The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-03-05
prepared by the United States Depart
nent of Agriculture)

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Because of the prevalence of foot
and-mouth disease in Europe and
South America, importations Of live
stock are now limited practically to
shipments from Great Britain, Ire
land and the Channel Isles. Even
with these countries trade has been
interrupted several times in recent
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
every province in Belgium was affect
ed, and Holland as we'll Since that
time both of these countries have
been fighting the disease, but have
not yet succeeded in eradicating it.
In Italy, France, Switzerland, Ger
many and Russia the plague has ex-
listed so long and has gained such a
ioothold that it is economically impos-
sible to fight it with the American
methods of slaughter and disinfection,
for to do so would be to kill large
! percentage of the live stock in these
countries. In consequence, the au-
thorities appear to be making little or
no progress in their campaign. The
| outbreak, for example, which ap
peared in Germany in 1888 increased
'teadily until 1892, when it dimin
lshed gradually for few years, but
again reached great proportions il
1899. Thereafter it continued to exis
to a greater or less extent until il
1911 it attained a virulence un
squaled before. In that year 1856,
1863 cattle, 1,6O2,927 sheep, 2.555,37l
hogs, and 53,674 goats were affected
At that time the total number of cat
tie, sheep, swine and goats in Ger
many was only 51,S19,000, while ther'
were in the United States 172,572,00O
DR. between three and four times a
many. 1t can readily be imagined
therefore, what it would mean to tn
United States if the disease were t
gain the foothold here that it had il
Germany where, as these figure
show, approximately one out of sevel
Of the animals susceptible to the dis
ease was affected.
Since the mortality in the diseas
Is comparatively low, ranging froI
; only three per cent in mild form t
hirty or forty per cent in malignan
: cases, the havoc caused by the pest
lence is sometimes underestimate
From the work of various scientist
: how ever, who have endeavored to a
certain the decrease in value of a
animal which RECEIVERS from an a
, tack, it may be said that on an ave
age this amounts in Germany to
. and in Holland to $40. In this coul
, try, with its higher prices, the loss
CORRESPONDENCE greater. If these fl
ures be accepted, it is obvious that tn
amount of money spent in eradica
ing the disease becomes insignificaI
J in comparison with the loss it cause
when left to itself.
The German government. Of cours
: has not left the disease to itself I'll
more recent outbreaks it attempte
to control by the American method
i slaughter, but the pestilence hf
v gained too much Roadway and was tt
G firmly established in too many pc
y tions of the country for this metht
:, to succeed, and the slaughter of Il
J. infected herds had to be abandone
k 1t now appears that there is no hol
II of getting rid of it until the virus hi
worn itself out. At present it seen
q that as soon as the animals peril
i Of acquired immunity is over and
> vorable conditions present the
selves. the contagion breaks out wi
: renewed virulence so that the authC
: tiles have practically abandoned |
Z hope of controlling it by means
guarantees. One scientist indeed h
asserted that unless all the infect
farms were absolutely isolated al
3 the movement not only of live sto
II but of persons absolutely prohibite
Ie the disease could not be stamped OF
g. Such a quarantine is. of course.
'e terly impossible to enforce. In c.
n tain portions of Germany, indeed. t
20 farmers, realizing that the disease
inevitable. make haste to be do
IL with it by exposing their stock del
is erately to mild cases In the hope tn
to this win result in an immediate m
,e attack and immunity for several yea
Id thereafter.
d. Great Britain and Norway a
Sweden. on account of their compa