The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-10-28

said when the magistrate asked the
cause Of his mirth. He also kicked
his wife's toy dog, SO there!
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
| W. A. Heath, president of the Live
Stock Exchange National bank, Chi
J cago, is sending literature to bankers
over the country, appealing to them
| to assist in stamping out the foot
and mouth disease. Its eradication is
OF vital importance and as the local
bankers have great influence with the
| farmers and stockmen, many OF the
| bankers owning farms themselves,
Mr.. Heath appeals to them for their
! assistance. In a circular letter he
gives the following facts about the
foot and mouth" disease which shows
how dangerous 1t Is and the impera-
tive necessity Of Graduating the dis
ease as quickly as possible:
l. 1t Is the most contagious and
! infectious Of all animal diseases Even
flies spread 1t from farm to farm.
2. There Is no known cure for It.
! While under good care an average OF
only about to percent OF grown
cattle. 80 to so percent of calves 20
percent of hogs and Is percent Of
sheep die outright from the disease.
yet when animals become affected
with it, like venereal disease or scrof-
uia in human beings. It smolders IN
the system and is liable to break out
again at any time. While the num-
Der of immediate deaths are compare
lively few, yet under ordinary care
the condition Of many Of the surviv-
Ing animals Is often deplorable.
3. This disease has been prevalent
In Europe for over a century, where
the quarantine method with military
enforcement has generally been adopt
ed for its suppression. with the result
that it has spread all over the CONT
nent and become permanent, SO that
1t is now too late to adopt the slaugh-
ter method and there is no hope for
its eradication.
4. The United States has had six
epidemics of the disease prior to the
present one. in 1870 1880. 1884. 1902,
1908 and 1914. all Of which were quick
ly stamped out by the method OF i'm
mediate slaughter and burial OF all
infected and exposed animals and
cleaning and disinfecting the prem.
ises. The United States is the only
nation that has adopted the slaughter
method from the start. and the only
one that has ever succeeded in COM
pletely stamping out the disease.
8. The national dairy herd has
sometimes been referred to as an
an isolated case. It would be impos-
sible to establish on any farm such
q quarantine as was done in that in
stance. The cattle were completely
isolated, together with their herds
men. in the connected second story
OF line Of great brick buildings, with
fly screens at all windows and police
and veterinary guards at locked doors
day and night, so that there was no
possible communication with the sick
cattle by either insects, birds, animals
or men. except the veterinary direc-
tors of treatment who were thorough
ly funigated every time they passed
in or out. Besides, the cost, which in
itself IS prohibitive.
6. Not only is 1t an expensive and
useless undertaking to attempt an eff
cient farm quarantine and cure but IN
addition to that expense. even when
attempted under the best Of such con-
ditions. the cost Of the disease. on ac-
count OF loss in the condition Of the
surviving animals after apparent re-
covery. is far greater than the loss
from death outright. and there Is no
recovery OF expenses and damages
from either state or union.
Z. On the other hand, IL the infect.
ed and exposed animals are appraised
and killed by the authorities. the own
er RECEIVERS their value as sound ami.
mails together with all expenses Of
their burial and disinfect.on OF his
premises and for all loss because OF
sheds, hay Or other proper destroyed
on account Of the disease.
s. Certainly there is every induce
ment for the owners Of suspected
herds to report them Immediately to
the nearest veterinarian and let the
law take its course, rather than to en-
danger the whole neighborhood and
perhaps the nation at large by either
trying to suppress knowledge o. the
infection or attempting cure under
quarantine. In order to protect HIS
own interests and those OF all hts
neighbors as we'll as the community
at large every farmer and stockman
should be encouraged to report at
once to the authorities any rUmor or
news Of suspected infection, so that
any cases Of the disease may be in
spected, appraised and buried as
quickly as possible to prevent the in
lection from spreading To this end
spirit Of COOPERATION with the
authorities should be ENCOURAGED be.
fOrehand az well as during the n-es-