418 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



tills infection occurred. At no other time could the infectiop have 

 been spread so extensively and rapidly. 



Number counties in State Infected 27 



Number of herds in the State 627 



Number of animals appraised: 



Cattle 13,088 



Sheep 313 



Swine, 6,871 



20,272 



Amount of appraisement, $787,573.18 



Aside from the expense, six hundred and twenty-seven herd owners 

 have been tied up and prevented from carrying on the winter's work. 

 Traffic in cattle, sheep, hogs and crops has been practically at a 

 standstill in many parts of the State. In most cases people have 

 met the losses and embarrassment boldly and with but one purpose 

 and that was to get rid of tlie disease as soon as possible. In prac- 

 tically every case the main objection or criticism was that it was 

 too long from the time a diseased herd was found till it was destroyed 

 and the premises disinfected. In most cases people were reasonably 

 patient in this respect. Some have wondered if a less destructive 

 method might not be safely used for exterminating the disease. This 

 is not to be wondered at when one considers that the death rate 

 from the disease is so low. It is known that practically 95% of the 

 cases will recover with no treatment except reasonably good care. 

 In a number of cases in the recent outbreak, the effected animals 

 had recovered before they could be destroyed. The reasons for tak- 

 ing such extreme measures in dealing with this disease is not due to 

 the high death rate, but to the fact that it is easily transmitted from 

 animal to animal and from place to place, and it does cause a de- 

 preciation in the value of the affected animals to the extent of about 

 twenty dollars per head. 



We realize that the di.sease is not highly fatal and that recovery 

 will take place in a high percentage of cases without even a learned 

 course of treatment. It is one of the most highly contagious dis- 

 eases of cloven-footed animals, and while the death rate is compara- 

 tively low the losses to animal industry are considerable. The dis- 

 ease has gained a foothold in nearly all European countries and it 

 is practically impossible for them to adopt our method for extermina^ 

 ting it. It is neces.sary to hold infected herds in quarantine for some- 

 thing over three months. A recent investigator in the Netherlands 

 where the disease is common, has shown that it cost practically $20 

 per head in each infected herd to handle the disease in quarantine. 

 This is the best they can do after many years of experience in trying 

 to control it by the quarantine method. Their expense is figured on 

 the loss in milk production, loss in condition of meat producing ani- 

 mals, loss from work in oxen, death from the disease and extra cars 

 given to those that are sick. It is doubtful if a hard owner in this 

 country could afford to have Aphthous Fever in his herd for |20 per 

 head. This would not include the expense to the State and Federal 

 government for enforcing the quarantine. It has already cost $120 

 per head to care for the prize dairy herd at Chicago. If this method 

 were adopted there would be constant unrest in the neighborhood 

 of an infected herd. It would be necessary to increase the inspection 

 force to locate new centers of infection and prevent the disease from 

 spreading. The quarantined herds should be under constant Federal 

 or State supervision. Neither the State nor Federal government 



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