No. 4.] EEPORT OF CATTLE BUREAU. 333 



The foot and mouth diseaac ha.s undoubtedly existed for 

 centuries, — probably for the last two thousand years. It 

 seems to be a native of western Asia and eastern Europe, 

 and has long been known in India and upon the steppes of 

 Kussia. As commerce between civilized nations increased 

 and means of conmiunication developed, it spread over 

 Europe from the east to the west, until now it prevails from 

 the Caspian Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, It also exists in 

 India, Ceylon, Burmah and the Straits Settlements. With 

 the development of literature its description became more 

 accurate, and accounts of its spread over Europe in the sev- 

 enteenth and eighteenth centuries show it to have prevailed 

 extensively in Italy, Germany and France. Toward the end 

 of the eighteenth and early in the nineteenth century it 

 reached western Europe, but did not gain access into 

 England until 1839, and was not known in Denmark until 

 1841. 



Foot and mouth disease seems to be a native of localities 

 in eastern Europe or Avestern Asia, and an exotic in some 

 other countries. For example, it was imported into Canada 

 in 1870, being introduced by two Shorthorn cows brought 

 from Liverpool, and appeared in localities in New York 

 State and some of the New England States ; but it does not 

 seem to have assumed a severe form, and in a few months 

 entirely disappeared. Its behavior in thus disappearing 

 may be partly due to its having been introduced in the 

 autumn, and, as cattle in the north are housed during the 

 Avinter months, there is very little communication between 

 herds ; but it ma}^ also in part be due to its exotic character. 

 The last outbreak in the LTnited States was in the early '80's 

 (about 1884), when some cattle imported from England 

 were landed at Portland, Me., and driven to the United 

 States quarantine station a short distance away. Soon after 

 a yoke of oxen was driven over the same road, which later 

 developed foot and mouth disease, -^ the imported cattle 

 having it when landed, — and gave it to the owner's herd; 

 but the disease was soon suppressed, and there has been no 

 reappearance of it until the past autumn. 



The United States Bureau of Animal Industr}^ of the 

 Department of Agricultm^e, spares no pains to protect the 



