THE HISTORY OF VETKRI.VARY MEDICLNE. 243 



men describe, tliey also made most careful observations as to the 

 manner in which these pests extended, and elucidated means of 

 prevention entirely applicable to our day, and which had we, in this 

 country, sense enough to study and follow, would save us untold 

 millions in the future. So true are the descriptions given by these 

 men, so far-seeing the instructions they give for prevention, that I 

 feel myself impelled to give them here. 



Speaking of the animal pest which devastated Europe in the 

 eighteenth century, Fleming says : " The cattle-plague — rinderpest 

 — continued its ravages in all the countries named in the preceding 

 year (1712). In Knssia, it had enlarged its boundaries. In Ger- 

 many, it was reported at various places. It was still spreading in 

 Switzerland ; but in Holland its violence was excessive; it was said 

 tluit there alone, between 1713 and 1723, it destroyed two hundred 

 thousand cattle. In Italy it was steadily marching on, and causing 

 havoc on all sides. In Naples, Calabria, and liomagna, its advances 

 were causing the utmost apprehension and fear. The learned doc- 

 tor and j)hysician of Pojie Clement XI, Giovanni Lancisi, was sent 

 to investigate the nature and prescribe measures for the suppression 

 of the pest. To the ability of this man, while obeying his instruc- 

 tions, we are much indebted for an accurate description of the symp- 

 toms and posi-mortciii appearances of the malady, as manifested in 

 that part of the Roman dominions. His report is as follows : ' In 

 the middle of the summer of 1713 there was a rumor at Rome that 

 a large number of infected oxen from districts on the Mediterranean 

 were being driven from the market of Frusinoso to us ; wherefore 

 it was wisely decreed that no markets should be held, or any cattle 

 be driven into the place. But merchants introduced oxen into the 

 city S'Crithj h>j hij-icays^ hecause their Iwpes of selling thnn publicly 

 hadhein frustrated ; and these ^ heiny driven ahout in all directions^ 

 and l>€coming mixed with our hitherto healthy stock, spread ahroad 

 the disease. For, ichen foreign merchants had doubtful or suspi- 

 cious cattle, which they could not sell in their own country, they 

 brought them to Home surreptitiously, and sold them for less tfian 

 the usual price."* " * 



This pliilosopher and far-seeing jiatriot gives us such a high 

 opinion of his wisdom and truthfulness in his work on this plague, 

 that we nuist quote more largely from his report, lie had no doubt 

 whatever as to its being an inijiorted disease. As (piic-kly as pos- 

 sible, when its presence was discovered, all traffic in cattle was to be 

 prohibited, and the law enforced with the utmost rigor in the case of 

 * Fleming, "History of .\nimal Plagues," p. 198. 



