Report on foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland in the year 1912 / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His Majesty.

  • Ireland. Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report on foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland in the year 1912 / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    14/104 (page 12)
    The Slaughter of Diseased Animals. The slaughter and burial of diseased and in-contact animals was conducted on the lines now to be described, and entailed a large amount of labour and expense. Butchers were specially employed for slaughter purposes, and a gang of labourers for the digging of pits and burial of carcases. The method of slaughter employed in the case of cattle was shooting. Sheep and pigs were killed in the usual manner. The carcases were covered with lime, and deeply buried in large pits which were dug at suitable places. Quicklime was scattered on the surface of, and around, these pits. Portions of the carcases of quite healthy cattle and sheep were, however, sold to meat dealers. But the hides of all animals were invariably buried, in view of the possi- bility of their carrying infection, even though the animals might themselves show no signs of disease. No attempt was made at Swords to salvage pigs, as only a small proportion were really good fat animals, and facilities for scalding, etc., were not avail- able. When animals were slaughtered in connection with out- breaks which occurred at other places later on, it was found possible to salvage all the carcases except those actually diseased. In all cases the owners of slaughtered cattle were awarded fair compensation for their beasts, on the valuation of a competent valuer. Disinfection of Infected Places. All practicable and necessary steps were taken for the disinfection of premises and lands on which disease had broken out, and no measure that experience or care could suggest for providing against a recurrence or extension of the disease in the district was left unaccomplished. Farmyards, and all such places on which diseased animals had been, were thoroughly disinfected with Jeyes’ Fluid. The same disinfectant was freely used in byres, sheds, etc., and these were in addition fumigated by burning sulphur. Limewash was then applied to all parts of them, and all litter, dung, etc., remaining in such places was mixed with quicklime. The fields in which the animals had grazed were carefully strewn by machines with newly-burned lime. Disinfection of Hay by Super-heated Steam. Stacked hay is obviously a very probable place of lodgment for disease germs, and all stacks of hay on farms near the scenes of outbreaks at Swords were disinfected by the agency of super- heated steam. This method of disinfection which, so far as the Department are aware, had not been previously used in Ireland, proved very effective. Steam was injected from an engine into the ricks to a depth of lj to 2 feet. The heat penetrated to a distance of over 3 feet. Repeated tests with a thermometer showed a temperature of 220° F. The process did not damage the hay in any way for marketing purposes.