To support those assertions, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, praised state efforts in connection with the FLDS raid and described the situation that led to the raid as "a great human tragedy. ... As a human being, none of us like human misery, nor do we like the abuse of children. We have a saying here: 'Don't mess with Texas.' I'm going to change it up and say, 'Don't mess with the children of Texas."'

Also speaking at the news conference was Dr. Adolfo Valadez, assistant commissioner with the state Department of Health, who has been on-site with the children. He has overseen the delivery of medical care for the children, including "strict and stringent infection control policy."

The care, which includes mobile clinics and a variety of nursing staff, is not unlike care delivered during the height of Texas hurricane season. He said that two or three more cases of chicken pox have been detected among the children, bringing the total to 23 so far. At the outset of the raid, officials said that several children were ill with the common childhood disease.

On Tuesday, the doctor said there were no children in isolation, but he did not rule out the possibility of additional chicken pox cases because of its long incubation period.

In other developments, a spokeswoman with the State Bar of Texas said that, so far, 350 attorneys had stepped forward to render their services in the representation of children seized from the YFZ Ranch.

"I'm very pleased with the Texas response," said Kim Davey, bar spokeswoman.

While the majority of the attorneys who have stepped forward have specialized training in family law, Davey said, others came from various unrelated disciplines. Those attorneys have received a quick tutorial to help them in their duties.

"They understand what they need to know to serve as an attorney ad litem," Davey said.

The attorneys are in a wait-and-watch mode until the outcome of a Thursday hearing, which Davey described as something that's going to be "phenomenal. ... Of course, each child constitutionally is entitled to have an attorney."

She added that the unusual aspects of this case — 416 children are in state custody — represent a challenge for Texas lawyers, but one she thought they would be able to handle.

The Texas Bar Association has 80,000 members.

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E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com