The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-11-07
Department of Agriculture
Traces the Foot and Mouth
Disease to Serum. 1;


WASHINGTON. Nov. IN Official
statement In regard to the recent re-
appearance in northern Illinois Of the
foot-and-moutf disease after 1t had
been apparently stamped out early in
the year. has Just been issued by the
United States Department Of Agricul-
-ture. From this statement it appears
that the outbreak has now been DEF
initely traced to an anti-hog cholera
serum prepared from the blood Of
hogs infected with foot -and. mo,ith di-
Isease. but showing at the time t,ss
serum was ufactnred no symr-
toms Of the contagion According 10
the statement, the serum was thor
oughly tested before 1t was permit id
otbe placed upon the market, and, the
tests failed to reveal any evidence Of
contamination. After the recurrence
OF the disease In Illinois. samples Of
the serum were tested again and again
by the department. OF agriculture ana
also tested by the United States Pub
Tic Health Service; 1t was not until
the sixty-second animal used In the
tests had been inoculated with the
serum, however, that the bacteriofo-
gists OF the department were able to
produce any symptoms of foot-and-
mouth disease.
Statement Issued.
The departments statement is as
follows: ;s y {, Z. y
In October, 1914, an outbreak of
-andemo,lth disease, the first ii
this country in six years. was discov-
cred IN the vicinity OF Niles, Mich. De-
spite thorough invests ation, the
source of the infection remains UNI
known. 1t was learned, however, that
before the occurrence was. reported to
Washington and the disease diagnosed
by veterinarians familiar with Il
through experience in past outbreaks,
animals from the infected area had
reached Chicago. Owing to the ex-
IRENE contagiousness OF the disease,
the Union stock yards were quaran-
tined October 31). Ordinarily sew
eral days or week elapse between
ction and the appearance Of symp-
toms, and although there was no CON
elusive evidence on the point Il was
believed possible that the animals In
question might have reached the
yards in the incubatiye stage and I'm
fected them. B 4. 4
On November / this belief was
strengthened by the discovery Of the
disease in the cattle being exhibited
at the dairy show in the immediate
vicinity of the yards. In the yards
proper. however, the first case did not
appear until November 3. The next
foot-and-mouth disease was found
among the hogs at the restabl ishmentj
Of the Great Western Serum Company.
This Adjustment was quarantined
at once and at about the same time
q precautionary quarantine was also,
placed upon another ablishment,i
that Of the Chicago Serum Company,
located about a mile; away, although
no actual cases Of the disease had
been found at this second establish
ment. At that time the Chicago Serum
Company had on hand approximately
101 900 cubic centimeters Of anti-hogi
cholera serum which had been pre-,
pared late in October. All Of this
serum was placed under official seal,
by the inspectors of the department
and withheld from distribution.
During the ensuing six months the
disease. which had spread widely over
the country, was effectively combated3
by the slaughter Of all exposed herds.
1t was then decided that the law re-
CURED the department to comply with
the request Of the Chicago Serum