244r THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



those who moved cattle about. But the disease was still raging ; " as 

 a neglected spark at first, it had at length set Italy in a blaze," and 

 was extending everywhere. Lancisi described the disease, dwelt on 

 its terrific character and the hopelessness of medical treatment, and 

 then recommended what he deemed the wisest course. " I advised 

 that every diseased animal should be killed ; for, I maintained that, 

 should they be left to a slow death, the cost of medicines, veterinary 

 surgeons, attendants, and other means, would be very great, and not 

 only this, but their very presence would assist in the diffusion of the 

 contagion. The Sacred College, however, ordained that this meas- 

 ure was too severe, and that remedies should be tried ; and, in truth, 

 they were greatly influenced in this decision by the number of people 

 who pretended that they had infallible cures for the affection. But 

 the fact is," added Lancisi, " that in the cattle, as in the human 

 plague, not every one who takes the disease dies of it. Some re- 

 cover, thanks to Nature, rather than to the remedies which are re- 

 sorted to." The attempts to cure the disease only resulted in failure, 

 and its indefinite extension. Edicts were issued, forbidding the 

 bringing of cattle from the Campagna into the district of Rome, 

 under the penalty of death to a layman, and of the galleys for life 

 to an ecclesiastic. The sale of hides was interdicted, and the flesh, 

 horns, and fat of the animals were ordered to be buried in deep pits 

 and covered with quicklime. Measures were taken to prevent the 

 sale of diseased meats. Inspectors were appointed to visit the mar- 

 kets, and only those pieces of flesh which were stamped with a hot 

 iron by the inspector were allowed to be sold. Skinning the dead 

 carcasses was forbidden, as it might lead to the further extension of 

 the disease. The severity of the edicts was complained of; " but it 

 is a fact," he adds, " that here, where the laws were strictly enforced, 

 the plague was arrested much sooner than in other parts of Italy." 



The various edicts issued by the Sacred College are given at 

 length by Lancisi. He thinks " they will be of great service to pos- 

 terity if a similar misfortune should ever again, happen — which may 

 Heaven avert ! " 



Posterity has heedlessly passed them by many and many times, 

 and has consequently paid the penalties of its neglect. 



The last chapter of this invaluable work sums up his admirable 

 reflections upon this disease : " The steps which a wise government 

 should instantly take, whenever the pestilence may again appear 

 upon our borders, are these : all roads and by-paths should be care- 

 fully guarded, so that no ox or clog be allowed to enter the country. 

 Any animal so entering should be forthwith destroyed and buried. 



