Milford chronicle., 1908-11-20
Foot and Mouth Disease.

In view of the prevalence of this
greatly dreaded disease which came
from Europe, in the State of Penn
sylvania, the following paper is Of
particular interest to owners of
stock in Delaware.
The paper has been prepared by
DR.. Charles F. Dawson, of the Del
aware College Agricultural Expert
ment Station, Newark, Del. He
says:
1.-The farm animals affected by
this disease are cattle, sheep, goats
and swine. Man may also contract
the disease through contact and by
the use of infected dairy products.
''In view of the present outbreak
in Pennsylvania, it is important
that stock raisers inform themselves
upon the disease and report any
suspicious cases to the State author
tiles, so they can make a prompt
investigation and take measures to
prevent its spread.
"The disease is frequently of a
mild nature and the animals reco-
yer in about two weeks.
"The chief agents for its dissem-
inatiOn are cattle cars, markets,
dealers, drovers, feeding troughs,
infected feed, dairy products, and
the movement Of swine along public
roads. 1t is communicable from
any affected animal to any other
susceptible animal
"The main symptoms Of the mild
forms are: Vesicles and ulcers on
the lining of the mouth, and on the
skin at the margin Of the hoof, and
between the claws. In from three
to five days after exposure to the
disease, cattle have a moderate fe-
yer, which disappears with the ap-
pearance Of the eruptions. The APP
petite is lost and the mouth is kept .
closed. There is dribbling of sail
va, and in two or three days the
vesicles, yellowish white in color,
and the size OF a hemp seed appear
on the gums, lower surface of the
tongue, lining Of the mouth and on
the lips. They finally run to-
gether, burst and form painful,
foul-smelling ulcers. The saliva
now becomes more profuse and ro-
py, and the animal. makes peculiar
noises with the mouth.
The foot disease usually appears
after that in the mouth. There is
marked redness, heat and swelling
of the skin near the hoof and es-
pecially between the claws and on
the soles of one or all four feet at l
the same time, resulting in great
lameness and inability to stand. In
some cases, the hoofs slough off, l
bed sores form, and the animal dies t
Of blood poison. {
"In the severe form the animals c
may die suddenly, or may linger s
for a few hours, with difficult i
breathing and discharge of blood /
rom the nose. The udder may be- T
,ome violently infamed hardened I
md then waste away. The horns
nay drop off. The entire skin, and '
ven the eyes may be affected. In g
ONE outbreaks so per cent. of the tt
nimals may die, and an outbreak g
uns its course in about six weeks. p
may be delayed by ema- C
iation, lung trouble, udder disease, p
hrOnic lameness. Is
The affected animals are also gs
amaged for breeding purposes. In d'
leep, goats and pigs the disease is hl
,nerally confined to the feet, while ev
the horse when it does occur, it q
limited to the mouth, but is very by
re in this animal, although the
'rse may carry the virus to sus- We
Dtible animals. tOt
The symptoms in man are fever, mi
digestion, eruptions of vesicles on se'
} face, fingers, arms, chest, lining be
the mouth, throat and eyes,, -
diarrhea and vomiting which
y end fatally in children. q