The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-04-04
History of FOOt-and-M Mouth Disease.

The first authenticated appearance Of
foot-and- mouth disease in England was
in 1889. Mr.. Youatt, the well-known
veterinary authority, believed it was
introduced by antelopes brought from
the continent OF Europe to the zoolog-
zeal gardens, but Prof. Brown thinks it
may have been contracted from surplus
ship stores that had received the virus
at some foreign port.
The first outbreak was among the
cattle of London. The disease was
more or less rife until 1912, when it dis
appeared, to reappear again in 1916,
when it created considerable alarm.
This time it was not suppressed until
1S48 The next year, 1849, it again
broke out, lasting until 1852, when it
again disappeared. Thus, it will be
seen, that in these early outbreaks it
had run of three years each. From
this time on for nine years nothing
more was heard of it. In 1861 there is
some account of the disease, but as no
mention is made of it the succeeding
year, its prevalence must have been
quite limited. Eight years later it
again appeared in serious form, nearly
one-half the cattle of England being at
tackled during the three years that it
prevailed. The losses in this fifth peri
cd were enormous, indeed, amounting
to over 1917, 100000. Between this date
and 1874 we have been able to find lit
tie account of the disease, but from
1874 to 1876 there was considerable loss
from its ravages. Since the latter date
it has prevailed more or less through
out the United Kingdom, being at its
maximum in 1883, when, up to Novem-
Der 10, $4,000 animals had been at
tackled by it. Our latest reports from
England and Ireland are that it is grad
ually disappearing, fresh outbreaks be-
ing quite rare.
In Cheshire, one of the great dairy
counties of England, during the out
break of 1929 one-third of the cattle
suffered from it. The fatal cases were
not numerous, the enormous losses re-
sulting from depreciation in value, which
ranged from ten to twenty dollars per
head.
In Wiltshire in 1872, 81, 444 cattle,
6,545 pigs, and 1885 sheep were
affected, this being one-half the cattle
and one-sixth of the sheep of the coun-
ty The cases in the same county in
1876 amounted to $4,000 cattle, 5000
pigs and $4,000 sheep, AS in other
cases, the death losses were light, but
the depreciation in values was very
great.
The first invasion of foot-and-mouth
disease in the United States was in 1871.
1t spread from Montreal over Northern
New York and the New England States,
creating considerable alarm among the
farmers and stock dealers. The dis
ease was contracted in Montreal from
two imported English Shorthorn cows.
Occurring in the autumn the natural
seclusion of winter aided in its suppress
sion, and there seems to be no record
of its existence after April of the follow
ing year.
In 1881 the steamship France, of tho
National Line, landed at New York a
small herd of Channel Island cattle,
which were suffering from foot-and-
mouth disease As they we're prompt
" quarantined the contagion did not
spread.
The steamer Messmore. landed at
Baltimore in March of last year, cattle
from the same locality that were ailing
from this disease, but it was again sup
pressed without difficulty.
This brings us down to the outbreak
at Portland, Me-, few days ago, and |
in Kansas at a little later date, and com
pletes our brief outline of the history of
the terrible scourge in this country and
in Great Britain, from whence we have
received it.-PrGir5e Farmer.