Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-01-27

the cattle disease now prevailing lh new
York and other States, was presented TO
the Board Of Health Of New York by
Sanitary Inspector Morcau Davis ;
10 ne Bod1f u Hsahh; have the
honor 20 present the following informa-
ton concerning the disease now ~ prov
alent among cattle aud dairy herds in
this State, called the Foot and Mouth
nisease-teehnically EpiEotic Aptha. la
tracing the source Of this diseaae-new
10 this conntry-it has been satisiaeto-
rily demonstrated that il was recently
imported from Europe by way Of Cana
ia. SO contagious ii It's character that
IN short time IL communicates to herds
aud markets 10y means of railroad trans
portation aud the fact is now well es-
tahlishcd, that the ears themselves, as
we'll as the yards in which diseased cattle
have been but short time, are the
means of propagating the infection to
healthy stock. The disease is by no
means fatal in its character, but rapidly
depreciates the value of the stock both
for market and dairy purposes, The
animal loses tlesh rapidly, and the milk
reduces in quantity.
In the last Annual Report for 1869,
of the Medical officer OF the Privy Coun-
ell in England, containing report dated
November 80. 1869, 10y DIR, Thome, ON
the Effects produced on the human
subject by the consumption Of milk
from cows having the Foot and Mouth
Disease" there appear the following
conclusions THAT disease appears
20 have been produced in the human
subject when the milk Of cows suffering
from the Foot and Mouth Disease has
been freely used without being boiled.
There is no evidence 10 show whether
this affection is of specific nature or
not, but il seems TO consist of derange-
ment Of the ahmentary canal, aecompa-
MED by febrile disturbance, the presence
of vesicles ON the mucous membrane OF
the mouth and tongue, which, having
ruptured, leave superficial alterations,
and at times an herpotic eruption about
the exterior of the lips
In pursuing his inquiries as 10 what
unhealthy effects is produced in the hu-
man subject by eating the flesh Of ami
mails that have been suffering from this
disease, he SAYS "The disease is SO
early fatal that farmers and dairymen
are not in the habit Of killing the ami
mails when they are attacked but IL a
few days after butcher has bought one
or more of them he finds them ailing he
invariably kills them at once, and exposes
the flesh for sale, immediate slaughter
being the inyariable rule on account OF
the rapid emaciation with which the epi-
Eotie is accompanied" He was also in
formed by Prof. Simmons, that in Lon
don cattle markets, which sre held once
or twice week, there have been diseased
animals Off and on for the last six months
and during the last two months the ay-
erage number affected has been ten 10
fifteen per cent.
These are all killed and eaten. For
which are found 10 be suffering from the
disease, must be slaughtered within ten
days after their landing but tho butch
ers, as a rule, have them killed immedi-
ately at the wharyes in order 10 avoid
any loss which might ensue from emaci-
alton. Hence, considerable number
of cattle are killed in the height Of the
disease, and their flesh is often sold "a
tirst-claSs meat. In no instance have
heard that any disease in the human sab
iect has been attributed 10 the use Of
such flesh.
The State Cattle Commission, in view
of these facts, have been untiring in their
efforts tG arrest the further spread OF
this disease throughout the State ; and
adjoining States, through their Boards
of Agriculture, have been and are TAX
ing every precaution 20 the same end,
so far as their powers extend. In this
State the instructions to the Assistant
Commissioners have been explicit. from
the first knowledge of the presence OF
this disease, both a. 10 placing in quar-
antine whatever animals may be found
sick, and az the same time 20 prevent
the sending Of milk to the city from
dairies where the cows have been NO
affected, and rs 20 liberal use Of jisin-
fectants in cars and yards. These pre-
cautions il was thought would prevent
the further spread Of this disease among
cattle, and at the same time protect the
public health in the nse of unwholesome
milk. This has been done rigidly in
every instance, as am informed. by As
sistsat Commissioners; by DIR. Guerney,
in DutchcSs county Hnd by Mr.. Dayton,
in Queens courty. In Dutchess county
the Doctor informs the. he has already
quarantined over 1000 head OF cattle, q
large proportion Of which were dairy
COWS
AZ Albany. being n central point for
the distribution of stock eastward, the
Assistant Commissioner, DIR. Stimson,
has endeayored 10 prevent its further
spread by great care in watching and
quarantining whatever could be dlscoy-
cred passing through it.
In our own cattle yards this disease
has been disc, vered among beef cattle
and cows on sale for daily purposes. The
rule has been to allow animals TO he
killed unless very badly diseased, rs
there is yet no evidence which proves
that their flesh is unhealthy as human
food but cows or other animals are not
allowed 10 leave the quarantine 20 COM
municate the disease 10 other herds un-
I'll they have entirely recovered. Advices
received this day inform me that the
disease is subsiding in Dutchess county,
No milk is allowed 10 be sent from dairy
cows suffering with the disease for thir-
ty days, affording ample time for CON-
plete recovery.
The symptoms OF this disease, as given
by Prof. Low, Of Cornell University, are
so obsious that any person may be able 10
recognize il at once. An affected ami
nal appears duh and listless for day or
two, with loss OF appetite, and, in COWS,
a falling off in the quantity Of milk, hot,
dry mouth grinding Of the teeth and
drooling tenderness of the udder, teats
and feet, MS il 10 get rid Of some irritat-
ing matter on the second and third day
abundant frothing at the mouth, smack
ing Of lips and tongue-lameness, and the
formation OF blisters Of various sizes mp
10 an inch or more across on the mouth,
udder and teats, and between the hoofs
In one or two days more these bllsters
burst, leaving raw sores and shreds OF
loose skin inside the upper lip, on the
roof OF the mouth, the tongue, the teats
and between the hoofs.
These discharge an irritating fluid for
some time, and scab over and heal up,
in favorable cases, in from ten TO fifteen
days The sick beasts should be well
nourished with soft mnshes and gruels
Cooling. but not purgative medicines
should bc given, and the sores washed