Hoof and Mouth Disease

This is an original Bud Breen oil painting titled "AFTOSA US River Patrol." It is 36 x 24.

Aftosa is the Latin American word for Hoof and Mouth Disease. Outbreaks of Aftosa began occuring in the US in 1870: About Aftosa

In 1914 Aftosa hit Texas. Perhaps it was this rider's job to look for and report sick animals and prevent sick animals or, possibly, infected animals from crossing into the US from Mexico. To this day we have river riders in Texas whose job it is to keep Mexican and US ranch and farm animals from crossing the border.