New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-09
CATTLE PLAGUE IN
RHODE ISLAND, TOO
Ten States Now Quaran-
tined Because of Foot
and Mouth Disease.

Washington. Nov. s.-The foot and
mouth disease epidemic has spread to
the State Of Rhode Island, where "A case
was discovered to-day. and which viii
probably result in the state being
placed under quarantine. An additional
herd of infected cattle was discovered
in Illinois. These are the Developments
reported by the Department of Agri-
culture to-day.
Secretary Houston, discussing the
epidemic to-day. said: UNLESS the IN
lection can be Immediately located and
quickly eradicated 10 threatens untold
losses among livestock
Every precaution IS being taken, even
school children on infected farms are
being prohibited from attending school
because Of the fact that human beings
can carry the disease 90 other herds.
the Secretary says The disease is so
contagious that even the interstate
movement OF such material as straw Is
prohibited.
80 contagious is the dicase,' said
Secretary Houston to-day, that m past
outbreaks. where only one animal IN a
herd was infected, the entire herd in
almost all cases later contracted the
sickness. While the mortality is not
high the effects of the disease even
on animals that recover are such as to
make them practically useless. They
lose flesh rapidly; IN the case Of COWS,
the milk dries up or is made dangerous
for human consumption; IN the case
of breeding animals. the animal once
infected becomes valueless for breed
ing. as 10 may continue 90 be q CON
slant carrier Of contagion.
cit is possible 20 cure the external
symptoms. but during the process OF
attempting 20 cure one sick animal the
chances are that hundreds Of others
may be infected. The treatment of a
single animal in a herd was tried IN
an outbreak and did not prove eitec-
tive. for the reason that the remainder
OF the herd soon became affected and
had TO be killed.
Secretary Houston said that IL was
the policy of the department IN COM
hating the disease "tO STOP all move
ments of stock and material which
have been subjected 20 any danger Of
infection. and TO Kill OF without delay
All herds in which the disease has
gained anv foothold. This enables the
authorities TO eradicate affected herds
tion all suspected herds"
This policy, he said, has been adopt
ed i'm Great Britain and the rest OF
Furope. after the most careful study
OF the several outbreaks OF the foot
and mouth disease IN this and other
countries.
In carving out the policy OF the de-
nartment Secretary Houston said that
ten states Massachusetts, New York,
Ohio. Pennsylvania. Indiana, Illinois,
MARYLAND. Michigan. Wisconsin and
Iowa-have been placed under quaran-
tine.
Federal quarantine" he said. pre-
vents all interstate movement Of stock
and materials likely to carry the IN
lection. At the same time the state
authorities are imposing local quaran-
tines. which prevent the passage or
animals from farms or localities known
TO be infected TO other localities IN the
same state in which the disease has
not appeared. Each infected herd, as
rapidlv as the disease is discovered.
is killed and the dead animals buried
in a covering Of lime. The SKINS or
The animals are slashed 50 as 70 per
init the rapid action Of the lime.
"The owner Of the slaughtered ami
mails is reimbursed on the basis of the
appraised value Of the herd. the ap-
praiser being appointed by the state:
The expense of the whole process Of
condemnation and disinfection IS d.
vided equally between the federal and
state governments.
Until the entire premises have been
thoroughly disinfected and all danger
Of spreading the disease removed the
farm is quarantined by the local au-
thorities in the same way in which IT
would be for contagious human dis
ease. This local quarantine prevents
the visit of individuals, or the trans
fer of any produce or animals from the
farm 10 other farms
The Secretary points out the great
danger i'm the conceaIment of sources
of infection. The feCeral and state au-
thorities are doing everything in their
mower. he said, "to convince farmers
Of the seriousness Of the disease and
the extreme ease with which 1t IS com
municated, and 70 urge upon them TO
report at once 10 state or federal au-
thorities all suspicious cases Of sore
mouths or lameness."