River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-18

Foot-and- mouth disease of cattle,
sheep, and other ruminants, and
swine has recently been brought
from some foreign country and has
appeared in few localities in Massa-
chusetts and some adjacent states.
Since the disease has been unknown
in America for so many years, and
then but to limited extent, there
are few who have practical knowl-
edge of its nature.
HOW THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DIS
EASE MAY BE RECOGNIZED.
The symptoms of this disease
most obvious to stockmen are:
Sluggishncss, shivering, poor appe-
tite, stiffness or lameness, collection
of saliva upon the lips, slavering,
soldering or drooling, sucking and
swallowing motions of the mouth
and throat, smacking of the lips,
blisters inside the lips, upon the
gums, tongue, or roof of the mouth !;
later, raw sores in the same places.
Blisters and sores may also form up
on the teats or udder and upon the
heels and between the toes.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTERMINAT-
ING THIS OUTBREAK HERE
AND NOW.
While the disease does not often
kill, it damages, temporarily or per-
manently, every cow it attacks to
the extent of from $40 to $40. The
total loss on herd is usually enough
to wipe out dairyman's profits for
a year or two. The effect upon fat
animals is quite as serious. 1t is not
uncommon for the stock owners of
England, France, or Germany to be
injured by this disease, in single
year, to the extent of $5,ooo,ooo.
With our much larger holdings Of
live stock in this country, the pos
sible losses from the disease, if it
were to become general, are stupen-
dous and incalculable. At present
the disease exists over comparative
ly small area. 1t is confidently be-
Iieved by the experts who have
investigated the situation that it can
be controlled and eradicated. 1t is
important that this shall be done,
not only that the other parts of the
country shall be protected, but also
to prevent the frequent visitations of
the disease that otherwise would
aff1ict the live stock Of New Eng
land. To this end, the aid of all
stoclkmen and farmers is requested.
HOW FooT-AND- MOUTH DISEASE is
SPREAD.
There is no other disease that is SO
readily and certainly conveyed by
contact. 1t is also conveyed by ex.
posing healthy animals, even for an
instant, to the stables, yards, pastures
or cars that have been occupied by
affected animals; by buckets, cloths,
brushes, or other objects that have
been used by or on diseased cattle
by the use of forage exposed in
managers or even in the distant parts
of the stable harboring infected ami.
mails. The disease is also carried by
small animals, as dogs, cats, rats
birds, or upon the hands, boots OF
clothing of men. A road along
which diseased cattle have passed
may retain enough virus to infect
other cattle that pass over the same
place several hours later. Premises
occupied by diseased cattle are moi
safe for other cattle for few months
after the disease has disappeared
In short, it is to be remembered thai
every diseased animal is dangerous
and also every animal, person, OF
thing that has been near it or ha!
been near a place occupied by it
| inspectors may avoid the danger o
carrying the disease by cleanliness
and disinfection.