Hisiory of Animal Plag^ics. 455 



little for the welfare of the people, and in which the people have 

 no confidence in the administration. The poor people of a 

 country, despairing of being aided by the government, conceal 

 with extreme care the existence of the contagion; to evade more 

 onerous consequences, they even inter the cattle in their stables, 

 and it is very natural that they should endeavour to sell at a 

 modest price those beasts which incur great danger to their 

 nei2;hbours. In the countries where the ruler has a paternal feel- 

 ing for his subjects, where he is always disposed to soften their 

 losses, where he generously takes into account the expenses 

 necessarily attending precautions, and where he gains the con- 

 fidence of the people, the inhabitants at once denounce the dis- 

 ease, submit to the necessary restrictions, and rely on the wisdom 

 of their king for their preservation, and the amelioration of their 

 hardships. A wise government ought to prevent the contagion, 

 and not wait until it has invaded the country, but check it at its 

 frontiers, where it is easy to do so. The police ought, then, even 

 in times of the greatest apparent security, to take care that no 

 animal shall become diseased without responsible people being- 

 informed. Even in ordinary times every animal purchased or 

 sold ought to be vouched for, and should be marked on the horn 

 with a particular stamp for each village, which mark ought to be 

 renewed whenever it becomes effaced ; so that, by this proof, we 

 may know what village it comes from, and assure ourselves of the 

 health of that village. For the same reasons, no cattle should 

 be admitted to fairs or markets, sold or exchanged, without a 

 voucher being given of perfect health, impressed and signed by 

 the authorities, testifying to the health of the animals and that 

 of the place from whence they have come. For this purpose in- 

 spectors are necessary. They should destroy cattle which are 

 brought without attestations, and give the flesh to the poor ; 

 there are but few cases when less rigorous measures are needed. 



9- 



' Notwithstanding all these precautions, the extent of the 

 frontiers, the want of care of our neighbours, the exhalations 

 from the infected mountains where the disease is raging, the 

 greed of gain, and the desire to purchase at u low price, as well 



