THE PLAGUE 113 



from this disease in Scotland between 88 and 92 A. D. amounted to 

 not less than 150,000. This was probably not less than one-fourth, 

 possibly one-half, the population of Scotland at that time. 



In the year 80 A. D. the deaths from the plague in Rome at the 

 height of the epidemic numbered 10,000 a day. It is estimated that the 

 population of Rome at that time was somewhat more than one million. 

 Rufus of Ephesus, who lived in the reign of Trajan (98-117 A. D.) 

 has left a description of the epidemic of his time which leaves no 

 doubt about its being the plague. "Pestilentes bubones, maxime letales 

 et acuti, qui maxime circa Lybiam, et Aegyptum et Syriam obser- 

 vantur." 



Exacerbations of the disease in Rome are recorded for the years 

 102, 107 and 117 A. D. According to Short, 45,000 died of the plague 

 in Wales in 114 A. D. The year 167 A. D. is noted for an unusually 

 severe outbreak of the plague at Rome, where it continued for many 

 years. In the year 173 A. D., the Roman army was threatened 'with 

 extinction by disease, and special epidemics, or rather exacerbations 

 of the epidemic, prevailed in Rome in 175 and 178 A. D. That the 

 "happy and prosperous" period was followed by a continuation of the 

 plague is shown by the following quotation from Herodian : 



A great pestilence raged throughout Italy at that time (about 187 A. D.) but 

 with most violence in the city, by reason of the great concourse of people assem- 

 bled from all parts of the earth. The mortality among men and cattle was 

 great. The emperor, by advice of physicians, retired to Laurentium, on account 

 of the coolness of the place, which was shaded with laurels. It was supposed 

 that the fragrance of the laurels acted as an antidote against the contagion. 

 The people in the city also, by the advice of physicians, filled their noses and 

 ears with sweet ointments and used perfumes, etc. 



Under the spell of the historian we have been inclined to regard 

 the period when the great philosopher, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, 

 sat on the throne of the world, as the golden age. Let us therefore 

 listen to a few words from his personal attendant, courtier and his- 

 torian, who writes: 



Unless he, M. Antoninus, had been born at this juncture, the affairs of the 

 empire would have fallen into speedy ruin, for there was no respite from mili- 

 tary operations. War raged in the east, in Illyricum, in Italy and in Gaul. 

 Earthquakes with the destruction of cities, inundations of rivers, frequent 



