The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-03-15
p~r-sf@-
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
Kansas is terribly excited over the ap.
pearance among her herds of the dreaded
foot and mouth disease. II first showed it
self about New Year among the herd of A,
c. Goodrich in Coifcy county, and since then
has spread To other herds in that and the
adjoining county of WOodSon. At first the
trouble was supposed to be mere atfec-
ton caused by the unusual spell of Intense
IL cold weathcrthat had visited that region,
freezing the parts affected, but later devcl-
opments leave no room To doubt that il Is
the dreaded foot and mouth disease so
greatly dreaded by Stocllmen all the world
over
The excitement ON the subject led To Il
visit of the Governor Ia the infected dis
trict, accompanied by staff of vetenari-
ans, whose examination left no room for
doubt as 10 the nature of the malady
They announced the result of their inNpec-
IlbIl III II DullllN ht AN'''''' va Wv
It'll, where GOV. Click, in Il well timed ad-
dress. counseled immediate action and
strict quarantine He thought if $4,000
or $50 900 could be raised 10y the Boards of
Commissioners of the two counties, and,
udiciously used, the disease could be
checked where il is and he had no doubt
but that the next Legislature would REIN
burSe the counties for the expense, lie
urged the appointment of a committee OF
the best citizens TO take action, and the
people to stand by the committee.
TO show the seriousness of the calamity
that has fallen upon Kansas should the eff.
forts fail to stamp it out, we give few eN-
tracts showing the history and character of
the disease
WHAT Is KNOWN or THE DISORDER
Foot.and mouth disease known also rs
aphthous-fever, aphthongular disease, vesi-
cilhr murmin, and eczema epizootica,made
its appearance in or near Russia, travelling
thence to the extreme west of Europe, fol
lowing always the routes of commerce.
1t appeared in many countries OF Europe
about the beginning of the present cen
fury, prevailing more particularly IN Ger
many in the years 1909 to 1911, but men
ton is made of its ravageS in Silesia in
1886 In 1899 the disease was first OBJ
served in Great Britain, where it must
have appeared in 1898. in the spring and
summer of which year it ragged in l.ithra-
MIA, and Little Russia. Ii appeared that
year in Pomerania, chiefly along the coast
of the Baltic, where the disorder had pre-
viouSly been unknown, the oldest lnhabit
ant being unable To remember the vista
ton of any similar disorder
The disease is described by those who
seem To be best informed regarding it, ma
ture, aS being one Of the most infectious
and contagious maladies which infect do
mestic animals and the easiest of trans
mission The milk of animals suffering
from this malady causes death in their
Young, and in the young OF other species
in most cases before ii is discovered that
the dams are ailing. The milk is fatal 70
infants Stockings, particularly pigs, die
without showing any premonitory Nymp
toms of illness, and post mortem eNamln-
alton disclo,cs few of the usual signs OF
disease
VITALITY OF THE VIRUS.
The vitality of the virus is generally be
lievrd to he comparatively short, about
thirty DAYS, vet evidence exists showing
that thu germs of the infection have been
preserved for long time in forage which
had been exposed 10 the air expelled from
the lungs of the diseased animals. One of
II -, Australia il rnnprtnI IN.
have arisen from the importation of bull
or a COW which showed no sign of sick
ness on the voyage The infection is be
lieved to have been concealed i'll the last
lot of hay fed To the animals on shiphoard.
An English farmer who had lost heavily
from the aphthOuS fever, quaiantined lot
of cattle bought at Kingston Fair in yard
where they remained more than month
without showing any symptoms oil disease.
Al the end of that time he fed them from
troughS brought from Il distant held.
These troughS had lain exposed for four
months 10 the rain, and snow, and iroSts OF
winter after the last lot of SICK cattle had
fed from them, In three days after the
new lot of stock began feeding from those
troughs foot and mouth disease appeared
in the herd. In another case quoted 10y
VALLEY, stack of hay preserved the virus
five months, and soon the cattle which were
then fed from it sickened and died. Hay,
straw, manure, grain, roots, grass, blankets,
ropes, fences, stock cars, clothing, and other
articles with which the ailing animals come
into contact, especially those upon which
their saliva falls, will convey the conta-
gion. The disease may be spread by the
feet of pigs, of birds, Of wild animals, and
of man.