558 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. I ANNO l682-3. 



grazed, insomuch that whole herds returned home sick; being very dull, for- 

 bearing their food, and most of them would die in 24 hours. Upon dissection 

 there were discovered large and corrupted spleen, sphacelous and corroded 

 tongues, and some had angina maligna. Those persons who carelessly managed 

 their cattle, without a due regard to their own health, were themselves infected, 

 and died like their beasts. 



This contagion may perhaps proceed from some noxious exhalations emitted 

 from the earth, by three distinct earthquakes, perceived here in the space of 

 one year. 



The method of cure for the cattle was this. — As soon as there was any sus- 

 picion of the contagion on any one of the herd, the tongue of that beast was 

 carefully examined. If they found any aphthae or blisters, whether white, yellow 

 or black, they were obliged to rub, scratch and tear the tongue with a silver in- 

 strument, till it bled ; then they wiped away the blood and corruption with new 

 unwashed linen. This done, a lotion for the tongue was used, made of salt 

 and good vinegar. 



The antidote for the diseased cattle, and the medicine for the sick, is the 

 same, and is thus described. Take of soot, gunpowder, brimstone, salt, equal 

 parts, and as much water as is necessary to wash it down ; give a large spoonful 

 for a dose. 



In a Postscript it is further observed as follows : — - 

 I lately received an account from two ingenious travellers, who assured me 

 the contagion had reached their quarters on the borders of Poland, having 

 passed quite through Germany, and that the method used in our relation pre- 

 served and cured their cattle. They told me the contagion was observed to 

 make its progress daily, spreading near two German miles in 24 hours. This 

 they say was certainly observed by many curious persons, that it continually 

 without intermission made its progress, and suffered no neighbouring parish to 

 escape ; but that it did not at the same time infect places at great distances. 

 They added that cattle secured at rack and manger were equally infected with 

 those in the field.* 



• In some of the subsequent vols, of these Transactions we shall have occasion to notice other com- 

 munications on the subject of the pestilential disorder or murrain among cattle ; for abating the viru- 

 lence of which, inoculation has of late years been resorted to in Holland and other parts of the con- 

 tinent, with marked success. This practise is strongly recommended by Dr. Layard, in a paper in- 

 serted in the 50th volume of the Transactions. The spreading of the epizootic contagion is to be pre- 

 vented, and its suppression effected, by means similar to those employed in the case of human con- 

 tagions 5 viz. by an immediate separation of the infected from the healthy cattle) by fumigation of the 

 stalls; and by strict attention to cleanliness and ventilation. 



