Rock Island Argus., 1914-11-14
DISEASE DANGER
is EXAGGERATED
Federal Department of Agricul-
ture Issues Statement to
Guide Public.
MILK THE CHIEF MENACE
Pasteurization Will Serve as Safeguard
Against Foot and Mouth Con-
tasion, II Is Claimed.

washfngton. Nov. 1.-THE anxiety
that has been expressed in several
quarters in regard to the effect upon
human health OF the present outbreak
of the foot and mouth disease is re-
garded by government authorities as
somewhat exaggerated. The most
common fear is that the milk supply
might become contaminated, but In
view of the precautions that the local
authorities in the infected areas are
very generally taking. there is COM
paratively little danger Of this. Milk
from infected farms is not permitted
TO be shipped at all The only danger
is. therefore. that before the disease
has manifested itself some infected
milk might reach the market. For
this reason. experts in the United
States department of agriculture rec
ommend pasteuriZation. AS matter
of fact, however. pasteurization is rec
omended by the department anyway
for ali milk that is not very high
grade and from tuberculin tested
cows.
Il has been demonstrated by expert
ments which have been made in Den
mark and Germany that pasteuriza-
tion will serve as a safeguard against
contagion from the foot and mouth
disease just as readily as # does
against typhoid fever, but in any
event it must be thoroughly done
the milk must be heated to 145 de
grees Fahrenheit and held at that
temperature for 80 minutes.
Transmission Rare.
In this country the foot and mouth
disease has been so rare that there
are few recorded cases OF its trans
mission TO human beings. In 1902 a
few cases were reported in New Eng |
land, and in 1905 in a few instances |
eruptions were found in the mouths 4
OF children which were believed TO 1
have been caused by contaminated
milk. In both of these outbreaks. the
sale Of milk was stopped as soon as
the disease was found among the cat
tie. AS long, therefore, as the disease
can be confined by rigid quarantine TO
certain specified areas, the danger
from this source is very small. Should
the pestilence spread all over this
country and become as general as it
has been at various times in Europe,
the problem would become more seri-
GUS Under any circumstances, how
ever, pastsurizatiOn would be an effic-
lent remedy. Where pasteuri-atiOn is
not possible. and where there is any
reason to suspect that the disease may
exist, the precaution OF boiling milk
might be advisable. Simple direc-
ions for pasteurizing milk at home,
however, are contained in circular 127
which will be sent free on application
70 the United States department of
agriculture.
Cows affected with the malignant
orm Of the disease lose practically
III of their milk. In mild cases, how
sver. the decrease may Re from one
bird to one-haIf of the usual yield. /
The appearance OF the milk also
.hanges. II becomes thinner. blush.
md poor in fat. When the udder is
Affected. the milk frequently contains
.oagulated hbrin and blood, so that
considerable sediment forms, while
he cream IS thin and of a dirty color /
-hese changes, however, occur only
Then the disease is in an advanced
tage and, as matter of fact, the dis
ase is not permitted to pass into an
dvanced stage. as any stricken ami :
nal is al once slaughtered.
is Rarely Serious.
Men who come in contact with dis s
ased animals may also become in I
ected. In adult human beings the a
nuraRfou causes grFch syrnutorns as q