The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-27
/ hl[.Pl:'0)R)|''Tl',AIIONSOF
STOCK LIMITED
Owing to Prevalence Of Foot and
Mouth Disease in Europe I'm
portations Are Limited.
GREAT BRITAIN, CHANNEL ISLES
Even With These Countries Trade
Has Been Interrupted Several
Times in Recent Years.


Washington, D. c., Jan. 27-(Special
to the w)-Because of the prev
alence of foot and mouth disease in
Europe and South America, importa-
tons of live stock are now limited
practically to shipments from Great
| Britain, Ireland and the Channel Isles
Even with these countries trade has
been interrupted several times in re-
cent years, for the government does
not permit the importation OF animals
from countries where the disease eX-
lists, and there have been several out
breaks in Great Britain lately.
Up to November, 1906, American
ports were open to 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 ey-
cry province in Belgium was affected
! and Holland as well. Since that time
both of these countries have been
fighting the disease, but have not sue
ceeded in ersdicating it.
In Italy, France, Switzerland, Ger
many and Russia the plague has eX-
listed SO long and has gained such a
foothold that it is economically i'm
possible 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 author
tiles appear to be making little or no
progress in their campaign. The out
break, for example, which appeared
in Germany in 1888 increased steadily
until 1892 when it diminished gradu-
ally for few years, but again reach
ed great proportions in 1899. There
after it continued to exist to a greater
or less extent until in 1911 it attained
virulence unequalled before. In that
year 3,366,369 cattle, 1,602,927 sheep,
2,555,371 hogs and 1854 goats were
affected. At that time the total num-
Der OF cattle, sheep, swine and goats in
Germany was only 51,S19,000 while
there were in the United States 172,-
$4,000 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 hs-e
that it had in Germany where, as these
figures 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
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 mounts in Germny to
$500 and in Holland to $40. In this
country with its higher prices the loss
is correspondtngly greater. If these
figures be accepted, it is obvious that
the amount OF money spent in eradi-
eating the disease becomes insignifi-
cant 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
gained too much Roadway and was too
firmly established in too many portions
of the country for this method to sue
coed and the slaughter of the infected
herds had to be abandoned. 1t low
appears that there is no hope of get
ting rid of it until the virus has worn
itself out. At present it Lseems that
as soon as the animals period OF ac-
CURED immunity is over and favorable
conditions present themselves. the con-
tagion breaks out with renewed viru-
lence SO that the authorities have prac
tically abandoned all hope of controlli
ing it by means Of guarantees. One
scientist indeed has asserted that I'M
less all the infected farms were abso-
lutely isolated and the movement no:
only of live stock but of persons abso.
lutely prohibited, the disease could
not be stamped out. Such quaran-
tine is, Of course, utterly impossible
to enforce. In certain portions of Ger
many, indeed, the farmers realizing
that the disease is inevitable make
haste to be done with it by exposing
their, stock deliberately to mild cases
in the hope that this will result in an
immediate mild attack and immunity
for years thereafter.
Great Britain, Norway and Sweden
on account of their comparatively iso-
lated positions, have been more sue