262 THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



"Some cunning hucksters, who had cows 

 Old, dry, and lean, not worth a souse, 

 Though sound in health, but scarce deserving 

 Of pasture, to prevent their starving, 

 They wisely knocked 'em on the head 

 By night, when neighbors were in bed. 

 Next day assigned their extirpation 

 To this new fatal visitation : 

 So bore 'em to some distant pit 

 Or ditch, for such a purpose fit ; 

 There, to the terror of the isle, 

 Consumed 'em in their funeral pile. 

 Then like true hypocrites, put on 

 A mournful look, as if undone, 

 And claimed the sum of forty shilling 

 For every cow of heaven's killing — 

 A generous bounty, that destroyed 

 More cattle than the plague annoyed." 



