The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-24
Foot and Mouth Disease.

4 IIOn fdIlouS SOURCES we nave Tc
ce;ved reports within the pastfew weeks
of the appearance in this country O.
what is called the .'foot and mouth dis
ease" or aphthous fever. 1t is not a
all strange that this disease should bt
. imported, inasmuch as we are con
stantly receiving cattle, sheep, anC
other domestic animals from coqntrie:
where it has existed for many years
but for some unknown reason thi:
scourge has never found a permanent
'odgment on the soil of the Unitee
States. Some fourteen years ago il
appeared among the cattle of Massa
chusetts, and several hundred were at
lacked; but it soon disappeared, anC
title has been heard of it until quite
recently.
We learn from the Maine Farmer Of
February %, that this disease has fol
the first time appeared in Maine, having
been introduced there by a herd Oi
Hereford cattle, imported into Portland
IN February 2, on board the English
steamer Ontario of the Dominion line.
1t is quite natlcal that the farmers oil
Maine should feel somewhat alarmed
at the appearance of this disease in such
close proximity to their private herds,
and we have no doubt the re Iuisite pre-.
cautions will be taken to prevent Its
dissemination to other points. We also
Lave reports OF the appearance of this
disease in one of the Western States,
which, If true, does not speak well for
those who have charge of the quaran-
tine yards at the ports where imported
animals are received and examined be-
fore being allowed to 90 inland. We
rerta My cannot be too cautious in this
matter OF preventing the introduction
OF infectious and contagious diseases OF
animals, and we could far better afford
to close our ports to all kinds of do
nestle animals than to introduce dis
ease that cannot be readily stamped
ont without considerable loss or ex-
pense. We have already as good ami
mails to breed from as can be found in
any European country, and there is
really Eo need of ever importing
another one: and we are not quite
certain that it would not be good policy
to shut the gates against live stock from
all parts of the world.
This aphthous fever, like all other
animal plaques follows in the track of
commerce, and has appeared in almost
| every cattle-raising country in the
world; and while the United States have
thus far been exceedingly for innate in
escaping any serious loss from it, we
cannot expect that this state of affairs
will continue for all time, if animals
are permitted to come here from in
fected districts abroad.
The virus of this disease may be
scattered in many ways, and the poison
transmitted by direct contact or through
the medium of roads, pastures. food,
litter manure, drinking troughs, the
clothes of the persons attending the an
finals, and the ships and cars in which
stock is taken from one country or To-
cality to another. One European au-
thOrity states that he had known the
virus to be preserved long time in the
forage and water of stable that had
been occupied by disea ed animal.
This disease is not confined to neat
cattle, but attacks al cloven footed an
finals, and from these is communicated
to al warm-blooded animals, even to
man. The period of incubation is usual
ly from two to six days, and DR.. James
Law describes the symptoms as follows:
''RoughneSs of the coat or shivering;
increased temperature; dry muzzle; hot
red mouth, teatS, and interdigital
spaces; lameness; inclination to lie
down, and shrinking from the hand in
milking. The second or third day,
blisters arise on any part of the whole
interior of the mouth, one half inch
across. Saliva drivels from the mouth.
collecting in froth around the lips, and
loud smacking is made with the lips
and tongue" Swine champ the jaws,
and both sheep and swine suffer much
in their feet, often losing the hoofs.
Nothing is really known in regard to
the causes which develop this disease,
but it is believed to always proceed from
a particle of virus transmitted from
some diseased animal. 1t is highly con-
tagious and infectious, and must be
dealt with accordingly. 1t usually runs
its course in from ten to fifteen DAYS,
and, if the animals receive proper care,
few need be lost. The usual treatment
is to give laxative medicines, and as
tringent sol .tions for washing the
salts for physic; and for a mo ,th wash,
borax and tincture of myrrh, one ounce
each; water, one quart; or carbolic
acid, one drachm; honey, two ounces;
vinegar, one pint; water, one pint. A
lotion for the teats may be made of
earbolic acid, one-half drachm, glyce-
rine, ten ounces For dressing the
sores on the feet use oil of vitrol, one
ounce, diluted with four ounces of
water, and then apply with a feather
The feet may also be tied up with tar
bandageS, or the sores smeared with
warm tar. The strength of the animal
should be kept up by giving stimulating
food, such as oatmeal Cruel, linseed
tea and good ale. In fact, careful at
tention to the wants of the animal in
the way of proper food and drinks is
fully as essential as medicines. One
attack of this disease does not insure
the animal against another.
To prevent the spread of the disease
all infected animals should be secluded |
from all others, and the attendants |
must be very careful or they will cary |
the virus in their boots or clothes from |
the sick to the well animals. The milk |
of the COWS with the disease should be
buried, and all the manure treated in |
the same way or burned. All troughs,
pals and other utensils used in the |
stables of the affected animals should |
be carefully disinfected or destroyed.
as they are no longer needed for the
purpose for which they have been used.
IN. Y. Sun.
The Era Of Physical Connections.