Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-09
CATTLE DISEASE THREATENS
TO BE PERMANENT

Chicago, Nov. 9.-The hoof and
mouth disease threatens to become a
permanent epidemic in the United
States.
1t has been traced to the western
cattle country. Once thoroughly i'm
planted among the cattle scattered
ever the vast ranges in those states, it
will be next to impossible to eradi-
cate it, federal experts declare.
The disease was discovered in a
heard of one hundred and fifty cat
tie at Glendive, Mont. DIR. S. Z. Ben
nett, United States veterinarian in
charge of the Chicago office of the
Bureau of Animal Industry, immedi
ately telegraphed the Department of
Agriculture asking that the state of
Montana be placed under quarantine.
Action on his telegram is expected to-
morrow.
Already ten states are under quar-
antine. Montana will make the elev-
enth. In three other states the state
officials have declared quarantines as
a preventive measure.
"The report from Montana is the
worst blow we have been struck in
this fight" declared DR.. Bennett. 81
hesitate to hazard even a guess as
to what may follow. We used every
effort to confine the epidemic to the
states east of the Mississippi, for it
is comparatively easy to get it
stamped out in this thickly settled ter
ritory.
''If the disease gets thoroughly i'm
planted among the millions of cattle
herded on the western ranges it is
extremely probable we will never get
rid of it. But we are not beaten yet
l hope for the best"
Europe has had the hoof and
mouth disease for years and years."
said DR.. r. A. Ramsey, in charge of
the field corps of the Department of
Agriculture. "If the disease reaches
the western ranges the United States
will be in the same boat We will
have outcroppings of the disease as
long as there are cattle, sheep and
swine in that territory"
The 73S prize cattle exhibited at
the National Dairy Show, valued at
So, 500, ,000-the pick of the herds of
the country-will be offered to the
government as sacrifice to science
in an effort to prevent future cpl
denies of the disease.
This determination was reached to-
day at a conference of owners in the
Stock Yards Inn.
Under the plan, each prize animal,
as soon as its infection is definitely
established, will be turned over to
scientists of the isolation hospital at
the stock yards.
These experts will experiment with
"a view to saving the animals life
and giving to science better knowl-
edge of the disease.
The plan, it was said tonight, has
the official sanction of Washington.
1t will supersede threatened proceed
ings for injunctions to prevent the
killing of the animals.
Thirty-four are already known 20
have contracted the disease and new
cases are being developed daily in the
big quarantine barn where they are
housed.
Today was the first day since 1865
on which the great stock yards have
been closed. Throughout the state the
suspension of the cattle and packing
industries was as pronounced. Not a
single load of cattle, sheep or hogs
was in any public receiving pen. This
condition will prevail until every pen
and slaughter house has been fumi-
gated and disinfected to the satisfac-
tion of the federal and state inspec-
tors.
Vice President Marshall conferred
during the day with government Off
Gals in charge of the situation with
a view of learning at first hand to
what extent the plague had spread
He said Congress undoubtedly
would make any appropriation neces-
sary to stamp out the disease.
Jean Brook,