The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-22
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.


The Plague that il Playing Havoc Among
the Stock-Raising Interests of the West
Public aud Private Measures to be Taken
tn Prevent its Spread-Reports from vari-
Gus Sources.
Dies MONIES IA, March II.
Governor Sherman has received two let
tiers from Louisa County stating that the
foot and mouth disease had evidently
broken out among the cattle of that re-
gion. The letter from the Town Clerk
of Wapello Township says that a meeting
of the Township Trustees was called for
the purpose of taking action in regard to
an epidemic believed to be what is called
the foot and mouth disease of cattle,
which has broken out in the herd of Jona-
than Drake, farmer living one-half mile
west of Wapello and one-fouth nile from
the station of the b., G.. r. and n. II. X.
The board have instructed me to imme-
diately communicate to you the facts and
symptoms of the disease that you may take
such action as you think proper for its
suppression. Drake has fifty head of
cattle, consisting of steers, cows
and yearlings, and the disease
was manifested in the following manner;
The animal is first taken with a stiffness
and lameness in the joints above the
hoofs of the hind legs (the fore legs are
| not affected has a purient discharge
| from the nose and running at the eyes,
which have dull stupid look. After
| few days the foot begins to crack at the
! joint above the hoof, and in u few days
more drops off. 1t has a hard, dry ape
pearance, and breaks like piece Of wood.
| There are about forty out of fifty head
afflicted. A number have died in the past
! few days. There is great alarm among
the cattle men of the vicinity in conse-
quence, as the county is largely devoted
to stock raising. The Township Board
therefore urgently requests that you send
competent veterinary to investigate this
epidemic, and take such action as you may
deem proper to prevent the further spread
1 of the disease.
Fortunately, the Legislature is in ses-
| sion, and whether or not the cases in
Louisa County prove to be the genuine
foot and mouth disease, ample provis-
ions will doubtless be made for stamp
ing out the mahdy The question
came up in the House Saturday after
noon on the consideration of the bill to
appoint a State veterinary, and there was
a general expression of opinion in favor
of acting promptly This bill had been
drawn before the outbreak in Kansas,
and as its provisions were not deemed
sufficiently sweeping in character, it was
recommitted to the Committee on Agri-
culture. Professor Stalker, veterinary of
the State Agricultural College, left for
Kansas, Saturday night, for the purpose
of investigating the plague raging there.
He had not then heard of the supposed
outbreak in this State.
EFFINGHAM, ILL.,, March%E.
Simon Beattie, an expert sent by the
Breeders Gazette to investigate the cattle
plague, supposed to be PREVAIL in this
vicinity, and person who hfs given the
!, y SUI &c and diseasyc Ii study MOI
I only in this country, but in Canada ant
Scotland, after making close ir1estiga
ton of the afflicted herds here makes tn,
following statement: "The foot an(
, mouth disease reported to be prevalen
in Dillingham; and adjoining counties
proves, upon investigation, to be withou
/, foundation. visited the largest herd il
, this county, said to be affected with tb
, foot and mouth disease, the herd be
| longing to Robert c.. Heating, seve
g miles north of Effingham l foun
j the cattle had the foot rot
c but not single indication of the foot an
n mouth disease. The herd consists of fifty
e one cattle, part of which became Athlete
Q with foul in the foot about January first
Q Not being properly cared for the diseas
0 has increased, and some of the cattl
8 have lost their hoofs. The disease is cor
i fined to calves and younger portions of tn
herd. The older cattle and sheep in tn
!. same pasture show no signs of the dis
I ease whatever. OF the fourteen nov
. suffering not one shows the slightest IL
n dication of diseased mouth, and all hav
!. ravenous appetites, indicating poor feeC
ing. From thirty years. experience in tn
d foot and mouth disease, having seen hui
dreds of cases, and from careful exam
nation of these cases, am certain thf
these cattle are not affected with the foe
and mouth disease. From informatio
e. gathered here in regard to other cases r,
III ported in this and adjoining counties,
am convinced they are similar and that Il
foot and mouth disease exists in this SCI
Is ton of the State"
a NEsHo FALLS KAs., Mar CHI II.
Several surgeons representing importe
cattle interests both of the East and Yves
=, arrived here. They all pronounce Il
"a disease genuine epizootic apthal, beyor
80 q doubt, but express surprise that it is
tv slightly contagious. The climate of Ka
Mt sas and all other circumstances are so d
m cidedly unfavorable to its spread and d
n velopment, that all are confident it cs
y. be easily and wholly abated by the
TX struction of infected herds and disinfe
m tion of premises. AS is only questiC
ne of few dollars, no alarm is felt sin
So the call for a special legislative sessio
pS In two weeks there won't be a case in
as Kansas. On Saturday, Lieutenant-Go