vi Preface. 



Governments. In this respect Britain differs widely, and not to her 

 advantage, from the smallest European state. 



These researches into the history of animal pestilences were under- 

 taken with the view of showing what an interesting and important study 

 we had neglected, — a study in which the comparative pathologist, phy- 

 sician, general historian, agriculturist, or statesman will find much 

 material for reflection. 



Though so long ago as 1775, Paulet published his classical work, 

 ' Recherches sur les Maladies Epizootiques,' which was translated into 

 Italian by Lotti in 1785, and into German by Rumpelt in 17765 and 

 though this was followed by similar treatises by Adami (' Beitrage zur 

 Geschichte der Viehseuchen.' Wien, 1781), Laubender (' Seuchen- 

 geschichte der Landwirthschaftlichen Hausthiere.' Munchen, 181 1), 

 Guersent (' Epizootie,' in the Dictionnaire des Sciences Medicales, 1815), 

 Metaxa (' Delle Malattie Contagiose ed Epizootiche. Roma, 181 7), 

 Dupuy (' Traite Historique et Pratique sur les Maladies Epizootiques.' 

 Paris, 1837), Bottani ('Delia Epizobzie del Veneto Dominio.' Venezia, 

 1 8 19), Franque ('Geschichte der Hausthierseuchen.' Frankfort, 1834), 

 Wirth (' Lehrbuch der Seuchen und ansteckenden Krankheiten der 

 Hausthiere.' Zurich, 1 146), Heusinger ('Recherches de Pathologic Com- 

 paree.' Cassel, 1853), and several other continental writers — all more 

 or less incomplete, — yet, for the reasons before mentioned, no attempt 

 has yet been made in this country to trace the history of these diseases, 

 or to afford an indication of the sources from whence such a history was 

 to be derived. It is therefore with diffidence that I venture to offer 

 this history of British and foreign epizootics from the earliest recorded 

 events of that kind up to recent times. For professional reasons, my 

 opportunities for research have been few, else this contribution to the 

 literature of the subject would undoubtedly have claimed more pre- 

 tensions to accuracy and completeness. Nevertheless, no pains have 

 been spared to make it what I intended it should be. The collection of 

 materials for such a work was no easy task, the references to animal dis- 

 eases of a general character in the early ages being only found in 

 books which treat also of other matters, and are often very rare. 

 From these and other causes I feel conscious that the result of my 

 labours must be somewhat incomplete and unsatisfactory. 



