American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-11-19

in the mouth similar indicasions ap-
pear upon the feet. which are swol-
len, red. and tender. Because of this
the animal frequently persists in ly-
ing down. and bedsores develop with
much rapidity. In the case of cows
the udder and, more frequently. the
teats are affected by a similar erup-
ton.
Once the disease is well established
It becomes so painful for the animal
to eat that food is frequently refused
altogether. Strings of saliva hang
from the mouth, and flesh is lost with
astonishing rapidity. When the udder
is seriously affected the milk becomes
contaminated and may cause serious
results TO sucking calves and young
pigs. In mild cases from 10 to 20
DAYS may bring about a apparent re-
covery, but this time may be greatly
extended. Moreover, an apparent re-
covery by no means implies a real
cure. The animal may carry the virus
in its blood for a year or more and is
liable during all this time to spread
the c~ontagion or to experience a re-
itself. The mortality, con-
sidering the seriousness of the dis
ease and the losses 1t occasions. is
very small, being estimated by some
authorities at 5 per cent, although 1t
frequently is much greater than this.
The mortality, however. by no means
represents the real losses ~occasioned
by the disease. No venue is possible
from infected herds, and in the case of
dairymen an outbreak of foot-and-
mouth disease frequently means that
their business is completely ruined.
Blooded or other cattle that have be-
come sick with the disease naturally
lose their value as breeding animals.
1t is, however, impossible to get ria
Of the disease by ignoring 1t. The only
possible remedy is TO kill of infected
herds, disinfect the premises, and be-
gin over again.
What the disease means to those
countries where 1t has gained a real
grip in shown by the act that Oh its
last serious outbreak in Germany the
German government spent $4,000, 900
in fighting it. In 1890 official Stats
tics showed that in the German En-
pire 431, 235 head of cattle, 230, 86S
sheep and goats, and 153,S0S swine
were affected with the disease. DUR
ing the same year the pestilence
ravaged live stock in France, Italy,
Belgium, Austria-Hungary. Switzer-
land, Roumania, and Bulgaria, In 1883
it was estimated that the disease cost
England SIS, O00, 900. On the occasion
of the last outbreak in the United
States in 1908 100000 was appropriat-
ed by congress, and with the exception
of a few hundred dollars 1t was spent
in stamping out the disease. This of
course does not include the indirect
caused by the interruptio NOT business
and other factors.
While the federal government il ac-
tive in lighting the disease through
its power to control interstate com
merce, cooperation on the part of the
state authorities is most essential. The
quarantining individually of infected
in a state matter, and 1t is, OF
course, a most essential %precaution.
on which the disease has brok-
EN- out should be as rigidly quarantin-
as II some contagious human dis
ease had been found. Since the germs
can be transported by cats, dogs.
chickens, or human beings, nothing
should be allowed to leave the farm
until the proper d~isinfecting measures
have been taken. In particular, farm
ers, are urged to keep away them
selves, and to assist I'm keeping others
away, from all infected animals. The
inspectors who do the Strengthening
and disinfccting are supplied with the
necessary equipment OF rubber gloves,
coats, boots, and hats, which can be
thoroughly disinfected as often as
necessary. Others who lack this equip
ment merely help in spreading the
disease over the country when they
visit or inspect sick animals.