244 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



ism, which, while they contain a larpe part of the early records relat- 

 ing to this interesting subject, also illustrate the difficulty in deciding 

 at the present time in regard to the real nature of some of the diseases 

 to which allusions are made. 



In A. 1). ( J92 there was a long and severe winter and an extremely 

 dry summer, followed by famine. The wheat crops were affected with 

 blight <>r ergot, and the forage was generally of a bad quality. Soon 

 after there was a widespread and deadly epidemic of ergotism (feu 

 sacre) in France. 



Ergotism was again prevalent in France in 994. (An. PL, I, p. 58.) 



In 1011 there was most unpropitious weather, accompanied by earth- 

 quakes, tempests, and inundations. It snowed heavily during harvest 

 tune. In many parts of Europe there were heavy rains throughout the 

 year. Flanders was inundated by the sea, and there were great storms. 

 The consequences of these disturbances were famine and disease in 

 England, Germany, ant^France. Cattle and men appear to have suf- 

 fered equally. " The plague of Divine Fire (ignis divina, ergotism, or 

 erysipelas) afflicted many, who were saved only through the merits of 

 the Blessed Virgin. And in all that year it was very sad in many and 

 various things, both in tempests and in earth's fruits. And so much 

 cattle perished in this year as no man before remembered, both through 

 various diseases and through bad weather." (An. PL, I, pp. GO, Gl.) 



For 1085 Mr. Fleming makes the following record: Epidemic erysip- 

 elas (ergotism?) in France, with inundations and famine. "In the year 

 10^5 there was disease in plants, and also in animals, throughout the 

 world." (An. PL, I, p. 63.) 



In 10S9-'91, on the Continent, "in these years many men were killed 

 by the ignis sacer (ergotism or gangrenous erysipelas), which destroyed 

 their vitals, putrifled their flesh, and blackened their limbs like to 

 charcoal. Even if their lives were preserved their extremities were so 

 affected that they were only reserved for a most pitiable existence." 

 This cpidetny is mentioned by several ancient chroniclers. Animals 

 suffered as well as the human species. (An. PL, I, p. G4.) 



In 1099 gangrenous erysipelas (ergotism?) iu France in the human 

 species. From the severity of the epidemy, we may infer that animals 

 also suffered. There were great inundations in England by the sea and 

 bv the rivers, whereby people, cattle, and whole towns were drowned. 

 (An. PL, I, p. 65.) 



In 1127 the "divine plague" (ergotism ?) appeared in mankind in 

 France. Prayers to the Virgin Mary healed the afflicted, it is recorded. 

 Great pestilence among animals. 



In 1213 gangrenous erysipelas (feu sacre) in mankind in France and 

 Spain. 



Neither was the scarcity limited to the fruits of the earth, nor disease to the human 

 species, for birds, cattle, aud sheep became sterile, and brought forth no young, and 

 many riding and other horses perished for lack of straw and barley. (An. PI., 1, 

 p. 71.) 



In 159S, after inundations and heavy fogs, there was a general cpi- 

 zooty among cattle in Germany. In the same year there appeared er- 

 gotism in the human species. (An. PL, I, p. 138.) 



In 1C94 an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A supposed epidemy and 

 epizooty of ergotism. Brunner writes : 



By Tvhat unfortunate combination of circumstances, for so many years, the whole 

 of nature seemed to labor under an unhealthy atmosphere remains a secret. Many 

 men, and those most learned, Lave written on the state of the air, and I have been a 

 spectator of most grievous calamities ; lor not only did unwonted fevers attack and 



