244 ON FEVERS AMONGST HORSES, CATTLE, ETC. 



shire, Staffordshire, and Devon, the diseases, so far as I can 

 ascertain, rarely occur. 



" In Ireland anthrax prevails in all parts. 



" In connection with the prevalence of anthrax diseases in the 

 United Kingdom there are two remarkable facts; Istly, That they 

 are very widely distributed over the land, owing, probably, to the 

 abundance of clay in its soils ; 2ndly, This clayey nature of our 

 soils renders them most profitable as pasture lands, owing to the 

 expense attending their cultivation for other purposes; they 

 require deep drainage, however, to ward off such diseases as 

 anthrax and others, that depend not a little on moisture for their 

 production." 



From the prevalence of anthrax on low lying lands and 

 marshes, as well as upon clayey soils and others of an undrained 

 character, it was believed that malaria, the result of decomposing 

 matter on the surface, had all to do with its production; it does 

 not, however, follow that miasmatic vapours only are essential, 

 as we know by experience that in many instances certain pastures 

 are capable of producing the disease, while on others adjoining, 

 and in every way apparently resembling them, it is never found. 

 Indeed, anthrax prevails upon higher lands and calcareous soils, 

 and, as already stated, it is difficult to say where it does not 

 exist in one form or other. The evidences regarding the depend- 

 ence of anthrax upon some particular geological formation or 

 nature of soil is somewhat perplexing and conflicting. It seems 

 to be most in keeping with all known phenomena that the 

 malady should be the direct outcome of soils lying low, and 

 subject to such influences that produce conditions the reverse of 

 each other; and it is no less true that the most prolific sources are 

 found in such localities. The soil there consists of animal, 

 vegetable, and mineral matters, so arranged and constituted 

 that the mass presents favourable qualifications for absorbing 

 and retaining moisture, and at later periods, especially under 

 intense heat or warm foggy weather, facilitating rapid decom- 

 position. Soils possessing these characters are distinguished by 

 the term alluvial, and form a considerable tract of land in the 

 United Kingdom. 



It is, however, interesting to notice that the paludal fevers of 

 mankind are not restricted to sdIIs of this nature entirely, and, 

 in tliis respect, it appears there is considerable identity in the 

 immediate causes of charbonous diseases both of man and ani- 

 mals. Sandy plains, loose gravelly soils, higher grounds in the 

 vicinity of marshes, and rocky elevations, have been as con- 

 spicuous for these diseases as the most reputable lands and 

 marshes of this or any other covmtry. Such facts are not 

 without their significance in directing a spirit of inquiry into 

 prubable causes outside of the usually acknowledged limits. 



