Foot and Mouth 1875
Readers researching information in the Local Studies section of the
AK Bell Library were interested to come across a very
topical article from an old newspaper recently. The article, taken
from the Strathearn Herald of the 2nd October 1875, referred
to a claim made by a Mr Bruce of Inverquhomery, Longside in
Aberdeenshire. He was extensively quoted in the Banffshire Journal
as having discovered a "preventative" for foot and mouth
disease.
The first symptoms appeared in a "milch cow" on 29th August and the
farmer took
immediate steps to isolate "three prize steers". He was quoted as
saying:
"But before moving them I had them sponged over, and their nostrils
dressed with a solution of carbolic acid and water. Their feet were
also dressed between the hoofs with carbolic acid diluted with
common tar".
By the time of the article, the steers remained untouched. Mr Bruce
also carried out another experiment of taking two other steers and
placing them with infected cattle and keeping another two isolated.
While the former two were quick to display signs of infection, the
latter two remained uninfected.
Regrettably staff were unable to find if any sequel was printed to
say whether the
cattle, or neighbouring farms, had remained clear of the disease.
The Strathearn
Herald is just one of the many
old papers held in the
Local Studies
section.
