Rock Island Argus., 1915-01-28

Because OF the prevalence OF loot
and mouth disease in Europe and
South America. importations OF live
stock are now limited practically 10
shipments from Great Britain. Ireland
and the channel Isles. Even with
these countries trade has been inter
rupted several times in recent years.
for the government does not permit
the Importation OF animals from coun-
tries where the disease exists and
there have been several outbreaks in
Great Britain lately.
Up to November. 1906. American
ports were open 10 Belgium and Hoi-
land in that month. however. some
sheep wase taken into Belgium from
France NJ the disease was quite
prevalent and brought the pestilence
with them. By the end OF the year
every province in Belgium was affect
ed. and Holland as well. Since that
time both OF these countries have
been fighting the disease but have not
yet succeeded in eradicating II.
In Italy. France. Switzerland. Ger
many and Russia the plague has exist
ed so long and has gained such a foot
hold that il is economically impossi-
bic TO fight IL with the American meth
ods OF slaughter and disinfection. for
TO do so would be 10 kill n large per
centage of the live stock in these coun-
tries. In consequence. the authorities
appear TO be making little or no
progress in their campaign. The out
break, for example. which appeared in
Germany in 1sSs increased steadily
until 1892 when it diminished gradual
ly for a few years but again reached
great proportions IN 1893. Thereafter
II continued TO exist 10 a greater or
less extent until in 1911 il attained a
virulence unequalled before. In that
year 3.366.369 cattle, 1.602,927 sheep,
2.555 81 hogs and 1854 goats were
affected. At that time the total num-
Der of cattle. sheep. swine and goats in
Germany was only 5l,319,000. while
there were in the United States 172.-
572. 600. or between three and fous
times as many. II can readily be inn
agined. therefore. what il would mean
to the United States II the disease I
was to gain the foothold here that II !
had in Germany where. as these figures I
show. approximately one cut of seven /
oil the animals susceptible TO the dis
ease was eLected.
Since the mortality in the disease is /
low. ranging from only &
3 per cent in mild forms 10 80 or 40 I
per cent in malignant cases, the havoc .
caused by tsle pestilence is sometimes
From the work of va
rlous scientists. however, who have
to ascertain the decrease Z
In value Of an animal which RECEIVERS
from an attack. il may be said that on
an average this amounts in Germany
10 81 and in Holland TO SO. in
his country with its higher prices. the
oss IS corrospondingIy greater. II
.hese figures he accepted. It is obvious
hat the amount OF money spent IN
sradicating the disease becomes insiP
in comparison with the loss
L causes when left 10 itself.
The German government. OF course. I,
has not left the disease to itself The
more recent outbreaks il attempted to
control by the American method of
daughter. but the pestilence had gain
q TOO much headway and was too
irmiy established in too many por-
ions OF the country for this method /
0 succeed. and the slaughter OF the in
ected herds had 10 be abandoned. ~ ,
low appears that there is no hope of g,
.ettinE rid OF q until the virus has
gorn itself out. At present 70 seems
hat as soon as the animals period OF