The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-24
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
FOOT-AND.MOUTH DISEASE

| In several quarters in regard to the
effect upon human health Of the pres
ent outbreak Of the foot-and-mouth
disease is regarded by Government
authorities as somewhat exaggerated.
The most common fear is that the
milk supply might become contamin.
ated but in view Of the precautions
that the local authorities in the in
fected areas are very generally taking,
there is comparatively 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 depart
ment recommend pasteurization. As
a matter Of fact, however, pasteuriz-
alton is recommended by the depart
ment anyway for all milk that is not
very high grade and from tuberculin-
tested cows.
II has been demonstrated by expert
ments which have been made in Den
mark and Germany that pasteuriza-
ton will serve as a safeguard against
contagion from the foot-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
f. and held at this temperature for
80 minutes.
In this country the foot-and-mouth
disease has been so rare that there
are few recorded cases of its transmits
sion to human beings. In 1902 few
cases were reported in New England
and in 1908 in a few instances er,ip-
tons were found in the mouths OF chill
dren. 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 dis-
ease was found among the cattle. AS
long therefore as the disease can be
confined by rigid quarantine to GER
tain specified areas the danger from
this source is very small Should the
pestilence spread all over this country
and become as general as 1T has been
at various times in large areas IN
Europe, the problem would become
more serious. Under any circum-
stances. however, pasteurization would
be an efficient remedy. Where pas
teurization is not possible and where
there IS any reason to suspect that
the disease may exist the precaution
of boiling milk might be advisable. O..
|. Cows affected with the malignant
form of the disease lose practically all
Of their milk. In mild cases, however,
the decrease may be from one-thlrd to
one half of the usual yield. The ap-
pearance of the milk also changes. 1t
becomes thinner, blush, and poor In
fat. When the udder is affected, the
milk frequently contains coagulated
fbrin and blood, SO that considerable
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 mater of fact, the disease is not
permitted to pass into an advanced
stage, as any stricken animal is at
once slaughtered.
Men who come in contact with dis
eased animals may also become IN
fected. In adult human beings the
contagion causes such symptoms as
sore mouths, painful swallowing, few
err, and occasional eruptions on the
hands, finger tips, etc. While causing
considerable discomfort, however, the
disease is rarely serious. Where 1t is
very prevalent among animals some
authorities believe that it is fairly
general among human beings, but that
the disturbances it causes are usually
SO slight that they are not brought to
the attention of the family physician.
There is, however, very good reason
for everyone giving the diseased ami
mails as wide berth as possible,
namely, that otherwise they may cas-
ily carry the disease TO perfectly.
healthy herds. Federal inspectors en-
ragged in the work of graduating the
pestilence are thoroughly equipped
with rubber coats, hats, boots, and
gloves, which may be completely dis
infected; and others who lack this
equipment are strongly urged not to
allow their curiosity to induce them to
become a menace to their own and
their neighbors' property.
The disease, in short, is dangerous
because Of the loss that is occasions to
property, and not because Of its ef-
feet upon the health Of mankind. At
present all infected herds are being
slaughtered as soon as they are dis
covered. the carcasses buried, and the
premises thoroughly disinfected. I'm
I'll all danger Of infection has been re-
moved in this way, the local authori-