Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-03
Crisis in Foot and Mouth Disease

A common sense statement of the
situation with reference 10 the hoof
and mouth disease Is that which has
been prepared by a committee at the
Illinois experiment station az Urbana
first as a press bulletin and which IS
nov being sent al over the state as a
circular letter. The bulletin follows:
There are two sides TO every ques-
ton upon which men differ honestly.
and az present there are differences OF
opinion between many OF the cattle
owners on one side and the federal bu-
reau OF animal industry and the IlA-
nois state live stock commission on
the other regarding the best method
OF combating foot and mouth disease.
The agricultural experiment station
recognizes that this Is a crisis and
feels that a clear statement OF both
sides may aid the public generally TO
better understanding OF the present
situation.
A brief outline OF preceding events
may serve as an introduction 10 this
statement. Spreading from single
point In Michigan. the foot and mouth
disease was distributed from New
England to Montana within a month,
and II was plain that II not checked II
would reach practically every herd in
the country within a short time.
The federal bureau Of animal indus
try and the various state live stock
commissions who are charged with
handling such matters were not or
ganized TO control an outbreak OF such
magnitude. At that time there were
but few men in the United States
available as inspectors who had ever
seen a case OF this disease. Under
such circumstances It might be ex-
pected that mistakes in diagnosis I
would be made. Starting in late Octo- /
Der with what seemed a practically /
hopeless situation. the centers of in !
lection have been located and removed /
until the general situation IS now well /
in hand and there IS little uncertainty
as 20 the outcome except in the
state OF Illinois. Here the infection
has been heaviest and something over
500 herds have been destroyed in com
batting the disease. OF the herds re-
ported diseased. less than 25 remained
alive on Jan. IL. in addition TO the
National Dairy show cattle held in
quarantine for experimental purposes.
Where even a single animal has been
'ound diseased. the entire herd has
been slaughtered. and the federal au-
.horities have agreed TO pay one-haif
II the appraised value OF the slaught-
cred animals. there being an under
standing. but no legal provision, that
he state would pay the other half.
The large financial loss incident TO
his slaughter and the uncertainty ere
tied in the minds OF other cattle own
rs as to the possibility OF their being
he next victims have created a very
'anicky feeling in many communities.
The cattle owners feel that they
ave been made to bear unnecessary
urdens by this program OF universal !
laughter. They point out that in many 4.
{ the herds. particularly the National 4,
,airy show cattle. the effect OF the dis
ase is 20 slight as TO be hardly no
iceable to the casual observer and
hat the death rate has been extremely
~. They urge that a way be provided
Or saving the cattle. particularly In
be cases where the herds represent q
be results OF years or careful breed
lg.
There is also dissatisfaction on the
side. The appraised values.
lille not seriously below the market q
alue OF the ordinary animal do not Il