FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18217, 30 October 1924, Page 6

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

RAVAGES IN CALIFORNIA. SLAUGHTERING AST) DISINFECTING METHODS. .'SfB<"UL 70 "THE TEES?.") WELLINGTON. October Tho action taken by the Government in prevent the int roducj ion of foot-and-mouth nisease seems to be fully warranl"d. .judging from what has taken plaiT in < 'alifomia. American papers to hand giro pome idea of the inconvenience and loss there would, be if tlie iii«rase r-ver got n footing here. •' Scientific American'' says: One of the most inlcresting angles of the fight waged in (""alifornia by county. Btaie. and Federal authorities against, the foot-and-mouth epizootic has been the mechanical. Not only were Department of Agricultural officials, horticultural commissioners, and veterinary surgeons pressed into service, but contractors, carpenters, chemists, and engineers were employed in an effort to stamp out the disease in Infected areas and to prevent, its spread into uninfected territory. For example, hnge trenches had io be dug in which to bury thousands of animals which were slain' bv the authorities after they contracted the malady. Dipping vats had to be built through which all nut.omohiles leaving quarantine territory were forced to run, and disinfected capes of rubberised material had. to be used for humans leaving counties in the affected, territory. 11l the. preparation of the disinfecting fluids and. gases, chemists were utilised to aid the veterinary surgeons. The dipping• vats for automobiles, placed at county lines, were built to accommodate any vehicle from a flivver to a five-ton truck. Into these vats a solution of bichloride" of mercury, of a ratio of about 1 to' 1000, was poured. This solution thoroughly disinfected tyres, wheels, and the under side of fenders, which are most likely to pick up the highly-contagious disease. Cattle Shot in. Trenches. In the case of the burying trenches for slaughtered stock, steam shovels were employed to dig trenches nine feet deep, 20 feet wide, and in some .cases 500 feet, long. Into these trenches the infected cattle or other stock wore driven, shot, down, covered with quicklime, and buried, thus effectively preventing any further spread of the disease by the infected herds. In the case of humans who passed through close quarantine or provisional quarantine areas, rubberised, capes, reaching from throat, to ankles, were used, and under them formaldehyde gas wa s generated for five minutes. In some counties passengers, automobiles and stages were forced to wade through the disinfecting vats. For cars some counties used creosote solutions of from 3 to 5 per cent. A total of 4g,n96 infected animals, from 368 herds, had been slaughtered and buried .in California, up to April J7tb. Of these, 25,447 were cattle, 10,204 hogs, 12,635 .sheep, and 310 goats. The estimated appraised value of this 1 stock was 2,034,437 dollars, of which tho Federal Government pay s half and the State half.

One of the prize herds slaughtered included six world champion cows, and was valued roughly at 500,000 dollars.