The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-11-17
HUMAN HEALTH.
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES SAY
FEAR OF FOOT AND MOUTH
DISEASE EXAGGERATED.

iety that has been expressed in sew
eral quarters in regard to the effect
upon human health DAT the present
outbreak of the fo0t and mouth dis
ease is regarded by government au-
thorities as somewhat exaggerated.
The most common fear is that the
milk supply might become contami-
mated, but in view of the precautions
that the local authorities in the in
fected areas are very generally taxi
ing, there Is comparatively little dan
ger OF this. Milk from infected
farms Is not permitted to be shipped
at all. The only danger is. therefore,
that before the disease has mani
tested itself some infected milk
might reach the market. For this
reason, experts in the United States
department of agriculture recon-
mend 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 test
ed 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 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
las degrees Fahrenheit and held at
this temperature for thirty minutes.
In this country the foot and mouth
disease has been so rare hat there
are few recorded cases of its trans
mission to human beings. In 1902
a few cases were reported in New
England, and in 1908 in a few in
stances eruptions were found in the
mouths of children which were be-
lieved to have been caused by con-
taminated milk. In both of these
outbreaks, the sale of milk was stop
ped. As soon 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 it
has been at various times in large
areas in Europe, the problem would
become more serious. Under any
circumstances, however, pasteuriza-
ton would be an efficient remedy.
Where pasteurization is not possible
and where there is any reason to
suspect hat the disease may exist,
the p%recaution of boiling milk might
be advisable. Simple directions for
pasteurizing milk at home, however,
are contained in circular 127 which
will be sent free on application to the
United States department of agricul-
ture.
Cows affected with the malignant
form of the disease lose practically
all their milk. In mild cases, how
ever. 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 fbrin and blood, SO that
a 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 matter OF fact, the
disease is not permitted to pass into
an advanced stage as any stricken an
imal 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,
fever and occasional eruptions on
the hands. finger tips, etc. While
causing considerable discomfort,
however, the disease is rarely Sc
rious. Where it is very prevalent
among animals, some authorities be-
lieve hat it is fairly general among
human beings, but that the disturb
ances it causes are usually so slight
| that they are not brought to the at
tention of the family physician.
| There is, however, a very good rea-
son for everyone giving the diseased
| animals as wide a berth as possible,
namely, that otherwise they may cas-
| lily carry the disease to perfectly
| healthy herds. Federal inspectors en-
| gagged in the work of Graduating the
| pestilence are thoroughly equipped
| with rubber coats, hats, boots n
| 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 nj to their own and
their neighbors' property.
The disease, in short, is dangerous
| because of the loss that 1t occasions
to property, and not because of its
effects upon the health of mankind.
| At present all infected herds are be-
| ing slaughtered as soon as they are
discovered, the carcasses buried, and
the premises thoroughly disinfected.
Until all danger of infection has been
| removed in this way. the local au-
thorities quarantine the milk.
Those who wish additional precau-
tions are recommended to use pas
teurized milk, but as has already been
said, this recommendation holds true
whether or not there is any fear of
the foot and mouth disease.