362 ANIMALS OF THE 



ing, stand still and chew the cud. They are also 

 troubled with a vertigo, like the elk, and turn 

 round often till they die. The Laplander judges 

 of their state by the manner of their turning : if 

 they turn to the right, he judges their disorder 

 but slight ; if they turn to the left, he deems it 

 incurable. The rein-deer are also subject to 

 ulcers near the hoof, which unqualifies them for 

 travelling, or keeping with the herd. But the 

 most fatal disorder of all is that which the natives 

 call the suddataka, which attacks this animal at all 

 seasons of the year. The instant it is seized with 

 this disease, it begins to breathe with great diffi- 

 culty, its eyes begin to stare, and its nostrils to 

 expand. It acquires also an unusual degree of 

 ferocity, and attacks all it meets indiscriminately. 

 Still, however, it continues to feed as if in health, 

 but is not seen to chew the cud, and it lies down 

 more frequently than before. In this manner it 

 continues, every day consuming, and growing 

 more lean, till at last it dies from mere inanition ; 

 and not one of those that are attacked with this 

 disorder are ever found to recover. Notwith- 

 standing, it is but very lately known in that part 

 of the world, although during the last ten or fif- 

 teen years it has spoiled whole provinces of this 

 necessary creature. It is contagious ; and the 

 moment the Laplander perceives any of his herd 

 infected, he hastens to kill them immediately, be- 

 fore it spreads any farther. When examined in- 

 ternally, there is a frothy substance found in the 

 brain, and round the lungs, the intestines are lax 

 and flabby, and the spleen is diminished almost to 



