Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-03-05
prepared by the United STD b. Depart
x..n,N 80 A

prepared by the United STD Depart
ment of Agricultural
Because of the prevalent of foot.
and-mouth disease in Etope and
South America. importatioss of live
stock are now limited practically to
shipments from Great BIaain, Ire
land and the Channel ISIS. Even
with these countries tradeIlas been
interrupted several times b recent
years, for the government ioes not
permit the importation Of animals
from countries where the dfease ex-
lists, and there have been several out
breaks in Great Britain Latch
Up to November, 1906, american
ports were open to Belgium md Hol-
land. In that month, howevR', some
sheep were taken into Belgium from
France. where the disease WIS quite
prevalent. and brought the pAHilence
with them. BY the end OF ID year
every province in Belgium wa affect
ed, and Holland as well. SiIc that
time both of these countries have
been fighting the disease, buk have
not yet succeeded in eradicatiIe 1t.
In Italy, France, Switzerland Ger
many and Russia the plague fin ex-
listed SO long and has gained sph a
foothold that it is economically hpos-
sible to fight it with the Amvtcan
methods of slaughter and distinction,
for to do so would be to kin irge
percentage of the live stock In Desc
countries. In consequence, the au-
thorities appear to be making littls or
no progress in their campaign. Ihe
outbreak, for example, which Up
peared in Germany in 1888 increa Ad
steadily until 1892, when it di nm
tshed gradually for a few years, but
again reached great proportions in
1899. Thereafter 1t continued to exht
to greater or less extent until N
1911 1t attained a virulence b.
equaled before. In that year $3.50.
1853 cattle, 1929 sheep, 2,555, an
hogs, and 1854 goats were affectdh
At that time the total number of Cd
tie, sheep, swine and goats in Gdf
many was only 51,319,000, whilc the1e
were in the United States 2,572, 00N
or between three and four times al
many. It can readily be imagined.
therefore, what 1t would mean to the
United States if the disease were I'd
gain the foothold here that it had in
Germany where, as these figures
show, approximately one out of seven
of the animals susceptible to the dis
ease was affected.
Since the mortality in the disease
is comparatively low, ranging from
only three per cent in mild form to
thirty or forty per cent in malignant
cases, the havoc caused by the pesti
lehce is sometimes underestimate
From the work of various scientists
however, who have endeavored to as
certain the decrease in value of an
animal which RECEIVERS from an at
tack, it may be said that on an aver
age this amounts in Germany to 81
and in Holland to $40. In this coun
try, with its higher prices, the loss is
CORRESPONDENCE greater. If these fig
ures be accepted, it is obvious that the
amount of money spent in eradicat
ang the disease becomes insignificant
in comparison with the loss 1t causes
when left to itself.
The German government, of course
has not left the disease to itself The
more recent outbreaks 1t attempted
TO control by the American method Of
slaughter, but the pestilence haC
gained too much Roadway and was toe
firmly established In too many por
tions of the country for this method
20 succeed. and the slaughter of the
infected herds had to be abandoned
1t now appears that there is no hope
of getting rid of 1t until the virus has
worn itself out. At present 1t seems
that as soon as the animals perioC
of acquired immunity 10 over and ia
vorable conditions present them
selves. the cOntagion breaks out with
renewed virulence so that the author
tiles have practically abandoned al
hope of controlling 1t by means o
guarantees. One scientist indeed hal
asserted that unless all the infected
farms were absolutely isolated anC
the movement not only of live stool
but Of persons absolutely prohibited
the disease could not be stamped out
Such a quarantine is, of course, ut
terly impossible to enforce. In Ger
tain portions of Germany, indeed, tn,
farmers. realizing that the disease Il
inevitable, make haste to be don,
with Il by exposing their stock delhi
erately to mild cases in the hope tina
this will result in an immediate milt
? attack and immunity for several year
thereafter.
Great Britain and Norway an,
Sweden. on account of their compare
lively isolated positions, have beel
more successful In keeping out tn,
disease The outbreaks In thes,
countries have been more sporadic
and by rescrting to immediate slaugE
ter the authorities have been able Il
stamp them out In the outbreak nea
Dublin in 1912. indeed, measures wer,
adopted which we're more stringen
than any used in this country. A
soon as the existence Of the diseas,
became definitely known, so-callet
'stand-stil" restrictions were i'm
posed on the affected district. No
only was the movement of live stool
into d out Of the district absolutely