sole transmitter of the pyro-
soma bigemium in natural outbreaks of
Texas fever.

THE TICK. — There are some people who
still believe that the tick in itself is the
cause of all the trouble and that the
death of affected animals is due to the
abstraction of blood by them. The fal-
facy of this idea appears when we rea-
lize that the ticks ordinarily found upon
cattle dead or dying are still quite small
and have scarcely begun to draw blood
on a large scale. Moreover if such an
idea had any foundation how can the
fact be explained that there is such an
extensive destruction of red blood cor-
pubdes within the animal bod}', which
is demonstrated by the presence of color-
ing matter in ^the urine, the thick bile
ami the presence of pigment in the kid-
neys and liver?

The cattle tick, Ixodes Bovis (Riley)or
Boophilus Bovis aa its name indicates
is a parasite peculiar to cattle in the
southern part of the United States, Mex-
ico and the West Indian Islands. It
belongs to the group of Artnropode and
to the genus Ixodes (Boophilus) which
is included in the order of Acanna. Its
life history is quite simple and easily
traced from one generation to another.
It is essentially a parasite, attaching it-
self to the skin and drawing the blood

TEXAS FEVER

of its host. It is unable to come to
maturity and reproduce its kind unless
it becomes attached to the skin of cattle
or horses whence it may obtain nour-
ishment.

The eggs laid on the giound after the
female has dropped from the host begin
to develop at once. When the embryo
is fully formed within the shell it rup-
tures this and gains its freedom. The
time required from the laying of the
egg to the hatcning varies considerably
according to the temperature. In my
laboratory where the eggs were placed
with some moist earth and grass in a
fruit jar on the top and outside of the
incubator, at a tern perature ranging from
70 to 80 degrees Fah., this was accom-
plished in 22 days. This was in the
summer lime. In the late fall under the
same conditions it would undoubtedly
take a much longer period. The larva
after emerging from the egg is very min-
ute, is six legged, and just visible to the
naked eye. If the larvae be kept on
mois* earth in a covered jar they may
remain alive for months, but there is
no appreciable increase in size. As
soon, however, as they are placed on
cattle growth begins.

On pasiures the parasite soon finds
its way upon bovine animals. They
attach themselves by preference to the
tender skin of the escutcheon, the inside
of the thighs and the base of the udder.
Yet they may be found on different
parts of the body, such as the neck,
chest, ears, etc.

In about a week after the tick in its
larval stage becomes attached to the
skin of cattle, it goes through the pro-
cess known as molting, and the second
or nymphal stage of the parasite life
commences. After this stage you will
notice it has four pair of legs. In about
another week molting takes place again,
when the tick passes from the nymphal
stage to the sexual or adult stage. Im-

pregnation now takes place, and with
the development of the ova in the body
the parasite takes in an increased quan-
tity of blood, so that it becomes very
much larger in a tew days, this applies
more especially to the female tick. The
rapid growth of the tick at this time is
mainly due to the large quantity of
blood it takes into its body. When the
female has reached a certain stage of
maturity it drops to the ground and de-
posits her eggs which in due time are
hatched out and the above life history
is repeated, provided conditions, climate,
etc., are favorable.

iSouthern cattle sent North during the
spring and early summer carry on their
bodies large numbers of ticks. These,
when matured drop off and lay eggs on
northern pastures. These hatch and
the young ticks soon get upon northern
cattle which happen to be in the pas-
ture, and attach themselves to the skin
when they inoculate the cattle with the
pyrosoma bigemium and fever breaks
out in fron? one to three weeks there-
after. W'hen the weather is cool as in
the autumn this period may be a little
longer.

When northern cattle graze upon pas-
tures over which southern cattle have
passed, tne time when the disease ap-
pears depends upon circumstances.
When northern cattle are put upon pas-
tures immediately after southern cattle
have infected them with ticks, it may be
from thirty to sixty days or even longer,
before the disease appears. This will be
readily understood when we recall the
life history of the tick. The southern
cattle leave onlv matured ticks which
have dropped irom them. These must
lay their eggs and the latter be hatched
out before any ticks can get upon the
northern cattle.

If on the other hand northern cattle
are placed upon pastures which have
been infected some time before with
ticks, the disease will appear much

6 TEXAS

sooner, for the reason that young ticks
may be already hatched and attack the
cattle at once, in such an event the dis-
ease may appear in 10 or 12 days. It will
be easily seen theretore that the length
of time elapsing between the exposure
of northern cattle on infected fields and
the appearance of the disease will de-
pend entirely upon the date of original
infection and on climatic conditions.

The fever always appears before the
ticks have matured. In fact they are
still small enough to be overlooked bv a
casual observer. After the acute stage
of the disease has passed the ticks begin
to swell up and show very plainly.

SYMPTOMS, ANTE-MORTEM AND POST-
MORTEM.— The ears of the animal droop,
its movements become sluggish, and se-
cretions retarded, especially in milch
cows, appetite at first continues as well
as rumination, disposition to lie down
soon makes itself apparent, and wher-
ever pools exist the sick animal seeks
them out to lie in.

A slight cough is sometimes noticed,
depression of the head, drooping ears,
arched back hollow flanks, with a ten-
dency to draw the hind leg under the
body, and knuckling over in the hind
fetlocks, are early and very marked
Phenomena. The skin seems dry and
attached, the foeces are not materially
affected but in some cases clots of blood
are attached to them. The urine is at
first clear but later becomes deeply
stained with the cololring matter of the
blood. The visible mucous membranes
are semewhat anaemic, but a hyperae-
mic condition may sometimes be ob-
served, accompanied by a viscid dis-
charge. The mucous membrane of the |
rectum is frequently iniected. The j
pulse is frequent, in the early stages j
hard and thin, it gradually becomes '
more feeble, and in the later stages, as
death approaches, it is impossible to feel
it. It varies from sixty to one hundred

FEVER

and twenty beats in frequency.

The thermometer is a valuable aid in
the diagnosis. The temperature is the
highest at the commencement, but be-
comes reduced with the approach of
death. The temperature of the external
parts varies, frequently the poll, ears and
extremities are very hot in the ac-
tive stage of the disease at other time,

j

i they are cold, particularly the posterior

extremities.

The respirations frequently rise as
high as 100 per minute, but in thecoma-
tosed condition they are slow, deep and
labored.

The nervous phenomena are very mark-
ed, tiembling of the muscles of the pos-
terior parts is very frequent, as well as
j ot the neck. Weakness of the limbs,
particularly the posterior is very com-
mon, so that many animals are unable
to rise, or if they get up, walk with a
feeble and tottering gait. Listlessness
indicates the approach of the end.

The state of the secretions is usually
indicative ot the course of the diseases
perspiration is much restricted, oedema
of the cutis is quite frequently met with-
The urine conta;ns albumen in large
quantities when haematuria is present.
In the case of milch cows the milk se-
cretion is almost if not entirely suspen-
ded.

In mo&t cases the depression increases,
the pulse becomes more leeble and ac-
celerated, respiration is labored and the
temperature falls to 100 or 98 Fah., and
the patient becomes outstretched upon
the ground and dies without a struggle.

The course of the disease is very var-
iably in duration. Death may ensue in
from three days to several weeks after
the beginning of the fever. Those that
recover ultimately, do so very slowly,
owing to the great poverty of the blood
in red blood corpuscles, The flesh is
regained very gradually, and the animal
may be subjected to a second, though

TEXAS

light attack later on in the autumn,
which pushes the full recovery onward
to the beginning of winter.

In the mild type of the disease which
occurs in October and November, symp-
toms of the disease are well nigh absent.
There is little if any fever, and if itnvere
not for the loss of flesh and more or less
dullness, the disease might pass un-
noticed, as it undoubtedly does in the
majority of cases. If, however, the
blood corpuscles are counted from time
to tin e a gradual diminishing number
will be found and after several weeks
only about one-fifth or one-sixth of the
normal number are present.

POST-MORTEM LESIONS. — The first
thing noticed when the skin is cut
through, is the absence of blood in the
superficial blood vessels. When the
abdominal cavity is laid open, the first
thing to attract attention is the uniform-
ly enlarged spleen which weighs from 2
o 10 pounds, its pulp is soft and degen- j
crated, when it is incised its contents
are found to be pulpy and blackish, and
may even ooze out as a disintegrated
mass. The markings of the healthy
spleen are all effaced by an enormous
number of blood corpusclas which have i
collected in that oryan and to which
the enlargement is due.

The liver IH larger than in the healthy
state, and has on its surface a pale yel-
lowish hue, when it is incised the yel-
lowish tinge is still more prominent.
This is due to the large amount of bile
in the bile ducts, which produces in
most cases degeneration of the liver
cells, which makes the organ lighter in
color.

The gall bladder is usually found dis- {
tended and filled with a viscid fluid.

The urinary bladder, invariably, in
acute cases contains urine which varies
in colors from a deep port wine to a light
claret. The kidneys are always found
congested in the acute attack.

FEVER ; 7

The lung, stomach and intestines are
as a rule not diseased. The heart us-
•usally shows patches of blood extravasa-
tion on the inside, usually in the left
ventricle, and sometimes, but less mark-
ed on the outside suface.

TREATMENT.— With regard to the cur-
ative treatment of Texas fever very little
need be said, as so far no successful
remedies has been discovered, but
should any one desire to apply treat-
ment I should recommend large doaesof
qunine and stimulants.

Preventitive treatment, however, is
of the utmost importance and is
easily considered. When we recall
what has been said with regard
to the cause of the disease, viz.:
That the boophilus bovi or cattle
tick is the only medium through
which the pyrosoma bigemium can
be transmitted, the methods towards
the prevention of this disease are
easily determined. Kill the tick and
no further trouble will be experienced.

In the first place cattle infested with
ticks should be dipped in an oily solu-
tion, as the oil is much more effective
than chemicals, and in the second place
disinfect the pastures. This is much
more difficult than destroying the ticks
on cattle. The following suggestions,
however, may be tried with a reasonable
hope of success, but of course only ap-
plies to localities that are permanently
affected with the tick. That is to say
localities in which it does not get cold
enough in the wint.er time to destroy
the tick.

Place no cattle on infested pastures.
Let the grass grow until of sufficient
length, when it may be mowed and
when dead and drv enough may be
burned. Let the burning take place
when the ground is thoroughly dry, so
that everything, including the old man-
ure and decayed vegetable matter may
be consumed. This, if properly done

8. TEXAS

should destroy all the ticks, but if not,
the ground being rendered bare and
every portion exposed, the freeze during
the succeeding winter should complete
the work. Hawever, as an additional
precaution against future loss we would
suggest the cultivation of the land for a
year or two. It might be sowed to oats
or in some small grain that would leav-
a stubble that could be burned in the
fall, thus leaving the ground bare each
winter after cultivation.

When the pasture is an enclosure of
woodland, or ground unsuitable for cul-
tivation, or cannot be clipped with the
mower, all that can be done is to en-
courage a vigorous growth and burn the
first opportunity after it is killed by
frosts. The leaves from the timber and
the grass that will grow on the spots
where the timber is thin will generally
be sufficient to give the desired heat if
a suitable time is selected for the work.
On spots so bare they will not af-
ford rubbish sufficient for burning, the
hard freeze that may be expected
through the winter will in all probab-
ility accomplish the desire end.

Lots and corrals that do not produce
sufficient growth for burning may be
sprayed with a mixture of kerosene ami
five per cent naphtha, or ten per cent
of gasoline. The spraying should be
sufficient to moisten all rubbish and
care should be taken to get it well
distributed over all the ground. Imme-
diately after spraying apply the match,
taking care to be so situated that you can
readily step out of the way of the flames,
as this solution will burn very rapidly.
Buildings and fences should be looked
after and such action taken before ap-
plying the solution as will protect them
from the conflagration, as you will have

by

FEVER

but little opportunity to make sue
arrangements atter the fire is
started.

Opened or enclosed grazing lands ma
be disinfected by the free use of fire.
the farmers and stockmen in an infect
vicinity would unite in the work an
prepare for the protection of thei
buildings and fences, large areas coul
be burned over with a fair prospect o
success by the heat occasioned by th
burning, or by the action of the frost o
the exposed surface.

The importance of disinfecting th
areas cannot be estimated. If no Btop
are taken to eradicate these parasi
when they are found, some of our terri
tory not already infected will become so
carrying with it not only severe loss
death of animals, but a material reduc
tion in prices when placed on tne mar-
ket.

In conclusion, permit me to say tha
citizens should, in the interests of the
cattle industry in the State of Calitoi-
nia, promptly report all cases of sus-
pected Texas fever and then unite with
the State Board of Health in prompt
and energetic measures for its control
and eradication.

As mentioned elsewhere in this paper
a host is necessary for the propagation
of the tick, and as ticks do not trave
far, the quarantining of infested grounds
would probably disinfect the ground
after a winter, but the burning measure
recommended should not be neglected
when it is practicable.

If horses and cattle are kept off the
infested pastures the tick will finally
die, as one of these hosts is necessary to
thpi propagation of these parasites. The
mating of the male and female must
take place on the host.

Compliments of F. J. SINCLAIR,

"EDITOR BUTCHERS' AND STOCKGROWERS1 JOURNAL"
628 MONTGOMERY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO

(;aylord Bros.

Makers
Syracuse, N. Y*

W. JHH. 21 jgog

YC 14854

U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES

1460

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY