2H Sivcdcn, Rufjlj, and Siberia. "^4X 



even the diftrifts between the Jaik and the Irtifch, but par- 

 ticularly the low, marfliy, and faline fens of thefe immenfe 

 plains which are dried up every year, and fituations of the 

 like kind near the rivers and brackifli lakes from the banks 

 of which the water retires during the droughty weather, are 

 the places where this difeafe breaks out every year, and pre- 

 vails more or lefs both among men and cattle. In thefc 

 countries, the horfes and other fmooth-haired animals never 

 go out with fafety in fummer to pafture. For this reafon the 

 inhabitants of the banks of the Irtifch, where this difeafe is 

 moft dantrcrous, drive their horfes in fummer to the high paf- 

 tures, at a dillance from the river, where in that ieaion cool 

 winds prevail, and where this kind of plague is never ob- 

 ferved to make its appearance. In the northern and cafteni 

 parts of Siberia, and alfo in the mountains, it is not known. 

 This difeafe, which is diftinguiflied in the above difiritls 

 by the name oi moro-icafa jajkva, or plague, is moft common 

 in the fummer months, when ihe fultrv fouth winds prevail. 

 As foon as the winds and the weather become cold, no traces 

 of it are to be feen ; but if fuch a change of temperature does 

 not take place, the difeafe often continues till autumn, both 

 among men and horfes. Smooth-haired cattle alfo, and 

 camels, the Ikins of which in fummer arc almoll deftitute 

 of hair, are fubjeft it. If we now refleft, that people who 

 refide much in the houfe efcape this fcourge, and that it at- 

 tacks thofe only who are expofed to the open air in the fields 

 and meadows; that it chiefly affedls thofe parts which arc 

 n;iked or thinly covered, and that it appears moft frequently 

 in horfes in the belly, where the hair is thin ; that flieep, by 

 whole thick wool the difeafe feems, as it were, to be checked, 

 never fuffer from it, and that the fmoke of the fires which 

 the natives kindle, protects, in fome meafure, their cattle; we 

 fliall naturallv be led to conclude, when the fymptoms alfo are 

 taken into confideraiion, that fomething mull penetrate im- 

 perceptibly into the body from without, and by its poifonous 

 quality produce inflammatory tumours and ulcers. It is pro- 

 bable, alfo, that it is fomething endowed with life, which is 

 conveyed through the air to the mar(hy plains, where it at- 

 tacks animals, and forces its way into their flcfli. MiW. what- 

 ever 



