History of Animal Plagues. 505 



ing epizootics of this malady its origin could be generally traced 

 to this part of Europe, from whence it spread \\ ith its usual 

 celeritv and distinct characteristics. It commenced in April, 

 and advanced regularly and progressively from Forez to Lyons, 

 and on the Rhone to Dauphine; as well as on the banks of 

 the Saone. It was supposed to have been caused by the heavy 

 fogs and dews prevailing on the pastures, as all the animals kept 

 in stables and fed on dry forage escaped.^ In the spring-time, 

 the same malady was afi'ecting cattle at Mantua.'^ 



Previous to this period, the sugar-eating ants {formica sac- 

 charivora, Linnaeus) appeared in such numbers in the Island ot 

 Grenada, as to put a stop to the cultivation of the sugar-plant, 

 and a reward of j^20,ooo was offered to any one who should 

 discover an effectual method of destroying them.^ 



A.D. 1 78 1. The summer was very hot. Locusts in Germany. 

 A great epidemy of influenza commenced in September of last year 

 in China, and travelled through Asia in this year; in December 

 it was at Moscow ; and in February, 1782, it arrived at Revel and 

 Eastern Prussia ; still spreading over Europe, it was in Spain and 

 Italy in the months of August and September.'* In the spring 

 it was in America. In England, an epizooty was ftital to horses 

 and horned cattle; of one hundred and sixteen horses located in 

 one barrack stable, all but thirteen were attacked, and seventy- 

 eight died.^ 



The bovine epizooty appears to have been the Cattle Plague, 

 or what was then named the 'distemper.' The Annual Register 

 savs, for March: 'At the be^innino; of this month the distem- 

 per among the horned cattle broke out in the Isle of Thanet. It 

 began at Mrs Cowell's, at Salmston, near Margate, and is sup- 

 posed to have been brought over from Ostend by two sheep-skins, 

 which being thrown on the beach were taken up with some sea- 

 weed, and laid on a duii<j:hill. At these a cow smelt, and rolled 



^ Brcdin. Ibid., p. 379. - Volpi TVC^iS. Fcrdcnzy. Ibid., p. 212. 



3 Castle. Philosopliical Transactions, vol. xxx. p. 346. 



* Gluge. Influenza. 



* Bascome. Op. cit., p. 138. This author's accounts arc exceedingly brief 

 and unsatisfactory, and in consciiucncc of his not giving his authorities, arc almost 

 M'orthless. 



