American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-11-19
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

The outbreak OF foot-and-mouth dis
ease has already affected an area SO
large that it is evident that most &C.
tive measures are necessary to eradi-
cate it. Cases have been found as far
apart as Iowa and Massachusetts, and
at the time of this writing (Nov. 1O)
IL states have been quarantined-Mas-
s~achusetts, New York, Pennsylvania,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wis
consin, Maryland, Iowa, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, and Delaware. Interstate
shipments OF live stock from these
states are absolutely prohibited, and
such articles as hides, straw, hay, etc,
must be thoroughly disinfected before
they a be moved in interstate com
merce. Both in v%irulence and in ex-
tent Of area affected the present out
break is more serious than any of the
five previous ones which have occur
red in the United States.
These previous outbreaks have not
been sufficiently serious either to ia
miliarize farmers with the symptoms
OF the disease or to render them fully
alive to the losses that it occasions
when permitted to gain a firm foot
hold. One of it's most dangerous char
acteristics is its extreme contagious
ness. Not only may it be conveyed
directly from one animal to another,
but it may be transported in fodder,
picked up from the ground and car
ried over the country by cats, dogs,
and chickens, or communicated thru
the agency of man. Cases have al
ready been found In which 1t seems
certain that the disease was spread by
the curiosity of farmers to inspect
suffering animals. They returned
from these visits to communicate the
disease to their own previously
healthy herds.
The contagiousness of the disease
explains the action of the federal au-
thorities in q%uarantining such large
areas. The practice is to clap a blank
ct of quarantine on the state in which
a case of the disease has been found,
and then, by careful investigation, de-
termine the exact area infected. When
an animal suffering from foot-and-
mouth disease is discovered in a herd
he whole herd is at once slaughtered.
Otherwise it would remain a danger
Gus source of infection and be a mem
ace to the entire community. 1t is GUS
tomary to appoint an appraiser to
value the herd. One-half of the ap-
praised value is paid to the owner by
the federal government and. one-half
by the state. The slaughtered ami
mails are buried in a deep trench. their
hides slashed to make It use less for
anyone to dig them up again, and the
~carcasses are saturated with quick
lime. In this manner previous out
breaks have been completely stamped
out and there is every reason to hope
that this will be the case this year.
The chief danger is that there may be
infected herds whose existence is not
reported to he proper authorities.
Farmers are therefore urged, both for
their own protection and as a duty to
their n~eighbors, to report Immediately
all cases of suspicious sore mouths or
lameness among their stock.
Foot-and-mouth disease affects
chiefly cattle, sheep, goats, and swine,
but there are a number Of other ami
mails Of less commercial Importance
which are also susceptible. Occasion
ally human beings are affected, but
In the majority of instances the dis
ease is not severe in the ease of man.
Children. however, may become dang
erously Ill II their milk is infected.
The first indications of the disease
are a chill followed by a high fever,
the temperature rising rapidly, some
times to log degrees r. In a short
time vesicles about the size of the
PEG appear in the mouth at the end Of
the tongue. on the inside Of the cheeks,
and on the gums. These vesicles con-
tain q yeilowish watery fluid. They
spread as the disease advances and
canse the animal to open and shut its
mouth uneasily with chamcter1stie
snacking sound A day or two AFTER
the dr1t appearnncA ~ the ~v~Rfonn