440 History of Animal Plagties. 



until they go into the eountry, and particularly to damp regions, 

 and the majority of animals are attacked at pasture. During the 

 expeditions of the Russian troops against the Kirghis, it was dis- 

 covered that in the low-lying deserts where lakes were, the disease 

 lasted nearly the whole period of the summer heat. The day 

 after passing through one of these places a number of horses 

 were certain to die of the epizooty, and then the whole began to 

 experience its cruel effects. Pallas thought the epidemy reigning 

 in winter in many places was a different one; it manifested itself 

 by boils and ulcers in man and animals. He saw a disease of 

 this kind near the Irtisch, in winter. The people called it the 

 Moravaia-Yasva, or plague; but it was only a gangrenous esqui- 

 nancy. 



He imagined the principal cause of the plague was due to an 

 insect flying in the air, and probably imperceptible to the eye. 

 The disease attacked, by preference, men^ horses, oxen, and cows, 

 — sheep being safe, owing to the thickness of their wool. There 

 were countries which, though near those most visited by the 

 scourge, yet escape; they owed this immunity to the purity of the 

 soil. It is rare that a year passes without an invasion on the 

 Trtisch ; whereas at Barabin, near Bourla, about a hundred versts 

 from that river, it has never been seen, owing to its fresh air. 

 All the horses from the fortresses are sent here to pasture. The 

 symptoms were better noted in man than in animals. The dis- 

 ease showed itself, all at once, in the healthiest subjects of all ages, 

 and of either sex. At first the skin became slightly reddened, 

 and then appeared a small, inflamed, hard pimple, as if produced 

 by the sting of a gadfly. These tumours appeared on covered, as 

 w^ell as uncovered parts, but most usually on the face in man, and 

 the flanks and bellies of animals. They increased in size and 

 hardness with remarkable rapidity, and in such a manner that a 

 needle might be buried in the swollen part without any pain being 

 felt. Externally, there was seen in the centre of the tumour a red 

 or bluish spot, similar to that produced by the sting of an insect. 

 If a remedy was not promptly applied, gangrene set in, and much 

 injury resulted. Animals usually died, because the people were 

 careless, and the tumour vvas late in making its appearance; but 

 people, in consequence of timely treatment, nearly always re- 



