158 Epidemics. 



late years, especially in its preliminary form of con- 

 gestion of the lungs ; whilst, on the other hand, the intense 

 outbreak of small-pox in 1870, which but for vaccination 

 would have been most fatal and extensive, was preceded by 

 rinderpest in cattle, a disease the destructiveness of which 

 was brought to a stand-still by that most perfect of all 

 modes of isolation, burial a method scarcely practical in 

 its application to man. Just think how the world would be 

 turned upside down if, to stamp out small-pox or scarlet 

 fever, a common receptacle was prepared, and the infected 

 were shot and buried, to check the spread of infection!!* 



The possibility by isolation of stamping out infection in 

 the genus homo is entirely impossible. The virulence may 

 be mitigated, and in a measure limited ; but, from civiliza- 

 tion being a complete network of intercommunication in 

 its most varied forms, the subtlety of infection must gain 

 vent in some form or other. If it be limited to the chimney 

 top, even there it would get a vent equal to a letter ; and 

 from thence infection would kindly shed its domestic favours 

 upon some unsuspecting but highly susceptible object of its 

 care and watchful solicitation. 



But, whilst reflecting upon epidemics, it is interesting to 

 observe how the principle of isolation applies itself to 

 species, or a special class or order of life. Infection itself 

 spreads from like to like, man to man, and cattle to 

 cattle. Certain it is that such diseases as glanders pass from 

 horses to man, and rinderpest from cattle to sheep, and 

 hydrophobia from dogs and wolves to man; but its extension 

 from the prime source to a second order or species of animal 

 life checks its procreative properties, and so a limit in 

 extension is effected. 



Hence in all epidemics limitation of the vital force is 



* See the several Reports upon the Origin and Nature of Cattle Plague 

 in 1866, presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her 

 Majesty. 



