The Portland daily press., 1884-02-18

periepced from the Caspian sea to the Atlantic
ocean.
1S4l, from Canada, where it had been carried
by diseased cattle sent from England. Aph-
thous fever is an eruptive, highly contagious
and infectious disease, affecting the mucous
membrane, and the inter-digital space Of such
animals as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and In
some instances 1t has been transmitted to peo-
pie, horses, dogs and poultry. We know no
more OF the causes which develop this malady,
than we do of those of varioloid, or pleuro-
pneumonia. Every causa that tends to dimin-
ish health has been invoked; but no sooner is
1t investigated than it is found to be important
to deal with the disease. The acute symptoms
Of this disease are characterized by an erup-
tion Of vesicles, or blisters, in the mouth, and
on the internal surface Of the lips, and on
parts of the body where the skin Is thin, as on
the udder and between the claws. Ii passes
through different phases, reckoned as fever,
eruption, liberation, and deesiccation. There
is always an increase of temperature, the
mouth being hot and inflamed, the membrane
being covered with yiscid mucous, which flows
in stringy masses from the lips. There ia
grinding of the teeth, and smacklng or
clicking noise, pathuomonic OF the disease.
The LESSONS of the feet are preceded by pain,
manifested by restlessness, frequent lifting and
shaking of the fore and hind feet, and is rapid
ly followed by DEVELOPMENT of resicae, gener-
ally between the digits, and often extending
almost all round the coronet. There is consid-
cradle lameness, and the animal prefers to
maintain recumbent position. In the severer
forms, too, abortion occurs, and in all cases the
animals are very much reduced in condition;
10 per cent. being given as the average loss oy
death, when the disease Is most severe. One
attack Of this disorder does not secure immu-
nifty from another, and from cattle who are es-
pecially affected by 1t, and are the most impor-
tant bearers of contagion, it will spread to the
human subject, and the horse. AS rule,
however, the fever runs its course, without
much constitutional disturbance in from eight
to fifteen days, and its termination is generally
favorable under good conditions of hygiene
and careful nursing, though convalescence is
generally slow. The contagion is both fixed
and "yolatile,s according to the opinions OF
the best authorities, but its volatility is feeble,
and it exists in its most concentrated form in
the lymph, or serum of the vesicles, and in the
saliva, but this is not the exclusive vehicle, the
milk, as well as the blood, containing it. IL is
also present in the volatile, as we'll as its fixed
condition in the excretions. Four weeks,
after the disappearance OF the diseases
the dung of infected animals has
caused an outbreak in team of oxen, employ
ed in carrying it away from the farm and
ploughing it into the ground, and these oxen
contaminated other creatures. Zundel has
known the virus to be preserved a long time in
the forage, and in the walls, or in the air con-
fined in the stables. The period of incuba-
to six days, though it has been known TO be as
long as ten or twelve days. The mortality
from the disease is the least in the case OF
adults and the most severe in what is desig-
mated the catarrhal" or typhoid" form, and
during the prevalence OF the malady in
Switzerland in 1889, more than 1000 cattle per-
ished in the Alpine pastures OF Friborge.
When it is considered how rapidly animals
lose condition, especially fat stock; what losses
occur when il appears among mich cows, or
Al
ment 1t may, from its presence occasion to agri-
culture, and the cattle and milk trade; as well
as the expense OF curative measures; 1t cannot
be doubted for moment that this is a great
scourge, even under the most favorable Cir
cumstances. The money loss, (direct) from
the malady in England has already been esti-
mated at $75, ,000, GOO. When the disease ap-
pears, isolation and disinfection, must be look
ed upon as the principal measures to be enforc-
ed. The healthy animals must be separated
from the diseased, and not allowed to travel
the same roads, nor to drink from the same
watering places. The ANIMALS should be kept
in clean, well ventilated stables, and fed on
soft, easily digested food, with free access to
cold water, and while it is unanimously agreed
by the principal veterinary authorities that the
flesh of affected animals is not injurious as
food, it is not 50 with regard to the milk al
though all authorities admit the harmlessness
of the milk when 1t is boiled. 1t is hoped that
the pre- sent measures promptly adopted and
rigidly enforced, by the selectmen and cattle
commissioner, will keep the disease within its
present limits, and if any other cases should
occur, they should be at once reported to the
proper authorities If this is done l have
every confidence in its early suppression, and
permanent removal from our State. The first
and most important indication of sanitary sci-
ence. is the prevention of contagious diseases,
and the next is their suppression when they
have appeared. These Indications should. as
have already insisted upon, be the subject of
legislative measures which must be carried out
by skilled agents, whose efforts should be Sec
onded by the hearty CO operation of those for
whose benefit a veterinary sanitary service is
maintained.
The QUARANTINE STATION.
AT the quarantine station, which is In
charge of Mr.. David Shattuck, the assistant
superintendent, were found twenty-nine cat
tie which had the disease, twenty-seven of
them of the importation from England. one
belonging to Mr.. Shattuck and one to Mr..
Albion Little, although in Mr.. Shattuck' g
charge when taken sick, There were twenty
eight in the importation but one has not been
affected although kept with the others all the
time. Among these cattle the disease took q
very mild form and they are all nearly recov-
cred from it. The COW first taken was chew
of sickness.
LEMUEL RoLFE'S FARM.
At the farm of Mr.. Lemuel Rolfe were
found twelve sick with the disease, one, an
OK, dangerously sick. Strange to say his
mate, who has stood by him and eaten from
the same manger all the time has not been af-
fectsd at all. With the exception of the OK
the cattle will all recover.
JAMES L. WEST FARM.
Mr.. James L. West was next visited +,
and here were found nine sick, all of his herd
but one, COW, which had not been touched by
the disease. They were all recovering howev-
er and none of them will die.
JAMES L. PIERcE's FARM.
The last place visited was that of Mr.. James
L. Pierce, who has one yoke of oxen danger
ousy ill. Mr., Pierce Immediately on discov-
ering the disease, separated the cattle from the
others and none of them have been affected a:
yet.
DR.. e. F. THAYER.
DIR. e. F. Thayer of West Newton, Mass,
who examined the cattle on their arrival here
was at the quarantine farm and made the fol
lowing statement: DR.. Thayer has been COM
missioned by the government for this duty
since 1862 with the exception OF Two or three
years in which he resigned, and now mas charge
of the examination at this station and the one
at Waltham, Mass The doctor said: 81 wen
on board of the ship with Mr.. Shattuck and
examined every animal of this importation.
found every one of them apparently in the
most perfect health. There was not particle
OF saliva running from the mouth, character
istic symptom of sphthous fever. Every ami
NAL was eating, or had eaten, every particle Of
food in the manger and some of them were lap
ping the manger or chewing their cud
would here remark that owing to the preva
lence of this fever in the old country, the mos
careful and special attention was paid to eacl
animal in the inspection. Knowing Of its ex-
istencs there, have always exercised the mos
careful scrutiny in relation to the matter.
found every animal in perfect health so far a
the eye could discover and so gave certifcat
/ returned home and on the 9TH wal
notified by the assistant, Mr.. Shattuck, b,
telegram, that foot and mouth disease hat
appeared. On the 9th I arrived here ant
made an examination OF those represented tt
be i'll, and although there were some Of tn,
symptoms present, taking into consideration
the fact that they had an unusually rough voy
age, the evidence was that the lesion in tn,
mouth resulted from injury. There was not
vesicle to be found-one of the most character
istic LESSONS found in this malady. There wer
two animals that had sores between the claws