Evening star., 1914-11-23
Federal Officials Think They
Have CorraIIed Foot and
Mouth Epizootic.
LIFTING OF CANADA BAN
ENCOURAGING EVIDENCE
Estimated, However, It Will Take
About Six Months to Stamp Out
All Traces of Infection.

The lifting of the quarantine against
Canada because of the foot and mouth
disease is regarded by officials Of the
Department of Agriculture as encourag-
ing evidence that they are ION the out
side of the disease
This means,' says a statement today
by the department, that there are
grounds for the belief that quarantines
already declared have been sufficient to
stop the movement of infected cattle
and that the disease can now be held
within the limits of the areas already
quarantined.
Another cause for encouragement is
the fact that although Il shipment of in
fected cattle reached Spokane, Wash,
some days ago, no new cases have since
been reported from that state. This is
taken to mean that the diseased cattle
were killed and buried before they had
had an opportunity to spread the dis
ease; in consequence, it has not been
considered necessary to quarantine
Washington.
States Seriously Affected.
AT the present time the states most
seriously affected are Ohio, Illinois, In
diana and Pennsylvania.
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massa-
chusetts are perhaps the subject OF
the greatest concern. Although the ac-
tual number of cattle already infected
is comparatively small, it will probably
be some time before any of the quar-
antines can be lifted in this region"
1t is stated that the situation in New
be fairly we'll in hand The hope Is ex-
pressed that a portion, at least, Of the
latter two states may be released from
quarantine shortly.
Michigan Status Most Gratifying.
1.-The greatest encouragement of all.
however, is probably found in Michigan"
the statement continues. THE outbreak
originated in Michigan, and it first spread
fast. Now, however, it is believed that
all infected stock have been buried and
the state, it is hoped. is really clean. To
make certain of this, however, a farm
to-farm inspection Is now being made in
all regions previously Infected.
Kentucky. also. it is believed, will soon
be free from quarantine. The disease
has appeared in only three counties and
considerable progress has been made In
ascertaining that the rest of the state
Is clear of the Infection In Iowa and
Wisconsin the infected areas appear to
be definitely defined. and portions of
these states may soon be released from
quarantine.
Although the spread of the disease
into areas previously uninfecred seems
to have been in a great measure checked
it is estimated that it will take at le st
six months to stamp out all traces of the
infection. In this work it will be of great
ass stance if snow comes quickly. Quar-
antnes of whole or parts Of states will
be lifted as rapidly as safety permits"
Nebraskan Rumor Squelched.
Although it would seem to be great
leap of the imagination to connect the
foot and mouth disease with the Euro
pean war; this has been successfully done
by man in Lincoln, Neb, who started
rumor which the Department of Agri-
culture has finally had to kill as being
almost insane. The Lincoln man made a
remark in Nebraska that has grown in
Importance until the official machinery OF
the government has had to be called into
use to squelch the rumor.
The United States government has had
to issue an official bulletin. declar ng thai
the Lincoln man is an irresponsible per-
son and that he was SO drunk at tne
time he did not know whether it was day
or night
With this drastic scoldng the rumor
that the foot and mouth disease IS being
disseminated to interfere with American
shipments of cattle to warning countries
is officially dispensed with as mere
.abrication.
Scout Story of Smuggling.
officials of the Department of Agri-
culture today SECUTED the suggestion
that cattle are being smuggled into
Washington in violation of the hoof
and mouth quarantine.
You can't put bull into your pocket
and sneak across the line with it," said
one OF these officials, 'as you can
smuggle diamond. Moreover. federal
inspectors are on the job. There is but
one place between here and Harpers
Ferry where cattle could be driven
across the river from Maryland to Vir-
ginia, and you can assure every one
concerned that if there is any danger
that place is being watched
1t had been published that cattle from
Maryland, which is quarantined. had
been smuggled into Virginia, which is
not quarantined, and had then been
brought into Washington.
The only development in the general
situation today was the discovery of a
case near Wichita. Kan. which may
make it necessary to quarantine the
Sunf1ower state.