Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-11-26
WHAT IL THE FOOT
AND MOUTH DISEASE?
Answered by William HisIop. Pro-
fessor of Animal IIusbandr,.
State College OF Wash
ingtOn.

making its sixth visitation 10 the a
shores Of the United States The last
outbreak occurred in 1908.
The disease is a highly contagious 5
fever OF a specific nature It never Z
occurs spontaneously, but always =
emanates from some preexisting I
cause 1t attacks all cloyen hoof ami ,
mails but is primarily cattle dis
ease. However hogs. sheep and goats
are susceptible. Records show that
horses dogs. cats and poultry have
being particularly dangerous as car
riers OF contagion. Man. himself, is
not immune Children fed on unbOil-
ed milk from infected COWS may con
tract the disease and men working
continually among diseased animals
may become victims of the infection.
The symptoms are the same as in
cattle that is, blisters appear in the
mouth and the individuals experience |
difficulty in swallowing.
The disease. however is seldom ia
tai to humans Neither is it fatal to
livestock. for records show that only |
3 per cent die. in the case of mature
animals However. with young ami
mails fed on infected milk the mortal
ity is between 60 and so per cent.
In mild cases 10 to 20 days may be
sufficient for recovery: but in the
more malignant type the period ne
cessary for recovery may be between
three and l. months.
The greatest loss to the live stock
industry through the rayages OF this
disease comes from loss OF condi-
ton on the part OF the infected ami
mails and from the partial or almost
complete cessation OF the milk flow.
However. because of the rapid
pread OF the disease. II Is necessary
10 adopt the strictest methods to-
wards its eradication.
MIX from infected COWS cannot be
made into butter or cheese because it
remains thick and Shiny in spite OF
-hurning Pregnant animals may
d abort
The disease is carried from one
3 place TO another by railway cars. in
. fc,ted manure. straw or hay. and in
10 the clothing of individuals.
e. The first symptoms usually appear
r i'm from 3 to days after exposure
+ The animals seem to suffer from q
,hnl. followed quickly by high fever
IS Mith loss Of appetite. In from two t'
/, ,hrce DAYS blisters about the size o
4 meas appear on the surface OF th'
l. tongue. on the insides of the cheeks
e and on the gums. Later the Zee
: swell and get soft and tender. Bis
IS ters also appear on the hoof head
and between the toes. In the case o
o rlairy COWS the blisters appear on tn
II teats and the infection can be car
l. ried from one COW to another on IN
1t hands of the mixer.
ID The best way to control the diseas
n is to destroy all infected and expose
@. cattle by cremation or by burrying /
e "A hole six feet deep and covering VIII
r quick lime. The stables in whic
ID they we're housed should be complete
" disinfected with solution of lin
10 wash and formaldehyde or carbol
ne acid. The watering troughs, STAB
ot utensils, manure, and ground
be which the animals trod should
l treated in the same manner
to Experience has taught that rap
I'm action and concentration of eXpen
ay are the only sure methods for t
rly .omplete extinction of this disea'
ic- These operations are always direct
of Iby government officials.
What the disease means to tht
M countries where it has gained a r.
out grin is shown by the fact that on
,de last serious outbreak in Germany
ask lcerman government spent $2,OOo,V
he In fighting IT. In 1890 official $
nes tstics showed that In the Germ
ompire 431.235 head of cattle, =
sire S6S sheep and goats. and l5S''
tod Swine we're affected with the disei
no During the same year the pestlie
this rayaged livestock in France III
d is Belgium. Austria-lIungary, Swift
fes- land. Roumania and bulgaria.
o On 1883 It was estimated that the
oliof oase cost England S5.00O,OOO.
and the occasion of the last outbreal
, he the United States in 1908 $500
con- was appropriated by Congress
rivi- with the eN'ep'lo" VI
'har- dollars IL was spc"' III ,',
the disease. This of course does
,,ors include the indirect loss caused
can the interruption of business ana
very or factors.
IN hlV -----~