The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-20
RlNDERPEST CAUSES BIG
L0SS'T0 CATTLE HERDS

Washington, D. c., Jan. 90
porting the destruction of cattle in
European countries by cattle plague
are making inquiry of the United
States Department of Agriculture re-
garding the nature of this disease.
For the information Of stockmen in
this country, the department has is
sued the following statement:
Ills, not strange, that cattle plague,
known in veterinary literature as rim
derpest, should be unfamiliar to
American livestock owners as, for
tunately, it never has appeared in the
United States.
AS the name signifies, it is a yeri-
table cattle plague. Prior to the
great world war, it had been driven
back from Europe, but today it is
ravaging the herds of several of the
European countries which were in
volved in the recent war. In this re-
Ispect history is repeating itself, for
extension of the disease into Europe
from Asia in previous years has been
associated with the great war; cat
tie accompanying troops having acted
as disseminators Of the infection.
Thus, if for no other reason, we may
credit the reports that the bolshevik
army, by driving diseased cattle ahead
Of their forces, has spread rinderpest
among the cattle of Poland to such
an extent that it threatens almost
complete destruction of Polish herds.
The symptoms of rlnderpest are
not very characteristic. Certain ap-
pearances which are observed. in one
epizootic-which, in veterinary medi-
cine, means the same as epidemic"
as applied to diseases Of man-may
be absent in another. Among the first
signs, however, is a very high fever
Repeated chills may be observed. The
animal manifests great debility. The
head droops and rests on some object
for support. The hair stands on end
and the muzzle is dry. In dairy COWS
the secretion of milk diminishes very
rapidly. The back is arched, and the
four legs are brought together under
the body. As the disease progresses,
the mucous membranes become red
dened; diarrhea soon sets in, and the
discharges become fetid, viscid ard
streal,d with blood. Coughing is a
common symptom and ulcers, or So
called ecosions, may appear in the
mouth followed by sloughing. There
may also be sloughing of the skin in
various portions Of the body. In
severe cases, which are the most COM
mon in the susceptible cattle Of west
ern Europe, death ensues four to sew
en- days after the first appearance Of
the disease and is preceded by great
annexation and debility.
What are the possibilities of rindcr-
pest being introduced into the Unit
ed States? While the disease may be
spread by the raw products of af-
fected animals, in most instances it
is disseminated by infected animals,
in the ordinary traffic with cattle.
Cattle are highly susceptible to the
disease, Sheep, goats, deer and camels
are also susceptible. None of these
animals can be imported into the
United States from countries across
seas without a permit from the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture, and permits are
not issued for importations from
countries in which rinderpest exists.
This eliminates the chief source os
danger.
Under regulations issued jointly by
the Department Of Agriculture and
the Treasury Department, importa-
ton into the United States Of any
animal by-products taken or removed
from animals affected with anthrax,
foot-and-mouth disease, or rinderpest
is prohibited. Hides of meat cattle,
calf skins, buffalo hides, sheepskins,
goatskins, and deer skins offered for
entry into the United States must be
subjected to disinfection In an ap-
proved manner, unless it can be
shown that rinderpest does not exist
IN the locality where the shipment
originated. Thus every possible ef
fort is being made to protect the live
stock of the United States from cat
tie plague of the old world,
THE PIONEER WANT ADS
DnHAy%~ nr0RYV MN