NOVEMBER 393 



reduced to absolute starvation by its onslaught, and even the 

 buffalo were practically exterminated it passed southward. Last 

 year, however, unhappily it was re-introduced by some infected 

 oxen that were driven from the coast, and again killed off many 

 thousands of cattle which had been bred up since the first pest. 

 Mr. Jackson himself, who was living in the Mau district, possessed 

 a herd of two hundred and fifty cows. The disease smote them, 

 and, when it left, but twenty-five remained alive. 



It is now so long since we have had rinderpest in England 1 

 that a description of its symptoms may be of value. They are 

 at any rate in East Africa dry nose, with loss of cud and ulcerated 

 gums, while post-mortem examination reveals inflamed and 

 ulcerated intestines, and a gall bladder swollen to the size of a 

 soda-water bottle, although the lungs appear to be quite healthy. 

 This sickness does its work very quickly. In the morning 

 the animal to all appearance will be in a state of perfect health 

 and grazing as usual, indeed the stomach is generally found to be 



1 In the last century this or some similar disease seems to have ravaged 

 England very sorely, as is testified by the following petition which I have dis- 

 covered on a loose printed sheet in the leaves of a family Prayer Book bearing 

 date 1743. 



A PRAYER to be ufed Every Day immediately after the Prayer \JVte humbly beftcck 

 the, &c.] in the Litany j or when that is not ufed, after the Prayer, Fcr the 

 Clergy and People. 



Gracious God, who in thy grrat Bounty to Mankind haft given them the 

 Eeafts of the Field for their Provifion and Nourifhment continue to us, we 

 humbly befeech thee, this Blefling, and fufier us not to be reduced to 

 Scarcity and Diftiefs by the contajious Diftemper, which has raged, and ftill rages, 

 among the Cattle in many Parts of this King.lcm. In this and all other thy dif- 

 penfations towards us, we fee and adore the Juftice of thy Providence, and do with 

 forrowful and penitent Hearts Confefs, that our manifold Vices and Impieties have 

 defervedly provoked thine Anger and Indignation againft us. But we earneftly 

 intreat thee Almighty Father, in this our calamitious State, to look down upon us 

 with an Eye of Pity and Compafliion ; and if it be thy Blefled Will, to fjrbid the 

 fpreaJing ol this fore Vifitation, and in thy good time to remove it from all the 

 Inhabitants of this Land, for the fake of thy Mercies in Chrift Jefus our only Saviour 

 and Redeemer. Amen 



