8o Histojy of Animal Plagues. 



A.D. 1277. ' In this year scab in sheep reigned throughout the 

 whole of Eno-land. It was commonly termed " clausick/' ^ 

 and by it all the sheep in the country were infected. A certain 

 ointment composed of quicksilver and pork fat was found to be 

 a good remedy/ ^ 



This epizooty among sheep deserves most particular notice 

 for the following reasons. Stow plainly mentions it as an im- 

 ported disease, and terms it rot. Other authors term it scabies, 

 and one mentions what would no doubt have been a very effect- 

 ive remedy for that affection — lard and mercury. Now, the rot 

 of the present day is not contagious or infectious ; therefore the 

 Spanish sheep could not have contaminated others. The ' scab ' 

 certainly is contagious, but.Stow^ one would think, would not 

 have designated the malady as rot when the other term was com- 

 monly used. Therefore I think it is most probable that two con- 

 tagious diseases were introduced into England in these years : — 

 the one scabies, and the other ovine small-pox. The most dili- 

 gent search through the most likely Annals of these and the 



1 This is the first time I find the term clausick employed to designate a dis- 

 ease. It is evidently derived from the Celtic word clawr, clefre, or claiiri, to 

 claw or scratch, as in the itch ; and the Anglo-Saxon word sioc, siec, to be sick or 

 unwell. The name is a new one, and was evidently looked upon as such by the 

 historian. A portion of this history of the supposed first invasion of 'variola ovina ' 

 in Britain was published in the VeterinaHan for May, 1867, and appeared soon 

 alter in the Aimales Veteritiaires of Brussels, having been translated by Veterinary 

 Surgeon Dele, of Antwerp. This gentleman, in a note, offers the following opinion 

 as to 'clausick.' 'The word clausick has a striking resemblance to the German 

 word klauaiseuche, and the Dutch word klaainuziekte, which signifies disease of the 

 claw or hoof. The affection mentioned by Mr Fleming may, then, be a conta- 

 gious disease of the hoof, rather than the scab. There can be no doubt as to 

 the meaning of the English term sick, derived from the Anglo-Saxon sioc, siec, 

 which corresponds to the German word scuche, and the Dutch zickte, that is to say, 

 diseased. With regard to the word cla"v, which Mr Fleming says comes from the 

 Celtic clawr, clefre, clauri, and which he translates as to scratch, its analogy with the 

 German word klau, and the Dutch word klaauw (nail, hoof, claw, talon) is perfect. 

 There is as much reason to suppose that the word clausick was applied to a 

 disease of the hoof as to one in which the foot was used to scratch the itching skin.' 

 I think M. Dele is not quite correct in supposing that this can be a hoof disease 

 instead of scab. The meaning of the word, as applied in this instance, is undoubt- 

 edly to tear with the nails or claws : to tear or scratch in general. I am not aware 

 that any contagious foot disease was known in sheep at this early period. Besides, 

 here we have distinct evidence of the nature of the malady in the success of the 

 remedv — mercury and lard. 



^ Wavcrly Annals, vol. ii. p. 233. 



