Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1915-04-16


there were no animals known to be
affected with the foot and mouth dis
ease in the United States, is believ-
ed to Indicate that the end of the
long campaign is in sight. Additional
eases are expected from time TO time
in fact two new herds were report
cd from Illinois the morning after the
announcement was made-but such
eases are regarded MS more or less
sporadic and il promptly reported
can be dealt with before the conta-
gion has had an opportunity to
spread widely.
Under the best of circumstances
however, it will be some time yet be-
fore all danger of II new outbreak Is
over. In sections where the disease
has been prevalent the contagion Is
likely to linger in manure, hay, feeds
of various kinds. and on the ground
itself. Even after premises where
the disease has existed have been
thoroughly disinfected it is not con.
sidered wise to introduce new stock
until at least 90 days have passed.
In the opinion Of the authoities,
however. the most essential thing
now is that there should be no con-
rcaled sources of Infection. For the
information of the public and the
stock owners in particular the de-
partment of agriculture is issuing n
revision Of its former publications on
the pestilence and this pamphlet,
known us Farmers Bulletin 66O,
Foot and Mouth Disease" will be
sent free ON application. The bulle-
tin contains among other things n
brief description Of the symptoms of
the disease, in particular the charac-
teristic vesicles which make their APP.
pearance in the mouth and about the
feet. Although these vcsicles are pc
culiar To the foot and mouth disease
they soon become ruptured and con-
taminatcd by other heterogeneous
To such an extent that il is frequently
difficult to ascertain their Original
character. There are, moreover. tive
other diseases common in live stock
known rs necrotic stomatitis and my
cotic stomatitis which affect tn,
mouth in n way somewhat similar IL
the foot and mouth disease. Foi
this reason farmers who notice any
thing suspicious about their stock
should report the matter at once ana
refrain from taking chances which
may prove disastrous not only I,
themselves hut to the whole country
The history of the past six months
however, has done much to educate
the public to the Importance of deal
ing promptly with the disease. Thu
first federal quarantine was declare,
On October 10, 1914. and since thai
time moe than 100000 animals hav,
become infected and in consequence
have been slaughtered. Tbs loss ha,
been divided very unequnlly among
the 81 states and the District of Co
lumbia, which have been affected. B,
far the greatest losses have been ex-
perienced in those states in which
there was widespread belief that
the policy of immediate slaughter OF
all exposed animals and rigid quar-
antining of all infected districts was
unnecessarily costly and trouble,
some.
Experience, however, has confirm
ed the official view that only in this
way can the disease ever be eradi-
Gated. In certain countries in Flu.
rope. notably in Germany, the pesti-
lencc has gained such n foothold that
the slaughter Of exposed animals can
not be resorted to and in consequence
the widespread prevalence of the
pesiilence is perpetual and Exhaust
niS uiuili uI'on th' iui hi'iN i'N'"'
ces. IN 1911, for example. il was es.
iimated that in Germany there were
1896. 1860 cattle, l.6O2.927 sheep. p
j53,37l hogs. and 1854 goats suf
fering from the disease. Since the
total number Of these animals in the
United States is between three and
four times that in Grmany the loss
TO the country would be proportion
ately greater if the disease were ever
TO become permanently established
here.
Because of the comparatively low
death rate the policy of quarantinina
instead of slaughtering exposed ami
mails has been advocated at various
times, and there j. no doubt that un-
der certain very favorable conditions
this may produce satisfactory re
.nlts. The disease is so contagious,
however, and il may be commitment
ed through so many different chan
nels. that any affected snimal is "
constant menace to the neighborhood.