No. 6. . DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 1819 



V\'lu'u it is introduced into a herd it is exceedingly rare for a single 

 animal to escape. 



'J'be amouut of loss that may come i'rom the existence of the dis- 

 ease is shown by a recent estimate made by a German authority 

 who shows that during the last fourteen years foot and mouth dis- 

 ease has caused in Germany losses that amount to |250,000,000. 



Fortunately, it has been possible, by co-operation between the au- 

 thorities of the infected states and the United States Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, to control the present outbreak of foot and mouth 

 disease in the New England States, and there is now little reason to 

 fear that it will escape to other parts of the country. The work of 

 repression has fallen chietiy upon the federal authorities, supported 

 by a special appropriation of |50U, 000.00 made by Congress for this 

 purpose, and it is a matter for congratulation that this work has been 

 so efficiently directed that it has been possible in so short a time 

 to place the outbreak under such complete control. 



Foot and mouth disease existed in one herd in Pennsylvania twen- 

 ty-on(i years ago. This was a herd of imported cattle that were taken 

 to a farm in an eastern county and quarantined there, as was the 

 practice before the establishment of the federal quarantine stations. 

 It was soon found that this herd was infected with foot and mouth 

 diseases, but by keeping it strictly in quarantine the disease never 

 escaped from the farm. Since that time, until recently, there has 

 been no foot and mouth disease in the United States. It is possible 

 that the present outbreak may be due to infectious materials, such 

 as blankets, forage, wool, etc., imported either from South America 

 or from Europe. It is not probable that the disease was brougnt 

 in the United States by a living animal because such animals are ex- 

 amined and most of them are kept in quarantine and under observa- 

 tion for a period of about six to three months, depending upon their 

 origin and species. 



Expenditures. — For the fiscal year ending May 31, 1902, the State 

 Live Stock Sanitary Board was allowed $40,000.00 for its general 

 work of repressing infectious diseases of animals. The expenditures 

 of this fund for the general purposes of the Board may be classified 

 as follows: for tubercular cattle, $26,306.25; for glandered horses, 

 1503; for inspecting tubercular cattle and herds, $3,326; for inspec- 

 tions for the purpose of suppressing diseases other than tuberculosis, 

 and for vaccinating cattle against anthrax and blackleg, |3,402.54; 

 for tags for marking cattle, for the expense of making tuberculin and 

 shipping, $874.09; for cremating carcasses, serving quarantine notices 

 and enforcing quarantines, for supplies, postage, office help and mis- 



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