St. Tammany farmer., 1914-11-21
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.
The outbreak of the fO0t-and-
mouth disease has already affected an
area so large that it is evident that
most active measures are necessary
to eradicate it. Cases have been
found as far apart as Iowa and Mass
achusetts, and at the time OF this
writing (Nov. 1O) 13 states have
been ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin,
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 thorougsly disinfected before
they can be moved in interstate COM
merce. Both in virulence and in ex-
tent of area affected the present out
break is more serious than any OF
the FIVE previous ones which have Oc-
CURED in the United States.
The previous outbreaks have not
been sufficiently serious to familiarize
farmers with the symptoms OF the
disease or to render them fully alive
to the losses that it occasions when
permitted to gain firm foothold.
One of it's most dangerous character
: istics is its extreme contagiousness.
Not only may it be conveyed direct
ly from one animal to another, but
it may be transported in fodder
picked up from the ground and carri-
ed over the country by cats, dogs. and
chickens, or communicated through
the agency of man. Cases have al
ready been found in which it seems
certain that the disease was spread
by the curiosity of farmers to in,
spect suffering animals. They - re-
turned from these visits to communi-
cate the disease to their own pre-
viously healthy herds.
The cOntagiOusness of the disease
explains the action of the Federal
authorities in Quarantining such
large areas. The practice is to clap
a blanket of quarantine on the State
in which case of the disease has
been found, and then, by careful in
vestigatiOn, determine the exact area
infected. When an animal suffering
from foOt-and-miuth disease is dis
covered in herd the whole herd is
at once slaughtered Otherwise it
would remain dangerous source Of
infection and be menace to the en-
tire community. 1t is customary to
appoint an appraiser to value the
herd. One-half Of the appraised
value Is paid to the owner by the
Federal Government and one-han by
the State. The slaughtered animals
are buried in a deep trench, their
hides slashed to make it useless for
anyone to dig them up again, and
the carcasses are saturated with
Quicklime. In this manner previous
outbreaks have been completely
stamped out and there is every rea-
SON 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 the prop
er authorities. Farmers are there |
fore urged, both for their own pro-
lection and as duty to their neigh
bors, to report Immediately all cases |
of suspicious sore mouths or lame
ness 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. Occa-
human beings are affected.
but in the majority Of instances the
disease Is not severe in teh case Of
man. Children, however, may be-
come dangerously i'll II their milk
Is infected.
The first indications Of the disease =
ire chill followed by a high fever,
ne temperature rising rapidly, some
lines to 106 degrees Farenheit. In
short time vesicles about the size
u the pea appear in the mouth at
he end Of the tongue. in the inside |.
q the cheeks, and on the gums.
These vesicles contain a yellowish
vatery f1uid. They spread as the
lisease advances and cause the ami .
nal to open and shut its mouth usu- Z
lily with q characteristic smacking II
ound. A day or two after the first Id
ppearance Of the eruptions in the jt
aouth similar indications appear up Z
n the feet, which are swollen, red. s
nd tender. Because Of this the ami.