396 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



The tremendous ravages of the disease are seen in the number and 

 variety of species attacked. A\Tiile it may be regarded as essentially 

 a disease of cattle, hogs would seem to be as easy a prey. Almost in 

 the same grade of receptivity come sheep and goats. Next in order 

 of liability come the buffalo, American bison, camel, deer, chamois, 

 llama, giraffe, and antelope. Horses, dogs, cats, and even poultry 

 have been victims of the infection, the last three classes being par- 

 ticularly dangerous as carriers of the contagion. Man himself is not 

 immune, and the frequency of his infection by coming in contact with 

 the diseased animals themselves is established by numerous observa- 

 tions. Children suffer as a result of drinking the unboiled milk from 

 infected cattle. In such cases the symptoms resemble those observed 

 in animals. There is fever and difficulty in swallowing, follow^ed by 

 an eruption of blisters in the mouth and very rarely by similar ones 

 on the fingers. The disease is very seldom fatal, and chiefly restricted 

 to children and to those adults who handle sick animals or drink large 

 quantities of unboiled milk. Some veterinarians regard the human 

 affection as by no means uncommon in countries where foot-and- 

 mouth disease prevails, but that the disturbance of health is usually 

 too slight to come to the notice of the family doctor. 



The disease prevails in European countries and occasions great 

 losses. Although the actual mortality is quite low, serious losses 

 result from the diminution of the milk secretion and consequent in- 

 terference with the business of the dairy. There is likewise more or 

 less loss of flesh in animals. 



Every appearance of foot-and-mouth disease upon American soil 

 has been quickly followed by the total suppression of the disease, and 

 it will therefore be necessary to go abroad for evidences of the devas- 

 tation which always follows in the wake of an outbreak of this scourge 

 and for estimates of the loss which it entails upon the farmers and 

 stock owners in affected districts. 



According to the very accurate statistics collected by the German 

 Empire, 431,235 head of cattle, 230,868 sheep and goats, and 153,808 

 swine were affected with the disease in that country in 1890. The 

 infection, quite insignificant in 1886, had been gradually spreading 

 until it reached the enormous figures given above in 1890. During 

 this same year it prevailed in France, Italy, Belgium, Austria-Hun- 

 gary, Switzerland, Roumania, and Bulgaria. 



The losses from this disease in England in the year 1883 were esti- 

 mated at $5,000,000. An English practitioner of wide experience 

 states that it is none too high to place the loss upon each animal that 

 becomes infected but that ultimately recovers at $20, when milch cows 

 or feeding cattle that are nearly finished are under consideration. On 

 store cattle and calves the loss is proportionally less. 



