South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-29
FOOT AND MOUTH
DISEASE BREAKS
EUROPEAN TRADE
Importation of Live Stock is
Practically Limited Now to
Shipments From Great Brit
ain and ireland.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Because
OF the prevalence Of foot and mouth
disease in Europe and South America,
importations OF I've stock are now
limited practically 10 shipments from
Great Britain, Ireland and the Chan
mel Isles. Even with these countries
trade has been interrupted several
times in recent years, for the govern
nent does not permit the importation
OF animals from countries where the
disease exists. and there have been
several outbreaks in Great Britain
lately.
Up 10 November. 1906. American
ports were open 10 Belgium and Hol-
land. In that month however. some
sheep were taken into Belgium from
France, where the disease was quite
prevalent and brought the pestilence
with them. BY the end OF the year
every province In Belgium was af-
fected and Holland as well. Since
that time both OF these countries have
been fighting the disease but have not
yet succeeded in eradicating il.
In italy, France, Switzerland. Ger
many and Russia, the plague has eX-
listed so long and has gained such a
fOOthOld that IL As economically i'm
possible 70 fight IL with the American
methods or slaughter and disinfec-
ton, for 20 do so would be 10 kill a
large percentage OF the live stock In
these countries, In consequence. the
authorities appear 10 be making little
or no progress in their campaign. The
outbreak, for example, which ap-
peared in Germany in 1883. increased
steadily until 1892 when it diminished
gradually for a few years but again
reached great proportions in 1899.
Il TO oxfc IN a
greater or less extent until in 1911 it
attained a virulence unequalled be-
fore In that year 3,366,369 cattle,
i,602927 sheep, 2,555,3 71 hogs. and
53,674 goats were affected. At that
time the total number OF cattle,
sheep, swine and goats in Germany
was only 51,319,00O. while there were
In the United States 1889, 900. or
between three and four times as
many. 1t can readily be imagined
therefore. what it would mean to the
United States IL the disease was to
gain the foothold here that it had in
Germany where, as these figures
show, approximately one out of seven
of the animals susceptible 10 the dis
ease was affected.
Mortality Is Low.
Since the mortality in the disease is
com paratively low, ranging from only
three per cent in mild forms to 80 or
40 per cent in malignant cases, the
havoc caused by the pestilence is
sometimes underestimate. From the
work of various scientists. however,
who have endeavOred to ascertain the
decrease in value of an animal which
RECEIVERS from an attack. IT may be
said that on an average this amounts
in Germany 70 800 and in Holland
70 $1,000. IN this country with its
higher prices, the loss is correspond
ingly greater. II these figures be ac-
cepted, il is obvious that the amount
of money spent in eradicating the
disease becomes insignificant in com
parison with the loss il causes wher
left 10 itself.
The German government, Of course
has not left the disease to itself. The
more recent outbreaks it attempted
10 control by the American method Of
slaughter. but the pestilence haC
gained too much Roadway and wa!
too firmly established in too many
portions of the country for thi.
method to succeed, and the slaughter
Of the infected herds had to be aban
doned. 1t now appears that there il