^^2. History of A^iinial Plagues. 



effects, and the great inconveniences to particulars it may produce, it is 

 less proper and expedient in this intention, because there is another 

 method by which the same end may be answered in a much more easy 

 and effectual manner. The method I mean is the cleansing the beasts 

 by artificial means, which should always be practised where there is 

 the least danger of their transmitting the contagion from those infected 

 to the sound without having taken the disease themselves. This may 

 be commodiously and efficaciously performed by scouring the skins of 

 the suspected beasts by a proper brush with fine sand and water, and 

 afterwards thoroughly washing off the remainder of what may adhere 

 by water and a mop. By these means the skin of any beast will be 

 more perfectly freed from infectious matter that was lodged in it than 

 by the accidental wearing off^ in a very long space of time ; and if it be 

 duly executed there can be no reason to put the sale of cattle under 

 any restriction on this score. The practice of it should, however, be 

 strictly enjoined by authority, if the time of restriction of sale be reduced 

 as proposed, and the performance of it should be also made a part of 

 the matter of certification. 



As twelve days appear, from the above-given reasons, to be fully 

 sufficient to show that beasts have not received the infection before, 

 and as the keeping them much longer is not so effectual a means of 

 taking away the hazard of their transmitting the disease by contagious 

 matter adhering to their skin as artificial cleansing, the term of forty 

 days' restriction from sale ought most evidently to be changed to that 

 of twelve days, which saves more than two-thirds of the time. This 

 shortening the term will be found a matter of very great moment, if 

 ever the occasion 'for such a restriction shall again offer. The great 

 inconveniences and embarrassments that would attend the obligation to 

 keep cattle, however detrimentally to the owner, for so long a time as 

 forty days, would, if it were largely extended, besides the injuring in- 

 dividuals, conduce, along with the other necessary regulations respect- 

 ing the removal of cattle, to the causing a scarcity of them in the 

 London markets, and others which are supplied from distant places. 

 But, what is of still greater consequence, the loss and trouble that would 

 result from it to individuals in some cases would furnish such motives 

 for a non-compliance with the injunction as would in all probability 

 defeat the intention of it. It therefore highly merits the consideration 

 of those on whom the direction of this matter depends, to weigh well the 

 premises, for a few failures of obedience to the Orders of Council respect- 

 ing this restriction may render them wholly ineffectual.' There is no 



^ It may be speciously said that in a case of so much moment as the prevention 



