The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-01-01
Mistakes About Foot-And-Mouth Dis

MlSU@MeS ABOUT F00t-Am0-AOMLM LIS
ease.
Taken from the Baltimore Sun of
December 28.
In your worthy paper dated Decem-
Der 20, 1914, happened to read -
open letter written by "A Reader"
and / am compelled to agree with this
gentleman in every respect regarding
the subject, VIZ: "Foot-And-Mouth
disease"
From an experience gained in 1923
in Massachusetts and this one 10
Maryland at present, "a practical eX-
perience," / can offer few facts
about this disease which / forsee will
eventually come about. - - well
known, all cattle in contact with a.
confirmed case are killed. Now, this
is absolutely unnecessary. BY proper
quarantine OF infected areas and
treating these cases over 80 per cent
can be cured by the simplest of RENE
dies. After curing animals, have "a
general cleanup of premises, barns,
etc, from a hygienic standpoint, and
can truthfully say there will be no
danger to anyone. The owners busl-
ness is saved, his pocketbook Is not
depleted and the Governments money
chest is not hurt.
Again, I doubt that, If the so-called
experts were put on their oaths re
garding this disease, there would BE-
one who could truthfully swear this
to be SO highly contagious as the oil
cials would make You believe. There
are several other diseases 50 similar
that no one can differentiate, lat least
at present. The cause Is unknown,
and until it is known it is folly, in
my opinion, to make mountains out OF
molehills. Why not treat and cure
this disease when 50 easily done, give
our worthy research Psychologists
chance to study it, and ferret out the
cause, rather than work III the dark,
as Is now done.
As a matter or illustration, let me
cite a case at point how the present
method Is entirely unfair, and, ] be-
lieve, from an appraisement stand
point, has a tinge more or less of
prejudice. Mr.. S. Brooks, Of Canton,
had his cattle killed. When first
noticed a quarantine was declared
and the owner was forbidden to move
any cattle. These cattle were held in
quarantine for at least 10 days BE-
fore being destroyed. This man had
to feed and pay help for All this and
the Government allowed him nothing
for it, Again, he showed me he had
paid from $75 to 800 head for these
cattle, and the appraisers allowed him
$3.50 head. Then the gentlemen who
appraised these cattle waited for one
half day in order to get this man To
sign the papers, which he did under
protest, as he doesn't understand
English. His business is ruined and,
in my opinion, he was actually robbed
Of proper recompense.
1t came to my ears later that the
board has stated that it was to it. IN
terest to appraise cattle as low as
possible. This might be fair in these
gentlemen's opinion, but not in mine.
This is running man-for what? For
something which no man in the United
States at present understands, viz, the
foot-and-mouth disease. This Is the
only country which takes SO high
handed a stand to stamp out this trou-
BIZ, and ! know it is doubtful If it
ever will be stamped out in the United
States. Better treat the disease, in
vestigate its source and save few
owners from bankruptcy.
Cattleowners, refuse to have your
dulIIldlS QbSLIUyGu unl65S lily 81 I'M
properly appraised. and you are salts
fed; otherwise have them treated by
reputable men, those who know, and,
if necessary, stand suit BY clubbing
together and your pocketbooks and
business will be saved.
Again, i know for fact that dis
eased tubercular cattle latter testing)
have been allowed to remain for sever
al months in contact with healthy
cattle, and their milk during that
time was used and consumed by the
people. Gentlemen, IS this right? II
II i | am ready to quit the veterinary
profession. IF this Is allowed in tuber-
culosis "a wrong as you see), IS it not
reasonable other wrongs are perpet-
uated in the name OF the experts, as
j. ar present being done by our So
called Live Stock Sanitary officials.
DIR. JOHN VIM. SPRANKLIN,
Baltimore, Dec. rs.