The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-15
FOOT mouth DISEASE
WHY TIE GOVERNMENT WAGES /
BITTER VAR ON 1T
Causes KOre Loss 10 Farmers Than
Any Other Disease


ed by other means than that commonly
used In the laboratory, 1. e., examine
ton under the microscope, since the
strongest lenses have not as yet made
possible the actual perception OF these
virulent germs. These germs can,
however, be grown in colonies so that
by the accumulation OF great numbers
OF them their presence Is made known.
In this country no scientific expert
ments or Investigations are permitted
other than the incubation tests made
shortly after the discovery OF the dis
ease for the purpose OF confirming
the diagnosis for fear OF the contagion
getting beyond control.
On May 20, 1884, Congress approved
law entitled IAN act for the estab-
lishment OF a Bureau OF Animal In
dustry to prevent expectation OF dis
eased cattle and to provide means for
the suppression OF other contagious
diseases" In accordance with this
article the bureau decided 10 slaugh-
ter all diseased animals as soon as
possible, and TO thoroughly disinfect
the buildings in which they have been
sheltered.
The stock thus destroyed Is apprals-
ed as II In good health. an amount
equal 10 40 per cent. OF this being paid
the stock owner By the Department OF
Agriculture and the remaining 30 per
cent. by the State. Under this method
the farmer loses nothing.
The disease affects Illuminating AMI
mails, such as cattle. sheep. goats, deer.
ard the like. showing Itself first by an
elevation In the temperature from 2 TO
o degrees Fair. and by the formation
OF yesicles In the mouth and upon the
feet, udder and tents.
These YesicleB are OF various sizes,
each looking somewhat like n blister
due TO q burn, the skin being raised
by clear iiuld which soon breaks or
~ torn away or hangs IN shredE. This
leaves raw. liberated surface, which
is extremely sensitive.
When these blistera appear IN the
mouth they cause an increased fiow
OF saliva. which collects In a white
foam about the mouth and Ia very
characteristic OF the disease. Some
times the saliva Ia so profuse that II
dribbles 20 the floor and runs in tiny
riyulets at the animals feet.
At this time the mouth IL very sore,
causing the animal 10 hold II open
Affected cattle may also make q Pc
culiar amacking sound with the mouth.
this no doubt being due To the sore
ness OF tha tongue or adjacent parts.
Sometimes the tender skin within
the mouth appears oongested aud the
lining is looseped so that at times
u may be stripped OF Ia large piecea.
leaving the organ raw and bleeding
and causing the animal the most acute
suffering
When the yesicIes appear about the
feet the animal may be- seen 20 raise
and shake the hind legs IN a manner
which indicates the pain they feel In
the affected regions large vealeIcs
appear upon the udder and teaie.
which interfere seriously with milk
Ing aud from which issue sccretiops
which may contaminaie the mix.
There IL often a congestion OF the
milk-producting glands, with harden
ing and the formation Of abccaaes.
The acute stage OF the disease Is
generally terminated within a period
OF two weeks. after which limo conva.
iescenoe occurs with greater or Icks
rapidly, according 10 the duration
and the extremes OF temperature 20
which the animals are subjected
On account Of the soreness Of the
mouth and the high fever associated
unable TO maEticAte food in conne.
with the disease the animals are
quence OF which there IL rapid ions
Of fieah. decreasing their value 20 90
so per cent. There Ia also a Ioas OF
milk for period Of from four 10 ak
weeks.
After the acute form OF the disease
has passed many OF the animals are
found 10 be more or less disabled.
some having lost the horn from the
feet, others having ulcers on the hoofs.
thereby causing chronic lameneaa.
Many again have ulcers on the udder
making them valueless as milk pro-
ducers.
The average loss In value OF the ami
NAL Infected by this disease Ia placed
at about so per cent. while the deaths
vary from to 80 per cent. depending
on the severity OF the diseaee Even
after recovery the contagion n carried
by the animal for period OF six
months
This dreaded disease which causes
more loss 10 the farmer than any other
has prevailed In Europe for many
years and numerous opportunities
have been afforded for It's study. The
observations OF men who have aludled
the disease for years show what dis.
astroua losses Il causes and what a
calamity II would be 10 a country like
the United States TO have the conta-
gion spread over the whole extent OF
its territory.
Not only would the immediate losses
be tremendous, but the disease might
linger on this continent, aa II did in
Great Britain, for half q century. To
guard against such a calamity the
NEST severe and rigid measure should
be enforced
In Europe the disease has been COM
bated by isolation and quarantine. But
these measures have not been effective
for the disease Is widely disseminated
on that continent II has been shown
that II may be spread more easily
than any other, since sparrows and
pigeons eating around the infected
animals spread II to the neighboring
farms.
In fact, Il may be carried and spread
By anything leaving an infected stable,
human beings. dogs, birds, rats, har-
ness, milk, hides, woods, end, In fact,
anything upon which the germs can
lodge. For this reason Isolation and
quarantine have been a complete fail
ure where the animals affected have
not been Immediately slaughtered and
the places dlsinfected
II slaughter and dislnfectlon were
not done as soon as the contagion IL
recognized and the disease were to be-
come widespread throughout the con-
tinent, II would necessitate the des-
truction Of nearly the entire stock
of cattle.