Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-20
Miseella,leous.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
From the Maine Farmer. 1

AS your readers may be glad to learn
the more interesting facts elected at the
meeting of. the Cattle Commissioners of
the several States, at Albany, on the Sth
and 9th inst, | will say that it appeared
that the disease in New England seems to
be mostly under control, through the
efforts of the commissioners and their as
sistants, and of town officers; and is
spreading only where proper care is neg
lected. This is quite too frequent, how
ever, as many make light of it, and some
profess to think it only the old-fashioned
"ioul in the foot, which is a serious error
The consumption of beef, which in some
towns had fallen off 90 per cent, is re-
sumed to the extent of halt or more of
the former amount, under the assurance
that all beef animals are faithfully inspect
ed before slaughter. 1t does not appear,
however, that any such inspection is en-
forced in New York, where it is most
needed, for the reason that the yards at
Albany are infected, and the cattle which
are there rested and fed on their way from
the West Ga thousand or more daily, are
liable to contract the disease. and to come
down with it about the time they arrive in
New York, say three or four days. These
yards, and railroads connected thereat,
are, therefore effective for wholesale dis
semination of the malady. Efforts were
instituted for procuring from the Legisla-
ture of New York power and means for
putting q stop to this, and it is to be hoped
that they may be speedily etfectual. The
popular impression that workers" have
a way OF both doing and enduring, diff
ferent from what prevails in well regulated
Yankee towns, was corroborated rather
than refuted. How the disease was in
troduced into this country and first dis
seminated did not clearly appear; plenty
of knowledge probably exists, but most
of it is only in the possession of some who
have large private interests at stake, Gin
the reputation of costly herds of high-bred
animals), or of the veterinary surgeons
employed by the owners of such herds,
and who are as clOse-mouthed as physi-
clans are about disagreeable facts which
come to their knowledge in the sick room,
or priestly doctors, regarding the secrets
ofthe confessional.
The severest case mentioned was that
of farmer in Massachusetts who had 80
cows highly fed for the production ofwin-
ter milk, and ten fatting beasts. This
farmer. although he lost by death only two
or three, deemed his actual loss greater
than if he had killed and buried every ami
NAL on his farm before being attacked; as
he could, in such a case, restock his farm,
and resume his milk business; and the
injury to his beasts by loss Of flesh, broken
udders, lameness, and the care of treating
them, he considered equal to their value
at the outset--say, upwards of $1,000. But
in the great majority of cases, the disease
had been much lighter, and the total loss
and damage was variously estimated at
from not more than tenth in the lightest,
to third or half in the case of herds more
seriously affected. Plenty of evidence
came out that the milk is dangerous to
human and brute health. One man related
of his own son, a lad of five years, that,
by taking the milk of cow not then
known to be affected, but which soon af-
forwards showed the disease, the mouth
became lined with blisters, bad cracks ap-
peared on the hands, and he was feverish
and quite i'll.
In Connecticut sheep had contracted the
disease; and in New York dogs fed with
the milk in some cases had it, and in some
escaped the disease. The extremely con-
tagious character of the malady, and the
ease with which it is communicated, was
abundantly shown; single illustration
mere Whl SulllCc. ~ uTONcT
healthy cows in New York, and drove
them homeward to Massachusetts, and
sold on the way. At Albany they We're
in the yards, and contracted the disease,
but did not show any signs of it, nor was
the fact known to the drover, until his ar
rival at home. Several hours alter these
beasts had passed on a certain road, the
owner of a herd living there drove his
Il = tl~,
road; they never saw the affected beasts,
but in four days they were all lame, and
drooling at the mouth, and all the cows
sold on the route also carried the disease
where they were taken.
There is need of the utmost vigilance,
not only on the part of the State Cattle
Commissioners, but of all interested in
the growth and sale and use Of meat and
milk in Maine; and if we succeed in keep
ing oa such pest, there will be abund-
ant reason for thankfulness 5. l.. G..