FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 81, 27 January 1876, Page 7

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

Attention being at present directed to the foot and mouth disease which it is feared in some quarters may shortly be introduced into the Colony, the following* remarks from a recent number the ' Lancet-' will prove interesting to our readers. They may also prove useful should the disease ever break out amongst our -flocks and herds • — The reports relative to the foot and mouth disease show that it has abated nothing of its virulence, and that'it is widely prevalent in England and Scotland, causing great inconvenience and immense loss, and in many districts leading to the suppression of cattle sho\vs. It is not likely that it. wiil be much diminished in prevalence for some time to come, and if we .could arrive at anything like a correct estimate of the loss it has caused •• this year, we should probably find that it amounted to more than a' million at the very least. ■» The disease in itself is not at all a serious malady,, at least, so far as the mortality from it is concerned— and this is, perhaps, the reason iwhy 'no efficient steps have been adopted to extinguish it as the cattle plague was extinguished. Indeed, there are i'evr maladies to which animals are liable which require less skill and- medical treatment to restore the sick to health than this, if ence we. find that the columns of the daily papers teem with remedies, all of which are highly lauded, but nearly all of which are puite unnecessary-^-some are even hurtful — if the sick animals are properly fed and cared for. Though so trifling" as a rule, yet with young animals, as pigs, it is sometimes '"destructive, and if neglected, ,it may even be productive of much" mortality among adults. What renders it a most em - barrasing and costly disease is the great facility with' which its -contagion can, be ' diffused by means of roads> pastures,

-commons,- -Watering -ponds, markets, and fair- places, manure, carts, clothing creatures not themselves susceptible railway ; cars, cattle, ships, and , many other ways too numerous to, specify here. There is also good evidence to prove that, this cpnta gion is possessed of a considerable degree of vitality, and can withstand the influence of atmospherical changes for a long time, Cattle, sheep and pigs have also a wonderful aptitude for the erruption of the virus, so that but few of those exposed to infection escape ; and as the period of incubation is short, and does not vary much, we may have wide tracts of country infected in a very short time of no precautions are taken to isolate the sick, and prevent the con-, veyance of the virus. Newly purchased animals, and : especially tnose which have been exposed at fairs or markets, or travelled by boa!* or rail, should be I quarantined in some convenient place apart from other stock, and no communication should take place between them for at least six days. Forage from infected districts should be interdicted, unless it is proved that it cannot "possibly be tainted, and no persons or articles from infected stables or pastures should be allowed to go near healthy animals. As a rule, few animals diseased are more amenable to treatment, and still fewer exemplify the beneficial effects of hygienic measures than these. When it has appeared, the sick animals, if at pasture, should be housed and allowed to stand on some soft material, such as sawdust. If they cannot be sheltered, then they ought to be put on firm grass land. Soft succulent food, mashes and nourishing gruel must be the diet while the mouth is sore, and bran gruel, or water slightly acidulated, given to drinic. If the fever runs high, or constipation is present, treacle, Epsom . salts, or common salt may be gently administered. Laving the mouth in cold water (which must be slightly acidulated) is grateful when the eruption is slight, but when the erosions are extensive and painful, gurgles of vinegar and water, hydrochloric acid, honey and water, or a weak solution of tannic or gallic acid f(one oz to the gallon) are necessary. Lime water is a good dressing when the ulcers are deep. When the feet are affected, and even before they are involved, they may be dressed with carbolised glycerine, a weak solution of carbolic acid, or any mild astringent. It is frequently very beneficial to send the animals into a shallow running stream to bathe their feet ; but when these are affected, it is better, as a rule, to allow the animals to rest as much as possible. When suppuration occurs beneath the hoof, or the fee.t are severely involved, it is advisable to procure the ' services of a veterinary surgeon. Great cleanliness and thorough disinfection.must be advocated both during* the prevalence of the disease and after it has disappeared. In many farms and cowsheds the active germs of the malady are allowed to remain, and cause repeated outbreaks. But we expect the therapeutical treatment of the disease is altogether a secondary affair ;. its prevention and absolute extinction are what we must insist upon ; and the matter is now assuming such a grave aspect, both in a pecuniary and sanitary point of view, that we feel con- j vinced that nothing less than an efficient organisation to effect this object, and to stamp out other serious animal contagions, will now satisfy the public. The present temporising policy with regard to these destructive pestilences has been tried for now nearly ten years, and has proved notoriously useless. It is high time a common senpe view was taken of the matter, and measures adopted which would relieve us from these heavy annual losses and panics.