The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-21
FOOT and MOUTH DISEASE
VERY SERIOUS IN EUROPE
Immense Losses Occur In Countries
Where the Pestilence Is Too Wide.
spread for the Infected Herds to
Be Slaughtered

Washington, D. G.. Jan. 21.-Be'
cause 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, Ireland and the
Channel Isles. Even with these coun'
tries trade has been interrupted several
times in recent years. tor the govern
ment does not permit the importation
of animals from countries where the
disease exists, and there have been
several outbreaks in Great Britain
lately.
Up to November, 1906, American
ports were open to Belgium and Hol-
knd. 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 ev-
cry province in Belgium was affected,
and Holland as well. Since that time
both of these countries have been
succeeded in eradicating it.
In Italy, France, Switzerland, Ger
many and Russia the plague has existed
so long and has gained such a foot
hold that it is economically impossible
TO fight it with the American methods
of Slaughter and disinfection, for to
do so would ne to kill large per-
centage of the live stock in these coun-
tries In consequence, the authorities
appear to be making little or no prog
ress in their campaign. The outbreak,
for example, which appeared in Ger
many in 1888, increased steadily until
1892 when it diminished gradually for
few years but again reached great
proportions in 1899. Thereafter it con
tinued to exist to a greater or less
extent until in 1911 it attained a
virulence unequalled before. In that
year 5,366,369 cattle, 1,602,927
sheep, 2,555,S71 hogs and 5S,674
goats were affected. At that time the
total number of cattle, sheep, swine
andgoats in Germany was only 8 3d.
600. while there were in the United
States 172,572,000, or between three
and four times as many. 1t can readily
be imagined, therefore, what it would
mean to the United States if the dis.
ease was to gain the foothold here that
it had in Germany where, as these tig-
ures show, approximately one out of
seven of the animals susceptible to the
disease was affected.
Since the mortality in the disease
is comparatively low, ranging from only
per cent. in mild forms to 80 or 40
per cent. in malignant cases, the havoc
caused by the pestilence is sometimes
underestimated. 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 to
$500 and in Holland to $40. In this
country with its higher prices, the
loss is correspondingly greater, If these
figures be accepted. it is obvious that
the amount of money spent in eradicat
ing the disease becomes insignificant in
comparison with the loss it causes when
left to itself.
The German government, of course,
has not left the disease to itself. The
more recent outbreaks it attempted to
control by the American method of
slaughter. but the pestilence had gain
ed too much headway and was too firm
v established in too many portions of
the country for this method to succeed,
and the slaughter of the infected herds
had to be abandoned. 1t now appears
that there is no hope of getting rid of
it until the virus has worn itself out
At present it seems that as soon as the
animal period of acquired immunity
is over and favorable conditions pre-
sent themselves. the contagion breaks
out with renewed virulence so that the
have practically abandoned
all hope of controlling it by means of
quarantines. One scientist indeed has
asserted that unless all the infected
farms were absolutely isolated and the
movement not only of live stock but
of persons absolutely prohibited, the
disease could not be stamped out. Such
a quarantine is, of course utterly i'm
possible to enforce. In certain portions
of Germany, indeed, the farmers real
make haste TO be done with it by expos
ing their stock deliberately to mild
cases in the hope that this will result
in an immediate mild attack and i'm
munity for several wears thereafter.
Great Britain and Norway and Swed-
en-, on account of their comparatively
Isolated positions, have been more sue
cessful in keeping out the disease. The
outbreaks in these countries have been
more sporadic and by resorting to i'm
mediate slaughter the authorities have
been able to stamp them out. In the
outbreak near Dublin in 1912, indeed
measures were adopted which were
more stringent than any used in this
country. AS soon as the existence of
the disease became definitely known,