Foot and Mouth Disease or Aphthous Fever, a contagious eruptive fever attacking cloven-footed animals and communicable to many others, including man. Eruptions occur as blisters in the mouth, on the udder, teats and feet, with an elevation of temperature of from 2 to 6 degrees. Although in mild attacks only 2 to 3 per cent of the animals attacked suc cumb, it depreciates the value of the survivors from 20 to 50 per cent. When present in a malignant form, 5 to 50 per cent of the adults die and 50 to 80 per cent of the calves. It is more to be feared than pleuro-pneumonia. The milk from diseased cows may transmit the dis ease to those partaking of it, and the disease produced in this manner is, especially when it attacks children, serious and sometimes fataL The disease was first seen and recognized in England in 1839 where it continued with more or less prevalence until 1886, since when it has appeared less frequently. In 1870 it was intro duced into the United States from Canada. The introduction of the disease into New Eng land in 190e drew attention to the dangers of the malady. Since then sporadic attacks have occurred in several States. Isolation and quar antining of diseased animals is futile; slaughter of diseased animals and prohibition of move ment of stock in the infected areas have proved the most efficacious methods of eradicating the disease.
Tuberculosis is one of the most insidious diseases infecting cattle and other animals. Like human tuberculosis, it is due to a germ, the tubercle bacillus which may affect any of the body where it can secure a lodgment. Recent investigations show that the same ba cillus may cause human and bovine tuberculosis, hence there is need to guard against human in fection with bovine and partici lady to guard children from Plenty of good food, fresh air and sunlight, rigid cleanliness, the use of disinfectants :and the determination and isolation of affected •ani• mals are now viewed as the best' means of checking the disease. The tuberculin test is a ready means of determining whether or not cat tle are tuberculous. Tuberetdin is made by growing the bacterium for two- or •three weeks in bouillon to which glycerine is added. The germs are then killed by heating and their re mains removed by filtration. Carbolic acid is added to prevent decomposition and the fluid is packed in sealed sterilized bottles. Inoculation with this fluid causes a rise in temperature in the case of diseased animals. See Cerret, EASES OF.
Bibliography.— Consult various Reports of Bureau of Animal Industry, Washington, D. C.; alto of the State departments of agriculture in many States; and bulletins of the State agricul tural experiment stances.