204 ' History of Animal Plagues. 



Lancisi believed that the virus obtained access to the body by the 

 air passages and the stomach. 



We have already seen what his preventive measures were; 

 but_, he asks, what should we do for its cure? ' My opinion is 

 this (setting aside the prevention of its contagion, which, me- 

 hercules ! I would say, is the most excellent and only mode of 

 averting the disease), that we must endeavour to preserve the 

 oxen from beinff infected, by giving them proper diet; and that 

 when they are infected, the only thing which can save them from 

 death is still a proper diet. Hitherto the disease has eluded all 

 the powers of pharmacy ; and experience has shown, that 

 nothing avails more than a sparing diet. Applications of vine- 

 gar, oil, &c., may be used to the tongue, palate, &c. But as to 

 venesection and violent remedies, they are always hurtful in con- 

 tagious diseases; and the sentence of Hippocrates may be here 

 well called to mind : " So act that if you do no good, you at 

 least may do no harm." I think it is well posterity should know 

 that, of all the many and powerful remedies tried during the 

 pestilence, none has been found which will bear the name of a 

 proper or specific remedy.' He tells us what modes of treat- 

 ment were generally adopted ; how purgation and bleeding only 

 hastened the approach of death, but that acids, mixed with 

 aromatic substances, soothed the inflammation in the mouth. 

 The inhabitants of Mantua and Venice made much use of sul- 

 phur, of onions, and of juniper-berries, but, he adds, 'As for 

 our experience at Rome, I must confess that we met with no 

 remedy which could be called true, sure, or sound and specific. 

 Many we found useless; many hurtful; and some few seemed 

 useful.' Some success from his prescribed treatment (giving 

 good food in small quantities at frequent intervals, and washing 

 out the mouth with a mixture of garlic, sulphur, vinegar, and 

 common oil) was supposed to have occurred in the Ecclesiast- 

 ical States and in Tuscany. As topical agents to be employed in 

 anticipation of an attack, he recommended setons and caustics 

 to be used in the neck, shoulders, and thighs, in order, as he 

 says, to give issue to the virulent matter in a direct manner. One 

 of his chapters is headed thus : ' The only sure Remedy for 

 Warding-off the Pestilence is to prevent all Intercourse of 



