ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 91 



fact that all kinds of cloven hoofed animals on 

 the premises are affected; the low percentage of 

 the susceptible animals that succumb; the lame- 

 ness in the hogs; the "smacking" in cattle; the 

 immunity of horses and mules; the mortality of 

 the sucklings, etc., must be taken into considera- 

 tion in differentiating this disease. Avoid a pub- 

 lic announcement of the presence of this disease 

 until the diagnosis is positive; but take no chances 

 of permitting the spread of the disease through a 

 failure to notify the proper authorities in every 

 suspected case. The instructions issued by the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry at Washington on this 

 matter are as follows: "In all cases of foot-and- 

 mouth disease, even where there are only slight 

 grounds for suspicion of a new outbreak, the mat- 

 ter should be reported immediately by wire, to the 

 Chief of the Bureau; a detailed written report 

 should be forwarded as soon as possible. This 

 report should include a description of the lesions 

 and their location, the number of susceptible ani- 

 mals of each species on the farm, the number of 

 animals of each species affected, the temperature 

 record, and the history, including the evidence, if 

 any, of contagion." Heed them. 



Treatment: This is a subject open to discussion. 

 It has been proved that quarantine and slaughter, 

 except perhaps in very high priced stock, is the 

 only safe and sane method to combat the disease 

 where there is a probability of its eradication.. 

 The course of the disease is from ten days to two 

 weeks; it is but slightly fatal, except in some out- 

 breaks where it assumes a malignant form and in 



