Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-13
the FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

the FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
Kansas Cattle Threatened with couta.
zion and Scourpe, which, II not Stamp
cd DEL, win Eatall Millions Of Loss.
No other single interest Of the State is SO
important as that Of cattle, and the an
nounccment made last week from Woodson
and Coffey counties that the foot and.
mouth disease had made its appearance in
several herds, awakened widespread in
terest and consequent dread. One day last
week Lieut.. Gov. Finney telegraphed Gov.
Click, from Woodson county, that the foot
and-mouth disease was prevailing in Wood
son county near Neosho Falls. Within
twenty-four hours thereafter the news be-
came the chief topic Of the prominent cat
tie men Of the State. Gov. Click telegraph
ed Commissioner Loring, Of Washington,
the facts and asked for an eminent veterin.
ary surgeon Immediately. The next day
an army veterinary surgeon, from Fort
Leavenworth, came over to Topeka, aud.
with the governor and several prominent
cattle men from the vicinity OF Emporia
proceeded by special train to the herds af-
fected. In three herds they found 3sS de-
seased cattle, some with their hoofs of,
others with their legs rotted of up to the
knee joints and many dead. Gov. Click
received telegram from George b. L0ring,
commissioner Of agriculture ut Washington
saying that he ordered DIR. Trombrow, of
Sterling, Illinois, to investigate the cattle
disease at Neosho Falls Immediately. I'm
til the party arrived at the grounds, Hol-
comb, the United States veterinary sur
geon, held that the reporters must be mis-
taken, but as soon ss he saw the affected
cattle he at once pronounced it the dread
foot-and-mouth disease, which he said was
very infectious, and could be readily trans
ferred from field to field, and county to
county by the feet of dogs, rabbits or the
shoes of men. The disease is said to re-
| semble and be communicated exactly like
smallpox. In fact there is no contagion
among horned cattle SO easily spread. A
few points rs to the disease from civilians
Principles and Practice OF Veterinary Med
of interest, no doubt, In this connection.
1.-THE disease is highly contagious and
infectious febrile disease associate with
vascular eruption in the mouth between
the pedal digits and around the coronets.
In some cases the mouth only is affected,
others, the feet may be the seat Of the
eruption, the membrane of the mouth re-
naming free. In mich cows it sometimes
happens that vascular eruption occurs
on the msmmary gland, and within the
lactiferous ducts, when such occurs the
milk, contaminated By the vascular dis
charge, is rendered unfit for use, either as
food for the human being or for the lower
animal. Unlike rnderpest and pleuro-
pneumonia, which are almost confined to
the ruminantia, contagious eczema, as this
disease is called technically, affects cattle,
sheep, pigs, dogs, poultry, and even human
beings are subjected to the infience OF its
virus. Horned cattle seem to be most sas-
ceptible to the influence OF this contagious
poison.
''The symptoms are undoubtedly due to
the presence OF morbid poison In the ami
NAL economy. Beyond question the virus
of eczema is conveyed from field to field,
and county to county, by small game, yer.
mine, dogs, and clothing, and looking to
this fact, We can account for the sometimes
mysterious outbreaks of the disease in
places or districts where no fresh cattle
have been admitted. This frequent unac-
countable appearance ofthe foot-and-mOuth
disease has led to the belief that it is of
spontaneous origin, some believing, that
although originating spontaneously it is
propagatcd by contagion others that it
originates in all cases independently of con-
tagion, and that it is due to climatic or at
mospheric causes, exposure and the debil-
itating effects of long journeys by land or
sea. 1t is very true that increased suscept-
Utility to the disease is induced by a debili-
tating cause. but neither age, condition,
management, climate, temperature nor any
common cause of disease seems to exert
any modifying influence
The gentleman to whom reference has al
ready been made, further stated that as far
as investigated mainly native cattle were
during the holidays, and the cattle have
been dying off since. There are very few
imported cattle in that locality. A few
Poiled Angus also showed evidence of the
disease. The ranches on which the cattle
were affected are within three miles of
Neosho Falls, and the people in that locali-
ty are considerably exercised over the mat
ter. The region is thickly populated with
cattle.
Gov. Click, before leaving that section,
recommended that the counties adopt
quarantine regulations at once, establish q
dead line and see what can be done towards
raising money enough to buy up all the d.
seased cattle and kill them off The gov
ernor further stated that he made propo-
sition at the meeting that if Lieut.. Gov.
Finney, their State senators, Legislators and
prominent stock men would give their
names as security, he would execute State
note to them for the amount of money re-
qaired, with the understanding that he
would recommend at the next session of
the legislature that the amount be appro-
priated by the State. He also advised that
the commissioners of Woodson county
make similar note and appropriate the
amount out Of any money in the county
treasury. The committee was to::have a
meeting yesterday and his excelency felt
confident that they would act upon his sug-
gestion As yet the disease is confined to
one neighborhood, locality about five
miles square, and one hundred head of cat
tie are afflicted, but is spreading very rap
idly, and unless checked soon is likely to
become serious epidemic.
After the return of the cattle men public
meetings were held at Neosho Falls, Empo-
ria and Usage City, and resolutions were
passed at each requesting the governor to
Immediately convene the legislature for the
purpose of passing some law empowering
counties to expend the necessary money to
stamp the disease ont by killing all infected
cattle and paying for them. The prompt
inspection and destruction of all diseased
animals is the only way to beat the disease,
and it should be done at public expense |
either of the counties or the State The |
experience OF England and other European |
countries has settled the method Of treating |
the foot. and mouth disease, riDderpest and
pleuro-pneumonia. 1t is simply to kill and |
destroy the diseased animals. Once infect |
ed they are incurabe. Their owners have |
already lost them. Delay in killing and de-
stroying only spreads the infection.
THE SUNFLOwER RAILROAD.