New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-27
THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
The Outbreak Promptly Met-No Cause for
Fear in Country or City.
C. d. smead. V. s.. Hector. n. Y.

Inasmuch as the dread disease known as
foot and mouth disease" has been discovered
as coming from the East Buffalo stock yards
and feeding cattle were taken therefrom into
western Pennsylvania and also in several coun-
ties in western New York. I think a brief
article will be read with interest by many
Of the Tribune readers Before speaking OF
the disease desire 10 say great praise is due
TO DR.. Leonard Pearson, State Veterinarian OF
Pennsylvania, and also Commissioner Pearson
of the State of New York, for the very prompt
manner in which they have set their inspectors
at work ferreting out the source and dlstrlbu-
ton Of cattle that left the Buffalo yards
DR. Melvin. chief of the Animal Husbandry
Department at Washington, has furnished red
eral aid. and there is possible danger OF
this disease ever extending over any great area
In this country. as practically every state IN
the I-nion now has a fairly we'll organized de-
partment of agriculture, and upon It's first ap-
nearance IT will be checked. Thus there are no
valid reasons for cattle owners to go into hy3-
terics over II, for city people TO fear that
they are going to be sent to early graves oy
reason of eating the flesh or drinking the mix
that comes from the country. Neither ROOT ana
mouth disease nor any other highly lnfecuouS
disease it is safe to say will ever in this couh-
+rv cause the losses that England and CONT
the true nature of such diseases is now well
,o en5 the farmers of America are now
and ALWAYS will be too much on the alert ~
arv disease TO get much of a start betore tneS
will seek veterinary aid ana staIe aio aLtu W.
II localized until it can be stamped out 1e~
z1i+r all this in view. as it is now known that
this disease is in this country. ana mere are
likely 10 be future outbreaks OF II, II becomes
All livestock owners to know what 1t Is ITS
origin and its symptoms.
Scientific investigation has not as yet deter
-ho+C germ
noav devotion In fact it is not as vet known
whether il is q microbe or poison or virus
which develops in certain soils. In the winter
Of 1qo3-'O4 there was an outbreak Of 1t in Mas
sachusetts and Vermont. In one case 1t was
Massachusetts by foreign hides perSonally
vent 10 investigate in Vermont and could tnd
no evidence OF the infection coming from any
source at all In 1888 I personally knew Of an
where no strange cattle had been brought in
several months. It was duly stamped out mus
I have no hesitation in saying there Is Ia
bilitv of an outbreak anywhere and at any
time and the thing for farmers to do is 10 De
on the alert and to waste no time IN seeking
veterinary aid While 1t has been known Tor
over two centuries in Holland and other colln-
tries Of Europe il was as late as 1889 before
Great Britain suffered severely from the
sco,rse for scourge II is when farm once
becomes infected with 1t. All of the cloven
hoofed animals are more susceptible 10 the con
aeioD than the horse several toe rooted
animals This is no doubt due to the germ or
virus being conveyed by moist soil or filth con-
tai n between sections
Gated foot 10 the skin Just above the foot, which
is the point of incubation when It is moist or
perhaps a little sore tender. A pustule is
soon formed which produces a violent ltChing.
The animal ticks Il to get relief and then the
mouth becomes affected and bsters and pus-
tules soon appear, The whole system becomes
eat any solid food. and unless il is furnished
nourishment in liquid form will likely starVe
before the disease will its course as an
eruptive fever, which lasts from ten to fifteen
days If the animal survives. 1t is practically
immune from the disease ever afterWard In
extremely bad cases where nothing is done TO
alleviate the disease the hoOfS sometimes drop
off.
ease is wholly unfit for either human
or animal food: also the flesh is unfit for human
food; vet the danger of conveying the disease to
flesh is extremely doubtful. There are on record
few cases where it thought to have been
thus conveyed; but the chief source Of human
infection is direct incubation Of the poison or
germ entering the system through abrasiOns of
the skin or sores on the hands.
It is not very fatal disease in animals, the
loss being largely from dairy herds becoming
worthless the loss Of hoofs Of other animals.
and-worse than all-the soil where the animals
run becoming inoculated to the extent of max
ing il a source Of continual danger. There
fore, all cattle, sheep or swine owners on the
first appearance Of disease Of the nature de-
SCribed should do their utmost to stamp 1t out.
Our federal government has been very alert and
generous with the livestock owners Of this
country and has thus far deemed it better
and safer for the countrys good to buy all
aing animals and pay for them; also to disin-
feet or aid the livestock owners in disinfecting.
their premises; and il becomes all livestock
owners TO aid the state and national govern
ments all they can in their work of preventing
this disease from ever getting a foothold In this
country even If for a short time rigid quar-
antine has 10 be enforced. The germs virus
whichever it may be-can be conveyed in mems
boots by dogs. cats and fowls. Therefore, don't
hesitate to keep the animals shut up whenever
there is an outbreak, and usually weeks time
will stamp II out when properly managed