2Bd s. No 69., Apkil 25, '57.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



327 



suppress it. Notwithstanding wliich I am told it makes 

 its way tolerably at least. But I have heard to-day that 

 somebody is to give me a good trimming very soon. 



" All Friends here remember you kindly ; and our little 

 Club at the Q. Arms never fail to devote a bumper to you, 

 except when they are in the humour of drinking none 

 but Scoundrels. I send my best Compliments to Mrs. 

 Smollett and two other Ladies, and beg you will write 

 me as soon as it suits you, and with black ink. I am 

 always 



" My dear Doctor, 



" Most affectionately yours, 

 " John Armstrong. 

 "[Direction] A Monsieur 



" Mons^ Smollett, P^. 1/. 



f* Gentilhomme Anglais, 

 " Chez Mon''. Renner, 



"Negociant a Livourne, 



" Toscane." 



" Rome, 2^1 June, 1770. 

 " Dear Doctor, 



" I arrived here last Thursday sevennight, and since 

 then have already seen almost all the most celebrated 

 wonders of Rome. But I am generally disappointed in 

 these matters, partly I suppose from my expectation 

 being too high. But what I have seen here has been in 

 such a hurry as to make it a fatigue ; besides I have 

 strolled about amongst them neither in very good humour 

 nor good health. 



" I have delayed writing till I could lay before you all 

 the plans of my future Operations for a few weeks. I 

 propose to post it to Naples about the middle of next 

 week along with a Colonel of our Country who seems to 

 be a very good-natured man. After . . . week or ten 

 days there I should return hither, and after having visited 

 Tivoli and Frescati set out for Leghorn, if possible in 

 some vessel from Civita Vecchia, for I hate the Lodgings 

 upon the roads in this country. I can't expect to be 

 happy till I see Leghorn, and if I find my friend in such 

 health as I wish him, or even hope for him, T shall not be 

 disappointed in the chief Pleasure I proposed to myself in 

 iny visit to Italy. As you talked of a Ramble somewhere 

 towards the south of France I shall be extremely happy 

 to attend you. 



" I wrote to my brother from Genoa, and desired him to 

 direct his answer to j'our care at Pisa. If it comes please 

 direct it with your own letter, for which I shall long 

 violently, to the care of Mr. Francis Barazzi at Rome. I 

 am, with my best compliments to Mrs. Smollett and the 

 rest of the Ladies, my dear Doctor, 



"Yours ever af. . . 



" [Direetion] 



" A Monsieur, 



" Monsieur Smollett, 



" Chez Monsieur Rannar, 

 " k Livourne." 



THE MUEEAIN, AND THE " MURRAIN- WORM." 



A little more than a century ago, various Euro- 

 pean districts were either suffering or mournfully 

 anticipating a visitation from the murrain among 

 cattle. Among other countries, England was 

 dreading the infliction, which came in 1757. In 

 a New and Complete JDiclionary of the Arts and 

 Sciences, " published by W. Owen, at Homer's 

 Head, Fleet Street," after a description of the 



disease, the following curious "receipt is much 

 recommended for the cure of this disease in 

 black cattle : " — 



" Take diapente, a quarter of an ounce ; dialthasa or 

 marshmallows, London treacle, mithridate and rhubarb, 

 of each the quantity of a nut ; of saffron a small quantity ; 

 wormwood ; and red sage, of each an handful ; and two 

 cloves of garlick ; boil all together in two pints of beer, 

 till it be reduced to a pint and a half, and give it the 

 beast luke-warm, while fasting. Half the proportion will 

 serve for a cow ; tliey must be kept warm, and take a 

 mash of ground malt, drinking warm-water for a week, 

 and sometimes have boiled oats. If sheep are troubled 

 with this distemper, give them a few .spoonfuls of brine, 

 and then a little tar." 



The writer adds, that " in order to prevent this 

 disease, the cattle should stand cool in summer, 

 have plenty of good water ; all carrion should be 

 speedily buried ; and as the feeding of cattle in 

 wet places, on rotten grass and hay, often occasions 

 this disease, dry and sweet fodder should be given 

 them." 



In Ireland, the more than ordinarily wise peo- 

 ple in the olden time pretended they could cure 

 or prevent the murrain, by means of " the mur- 

 rain-worm," which was no other than the cater- 

 pillar, and which never touches grass or hay 

 without poisoning it ! 



" There are some," says Vallancey, " who take this 

 worm, putting it into the hand of a new-born child, close 

 the hand about it, tying it up with the worm closed in it, 

 till the worm be dead. This child ever after, by stroking 

 the beast affected, recovers it. And so it will, if the 

 water wherein the child is washed be sprinkled on the 

 beast. The other method of cure, which I like much 

 better, is by boring an auger hole in a well-grown wil- 

 low-tree, and in it imprisoning, but not immediately 

 killing, the worm, so close by a wooden peg, that no air 

 can get in, and therein leaving him to die at leisure. 

 The leaves and tender branches of this tree, ever after, if 

 bruised in water, and the affected beast therewith bo 

 sprinkled, he is cured." 



John Dob an. 



^tn0r 3ottS, 



English Inns. — Fynes Moryson, in his ItineV' 

 ary, thus speaks of English inns : 



" As soone as a passenger comes to an inne, the servants 

 run to him, and one takes his horse and walkes him about 

 till he be cool, then rubs him down, and gives him meat : 

 another servant gives the passenger his private chamber 

 and kindles his fire ; the third pulls off his bootes, and 

 makes them cleane ; then the host and hostess visits him, 

 and if he will eate with the hoste or at a common table 

 with the others, his meale will cost him sixpence, or in 

 some places four pence ; but if he will eat in his chamber, 

 he commands what meat he will, according to his appe- 

 tite ; yea the kitchen is open to him to order the meat to 

 be dressed as he likes beste. After having eaten what he 

 pleases, he may with credit set by a part for next day's 

 Ijreakfast. His bill will then be written for him, and 

 should he object to any charge the host is 7-eady to alter it." 



" Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis ! " 

 R. W. Hackwoop. 



