Tl8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. 

 By Dr. T. Frothingham. 



(Stenographic Copy.) 



It has occurred to me that perhaps the simplest manner of 

 bringing this subject before you would be to ask myself a series 

 of questions and then proceed to answer them. I fear that even 

 by this method a great many of the most important points which 

 many of you would desire to know will escape us and conse- 

 quently when I have finished I hope that you will ask me any 

 questions that you desire to ask, and I will answer them to the 

 best of my ability. 



In the first place I will ask the question, What is the foot and 

 mouth disease ? Foot and mouth disease, or as it is also known, 

 hoof and mouth disease, is a very acute, exceedingly contagious 

 disease of animals, especially of cloven footed animals. It mani- 

 fests itself by the appearance of vesicles, or blisters, within the 

 mouth and upon the feet. It is one of the most contagious dis- 

 eases known affecting animals. 



What is the history of this disease ? Foot and mouth disease 

 has been known for centuries, probably for two thousand years 

 or more. It seems to have had its original seat in Western Asia 

 and Eastern Europe, and there it seems to be at home. As 

 civilization advanced, and as the means of transportation 

 became more easy, it rapidly spread through Western Europe 

 until finally almost all European countries had the disease. It 

 did not reach England until 1839, ar *d ^ remained there, with 

 occasional interruptions, affecting in some years nearly a million 

 of animals, until 1894, and then only by the strictest quarantine 

 measures did England succeed in ridding herself of this disease. 

 Previous to that time they had endeavored, more than once, to 

 pass the strictest quarantine laws for the whole country, but the 

 farmers objected so much, saying that it would ruin their busi- 

 ness to a certain extent, that the law was not finally passed until 

 1893. As soon as it was passed and carefully carried out, the 

 disease ceased in England. It reached this country for the first 



