FOOT AM) MOI'TII DISEASE :'><):> 



its economic importance. It is also well to disinfect tin 1 

 bull after each service. 



A separate maternity stall should he provided, to which 

 all animals that are to calve at the normal time should he 

 removed. This stall should he kept clean, and supplied 

 with an ahundance of clean heddinir. Animals that show 

 siu-iis of aborting should not he placed in this stall, but re- 

 moved from the stables to a separate building. 



Foot-and-mouth disease. There are a number of trans- 

 missible diseases of domestic animals prevalent in Europe 

 that are not found in this country. Among them are con- 

 tagious pleiiro-pneumonia of cattle, hog erysipelas, and foot- 

 and-mouth disease, which affects the cloven-hoofed animals 

 and man. All domestic animals imported from Europe 

 must be kept in quarantine for a considerable period in 

 order that there may be time for them to develop symptoms 

 of any disease with which they may be infected, and to 

 permit of a detailed examination as to their health. The*.- 

 precautions are taken primarily to prevent the introduction 

 of diseases that are not known in this country. Even with 

 all precaution, there is always opportunity for some of 

 these diseases to be introduced and to spread rapidly. 

 Foot-and-mouth disease forms a striking example. There 

 have been six outbreaks of this disease, as follows: 1870, 

 1880, 1884, 1902-3, 1908-9, 1914-15. The disease has, how- 

 ever, been eradicated at each appearance. The method fol- 

 lowed has been to slaughter not only the diseased animals, 

 but all other susceptible animals on the farms on which the 

 outbreaks occurred. In 1902-3 4,461 animals were killed ; 

 in 1908-9 3,636 animals were slaughtered. The cost of the 

 eradication of each of the outbreaks in 1902-3 and 1908-9 

 was approximately $300,000. \ot a large amount to pay 

 as insurance of the entire stock industry of this country 

 against this disease for ten years. 



