The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-21
LET THEM SEE IT NO FEAR OF PANIC
Foot and Mouth Disease Re-
quires Precaution.
But Experts Say No Cause for
Grave Alarm Here.
DRASTIC MEASURES TAKEN
Every Effort Is Being Made to
Check Disease.
DR.. w. L. johnson Speaks From
Scientific Standpoint.

DR.. w. L. johnson Speaks From
Scientific Standpoint.
That there is no need for grave
and mouth disease outbreak in Chi
cago and elsewhere is the opinion of
! experts. 1t Is evident that conditions
have been exaggerated, and 1t ts fact
that at first there were some Kansas
stock men who were almost panic
stricken fea ring that the outbreak
might be general.
1 Precaution is necessary and precau-
. ton has been taken by the federal de-
partment Of agriculture and the varf-
Gus state authorities. Drastic meas
ures, in fact, were adopted and for this
reason many persons were inclined to
i magnify the seriousness of the stu
alton. Sixteen states were put under
| government quarantine.
The outbreak is putting a damper
on the stock cattle business, it is true.
To just what extent this will affect
the price Of meat is a question, as
| there are many other strong infiu-
ences that are brought to bear that
tend to control the prices.
No Call for Panic.
G. c. Wheeler, livestock editor of
the Kansas Farmer, in speaking of
the situation said:
There is no call for panic in Kan
sas. With our mild fall and winter
weather. and our present abundance
of rough feed and wheat pasture, Kan
sas should be able to profitably care
for many Of the cattle that may be
barred from some of the cattle feed
ing states as a result Of the Quaran-
tine in force"
DR.. w. L. johnson, chief govern
ment inspector at the Wolff Packing
company, spoke before the Current
Topic club of the Central Y NJ c. A.
this week and gave an interesting ad-
dress on 1.-THE Foot and Mouth Dis
ease"
DIR. johnson ON Disease.
| He said in part:
"Aphthous fever. or foot and mouth
disease, is considered by the authori-
ties in this country and the leading
and Germany. to be the most dreaded,
destructive and contagious disease
among livestock. Its tremendous raw
ages are best seen in consideration of
the number of species infected. Cat
tie are the most susceptible, swine a
close second. and sheep and goats also ;
also the cloven hoofed or bi-sulcates
buffalo. American bison. deer, ante
lope. giraffe. chamois and the llama,
ETC.; also the horse, dog. cat and even
poultry are claimed by some to be
susceptible. Man himself is not i'm
mune. Many cases on record have
been shown during the many and al
most continuous outbreaks in Euro
pean countries in the middle Of the
past century where men have been in
fected by the disease.
1T is caused by virus which is read
lily communicated to healthy animals
either directly or indirectly.
History Of the Disease.
las this disease is Indigenous to
Europe, Asia, Africa and South Amer
lea, the majority of the people of the
United States know very little, If any.
Of its ravages, the present outbreak
being the sixth in the United States.
The first was in 1870, which was con-
fined to few mild cases in the New
England states and New York, and
which spread from Canada and was
soon stamped out by isolation and
quarantine. Again in 1880. a few lots
were brought to the United States but
did not extend beyond the herds in
fected. In 1884 a small outbreak was
discovered at the quarantine station al
Portland, Me-, which extended to but
a few herds.
I'm 1902 and 1903 infection was found
IN ssachusetts, and extended to TOR.
tiors Of New Hampshire, Vermont and
Rhode Island. This outbreak was very
malignant in character. The United
Estates department resorting to the
slaughtering method. recommended BY
the Baden-Baden conference of 1899
and $500 animals were slaughtered al
an expense of about $129,O0O.
In 1908 the infection occurred II
Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York an6
Maryland. During the outbreak 3.63'
animals were slaughtered at a loss Of
about 100000, $50, 033 10 being paid the
owners of the stock slaughtered. Five
hundred and seventy-two experts were
employed during this outbreak. an6
over 100000 animals were inspected
The present outbreak bids fair to bt
the most disastrous of all, as the in
lection is now known to exist in L
states and possibly is at the present
time. The spread Of the injection i.
easy and rapid especially in a country
like the United States, as the infection
can be carried in hay. straw and all for
age, clothing, cars. all animals, poultry
pigeons, rats, hides and WOOL ETC., ant
taken from the history of the Europeal
outbreaks, which show at least Is pc
cent of all herds take the disease a
each infection. and the estimate of 81
what it would mean If properly distrib
luted among our So, 500, 600 600 worth o
live stock.
The Meat Supply.
The past year, at slaughtering cen
tiers in the United States. doing inter
state business, where federal inspection
is maintained, over seven million cat
tile were slaughtered, two million calves
fifteen million sheep. thirty-four mil
lion hogs. This represents only abou
l6O per cent Of the animals slaughtere
for food in the United States, whic
would make a total of about IS millio
hogs and IL million cattle for the veal
Zone can readily see what a general in
lection would mean to the meat sup
ply OF the United States. notwithstand
Ing the great loss which would be oh
tanned to the supply due to abortion.
F L s
Friday Football Scores.