12 ANNUAL EEPOETS OP DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



skin between the toes and above the hoofs. So rapid and sweeping 

 is its spread that when the infection once gains access to a herd or a 

 farm practically every susceptible animal is soon attacked. Although 

 the mortality usually is low, heavy economic losses result from the 

 interruption and derangement of business. 



Previous outbreaks. — This disease has prevailed in Europe for a 

 great many years and has caused enormous financial losses. It also is 

 common in portions of South America and in the Orient. Only occa- 

 sionally has it reached the United States. The present is the sixth 

 known visitation. The first three outbreaks, in 1870, 1880, and 1884, 

 were comparatively trifling ; those of 1902 and 1908 were more grave ; 

 while the latest is the most serious and extensive of all. 



In 1870 the infection was brought into Canada with cattle from 

 Scotland. It spread into the New England States and New York but 

 disappeared after a few months. About 1880 two or three lots of ani- 

 mals affected with the disease were brought to the United States ; but 

 no trouble followed. In 1884 there was a small outbreak at Port- 

 land, Me. The disease spread to a few herds outside the quarantine 

 station, but, owing to the small number of animals and the limited 

 area affected, it was easily controlled. 



In November, 1902, the malady was discovered in Massachusetts 

 and Rhode Island and later involved New Hampshire and Vermont. 

 The source of the infection probably was imported cowpox vaccine 

 virus contaminated with the virus of foot-and-mouth disease. This 

 outbreak was eradicated in about six months. The methods con- 

 sisted of inspection to trace and detect the disease, quarantine of 

 infected premises and territory, slaughter of diseased and exposed 

 animals, and disinfection of premises. Two hundred and five herds, 

 comprising 3,872 cattle, as well as 360 hogs and 320 sheep and goats, 

 were slaughtered. The animals were appraised before slaughter and 

 the Federal Government reimbursed the owners to the extent of 

 70 per cent, the States paying the remainder. The total cost to the 

 Department of Agriculture of controlling the outbreak was about 

 $300,000. 



The disease next appeared early in November, 1908, in cat- 

 tle near Danville, Pa. It was traced to the stoclrv^ards in East 

 Buffalo, N. Y., and to Detroit, Mich., and extended to other points in 

 Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania, and to Maryland. Investi- 

 gation demonstrated that the outbreak started in calves used to propa- 



