Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-13
ANXIETY OYER POSSIBLE DAN
GER TO HUMANS REGARDED
AS EXAGGERATED.
PRACTICALLY ONLY
DANGER IN INFECTED MILK
Pssteurization Recommended by De-
partment of Agriculture as Means Of
Preventing Transmission Of Disease
to Human Beinss-lnfection But
Little Known in United States.
Special to Tlmes-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Washington, Nov. 13.-The anxiety
that has been expressed in several
quarters in regard to the effect upon
human health of the present outbreak
of the foot and mouth disease Is re-
garded by government authorities as
somewhat exaggerated. The most
common fear is that the milk supply
might become contaminated, but in
View of the precautions that the local
authorities in the infected areas are
very generally taking, there is COM
paratively little danger of this. Milk
from infected farms Is not permitted
to be shipped at all. The only danger
is, therefore, that before tho disease
has manifested itself some infected
milk might reach the market For this
reason. experts In the United States
department of agriculture recommend
pasteurization. AS a matter OF fact.
however, pasteurization Is recon-
mended by the department anyway for
all milk that Is not very high grade
and from tuberculin tested cows.
II has been demonstrated by ex-
periments which have been made in
Denmark and Germany that pasteur-
ization will serve as safeguard
against contagion from the foot and
mouth disease just as readily as II does
against typhoid fever but in any
event 1t must be thoroughly done-the
milk must be heated TO 146 degrees
Fahrenheit and held at this tempera-
ture for thirty minutes.
Disease Rare in America.
In this country the foot and mouth
disease has been so rare that there are
few recorded cases of its transmission
to human beings. In 1902 few cases
were reported in New England, and in
1905 In few instances eruptlons were
found in the mouths OF children which
were believed TO have been caused by
contaminated milk. In both OF these
outbreaks. the sale OF milk was stopped
as soon as the disease was found
among the cattle. AS long, therefore.
as the disease can be confined by rigid
quarantine to certain specified areas.
the danger from this source Is very
small. Should the pestilence spread
all over this country and become as
general as 1t has been at various times
in large areas In Europe, the problem
would become more serious. Under any
circumstances however. pasteuriza-
ton would be an efficient remedy.
where pasteurizatlon Is not possible.
and where there is any reason to sus-
pect that the disease may exist, the
precaution of boiling milk might be
advisable Simple directions for pas
teurizlng milk at home. however. are
contained in circular 121. which will
be sent free on application to the
United States department of agricui-
ture.
Diseased Cows Lose Milk.
Cows affected with the malignant
form OF the disease lose practically all
of their milk. In mild cases. however.
the decrease may be from one-third to
one-half OF the usual yield. The APP
pearance Of the milk also changes.
1t becomes thinner. blush. and poor
in fat. When the udder Is affected,
the milk frequently contains coagu-
lated fibrin and blood, so, that a con-
siderable sediment forms, while the
cream Is thin and Of a dirty color.
These changes. however, occur only
when the disease is In an advanced
stage. and. as a matter OF fact. the dis
ease is not permitted to pass into an
advanced stage. as any stricken ami
NAL is at once slaughtered.
Men who come in contact with dis
eased animals may also become in
fected. In adult human beings the
contagion causes such symptoms as
sore mouths. painful swallowing. fever.
and occasional eruptions on the hands
finger tips, etc. While causing con-
siderable discomfort. however. the dis
ease is rarely serious. Where 1t is very
prevalent among animals, some author
ities believe that IL is fairly general
among human beings, but that the
disturbances it causes are usually so
slight that they are not brought to the
attention of the family physician.
To Prevent Diseases Spread.
There is, however. very good rea-