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Show Knutson Discusses Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Mr. George Knutson, agriculturalist agricultural-ist of the Union Pacific system stated stat-ed that while the disease was critical ly serious that it had been treated and handled more successfully than the epidemic of 1915 during which period it had spread disastrously throughout twenty states, but not with much marked fatality among blooded herds. First symptoms of affliction, Mr. Knutson said, was swollen spots on hoof tops which quickly turn into blisters, the smitten beast will then lick the sores transmitting the poison poi-son to the tongue, lips and mouth, the throat next effected becomes too swollen for the passage of food and the animal starves to death. The contagion, he explained primarily attacks at-tacks the hoof because the poison seems to cling closely to the earth, .but it may be spread by crows, magpies, mag-pies, eagles or jackalls and even on the foot of a human, and he advised all present to refrain from visits of curiosity to neighboring localities where even a suspicion might prevail and further suggested that in the event of an indication of a doubtful or unnatural ailment being observed to call upon the authorities at once and be guided by their advice. A blister of any kind unless the cause was absolutely known, would be sufficient suf-ficient cause to call the sheriff and keep all others away. In small domestic feed lots, he staled, the affliction might Tie confined con-fined to an animal or herd by immediate im-mediate separation and destruction of all infection, but on ranges the danger cannot be forseen or its ravages rav-ages detected until whole flocks or herds may be inoculated before discovered. dis-covered. In England, Germany and Switzerland Switzer-land the speaker stated, where the disease was better known, it was con trolled by comnlete segragation of those afflicted and mentioned an instance in-stance where the epidemic appeared among 279 cows, of which only two had to be killed. When exposed the disease might be treated and cured if within local pastures, but on the range the risk would be to great to attempt it. Mr. Knutson warned the stockmen of this district to use special spec-ial and extra diligence as infection was reported in the Nevada and California Cal-ifornia border and as the prevailing winds were from that quarter, the situation was not at all comfortable and that contagion which existed in any immediately adjoining state must be classified as dangerous, if not imminent, it was highly possible. |