The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-21
CATTLE PLAGUE I:
RLNDERPEST CAUSES THE
HAVOC IN EUROPE
PrecautionT Taken AgainstBring-
ing Disease Into United
States
Especial to The Free Pressl

Washington, D. c., January 18.-
Readers of recent news articles re-
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: 1t is
not strange that cattle plague, known
in veterinary literature as rinderpest,
should be unfamiliar to American
live stock owners as, fortunately, It
States.
AS the name signifies, it is veri-
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 involved in the
recent war: In this respect history is
disease into Europe from Asia in
previous years has been associated
with the great wars; cattle accom-
panying troops having acted as dis
seminators of the infection. Thus, il
for no other reason, we may credit the
reports that the Bolshevik army, by
driving diseased cattle ahead OF their
the cattle of Poland to such an extent
that it threaens almost complete des-
truction of Polish herds.
Fever Usually First Symptom
The symptoms of rinderpest are not
very characteristic. Certain appear
ances which are observed in one cpl
zootic-which, in veterinary med1.
i'm "Qnl6am1C'
as applied to diseases Of man-may
he absent in another. Among the
first signs, however. is very high
fever. Repeated chills may be OBJ.
served. 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.
diminishes very rapidly. The back is
arched. and the four legs are brought
Together under the body. AS the dis
ease progresses, the mucous mem
branes become Redeemed; diarrhea
soon sets in, and the discharges be-
come fetid, viscid. and streaked with
blood. Coughing is common symp-
tom and ulcers, or So called erosions,
may appear in the mouth followed by
sloughing There may also be slough
ing of the skin in various portions OF
the body. In severe cases, which are
the most common in the susceptible
cattle Of western Europe! death en-
sues four to seven days after the first
appearance of the disease and is pre-
coded by great emaciation and debil-
ity.
What are the possibilities of rind-
erpest being introduced into the
United States? While the disease
NAV be spread by the raw products OF
affected animals in most instances 1t
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
the United States from countries
across seas without permit from the
secretary of agriculture, and permits
are not issued for importations from
countries in which rinderpest exists:
This eliminates the chief source OF
DANCER.
Under regulations issued jointly by
the department of agriculture and the
treasury department. importation into
the United States of anv animal by-
products taken or removed from ami
mouth disease. or rinderpest is pro-
hibjted. Hides of meat cattle, calf
Skins, buffalo hides. sheeDskins, goat
skins and deerskins offered for entry
into the United States must be sub
iected to disinfection in an approved
manner. unless 1t can he shown that
rinderpest does not exist in the local
jtv where the shinment ORIGINATED.
Thus every possible effort rs being
made to nrotect the live stock of the
, United States from cattle plague OF