Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-12

sachusetts from these states will not
be interfered with, and the supply of
milk is not likely to be seriously re-
duced.
The Foot and Mouth Disease.
The Foot and Mouth disease, sc
called, is an extremely virulent in
fictitious malady affecting cattle, sheep
goats, and swine, in rare instances
horses. The disease is seldom fatal
but it results in extreme emaciation
and reduces the value of the animal
either for beef or dairy purposes. II
is the most dreaded of all diseases
that attack cattle, because of the
rapidity with which it spreads, and
the absence of any remedy, once the
disease has been acquired.
The disease is SO infectious that it
can be spread simply by driving cat
tie over a road which infected cattle
have been driven over several days be-
fore. An animal afflicted with the dis
ease will communicate 1t to all others
In the same pasture, and the disease
can also be carried in the clothing of
persons working about infected cat
tie. There have been instances where
such persons have taken the disease.
The symptoms develop very rapidly,
beginning with fever, and "slobbering"
due to the formation of blisters in the
mouth, which extend sometimes to the
stomach and intestines. The spittle
from the infected animal falls to the
ground, and at once the infection at :
tacks the feet, causing lameness,
which may become permanent, and
may compel the slaughter Of the ant
mai. Infected cattle that are strictly
quarantined usually recover after a
few weeks, during which time milch
cows yield little or no milk, and that
of course, cannot be used Recovery
is slow, and the owners of infected
cattle seldom attempt to keep them.
The average run of the disease is from
ten to twenty days, and the period of
infection is about six days.
While there is danger of infection
from the use of milk from an infected
COW there is said to be no danger
from the use Of the meat, whatever.
as the disease does not affect the
muscles. Animals under suspicion
or which have been exposed to the
but where the disease has become
definitely established the animals are
killed and buried The disease is
communicable through hides and
skins as we'll as through ordinary
means, and quarantine orders usually
include hides as we'll as live stock. It
Is believed that the present outbreak
of the foot and mouth disease in the
country is traceable to hides imported
from Argentine.
Owing to the long immunity from
the disease the imported hides had no,
been thoroughly inspected and disin-
fected. The suspected hides were
shipped to a mandatory in Michigan,
and 1t is thought that neighboring
cattle were infected thereby. The
milk from these cows was fed to hogs,
and the latter shipped TO Chicago for
slaughter had become infected, carry
ing the disease to the stock Yards
there. From the Chicago Stock
Yards. where immense numbers Of
cattle and hogs are collected and
shipped to the east, the disease was
distributed widely. and it had assume |
serious proportions before its pres
ence was realized.
An Ancient Disease.
There are reasons to believe that the
foot and mouth. disease was known in
ancient Greece and Rome, but the
first authentic reports date from the
seventeenth century. when it was
prevalent in Germany, France and
Italy. AS communications between diff
ierent countries became closer the dis
ease was transmitted to other eoun-
cries. until now it is known throughout
the world. 1t appeared in England first
about 1910, having been introduced by
foreign cattle. 1t spread rapidly, AMI
affected all domestic animals with the
exception of horses, causing great loss
and alarm. although fatal in only
small number of cases. 1t was fol-
lowed shortly by an outbreak of
pleuro pneumonia. which was far
more fatal. 1t is not certain that
there was any connection between the
two diseases. except that the foot and
mouth disease so reduced the vitality
OF the animals affected that they
could not resist the second disease
Great Britain has suffered greatly
from the disease. 1t was noted each
year from 1877 to 1886 inclusive, in
1892, 1893 and 1894; and again in 1900,
1901, and 1902. 1t was at its worst in
1883, when it affected rs counties,
with 1872 outbreaks 219,2S9 cattle,
217,492 sheep and 24,332 hogs having
been infected. Vigorous steps We're
taken to check the outbreak, and the
British authorities keep a close watch
upon all imported animals in order 10
prevent recurrence. In this they
have been very successful.
First Case in the United States.
The foot and mouth disease APP
peared first in the United States In
1870, having been introduced from
Canada, whence it was brought from
England by diseased cattle Prompt
measures checked the disease, but It
has appeared several times since then.
In 1902 an epidemic of the foot and
mouth disease started in Maine, and
this was particularly severe in New
England, causing loss estimated al
100000 day, and resulting in the
killing of 4461 animals At that time
there was a large export business in
cattle, and the local supplies were