The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-25
ACTIVE MEASURES TO
ERADICATE DISEASE

The State Department OF Agricul-
ture gives out the following for publ
cation
THE outbreak of foot-and mouth
disease has already affected an area
50 large that il is evident that most
active measures are necessary 10 eradi-
cate 1T. Cases have been found as
far apart as Iowa and Massachusetts,
and at this writing November l01,
thirteen States have been quarantined
--Masa ehusetts. New York. Pennsyl-
vania. Indiana. Illinois. Michigan.
Ohio, Wisconsin, Maryla Iowa.
Rhode Island. New Jersey and Della :
ware. Interstate shipments of live
stock from these States are absolutely
prohibited. and such articles as hides.
straw, hat, etc, must be thoroughly
disinfected before they can be moved
In interstate commerce. Both in viru-
ience and in extent OF area affected the
present outbreak is more serious than
any of the five previous ones which
have occurred in the United States.
These previous outbreaks have
not been sufficiently serious either to
faniliarize farmers with the symptoms
Of the disease or to render them fully
alive To the losses that it occasions
when permitted to gain "a firm foot
hold. One of its most DANCE rous
giousness. Not only may It be con-
veyed directly from one animal to
another. but il may be transported In
fodder picked up from the ground
and carried over the country by cats
dogs and chickens, or communicated
through the agency Of man, Cases
have already been found In which It
seems certain that the disease was
spread by the curiosity Of farmers to
inspect suffering animals. They re-
turned from these visits to communi-
cate the disease 10 their own healthy
herds.
Exceedingly Contagious.
THE consciousness OF the disease
explains the action of the Federal
authorities in quarantining such large
areas. The practice is TO clap a
blanket of quarantine on the State in
which case of the disease has been
found, and then. by careful investiga-
ton, determine the exact area in
fected. When an animal suffering
from foot-and-mouth disease is dis
covered in a herd the whole herd Is at
once slaughtered, Otherwise 1t would
remain a dangerous source of infec
ton ana be a menace to the entire
community. Il is customary to APP
point an appraiser to value the herd
Oue-half of the appra Used value Is
pd4N ING OhHST pE the FcueIdi WV .
eminent and one-half by the State.
The slaughtered animals are buried
In deep trench, their hides slashef to
make it useless for anyone TO dig them
up again, and the carcasses are satu-
rated with uulcklme. In this man
ner previous outbreaks have been
completely stamped out and there Is
every reason to hope that this viii
be the case this year The chief dan
tya Vet WA 49,. hal nj cd ia
whose existence is not reported to the
proper authorities Farmers are,
therefore. urged both for their own
protection and as a duty 70 their neigh
bors, to report imme lately all cases
Of suspicious sore mouths or lame
ness among their stock.
May Make Children Ill.
Foot and mouth disease affects
chiefly cattle, sheep, goats and swine.
but there are number OF other ami
mails Of less commercial Importance
which are also susceptible. Occasion
ally human beings are affected, but in
the majority of instances the disease
is not severe in the case OF man. Child
rem. however. may become dangerous
iy Ill If their milk is infected.
The first indications of the disease
are a chill followed by high fever.
the temperature rising rapidly, some
times tc 1867. In a short time
vesicles about the size of the pea an
pear in the mouth at the end of the
tongue. on the inside of the cheeks.
ard on the gums. These vesicles con-
tain n yellowish and watery fluid
They spread as the disease advances
and cause the animal to open and shut
its mouth uneasily with a characteris-
tic smacking sound A day or two
after the first appearance OF the crup-
lions In the mouth, similar indications
appear upon the feet, which Ar0l