228 THE CONTAGIOUS TYPHUS 



On some of these the inoculation would have 

 been made near the tail, according to the sub- 

 cutaneous process, with a lancet charged with 

 typhic virus ; on others, a crucial incision, or 

 cross-cut, would have been made on the 

 crupper. But, to speak truth, we cannot do 

 better than Layard, whose ingenious treat- 

 ment, with all due deference to a certain 

 veterinarian of our day, deserves a very dif- 

 ferent epithet than that of being amusing.* 

 Layard says : 



" That nothing may be omitted which in any shape 

 can contribute to the success of inoculation, due attention 

 should be paid to the constitution and state of the beast, 



* " It is amusing to read authors of the last century on 

 the treatment of this disease. They were far more con- 

 fident in their powers than we helpless creatures pretend 

 to be. The directions given are full and distinct, and in 

 chapters boldly headed ' The Cure/ The beast is to be 

 bled, washed, and hot vinegar and water, with aromatic 

 herbs, may be placed in the stable to revive the cattle. 

 The animal must be rubbed a quarter of an hour, both 

 morning and evening, and the bags of a milch cow should 

 be anointed morning and evening with warm oil. A 

 rowel is to be made in the dewlap by taking a skein of 

 hemp, tow, or twisted packthread, a foot long, and as 

 thick as a man's thumb. The prescriptions are most 

 amusing. They may serve to entertain those who want 

 the cure at present, and for this reason I reproduce one 

 or two." Gamgee, Letter on 21st August. 



