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geons, these investigations must be carried on by the Government, either State or National, or both, because the private practitioner (I do not know of one graduate in all the affected country) can not give up his practice and provide the necessary outlay to conduct the investigations. But one thing I wish to say, the investigator will nowhere find more willing hands to aid him. I never met a more grateful people. When I informed them that I was sent by the United States Government to investigate the disease, they seemed to appreciate the fact that at last there was some hope of relief from this scourge to their fine country. Of course I met many people who had strong opinions of their own on the subject, and they had a right to them. Some would even get angry when I would question the soundness of their views, but these were exceptions, and generally those who were strong adherents of the cob-web theory, or a few people who would not acknowledge that their feed was moldy after I pointed out the defect. Nor can I forget to mention a class of gentlemen in North Carolina who, in every possible manner, assisted me in my investigations and inquiries. I refer to the physicians, whose parting words almost invariably were, "If I can do anything to help you in your work, let me hear from you." With such a state of affairs the future investigator need have no fears of failure when be begins his work next summer.

I have previously stated that I had never heard it hinted that cattle were affected with staggers. In this connection I will state that Dr. Jones, president of the North Carolina State board of health, informed me that one of his cows died last summer exhibiting symptoms similar to those of his horses that died of staggers. It is more than probable that the animal was affected with sporadic encephalitis, as it is the only cow I have ever had occasion to record as having been affected with staggers since I have been engaged in the investigation of the disease. So sure am I that this disease does not affect cattle that I would not have mentioned the above case were it not for the fact of my attention being attracted by the following: In a valuable work, called Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, by F. P. Porcher, M. D., Charleston, S. C. (?), I find among the description of plants, on page 599, "Atamasco Lily (Amaryllis atamasco, L.) Grows in damp soils; collected in Saint Johns; vicinity of Charleston, Ell. Bot. i, 384." This is supposed to produce the disease in cattle called staggers. From this we must infer that the cattle were affected with a disease called staggers, supposed to be caused by a plant, but the disease might be the popular "stomach staggers," and not an affection of the nervous system.

Elliott's Botany of South Carolina and Georgia, above referred to, edition of 1821, says: "Atamasco-Stagger-grass. Generally supposed to be poisonous to cattle, and produces the disease in calves called staggers."

Whether or not "stagger-grass" produces a disease called staggers is not the question at issue. The real question is, Do cattle suffer from the disease that affects horses, called staggers? This, I think, can be safely answered in the negative. If the nervous organization of mules is not sufficiently delicate to be affected by the poison, or whatever it is, that causes the disease in the horse, then we must admit that cattle are much less susceptible to its influences. In coming to this conclusion I am keeping in mind the fact that Southern cattle fever is caused by a vegetable germ, which has not been proved to affect any other animal. The derangement of the

nervous system, in Southern cattle fever, and, in fact, all its symp toms, bear a striking resemblance to the hemorrhagic malarial fever of man.

As regards the paramount question, i. e., the cause of this disease, I am satisfied that we must look to the feed for the cause. I am confident that this cause is in the nature of fungi, and that the fungi is produced where the disease occurs. Further than this I dare not venture at present. The only theory that has any ground for consideration, in opposition to this, is that of those who undoubtedly believe that staggers is due to miasmatic influences, and as their conclusion has been arrived at after much thought and observation, I must necessarily devote some attention to it. As there are different varieties of malarial fever, we will have to dispose of these in turn, in order to convince that in staggers we have not a malarial fever to contend with, and as malaria is given, at times, a rather broad and expansive meaning I will have to be more explicit. Those who contend that the disease is a malarial fever, invariably compare it with the malarial fevers of the human being. Well, let us do so. I am happy to say that the only variety of the malarial fevers that I ever came in contact with in a personal manner was that familiar variety called fever and ague. I "shook hands" with it often, but I have no desire to "shake" with it again, and from experience I can assert positively that it has no resemblance to staggers, and I think all who differ with me on the main point will admit there is no similarity between the symptoms of staggers and intermittent fever. Occasionally symptoms of remittent fever resembles staggers, such as drowsiness or delirium, but in staggers there are no remissions. There are symptoms of brain or spinal affection from the beginning to the termination of the disease, and in the rare instances where horses recover from the disease, there is almost certain to be some defect in the animal, showing that grave lesions of the nervous system existed during the progress of the disease in the system of the horse. I am informed that the people who live near some localities of the Northern lakes, suffer to such an extent with remittent fever, that it is there popularly called "lake fever." Why do we not hear of staggers in those places, occurring as an enzootic, if the staggers is identical with malarial remittent fever? We certainly must decide that staggers and remittent fever are not the same disease in different species. We will now consider that variety known as hemorrhagic malarial fever. To begin with, I will state that the first case of this disease ever recognized in the vicinity where I have been was in 1866. We have proof that staggers raged in that section at least one hundred years ago. For instance, take the statement of Mr. Nixon, who remembers the staggers for sixty years, and his father before him, who experienced the effects of it. Then we have the statement of the gentleman whose father and grandfather had experience with staggers. But notwithstanding the fact of hemorrhagic fever being a comparatively recent disease in that section, or that State, there are distinctions that show the two diseases are from different causes. Hemorrhages never occur in staggers, and they are never absent in the hemorrhagic form of malarial fever. Delirium, or coma, are often seen in the malarial disease, and often disappear without treatment, but most always yield to stimulants and quinine, showing that no inflammation of brain or its meninges existed. The cerebral disturbance is probably due to the deranged liver, reabsorption of bile,

or the effects of the malarial poison on the great nerve centers, or possibly may be caused by the condition of the blood itself. I have often witnessed these same symptoms in horses suffering with influenza, caused by derangement of the biliary apparatus. Hemorrhages are frequently passed with stools in the malarial disease, whilst in staggers the bowels are always inactive; the most drastic cathartics seldom move them. It is true, the urine is occasionally high colored, and may in rare instances contain coloring matter of the blood, but never blood in staggers, and in the great majority of the cases there appears to be a suppressing or retention of urine. Staggers occurs where there never has been a case of hemorrhagic malarial fever, e. g., three or four counties in Virginia. Malarial fevers occur in many places in the South where staggers is unknown.

I have given a brief description of Hog Island, in the James River. It is a low, marshy island, and there have been no malarial fevers of any variety on the island for at least four years to the knowledge of the civil engineer, who has lived there that length of time, and he does not think there was ever any fever on the island. He reasons thus:

Here we are, right out in the open river. It is four miles across to the main land on one side, and a background of trees behind us on the other side, and the wind has full play up and down the river. If any malarial poison arises from the marshes the wind comes along and carries it away with a full sweep as soon as the poison ascends and before it has time to do harm.

This must be the explanation, because there are a number of men working at dikes in the fields around the marshes, erecting buildings, making roads, and laying tiles, and no cases of malarial fever occur, whilst on the other hand 3 horses were stricken with staggers within two hours, and I am certain some of the feed was tainted sufficiently to produce disease.

If staggers was properly classified we would have no difficulty in illustrating the difference between it and malarial fevers in a more lucid manner than has been attempted in this paper. The difference between malarial fevers and epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis has been so thoroughly proved by Southern physicians that those who are acquainted with the facts do not consider the matter at all, and if staggers were known to be identical with epizootic cerebro-spinal meningitis the difference could be shown with as much ease.

By concluding that staggers is not due to miasmatic influences, I do not mean to infer that horses are not susceptible to malaria. I firmly believe that they are subject to malarial fevers, and I think I have seen cases of it. I merely hold the opinion that miasmatic influence does not cause staggers, and leave the question open whether horses are susceptible to malaria.

When I advance the idea that staggers may be caused by a fungus on the feed I do not mean to insinuate that I have made a discovery, because I have not. That part must be done by a specialist in that branch of botany, but the evidence of fungi is too plain to be overlooked by any one who thoroughly investigates this matter and all the circumstances connected therewith. I am well aware of the fact that the cryptogamic theory was advanced years ago to account for the origin of malarial and other epidemic fevers, and I know that veterinarians have held the opinion that certain outbreaks of cerebrospinal meningitis were caused by fungi; but in connection with this disease the question of the cause is more circumscribed. The dis

ease is of yearly occurrence in certain localities, and therefore there should be less trouble in getting the subject into a better light. The only thing certain about the matter at present is the fearful loss of horses annually; all else is theory or supposition. I have given you the facts as I have obtained them, along with my own observations. I have given the opinions of others as well as my own views, and have argued the questions according to my ability; not for the sake of argument, but to get the subject into a smaller compass so that in its consideration one would not have to cover so much ground.

In the absence of all knowledge of the pathology of this disease, and as it proves so rapidly fatal (with very rare exceptions), to advise a course of treatment is a speculation I do not care to indulge in at present. To try to prevent is the only course to pursue in the present state of our knowledge. In addition to the opinion I have given as regards the dietetic course I think should be followed, I will add Horses (or colts) should not be put to or allowed any severe exertion during the hot weather; should be watered, fed, and worked regularly, and at the first sign of indisposition should be taken to the stable and let remain there quietly until the owner is satisfied nothing materially ails the animal; but should he observe any signs of staggering gait, blindness, drowsiness, or difficulty in swallowing water, then administer carefully from six to twelve drams of aloes (if there is much difficulty in swallowing, this is easier said than done), and enjoin perfect quietness; injections of from one to two ounces of turpentine in warm water into the rectum several times a day; cold applications to the head, warmth to the spine, etc., may be tried. It would be a good idea to watch the state of the bowels carefully, and at the first sign of costiveness administer a laxative, such as four drams of aloes, and this might be done with benefit in the neighborhoods where there is an outbreak. Give, say, four drams of aloes once a week to each horse, and to colts in proportion.

Respectfully submitted.

W. H. HARBAUGH, V. S., Inspector of Bureau of Animal Industry.

RICHMOND, VA., December 13, 1886.

THE CATTLE INDUSTRY OF CALIFORNIA.

Hon. NORMAN J. COLMAN,

Commissioner of Agriculture.

SIR: In accordance with your instructions, I proceeded to California in October last to make an investigation of the cattle industry and the diseases affecting cattle in that State. The results of that investigation are herewith transmitted to you.

Before the advent of the farmer California was an ideal cattle range from the head of the Sacramento River to the southern line of the State. The broad valleys of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin stretched for hundreds of miles to the north and south, covered here and there with groves of live oak and intersected with fine running streams.

Bordered on the east by the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevadas and on the west by the Coast Range, with dozens of offshoots at various angles, the landscape was more entrancing than artist's imagination. could paint. The valleys were one vast field of afalfa, clover, and bunch grass, while the hills on the east were similarly clothed, and those on the west covered with wild oats. The Coast Range of mountains, from a point of 100 miles north of the bay of San Francisco southward, is a pastoral region. Its rounded sides, abrupt bluffs, and towering summits are carpeted with the most nutritious grasses, and afford a world of most excellent range for cattle. The table-lands, mountains, and valleys in the country south of the head of the San Joaquin are quite similar in character to the country above mentioned, save that in many parts the grass is less luxuriant, with occasional stretches of semi-desert.

Before the days of "forty-nine" the Mexican vaquero was there, and hundreds of thousands of cattle roamed at will over the grassy plains or climbed the hill-sides.

Previous to the influx of the gold hunters, the cattle were slaughtered for their hides and tallow, these being shipped by vessel around Cape Horn to New York and Europe. This practice prevailed for some years after the American settlement, because there were more cattle than the market demanded. The population of the coast rapidly increased and the gold mines naturally drew to them a portion of those engaged in cattle raising, so that for a few years the herds were neglected and a very material decrease in the number of cattle occurred up to about 1854. About this time large numbers of the new settlers engaged in the ranching business, and the herds. rapidly multiplied. By 1862 there were so many cattle in the State that the question of a market was a very serious one. The annual consumption was estimated at 400,000 head, and the annual increase was 600,000. The range being full, this annual surplus of 200,000 coming on had to be disposed of in some way. Accordingly cattle men's conventions were called at several places in the State during

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