152 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATTLE PLAGUE IN BRITAIN. 



In 1348-9 a plague or murrain broke out amongst the cattle 

 in England. It appeared just after the black death had de- 

 stroyed thousands of human beings, and seemed to be similar to 

 the cattle plague. Dr. Fleming, in his work on the History of 

 Animal Flagucs, gives much interesting information upon the 

 subject. The importance of the "stamping out "system seemed to 

 be comprehended in those days. The diseased cattle were slaugh- 

 tered, and infected herds were as much as possible separated 

 from those which were sound, while the herdsmen who attended 

 the former were not allowed to come in contact with the latter. 

 In 1480 another outbreak of disease (murrain) took place, and 

 committed great devastation. There are, however, no accurate 

 accounts of the symptoms, &c. of these diseases. It is there- 

 fore impossible for any one to state that they were identical 

 with cattle plague; but there is every reason to believe that 

 the outbreak occurring iu 1715, which renewed its attack in 

 1745, and remained here till 1757, was the same as the plague 

 of 1865. 



The plague of 1745 was brought to this country by two white 

 calves imported from Holland by a farmer living near Poplar. 

 Another account states that it was brought here by a tanner, who 

 bought a parcel of distempered hides at Zealand. It appears 

 these hides had been forbidden to be sold there, and were ordered 

 to be destroyed. Both accounts state that the disease broke out 

 near London, and that it continued to ravage the herds for twelve 

 years, and was only suppressed by vigorous measures being taken 

 by local and other authorities. 



It is curious to note that the local authorities of those days 

 were very similar to those of the present time. In the First 

 Eeport of the Cattle Plague Commissioners, 1865, it is stated 

 that in 1747 various orders were issued stopping local fairs, 

 and empowering local authorities to do so when they found it 

 expedient. 



" The plague, in consequence of these orders, was extinguished 

 where the local authorities acted with vigour, but lingered in 

 other places, from whence it spread after a time as rapidly as 

 ever." When the history of the present epizootics — pleuro- 

 pneumonia and the foot-and-mouth disease — comes to be written. 



