402 History of Animal Plagues. 



water, where they were easily captured. Their gills were pale, 

 and the flesh of those which were cut up was of the same colour. 

 This epizooty may have occurred oftener than once without at- 

 tracting much attention. It was manifested at the end of the 

 summer over a space of from four to five leagues from HofFot, in 

 Auge, to Froarn, and exclusively below that village; there were 

 found dead salmon here and there, as well as pike, and the banks 

 of the river were covered with plaice and other fish. It was easy 

 to find the cause of this mortality in the bad quality of the water, 

 which, after having lain stagnant in the neighbouring marshes, 

 and having become corrupted, communicated its bad qualities to 

 that in the river. For it is worthy of remark, that this diseased 

 condition of the fish only takes place in those years when, in the 

 month of August, there are abundant showers, and when the 

 superabundance of water causes the Dive to overflow its banks. 

 In addition to this, the surface of the adjoining prairies is very 

 low, so that when they are flooded the plants growing on them 

 become macerated, and the heat of the season adds to these cir- 

 cumstances a new intensity ; it is not to be wondered at, then, 

 that this putrid liquid should communicate to the waters of this 

 river unhealthy qualities when it begins to flow back to its original 

 channel, and render them so poisonous as to occasion the death 

 of the fish.^ ^ 



In Switzerland, an epizootic disease of a carbuncular nature 

 appeared amongst cattle and horses, and which the people termed 

 'Louvet' or 'Lovet.' It caused much loss. Whenever an ox 

 was seized with the disease it lost its strength, began to tremble 

 and lie down, not seeking to rise but very rarely. The head 

 was carried low, and the ears were pendulous ; there was great 

 dulness; the eyes were red and tearful; the skin hot and dry; 

 respiration was quickened and difficult, accompanied with heav- 

 ing at the flanks when the disease had made considerable pro- 

 o-ress ; there was a frequent cough ; the pulse accelerated and 

 strong; the breath fetid ; the tongue and the palate arid and in 

 the latter stages black ; the thirst considerable. Cessation of the 

 appetite and of rumination : the urine scant, and when passed, 



1 Adam ; Chabert, &c. Instructions and Observations, vol. iii. p. 331. 



