470 History of Animal Plagues. 



attacked by the epizooty towards the end of 1775. He cites, 

 nevertheless, many examples which would go far to prove that 

 the mieiration of healthy animals from a reoion in which the 

 disease is prevalent into one in which it has ceased may be at- 

 tended with favourable results ; but he adds, that if we transport 

 animals having the germ of the malady already in them, they 

 will all die some days after their arrival in their new country. 

 Experiments proved that it was impossible to communicate the 

 disease to horses, mules, asses, dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, and goats ; 

 and also that those oxen which had recovered from its effects 

 were no longer susceptible of infection. 



While the disease was playing havoc in the southern pro- 

 vinces of France, it broke out, notwithstanding the severity of 

 the winter, in Normandy, showing itself first in the village of 

 Maisoncele ; from thence it passed to Grandcour, to Melincant, 

 and to many adjacent parishes. Its progress was absolutely the 

 same as in the southern provinces. The post-mortem inspections 

 revealed the same pathological changes; and its malignity as- 

 sumed the greatest intensity in some districts; for example, at 

 Melincant, every beast attacked died in a very brief space. At 

 the same time, or rather before the cattle were affected, there 

 was a disease in dogs, cats, and pigs, and it was for a time be- 

 lieved that the dogs had primarily infected the cattle. The 

 symptoms were said to be analogous. So deadly was the bovine 

 epizooty, and so rapid was its progress, that it was feared it could 

 not be arrested until it had destroyed all the cattle ; but wise 

 legislative and sanitary measures soon dispelled this alarm ; the 

 infected districts were encircled by troops to prevent communica- 

 tion with the healthy ones ; all the diseased and suspected 

 animals were killed and buried deeply in the earth, and the 

 stables and other places were carefully disinfected ; by these means 

 it was finally subdued. 



In 1775 and 1776, the same disease, as already noted, gave 

 rise to serious losses in the generality of Amiens, in maritime 

 Flanders, in Soissons, Artois, Champagne, Franche-Comte, 

 Orleans, and other places, where at first its destructiveness was 

 terrible, and threw fear and consternation over every one. But 

 already the benefits to be derived from Veterinary Science were 



