Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-03-04
Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Because of the prevalence of foot
and-mouth disease in Europe and
South America, importations of live
stock are now limited practically TO
shipments from Great Britain. Ire
land and the Channel Isles. Even
with these countries trade has been
interrupted several times in recent
years, for the government does not
permit the importation of animals
from countries where the disease ex-
SITS, and there have been several out
breaks in Great Britain lately.
Up to November. 1906. American
ports were open to Belgium and Hol-
and. 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 affect
ed. and Holland as well Since that
time both of these countries have
been fighting the disease. but have
lot yet succeeded in Graduating it,
In Italy, France. Switzerland, Ger
many and Russia the plague has ex-
listed so long and has gained such
,oothold that it is economically impos-
sible to fight it with the American
methods of slaughter and disinfection.
for to do so would be to kill a large
percentage of the live stock in these
countries. In consequence. the au-
,horities appear TO be making little or
40 progress in their campaign. The
outbreak, for example which ap-
oeared in Germany in 1883 increased
'teadily until 1892, when it dimin-
ished gradually for a few years. but
again reached great proportions in
1899. Thereafter it continued to exist
to greater or less extent until in
1911 II attained virulence I'M
equaled before. In that year 3 1856
5o9 cattle, 1,6O2,927 sheep, 2.555.371
hogs, and 53.674 goats were affected.
AT that time the total number OF cat
tie, sheep, swine and goats i'm Ger
many was only 51.319.OOO. while there
were in the United States 172.572. 900.
Or between three and four times as
many 1t can readily be imagined.
therefore, what ii would mean to the
United States If the disease were to
gain the foothold here that it had in
Hermany where, as these figures
show. approximately one out OF seven
Of the animals susceptible to the dis
ease was affected.
since the mortality In the disease
Is comparatively low, ranging from
only three per cent in mild form IN
hlrty or forty per cent In malignant
caseJ, the havoc caused by the pesti- /
lence Is sometimes underestimated |
From the work OF various scientists /
however, who have endeavored to AS. |
certain the decrease in value of an
animal which RECEIVERS from an at
TACK, 1t may be said that on an dver !
age this amounts in Germany To 81
ana IN Holland to $40. In this conn.
try, with its higher prices. the loss is
correspondingly greater. II these he..
ures be accepted. it is obvious that tho
amount OF money spent in eradicat.
ing the disease becomes insignificant,
IN comparison with the loss il causes
when left to itself
The German government of corrse
mas not left the disease TO itsarf ,r,,o
more recent outbreaks it attempted
" coh,roi by the American method Of
slaughter but the pestilence had
saiheu 100 much Roadway and was too
nrmiy established In too manv no.
tiohs OF the country for this method
" succeed and the slaughter of tho
lhiecied herds had to be abandon,
:. no" appears that there is no hone
VI se'tlhs rid OF 1t until the virus has
worn itself out. At present Il soa,,,,
that as soon as the animate -,
Gu immunity is over and fa.
,oIaoie conditions present tbau
serves the contagion breaks out Win
ene"eu Wrulence so that the author
'oS nave practically abandoned an
uope OF cont 'olling IL by means 80
1uarantines. One scientist indeed w.,
that unless all the infe,.,,, {
arms were absolutely isolatoa , /
.ne movement not only of live -, s
uu' Oh persons absolutely nroh,,,,.
me disease could not he Stan, '''u'
tar,. quarantine is. of course -.
10y impossible to enforce In VI
20 a.n portions of Germany. indeed 81
,a,, realizing that the disco. '',e =
,,',,, make haste To no -. 70
ora,a, Wy exposing their stool daI,,
~" IN " mid cases In the hone ~. !,
s .a,s WIN result in an immed,a, mat II
,hoNeA ana immunity for several ,. .''lu
Sweat britain and NORWAY
vi account Of their corn anu