Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-11-27
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

sary to eradicate it. Cases have been
found as far apart as Iowa and
Massachusetts,, and at the time of
This writing Nov. 100 Is states have
been quarantined - Massachusetts,
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 thoroughly disinfected
before they can be moved in inter
state commerce. Both in yirulence
and in extent of area affected the
present outbreak is more serious
than any of the five previous ones
which have occurred in the United
States.
These previous outbreaks have not
been sufficiently serious either to
famiiarize farmers with the symp-
toms of the disease or to render them
fully alive to the losses that it occa-
sions when permitted to gain a firm
foothold. One of its most dangerous
characteristics is its extreme contag-
iousness. Not only may it be con
veyed directly from one animal to
another, but it may be transported in
fodder, picked UP from the ground
aud carried over the country by cats,
dogs, and chickens, or communicate
ed through the agency Of man. Cases
have already been found in which it
seems certain that the disease was
spread by the curiosity Of farmers to
inspect suffering animals. They re
turned from these visits to communi-
cate the disease to their own preyi-
ously healthy herds.
The contagiousness Of the disease
explains the action of the federal au-
thorities in quarantining such large
areas The practice is to clap blan-
ket of quarantine on the state in
which a case of the disease has been
found, and then, by careful inyesti-
cation, determine the exact area in
fected. When an animal suffering
from foot and mouth disease is dis
covered in a herd the whole herd is
at once slaughtered. Otherwise it
would remain a dangerous source Of
infection and be a 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 fed
eral government and one-half by the
state, The slaughtered animals are
buried in a deep trench their hides
slashed to make them 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 a 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 number of
other animals of less commercial I'M
portance which are also susceptible.
Occasionally human beings are af-
lected chiefly cattle, sheep, goats,
and swine, but there are number of
other animals of less commercial inn
portance which are also susceptible.
Occasionally human beings are af-
fected, but in the majority of in
stances the disease is not severe in
the case OF man. Children, however,
may become dangerously i'll if their
milk is infected.
The first indications or the disease
are chill followed by a high fever,
the temperature rising rapidly. some
times to loo degrees Fahrenheit. In
short time yesicles about the size
OF the pea appear in the mouth at
the end of the tongue, on the inside
Of the cheeks, and on the gums.
These yesicles contain yellowish
Watery fluid. They spread as the dis
ease advances and cause the animal
to open and shut its mouth uneasiIy
with a characteristic sucking sound.
A day or two after the first appear
.ance of the eruptions in the mouth
similar indications appear upon the
feet, which are swollen, red, and ten
der. Because OF this the animal fire.
quently persists In lying down and
bedsores develop with much rapid
ity. In the case OF COWS the udder