THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 213 



men describe, they also made most careful observations as to the 

 manner in which these pests extended, and elucidated means of 

 prevention entirely applicable to our day, and which had we, in this 

 country, sense enough to study and follow, would save us untold 

 millions in the future. So true are the descriptions given by these 

 men, so far-seeing the instructions they give for prevention, that I 

 feel myself impelled to give them here. 



Speaking of the animal pest which devastated Europe in the 

 eighteenth century, Fleming says : " The cattle-plague — rinderpest 

 —continued its ravages in all the countries named in the preceding 

 year (1712). In Russia, it had enlarged its boundaries. In Ger- 

 many, it was reported at various places. It was still spreading in 

 Switzerland ; but in Holland its violence was excessive ; it was said 

 that there alone, between 1713 and 1723, it destroyed two hundred 

 thousand cattle. In Italy it was steadily marching on, and causing 

 havoc on all sides. In Naples, Calabria, and Romagna, its advances 

 were causing the utmost apprehension and fear. The learned doc- 

 tor and physician of Pope Clement XI, Giovanni Lancisi, was sent 

 to investigate the nature and prescribe measures for the suppression 

 of the pest. To the ability of this man, while obeying his instruc- 

 tions, we are much indebted for an accurate description of the symp- 

 toms and post-mortem appearances of the malady, as manifested in 

 that part of the Roman dominions. His report is as follows : ' In 

 the middle of the summer of 1713 there was a rumor at Rome that 

 a large number of infected oxen from districts on the Mediterranean 

 were being driven from the market of Frusinoso to us ; wherefore 

 it was wisely decreed that no markets should be held, or any cattle 

 be driven into the place. But merchants introduced oxen into the 

 city secretly by by-ivays, because their hopes of selling them publicly 

 had been frustrated / and these, being driven about in all directions, 

 and becoming mixed with our hitherto healthy stock, spread abroad 

 the disease. For, when foreign merchants had doubtful or suspi- 

 cious cattle, which they could not sell in their own country, they 

 brought them to Rome surreptitiously, and sold them for less than 

 the usual p)r ice? " * 



This philosopher and far-seeing patriot gives us such a high 

 opinion of his wisdom and truthfulness in his work on this plague, 

 that we must quote more largely from his report. He had no doubt 

 whatever as to its being an imported disease. As quickly as pos- 

 sible, when its presence was discovered, all traffic in cattle was to be 

 prohibited, and the law enforced with the utmost rigor in the case of 

 * Fleming, " History of Animal Plagues," p. 198. 



