History of Animal Plagues. 519 



The cattle had, at the close oF that season, become remarkably 

 lean, and consequently were rendered unfit to withstand the 

 rigours of the ensuing winter, one of the most severe hitherto 

 known. The inhabitants had not by any means a sufBciency of 

 provender for them, nor were they aware at first of the unwhole- 

 some and poisonous quality of that which they did possess. It 

 may be easily supposed that the inclemency of the weather 

 greatly contributed to the destruction, although the fire itself 



was the principal and original cause of it That the 



eruption had likewise a powerful effect on the human frame is 

 certain, and is the less to be wondered at, as the unwholesome 

 and pestilential air, operating together with the noxious water 

 and food, and with the want and distress occasioned by the 

 destruction of the cattle, must naturally be productive of sick- 

 ness and distempers. Diseases of the most inveterate kinds, in 

 the form of scurvy, broke out in sundry places, and those even 

 far distant from the fire; as, for instance, in the districts of 

 Guldbringue, Borgefiorde, and Myhre, especially in the first. The 

 district of West Skaptefield was, however, the chief seat of this 

 distemper; and .in only six parishes there, no less than one 

 hundred and fifty persons were carried off between the com- 

 mencement of the new year and the month of June following, 

 but some of these perished by famine. The same symptoms 

 showed themselves in this disorder in the human race as among 

 the cattle. The feet, thighs, hips, arms, throat, and head were 

 most dreadfully swelled, especially about the ankles, the knees, 

 and the various joints, — which last, as well as the ribs, were 

 contracted. The sinews, too, were drawn up with painful 

 cramps, so that the wretched sufi'ercrs became crooked, and 

 had an appearance the most pitiable. In addition to this 

 they were oppressed with pains across the breast and loins ; 

 their teeth became loose, and were covered by the swoll- 

 en gums, which at length mortified and fell olV in large 

 pieces of a black or sometimes dark-blue colour. Disgusting 

 sores were formed in the j)alate and tlu-oat, and not uncom- 

 monly, at tlie termination of the disease, the tongue rotted 

 entirely out of the mouth. This dreadful, though api)arently 

 not very infectious, distemper prevailed in almost every farm in 



