The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-07
ISSUES : :
SOLEMN WARNING
MUST OBSERVE UTMOST PRECAu-
TON. SAYS STATE COM
MISSIONER.
SAYS WILL ENFORCE IT
THOSE SEEKING TO GET RULING
ON INDIVIDUAL CASES ARE
TOLD PROCLAMATION
Is PLAIN.

IS PLAIN.
Dairy and Food Commissioner Ben
jamin l. Purcell has issued a warn
ing to dai-ymen all over the State to
observe .he utmost precaution in
handling their herds to prevent the
spread of the foot and mouth disease.
He advises them that "all cases OF
sickness rhould be reported to the
State veterinarian or to this (the
commissioners) Office
The commissioners letter. which
In many particulars is In line with
the warnings sounded by State
Veterinarian Ferneyhough and Presi-
dent j. Thompson Brown. Of the
State Live Stock Sanitary Board. since
the outbreak of the disease in Henrico
and Frederick Counties.
Purcell's Warning.
Commissioner Purcells statement
as given out last night follows:
The attention of the da.rymen OF
the State Is urgently called to the
necessity for the observance of the
utmost precaution in the handling
and care OF their dairy herds to pre-
vent any possible chance of exposing
t,neir cattle to the contagion Of the
foot and mouth disease. 1t is all
Important that no additional herds
he brought on the farms for the pres
ent. and that no strangers be allowed
on the farms to examine their cattle
or for the purpose of purchasing the
same. Every care should be exercised
in employinb labor during the present
crisis. to be sure that no applicant
for employment has in any way been
In contact with any diseased or ex-
posed animals. .,
All cases of sickness should De
promptly reported TO the state vet
er,narian or to this ONCE. Immediate
Nv on receipt OF information from
owners Of stock that any suspicious
case. appear in their herds, prompi
steps will he taken to Investigate IT.
II we are advised.
The slaughter of the FREDERICK
County herds affected by the disease
began Yesterday. Trenches were e1s
Friday and Saturday and after belnt
rompleted began to receive the deae
carcasses Of the diseased animals.
Many Questions Asked.
nr Ferneyhough and Secretary
Forward have been deiuged with in
ouiries from transportation compa'
nies cattle owners and veterinarians
in this and ether States In regard tc
the Interpretation OF the Governor
proclamation Of quarantine. Score
tary Forward has declined 10 con-
ssrue the language OF the procla anna
tten. He conAaers II sufflc.ently piaiI
and when inquIrers were not SATISFIED
with reference to that paper ne MAJ
referred them to DR.. Ferneyhough Of
10 the Attorney General. Assistan
Attorney General Garnett and DR.
Ferreyhough held a conference las
night. discussing various legal phases
of the matter.
DIR. Ferney hougl,'s mail last nigh
was yoluminous with letters asking
rulings on various points. From sev'
eral counties on the border or near II
one being from Monterey, in High
land County. came letters asking Il
cattle driven into West Virginia be
caus, of scarcity OF feed could os
brought back into Virginia. The STATE
veterinarian wired these querists thai
they could not be brought back unit
the quarantine against West Virgins
Is lifted.
Proclamation Plain.
To an inquiry from a Fairfax Coun
ty farmer as 10 whether he might I'M
port a brosd SOW he had purchased
in MARYLAND IL he obtained a Fedora
government certificate that the dis
ease had never made Its appearance
On tho farm from which II came OF
,,i,hin a nve-miIe radius. DR., Ferney
hangh renl,ed thai he could not.
The ioyernor'x roclam atior
...Ls for itself" said DR.. Ferney,
hn~rh last night. MARYLAND il
,ndsr ,,,a rantine. and Lam not go
ing to take any chances"
J., se',saa r. taka arr Eind az chanc,
wha,avsr The presence OF the foot
ard.routh disease in several localitie,
havtrr been discovered. the stat,
: ciamnsa an an IRON bound ouaraptin,
a~a;n., ca,tla ana swine. THESE an.
,s,,als cannot he brought into Ala
- re under any conditions from an,