HomeMy WebLinkAbout2491 Circular concerning Foot and Mouth Disease, Massachusetts Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle to "city and town authorities," January 4, 1871 CIRCULAR
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CITY AND TOWN AUTHORITIES.
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The.undersigned, Commissioners on 'Contagious Diseases among Cattle, call the attention of the Mayors
and Aldermen of Cities, and the^Selectmen of Towns, to the fact that a highly contagious disease, known as
Epizootic Aphtha, or Foot and Mouth Disease, has broken out in this State, and is. rapidly spreading among the
cattle of very many of our towns. The disease is not of such an alarming and fatal character as the Pleuro-
Pneumonia, yet, by its ravages; there is great danger that it will inflict immense losses on our Cattle owners,
and possibly to soiree extent injure the health of our people. The disease is. communicated by the contact of
healthy with the sick animals, by all inanimate thins that have become contaminated, and by yarding healthy
cattle on the same land, or driving them on roads previously trodden, by those diseased. The cattle yards of
Brighton are apparently contaminated with the virus of the disease, and animals driven thence carry and
communicate it wherever they go. In view of these facts, and, if possible, that the contagion may be eradicated
from the Commonwealth, we would most earnestly recommend that you, in each municipality, perform your duty
as defined in Chapter 220 of the Acts of 1860, by interdicting all driving of cattle 'to, from, or within, your
respective limits (See Section 5 of said Act), and by a most thorough and radical purification of the yards and
buildings which have been contaminated by it. The Commissioners will, at the same time, make regulations to
prevent.any further importation of it from abroad. Notwithstanding the great extent, to which the disease has
alreadX insidiously spread, we entertain the hope, than bZ the united ener etid'hetion of the authorities, and the
Mullurauiono our peop e, t Is ai6ease may De squelched, and the losses it ha:s inflicted on the stock-growing
regions of Europe be averted. _kj
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NOTICE TO CATTLE DRovERSy' DEALERS, AND ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE TRAFFIC OF CATTLE.
In consequence of the prevalence of Epizootic Aphtha, or Foot and Mouth Disease, the Commissioners on
Contagious Diseases among Cattle hereby prohibit the driving or transporting,to or from Brighton, Cambridge,
or the Cattle Yards at the Medford Railroad Station, until further notice, all,_Cows, Store Cattle, and Working
Oxen.
The Selectmen of Brighton and Medford, and the Mayor of the -City of Cambridge, are directed to
enforce the above order.
The Municipal authorities of the several Towns and Cities in the •Commonwealth are requested to
or
cooperate in making the above der effectual.
COMMONWEALTH OF. MASSACHUSETTS, 1
BOSTON, Jan. 4, 1871. )?
LEVI STOCKBRIDGE, Commissioners on
H. W. JORDAN, Contagious Diseases
E. F. THAYER, among Cattle.
We append the following as having been efectual in the treatment off tl e disease:
1st. .The animals to be kept in a comfortable, dry place.
2d. A solution of alum, one lb. to three gallons of water; the mouths to be washed with it daily.
3d. A solution of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), one lb. to two gallons of water; to be applied to the
sores on`the feet.