History of Animal Plagues. 459 



food, we have not the power to separate them. They often drink 

 at the same pond, assemble at the same chalet, or at any rate in 

 a number of chalets^ and there is every facility for their roaming 

 from one mountain to another; in this way they may spread 

 the infection. The poisonous breath of the diseased attaches it- 

 self to those in health, clings to their hair, and empoisons the 

 pasturage. It is absolutely necessary, then, to act with a moun- 

 tain where there is disease as we w^ould a stable in which the 

 contagion existed ; but it is to be remembered that it is more 

 easy to close and barricade a stable than a mountain. There re- 

 mains nothing to be done in these unhappy circumstances, than 

 to kill all the cattle on the infected pasturage, — those yet in health 

 and those in whichlhe disease is recognizable, — in orderto keep the 

 adjoining mountains safe. It is the measure which has been prac- 

 tised more than once with success ; the loss has been doubtless 

 considerable, but the subscriptions gathered in the country, added 

 to the bounty of the Sovereign, have contributed to solace the 

 unfortunate owners. There is to be observed in the performance 

 of this melancholy duty a natural difference between tbc cattle 

 in health and those diseased : we take the flesh and the skins of 

 the first, and bury the latter entire and in lime. Sometimes we 

 are obliged to exercise a greater degree of severity by destroying 

 the hogs which, according to the custom on the mountains, feed 

 with the cattle. The contao;ion which destroys the oxen does 

 not affect either pigs, sheep, or horses; but it is always to be 

 apprehended that these may carry some of the contagion or the 



infected breath to these animals, and may thus spread the 

 disease. 



13- 



' It is only by these precautions, which should be constantly 

 in force, that it is possible to confine the contagion to a village 

 or a mountain, and to keep the country free from infection ; from 

 time immemorial no contairion has ravajxed more than a very 

 small district of our land. It is not doubtful, therefore, that 

 the same measures would suffice equally in stopping the pro- 

 gress of the contagion in other countries; and they might be 

 vet more easily enforced, because in these kiuirdoms there are 

 troops who might be usefully employed in cutting off' com- 



