Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-11-19
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

Investigation revealed the fact that
the state was confronted with another
outbreak of foot and mouth disease or
apthous fever.
The temperance of this disease in
Michigan after it's eradication SIX
wears ago has given rise to demand
for information concerning 1T and TINS
circular is written in an effort to sup
ply that demand.
Previous outbreaks of this disease
have occurred in North America in
1870. 1880, 1884, 1902 and 1908. This
is the second time that Michigan has
become involved in an outbreak OF foot
and mouth disease.
Foot and mouth disease or apthous
fever is very contagious disease OF
cattle, sheep, goats, deer (ruminants)
and swine and occasionally human
beings. 1t is characterized by fever,
loss of appetite, reduction OF mix
flow, in mich cows, and later by the
appearance of vessicles or blisters on
the mucous membrane of the lips,
dental pad or tongue and on the heels
or between the toes and frequently on
the teets and udder. In from few
hours to one or two days the blisters
break, peeling off and leaving red
dish. slightly depressed raw surface
which usually heals in one or two
weeks but which may remain sore for
a longer time as a result of complica-
tions due to other disease-producing
organisms. At the beginning of the
disease the animal is greatly depress-
ed. and as the mouth becomes involved
there may be profuse slabber and fire.
auently a smacking of the lips which
produces a clicking sound. Lameness
usually results from the very painful
condition produced by the diseased
feet.
The disease is spread by contact with
affected animals or by their milk
directly or indirectly through cream
cries or cheese factories, by manure,
grain or any fodder contaminated by
their discharges; also by their trans
portation over public highways and
stock yards.
1t may also be carried by an appar-
emily healthy recovered animal for
several months after recovery. 1t may
be carried on the feet or clothes OF
parties from affected farms, or who
have visited infected stock yards. 1t
may also be carried by other animals
as horses, dogs, cats, birds, etc.
Foot and mouth disease is usually
not fatal, complete recovery being the
rule. Over 20 per cent. mortality has
been recorded under unusual condl-
tions. Young animals furnish the larg-
est number of fatal cases. The rule is
that under favorable conditions all at
fected animals recover.
The disease must be differentiated
from non-contagious affections such
as occasional injuries to the mouth and
feet, ergotism and mycotic stomatitis,
and from an infectious lip and leg ul-
cerations due to B. necrophorus. Foot
and mouth disease is to be differen-
tiated from the above affections by the
appearance of the conditions already
described, by its acuteness and ex-
IRENE contagiousness as evidenced
not only by the involvement of prac-
tically all the animals in the affected
herd in a very short time, but also by
its rapid spread to neighboring farms.
In the presence of an outbreak of
foot and mouth disease all suspicious
cases should be reported without de-
lay to the authorities having the mat
ter in charge. Only in this way can
the spread of the disease be prevented.
Previous experience with five out
breaks of this disease in this country
conclusively proves that its immediate
eradication is not only possible but
practicable. The Importance of i'm
mediate eradication can be seen from
consideration of the losses sustain
ed by some of these countries in the
past and its almost constant presence
in some of these countries at the pres
ent time. 1t has been estimated that
the pecuniary loss in cattle in those
counties where the disease is prevail
ent amounts to 10 to 40 dollars per
head and since practically none of the
animals in a herd escape the disease
it's total losses are enormous. 1t
was estimated that the losses
from the disease in England in
1883 amounted to $5,000,000; in
France in 1871 the losses were $780,
600; and in the same year in Switzer-
land S2,500,000; it is said that in Ger
many from 1889 to 1894, seven mil
lion animals were affected; and from
1897 to 1899 one million animals were
affected in Holland. Every American
stock owner is so familiar with the
comparative area of this country and
those European countries cited, and
with the vastness of our live stock in
dustry as compared with that of these
countries that we can quickly conceive
of the stupendous figures that would
represent our losses if the disease
were allowed to spread. Failure to
adopt immediate and vigorous meas
ures To eradicate foot and mouth dis