Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-11-12
CATTLE PLAGUE IN
MONTOUR COUNTY

Leonard Pearson, of Harrisburg, along
with others connected with the State
Live Stock Sanitary board, arrived in
Danville to spend several days in this
vicinity. The nature of his business
was not explained, although it was
known that he had been called here
by local veterinarian, who had dis
covered in couple herds Of cattle
symptoms of strange disease, which
it was feared, might prove to be the
dreaded foot and mouth disease,
malady, which, although common
enough in Europe is rare in this coun-
try. DR.. Pearson is an acknowledged
authority and it was known that in
couple of days he would be able to de-
eide whether the disease is the great
European cattle plague or not.
Unfortunately, the worst has proven
true. The foot and mouth disease is
found to exist in its worst form on at
least two well-known farms of this
county, as well as on two farms near
Milton. All these places, along with
a cattle pen in Danville, are under
quarantine. Yesterday an official
warning was posted at each place for
bidding people to enter the quarantin-
ed premises, or to come in contact
with the diseased or exposed animals
or with any object or thing that may
have been contaminated by or from
such animals.
An interview was had with State
Veterinarian Pearson Tuesday He
spoke freely on the nature of the dis
ease and the extent to which it pre-
walls in Montour and Northumber-
land counties.
The present 80 far as known is the
first time that the foot and mouth dis
ease has existed in Pennsylvania. Only
once before did it prevail in North
America and that was in 1892, when it
was confined to New England. Thou,
sands OF cattle were lost
One of the farms under quarantine
is owned by Jacob Shultz. Cooper
township, whose magnificent herd Of
about forty head will he total loss.
The disease causes an eruption of
blisters in the mouth, upon the teats
of cows, and between the claws. 1t is
accompanied in its early stages by
high fever, great depression, loss OF
appetite, lameness and loss OF milk
flow.
Mr.. ShultZ's fine nerd was first af-
fected a week or so ago. The COWS
lost flesh rapidly and at present are
little more than skin and bone The
dairys yield of milk at once fell off.
dropping from sixty gallons to six gal
Ions daily.
The other herd infected belongs to
Edward Shultz, who lives above Boyd's
station on the south side of the river.
The disease is excessively contagious
and may be conveyed by any objects
that have been in contact with the
diseased animals, such as fodder, straw,
stable utensils, or on the hands, boots,
clothing Of persons, who have handled
diseased cattle. Along with both farms
where the disease exists the cattle pen
at the ID. L. e W. railroad. is under
quarantine as the latter place was used
to restrain the animal that inoculated
Mr.. Shultz's herd when along with
others it was shipped from Buffalo.
DR.. Pearson stated that the disease
is communicable to man and might
result from using the milk from in
fected cows. In man the symptoms as
in the case of animals is most distress
ing.
The farms under quarantine in
Northumberland county are those
owned by Eli Yost and James Mont
gomery near McEwensville. Other
cloven footed animals such as sheep,
goats, swine may contract the foot and
mouth disease and on Mr.. Montgom-
ery's farm there are infected pigs.
1t appears that the disease was in.
troduced by cattle brought from Buff
falo. Mr.. Shultz feels quito confident
that his herd was inoculated by a bull
shipped from that quarter, by local
dealer.
DR.. Pearson Tuesday eve said that
the outbreak of the disease here was
as unexpected as bolt of lightning
from the clear sky Showing how ser
ious is the situation and with what
interest in the whole affair il regard.
ed it might be stated that the State
Live Stock Sanitary board is repre-
sented in Danville just now by DR..
Pearson, the State veterinarian, DR..
n. B. Critchfield. State secretary of
Agriculture. DR.. Jobson, DR.. Turner,
DR.. Nuns, DR.. Cawley and DR.. Hick.
man, the five latter all being men
permanently in the service of the
board. Illustrating still further the
Importance of the outbreak the State
veterinarian and his staff today will
be joined by United States officials. as
follows. DR.. A. d. Melvin, chief of
the bureau of animal industry; DR..
John r. Mohler, chief of Pathological
division DR.. Steddon, chief of the
quarantine division of the United