Little Falls herald., 1914-12-04

:
Foot and mouth disease has made its
appearance in this country for the
third time in twelve years, having
been introduced into New England in
1902, in the middle eastern states in
1908, and just recently in the middle
western states.
The disease affects cattle principal
ly, but all cloven-f0oted ANIMALS are
susceptible, so that swine, sheep, and
goats are sometimes stricken with the
disease. Human beings sometimes con-
tract the infection by drinking milk
from infected animals, or from hand
ling animals having the disease.
Foot and mouth disease is remark
able for the swiftness with which 1t
spreads, says H. Preston Hoskins, of
University Farm, st. Paul. The dis
ease is spread by contact, and any OBJ
ject that has been contaminated with
the discharges from the sick animals
may convey the infection to healthy
animals. The germs of the disease
may be carried on the shoes or cloth
ing, by vehicles, on the hoofs of ami
mails, by dogs, cats or birds.
The disease is not necessarily fatal,
although q small percentage of affect
ed animals may die One attack of
the disease does not confer permanent
immunity. An animal may have the
disease two or three times. Affected
animals usually recover without any
treatment.
The most prominent symptoms are a
high fever, loss Of appetite, and the
formation Of vesicles (blisters) in the
mouth, on the tongue and lips, and
sometimes on the udder. Similar
eruptions take place between the toes,
at the coronary band, and cause ex-
IRENE lameness. Animals with mark
ed foot LESSONS often lie down and
refuse to get up, on account Of the
pain of standing. Affected animals
frequently stand with the head down,
and with streams Of saliva flowing
from the corners of the mouth. Mark
ed disturbances Of the digestive Or
gans are often observed.
The United States is the only coun-
try in the world that has demonstrated
it's ability absolutely to eradicate the
disease, and it is to be hoped that the
methods which have been successful
before will speedily check the pres
ent outbreak.
In general the plan is to slaughter
all infected and exposed animals, bury
them in deep trenches and cover the
carcasses with quick lime. Infected
premises are thoroughly disinfected
and quarantined. No live stock can be
brought to the premises for four
months. Public highways in infected
territory are closed to traffic. Per
sons are not allowed to visit or leave
infected farms. Feed and bedding ex-
posed to the infection are burned.
Owners Of slaughtered animals are re-
imbursed On the basis Of utility value,
appraisement being made by practi-
cal stockman and an official Of the
Federal Bureau of Animal Industry.
One-half is paid by the federal gov
ernment and one-half by the state in
terested.
In the present outbreak the disease
started in Michigan and Indiana, and
has spread to Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and
Maryland. With the establishment of
proper quarantine measures, there
should be no great difficulty in. keep
ing the disease out of Minnesota. At
the same time, stock-owners of this
state should be continually on their
guard until the disease is entirely era
dicated from the infected territory.