The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-03
anxiety that has been ex-
pressd in several quarters in re.

THE anxiety that has been ex-
pressd in several quarters in re-
gard to the effect upon human
health of the present outbreak of the
foot-and-mouth disease is regarded
by Government authorities as some-
what exaggerated. The most COM
mon 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 mar
ket. For this reason, experts in the
U. S. Department of Agriculture rec
ommend pasteurization. AS a matter
of fact, however, pasteurization is rec
commended by the Department any
way for all milk that is not very high
grade and from tuberculin tested
cows.
1t has been demonstrated by ex-
periments which have been made in
Denmark and Germany that pasteur-
ization will serve as a safeguard
against contagion from the foet-and-
mouth disease just as readily as it
does against typhoid fever, but in
any event it must be thoroughly done
the milk must be heated to 145
degrees Fahrenheit and held at this
temperature for 80 minutes.
Few Cases.
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 1908 in a few instances
eruptions were found in the mouths
of children which were believed to
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
cattle.
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
large areas In Europe, the problem
would become more serious. I'm
der any circumstances, however, pas
teurization would be an efficient
remedy.
Where pasteurization is not posi-
bic, and where there is any reason
to suspect that the disease may ex-
list, the precaution of boiling milk
might be advisable. Simple direc-
tons for pasteurizing milk at home.
however, are contained in Circular
1877 which will be sent free on ap-
plication to the U. S. Department
of Agriculture.
Cows affected with the m%anignant
form of the disease lose practically
oil Of their milk. In mild cases,
however, the decrease may be from
one-third to one-half Of the usual
yield. The appearance Of the milk
also changes. 1t becomes thinner,
blush, and poor in fat.
When the udder is affected, the
milk frequently contains ~coagulated
fibrin and blood, so that a consider
able sediment forms, while the cream
Is thin and Of a dirty color. These
changes, however, occur only when
the disease Is In an advanced stage
and, as a matter of fact, the dis
ease is not permitted to pass into
an advanced stage, as any stricken
animal is at once slaughtered.
Men who come In contact with
diseased animals may also become
infected. In adult human beings
the contagion causes such symptoms
Is sore mouths, painful swallowing
fever, and occasional eruDtions or
the hands, finger tips, etc.
While causing considerable dis
comfort, however, the disease Il
rarely serious. Where 1t is yer!
prevalent among animals, some auth