History of Animal Plagues. 321 



would deter any persons from venturing on so dangerous a trade ; whence 

 the pubHc distress would be greatly enhanced by the scarcity of all cattle 

 thus occasioned. 



' We may, on the whole, conclude that no general effectual aid is to 

 be obtained against the murrain, in a preventive intention, by medicinal 

 means. For such as might avail to a certain degree in nature are ren- 

 dered impracticable from economical reasons. Whatever is done of this 

 kind to answer any real purpose, must be extended to all the cattle in 

 every stock, at least, where there are not very particular signs of strength, 

 which will be found only in few. It must also be continued, or at 

 least renewed at short intervals, during the whole time the infection is 

 in the neighbourhood, as no foresight can point out what accident may 

 convey it to the beasts. This must cause much expense in the pur- 

 chase of the medicines, and constant trouble in the administration, 

 which is in fact equal to expense. Professor Camper says, nevertheless, 

 that nothing affords a greater prospect of success than preparing the 

 humours, while the cattle are yet in health, as the contagion approaches. 

 But he seems aware, however, that the medicine which could be most 

 depended upon for this purpose, the Peruvian bark, would be too dear 

 to be administered in that profusion which is necessary 3 and therefore 

 he proposes the finding some substitute for it, intimating that he con- 

 siders the willow bark as such. But, unhappily, it is well known that 

 neither the willow bark nor any other hitherto discovered simple is an 

 adequate substitute for the Peruvian bark, and, though they have a de- 

 gree of the same power, and may be joined with it to make some sav- 

 ing of the quantity, yet, given alone, they are not to be depended upon 

 and deemed equal to the intention. The expense of the Peruvian bark, 

 or of strong fermented liquors or cordials, the only efficacious means of 

 invigorating and keeping up the sanative strength of the beasts, would 

 be apparently more burthensome to the proprietors of cattle than that 

 of replacing such of them as might be carried off by the disease. Since 

 to put a large herd of cattle under a medicinal regimen, and continue 

 it so t(;r a long time, would most obviously be attended with a certain 

 great loss for the precarious chance of avoiding another loss that, at 

 worst, could not be ecjual to it, nor possibly incurred at all, and would 

 therefore be neither advantageous, nor in general jiracticable, as many 

 proprietors of cattle could not rind resources for making so considerable 

 a disbursement. 



' The remedies which have been tried for the cure of the murrain 

 have been in general as inetficacious and absurd as those employed for 

 its prevention ; and though some few have been better chosen with re- 

 sipect to the intention, yet they never appear to have been well used as 



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