Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-17
Federal Warming On
Foot and Mouth Disease

Ywsefy New% Letter to
espondents. -
smacking sound A day or two after
the first appearance OF the eruptions in
the mouth similar Indications appear
upon the feet, which are swollen. red
and tender Because Of this the animal
frequently persists in lying down. and
bedsores develop with much rapidity.
In the case of cows the udder and,
more frequently. the teats are affected
by similar eruption.
Once the disease is we'll esta blished
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 rapidly. 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 ten to twenty
days may bring about an apparent re-
covery, but this time may be greatly
extended. Moreover, an apparent re-.
covery by no means implies a rea.
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 contagion or to experience recur-
renee itself The mortality. consider
ing the seriousness of the disease and
the losses II occasions, is very small,
being estimated by some authorities
at per cent. altho it frequently is
much greater than this. The mortality.
however by no means represents the
real losses occasioned by the disease.
No revenue 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 become sick with the
disease naturally lose their value as
breeding animals. II Is. however, i'm
possible to get rid Of the disease by
ignoring 1t. The only possible remedy
is to Kill off the infected herds, disin-
feet the premises, and begin over
again.
What the disease means to those
countries where 1t has gained a rea
grip Is shown by the fact that on It.
last serious outbreak in Germany tn,
German government spent $2.000,000 II
fighting it. In 1890 official statistic,
. showed that in the German empir
| 43i 1885 head Of cattle, 230,s ss sheel
!. and goats. and 153.s0s swine were af
: fected with the disease. During tn
same year the pestilence ravaged liv
, stock In France Italy, Belgium, Aus
{ tria- Hungary, Switzerland, Roumanis
$ and Bulgaria. In 1883 1t was estimate
5 that the disease cost England $1,000,
, 900. On the occasion OF the last out
e break In the United States in 100
: 100000 was appropriated by congress
s and with the exception OF few hun
Y dred dollars 1t was spent in stampin
y out the disease. This Of course doe
e not include the indirect loss caused b
s the interruption Of business and othe
e factors.
= While the federal government is az
e tive in fighting the disease thru Il
n power to control interstate commerce
: Corporation or the part OF the sta
= authorities 10 most essential. IT
g quarantining individually Of infecte
farms is state matter. and 1t 10.
% course. most essential precautio
e, Farms on which the disease has brol
J. en- out should be IL rigidly quarantine
e as IL some contagious human diseai
l. had been found. Since the germs ca
IN be transported by cats. dogs. chicken
'e or human beings. nothing should
n. allowed to leave the farm until Il
ii proper disinfecting measures have be-
taken, In particular. farmers are urg'
Be 70 keep away themselves, and to ASST
=. in keeping. others away, from all Il
D. fected animals. The inspectors vi
,e do the slaughtefing and disinfsctii
D. are supplied with the neesssary eQui
., and hats. which can be thorough
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