290 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



HOOF AND MOUTH DISEASE. 



The United States Department of Agriculture recently sent 

 out the following report on the reappearance this year of the 

 hoof and mouth disease in Illinois : 



In October, 19 14, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease — 

 the first in this country in six years — was discovered in the vi- 

 cinity of Niles, Michigan. Despite thorough investigation, the 

 source of the infection remains unknown. It was learned, how- 

 ever, that before the occurrence was reported to Washington 

 and the disease diagnosed by veterinarians familiar with it 

 through experience in past outbreaks, animals from the infected 

 area had reached Chicago. Owing to the extreme contagiousness 

 of the disease, the Union Stock Yards were quarantined (Oct- 

 ober 31). Ordinarily several days or a week elapsed between 

 infection and the appearance of symptoms, and although there 

 was no conclusive evidence on the point it was believed possible 

 that the animals in question might have reached the yards in the 

 incubative stage and infected them. 



On November i this belief was strengthened by the discov- 

 ery of the disease in the cattle being exhibited at the Dairy Show 

 in the immediate vicinity of the yards. In the yards proper, 

 however, the first case did not appear until November 3. The 

 next day foot-and-mouth disease was found among the hogs at 

 the establishment of the Great Western Serum Company. This 

 establishment was quarantined at once and at about the same 

 time a precautionary quarantine was also placed upon another es- 

 tablishment ,that of the Chicago Serum Company, located about 

 a mile away, although no actual cases of the disease had been 

 found at this second establishment. At that time the Chicago 

 Serum Company had on hand approximately 101,000 cubic cen- 

 timeters of anti-hog-cholera serum which had been prepared late 

 in October. All of this serum was placed under official seal by 

 the inspectors of the Department and withheld from distribution., 

 During the ensuing six months the disease, which had spread 

 widely over the country, was effectively combated by the slaugh- 



