The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-03-13
BUREAU GIVES FooT.AND-
MOUTH DISEASE FIGURES
Vigorous Eradication Policy Brings
Dreaded Disease Under
Control.

The Bureau Of Animal Industry re-
ports that the most extensive outbreak
of foot-and-mouth disease ever known
In the United States now seems to be
under control, as a result of the Vigor-
GUS policy of eradication followed.
While the loss is considerable, it so far
amounts to but very small proportion
of the aggregate value of the live stock
industry of the country.
Twenty states and the District of
Columbia have been more or less af.
fected since the definite discovery Of
the disease last October in the vicinity
of Niles, Mich. These states are Con-
necticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vir-
ginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
A campaign to check the spread of
the disease and to stamp it out was
Immediately begun by the United States
Department of Agriculture in co-opera-
Ition with the state authorities. Quar-
lantines against the movement of ami
mails and certain materials from the
infected areas were declared, shipments
were traced, rumors investigated, and
Thorough inspections made in an effort
to discover all infected stock. AS
measures of eradication, diseased herds
|are being slaughtered and buried and
the premises disinfected.
BY January 81 the work OF eradica-
ton was practically completed in all
but seven of the infected states, and
further progress is continually being
made, Notwithstanding the occurrence
OF occasional new cases. There have
. been slaughtered 2,046 herds, consist
ling of 1925 cattle, 7,151 sheep, %
goats, and 47,735 swine, of an aggre-
gate estimated value of $1,000, 110.26.
Illinois has had the largest infected
area, so out of a total of 102 counties
being affected. In this state 484 herds
have been slaughtered, comprising H.,
653 cattle, 378 sheep and goats, and
21,587 swine, of total appraised value
of $1,146,9S5. Pennsylvania has had
infection in "a out of 81 counties, and
654 herds, valued at $721,61S.30, have
been slaughtered. In Michigan 2St
herds and in Ohio 169 herds have beer
slaughtered. None of the remaining
states have had over so herds affected
and Virginia and Washington have
had only one herd each.
The total number of cattle in the
United States on January l, 1915, IL
estimated at 5S,329OOO. The number
of cattle slaughtered in stamping ou
foot.and-mouth disease is therefore lesi
than eight one-hundredths Of l Pc
cent of the total number, and if there
is no further extension of the infection
the number of known affected herd
remaining to be slaughtered will prob
ably not raise the total loss beyont
one-tenth of / per cent. The numbe
of animals slaughtered does not excee,
the number killed in two or three day
in some of the larger packing-hous
centers. So far the losses are mainl
local and have had no appreciate
general effect on the country's tota
supply of meat and dairy animals. TIL
owners of live stock and other propert
destroyed on account of the diseas
are reimbursed to the extent of tn
appraised value, half of which is pai
by the Federal Government and hal
by the State.
If the plague had been temporize
with and had gotten beyond contro
the United States would doubtless hav
"a had to endure permanently an annua
70 loss of many millions of dollars.