21 8 History of Animal Plagties. 



the three persons where this disease first appeared, had the New 

 River water running through the very grounds where their cows 

 constantly grazed, and could drink at their pleasure, and so had 

 most of the cow-keepers at Islington. 



' There were at that time several other reports of the cause of 

 this disease, but none that had a show of reason. 



' About the latter end of September the disease increased, and 

 the numbers brought to be burnt were so great that it could not 

 be well executed; therefore it was judged proper only to bury 

 them fifteen or twenty feet deep, but first to make large incisions 

 in the most fleshy parts, and to cover them with quick-lime. 



'^ At the same time, having notice that it was a custom with 

 the cow-keepers to send their calves, when a week old, to Rum- 

 ford, &c., to be sold ; and apprehending by this means that the 

 contagion might be carried into the country, I required all such 

 as had sick cows to bring their calves to be buried, to which they 

 readily consented, and were allowed from five to ten shillings 

 per calf. 



' In the beginning of October, being informed that some of 

 the cows in Norfolk, Sufl^blk, and Hertfordshire had got this dis- 

 ease, and apprehending that it would become general, I gave in 

 the following report to a committee of council : '^The distemper 

 among the cattle increasing, and beginning to appear in several 

 other counties, I thought it my duty to acquaint your lordships 

 with the hazard that may attend their not being duly buried. 

 It is the opinion of all authors in physic that treat of contagious 

 diseases, as well as of several of the physicians in town, that the 

 putrefaction of so many cows as there is reason to fear will die 

 of this distemper, may produce some contagious disease among 

 men, unless they are buried so deep that the infectious effluvia 

 cannot injure the air, which I am certain has very seldom been 

 complied with except in the counties of Middlesex, Essex, and 

 Surrey, the gentlemen employed being capable of acting in 

 those counties only. It is affirmed by several now living that 

 there was a mortality among the cattle a little before the 

 last great plague in the year 1665,* which was imputed to 



' Mr Bates evidently refers to the great destruction of cattle and sheep caused 

 by 'rot ' in 1663. 



