The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-24

cattle Il. .2o'ooo'ooo
Sheep . =. . d. :. ..5S, 900, 600
Swine . =. :. -. :. :. go 900, 00e
This may be compared with the fig
ures for The year 1912 in Germany. |
which shows:
Cattle :. -. . :. d. 20 ,OO0, 600
Swine :. s.. . . ..21.OOo,0OO
Sheep and goats -. . -. -. 5000, 900
In the German plague it is eSti-
mated that 425,000 infected cattle
were killed. The cost to the govern
ment was approximately 100000
England's worst plague cost her about
s $1,000, 900. Should his country find
the present plague equally serious. the
loss would be observation-disclosures the
imagination.
Whenever a farm is visited, the ex-
perts, if they find ca.tle, sheep or
swine afflicted, inform the owner that
he will be compensated for his per-
sOnal loss. His cattle are appraised
at a fair valuation by an official Sc
lected by the State in which the farm
er lives. n expense is born jointly
by the State and the government.
Although a State may be under
strict quarantine, healthy cattle are
allowed to be shipped into ii with the
understanding that they are to be
slaughtered Immediately. Thus Chi
caSo, though h might not be allowed
I'D SenO out ncI own i've SLOCk, COuIO
receive live cattle from other States
not under quarantine, and, if exami-
nation showed them to be healthy,
could slaughter them and tranship
them to another State.
Rigid Supervision.
But there is little chance for the
gentleman of easy morals who would
take advantage of this proviso. In
the first place the railways will not
handle his cattle. there being a
heavy fine for violation of the Federal
regulations. Additionally, the ami
mails are everywhere subjected to
boards Of health eagerly cooperate
with the Federal authorities in order
to protect themselves.
The history Of the present out
break is vague. It is claimed by one
authority that the importation of in
fected hides from Asia was respon-
sible for the epidemic. Although they
admit that they cannot definitely
trace the epidemic to it's beginning,
the authorities at the department are
inclined to scout this theory. Their
explanation is contained in the fol-
lowing statement, which was recently
made public:
THE present outbreak first ap.
peared in southern Michigan. How il
was introduced there is not known
Shipments Of diseased hogs from thi:
place, which passed to Chicago, art
believed to be responsible for the in
lection Of the pens in the unioI
stockyards. Once the yards becam,
infected there was danger that ever!
shipment of live stock through Chi
cago to other parts Of the countr.
might pick up the germs of the dis
. ease n spread the contagion. Thes
\ 1 ShinrnnfS cnmnnCnG lorUolx nf food
erS and stOckerS, were sen to farm
: for f~attening, and did not remain il
: Chicago long enough for the diseas
to show itself i'll external symptoms
: Some of the cattle. carrying the con
S tagion, after shipment develop exter
: nal LESSONS, and this accounts fol
= the outbreak Of the disease in State
as far apart as Iowa and Massachu
sets. For this reason a large fore
r of federal inspectors is now runnin
g down every shipment and examinin
e h animals or herds at their place c
delivery.
; AT present the chief danger lie
in the possibility Of there being cor
h cealed sources of infection. Ever
lr effort is being made by State an
Federal authorities, not only to trae
IF suspicious shipments, but to convint
t. farmers Of the seriousness Of the al:
a ease and the extreme ease with whiC
~ ~ communicated, anu To urge upC
l. them to repOrt at once to State {
X Federal authorities all suspiciO,
~ cases of sore mouths Or lameness."
ID An excellent example of the c,
s. operation that exists between muir
re cipal. State and Federal authorize
he is found near home. The District
Of Columbia. Virginia and MarylaT
s. have been laboring in unison
to stamp out the plague at the outs
and prevent a general infection
Of cattle. Whether the officials of Il
States and the national governme
he will be successful it is too early y
ke to determine.
e. Combating CareIessnesS
nd One element against which tn
have had to combat is the careless i
IS dividual who. having become infet
ks ed. goes near cattle. The animals c:
catch foot and mouth disease fro
humans as we'll as from each 9th
Of They can also become inoculated
mt using hay which has been rear an i
.pf recfad animal.