History of Animal Plagues. i8i 



fill inundations which followed the cold, as well as from the 

 alarming spread of the human pestilence, we had still to learn 

 that it could strike yet greater terror through an unusual 

 epizootv in cattle. The first beginning or appearance of the 

 disease in Europe, arose in that part of Tartary which lies on the 

 borders of Asia; but whether it was originally generated in this 

 corner of Europe, or whether it was brought thence from Asia, 

 or yet whether perhaps it was an endemic disease, as the plague 

 of man is in Turkey and Egypt, I am unable to decide with so 

 much certainty. I content myself in remarking upon the com- 

 mencement of this epizooty in the year 1709, in the above-men- 

 tioned neighbourhoods. Although the accounts written at the 

 time, and from these places, were very sparing, especially as to 

 the numbers of those attacked by this disease, yet it seems that it 

 appeared first in Astrakan, on the banks of the Don, or Tanais, 

 and the Volga; from thence it spread to Kazan, in Lesser 

 Tartary, and even to Moscow, when it caused great ravages in 

 these governments among the horned and horse stock, but prin- 

 cipally the former. From the symptoms of the disease itself, one 

 learns at the time nothing, except that from the very first attack 

 it was highly contagious; that it affected large numbers of cattle, 

 and that very suddenly, killing them almost at once; and that 

 it spread itself quickly in many neighbourhoods. So well marked 

 were its characteristics, that its progress was easily noted. It 

 extended itself steadily, but uniformly, over many kingdoms 

 and lands during many years, even notwithstanding the best care 

 and tending, until at last in later times, and in enlightened 

 countries, attention was directed to the study of its nature 

 and symptoms.' ^ 



A.D. 1 7 10. The weather was generally fine and apparently 

 healthy. Dr Short, however, says that in October and November 

 great floods prevailed, that the winds were very variable, but 

 mostly south, and that 'the air was foggy, thick, moist, vapid, 

 often stagnant, long without sun, and very unhealthy in Carniola 

 and Augsburg/ ^ Sweating sickness in man at Copenhagen and 

 in Sweden, and pestilence in Lithuania. Eartlujuake at Stettin. 



* Kanold. Jahreshistoric, p. 17. ^ Dr Short. Op. cit. 



