380 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO I/IS. 



the 3 persons where this disease first appeared, had the New River water run- 

 ning through the very grounds where their cows constantly grazed, and could 

 drink at their pleasure, and so had most of the cow-keepers at Islington. 



About the latter end of September, the disease increased, and the numbers 

 brought to be burnt were so great, that it could not be well executed ; there- 

 fore it was judged proper only to bury them 15 or 20 feet deep ; first making 

 large incisions in their most fleshy parts, and covering them with quicklime. 

 Also such as had sick cows, were ordered to bring their calves to be buried ; and 

 were allowed from 5 to 10 shillings per calf. 



In the beginning of October, being informed that some of the cows in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire, had caught this distemper, and appre- 

 hending that it would become general, I gave in the following report to a com- 

 mittee of council. 



Tlie distemper among the cattle increasing, and beginning to appear in 

 several other counties, I thought it my duty to acquaint your lordships with the 

 hazard that may attend their not being duly buried. It is the opinion of all 

 writers that treat on contagious diseases, as well as of several of the physicians 

 in town, that a putrefaction of so many cows as there is reason to fear will die 

 of this distemper, may produce some contagious disease among men ; unless 

 they are buried so deep that the infectious effluvia cannot injure the air, which 

 I am certain has very seldom been complied with, except in the counties of 

 Middlesex, Essex, and Surry; the gentlemen employed being capable of acting 

 in those counties only. It is affirmed by several now living, that there was a 

 mortality among the cattle a little before the last great plague in the year l665, 

 which was imputed to the want of a due care in burying them. And your lord- 

 ships may know of what importance it was judged by the King of Prussia, the 

 States of Holland, and several other princes and states, by the care they took 

 to publish decrees and placarts, commanding them to be buried on pain of 

 death, or other severe penalties ; and I humbly conceive it would be necessary, 

 not only to bury those which shall die, but likewise such as are already dead ; 

 as also that they be buried Q or 10 feet deep at least. 



Their lordships thought fit to defer all proceedings on this report, till the 

 distemper becoming more general should make it necessary ; but that necessity 

 never happened ; for within 3 or 4 weeks after giving in that report, the fol- 

 lowing particulars concurred to put an end to the distemper. 



The cows began their latter purging, which contributed much to prevent the 

 disease from appearing in fresh places ; and the cow-keepers were convinced 

 that the disease was incurable. The knowledge of the distemper was spread all 

 over England, so that none would buy a cow in the country ; and the gentle- 

 men prevented their being killed in town, by having the markets examined 



