History of Animal Plagues. 201 



feathers/ ^ This philosophic and far-seeing patriot gives us such 

 a high opinion of his wisdom and truthfuhiess in his work on 

 this plague, that we must quote more largely from it, in order 

 that we may satisfy ourselves how advanced were his opinions, 

 and what the adoption of them by his disciples of a later age 

 would have saved our own country in a similar emergency. As to 

 its being an imported disease, he had ho doubt whatever; Ille 

 fatalis, navi ex Hungarid advectus bos. As quickly as possible, 

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

 hibited, and the law enforced with the utmost rigour in the case 

 of those who moved cattle about. But the disease was still 

 raging; 'as a neglected spark at first, it had at length set Italy in 

 a blaze,^ and it was extending everywhere. Pope Clement, with 

 real paternal solicitude, awaited the result of Lancisi's inquiries, 

 and when the time came that the report was to be delivered, there 

 was an assembly of cardinals. Lancisi described the disease, 

 dwelt on its terrific character, and the hopelessness of medical 

 treatment, and then recommended what he deemed the wisest 

 course. ' I advised that every diseased animal should be 

 killed; for I maintained that, should they be left to a slow 

 death, the costs for medicines, veterinary surgeons, attendants, 

 and other means, would be very great ; and not only this, but 

 their very presence would assist in the diffusion of the contagion. 

 The Sacred College, however, ordained that this measure was 

 too severe, and that remedies should be tried ; and, in truth, 

 they were greatly influenced in this decision by the number of 

 people who pretended they had infallible cures for the affec- 

 tion. But the fact is,^ added the sagacious Lancisi, ' that in 

 the cattle, as in the human plague, not every one who takes the 

 disease dies of it. Some recover, thanks to Nature, rather than 

 to the remedies which are resorted to.' The attempts to cure 

 the disease only resulted in failure, and its indefinite extension. 

 Edicts were issued, forbidding the bringing of cattle from the 

 Campagna into the city district of Rome, under penalty of death 

 to a layman, and of the galleys for life to an ecclesiastic. The 



1 Lancisii. Dissertatio Ilistorica de Bovilla Pcste ex Campanix finibus, anno 

 1 713. Rome, 17 15. 



