3S^ 



History of Animal Plagues. 



' It appears from the finance accounts that the province of Holland, 

 if the two divisions of north and south, from the separate lists of which 

 this account is formed, be taken together, may, as was before intimated, 

 be considered as one-half of the Seven United Provinces, at least with 

 respect to the cattle. So that if we admit the supposition, for which 

 there is good ground, that the ravage made by the murrain was nearly 

 the same in the other six provinces as in that, we may conclude that 

 the loss of cattle destroyed by it in the whole was not less, in one year 

 commencing April ist, 1769, and ending March 31st, 1770, than three 

 hundred and eighteen thousand beasts. And there is little room to 

 hope from appearances that the disease will be less violent this year 

 than it was the last. 



' If we reflect that this immense loss is, in some degree, annual at 

 present in the United Provinces, we cannot but deem the being 

 afflicted with the murrain a most deplorable calamity, and this uncom- 

 monly strong prevalence of the contagion there ought to be equally an 

 object of our dread as of our compassion. It shows a very great pre- 

 disposition in the cattle to be affected by this disease j and that predis- 

 position is owing to causes which, from their very nature, are extended 

 over all the neighbouring countries in some proportion, as is further 



not one-sixth part of that of either of the two preceding months, nor consequently 

 in the proportion of so much as one-hundredth part of those of the winter season; 

 the number which died were, nevertheless, still more in proportion than in two pre- 

 ceding months. This evinces that the heat of the weather, though favourable to 

 the beasts in health as to preserving them from infection, was injurious to those 

 whose weakness made them take it, which may be easily accounted for from the 

 greater tendency that the animal fluids have to putrefy in hot seasons. Whence it 

 may be inferred that it is not a greater disposition in the humours to putrefy inde- 

 pendent of weakness, which causes the susceptibility of infection, but weakness 

 only ; and that, therefore, unless the degree of this disposition be such as induces 

 weakness, it does not contribute to the recejition of the contagion, though to its 

 stronger operation when received. This confirms what I have above advanced, 

 that putrescence has not primarily any concern in the cause of the murrain, but in 

 the consequences of it ; as, being either before subsisting or produced by the opera- 

 tion of the infection, it aggravates the fatal effects as a secondary cause. 



