REVIEWS. 
27 
the whole of the cattle are driven through the fire, followed by 
the inhabitants. If the disease be not the Typhus, they 
become strengthened in their superstitious belief; but, if 
it be the Typhus, it is sure to increase in intensity by this 
absurd practice, and consequent congregation of cattle. 
tc Another practice is, that of burying the first victim of the 
disease under the sill of the stable door, in order to preserve 
the rest of the cattle from contamination. 
“ The disease in these districts generally breaks out in such 
villages as lie proximate to the high roads, whereon either 
herds of cattle travel, or hides from the infected districts 
are being conveyed. It spreads from village to village, in 
the direction of the above-named roads. The spring and 
autumn are more fatal seasons than summer or winter; though 
this by no means depends on the seasons, but solely on this : — 
In summer, the land is covered with the crops, and in winter 
with thick snow; both of w T hich conditions prevent the 
travelling cattle from wandering far from the high roads, 
which in spring and autumn the} 7 do w 7 ith impunity. When 
the disease first breaks out, the mortality amounts to from 90 
to 9 o per cent. The villages inhabited by the Tartars generally 
are an exception to this, since they seldom suffer much from 
the disease ; but then, the Tartar is prudent, in doing all he 
can to prevent the disease from invading his homestead. If 
he has to go to an infected district, he is careful not to bring 
anything home with him, not even a handful of straw to sit 
upon : by this he greatly aids the Government in all its sani- 
tary measures having a tendency to prevent the spreading of 
the disease, while the superstitious Russian acts but very 
unwillingly.” 
In 1849, 198 head of cattle became diseased in one farm 
by the high road whereon some travelling cattle had passed : 
88 of them died. This was found by the district veterinary 
authorities to be the Typhus. The rest w T ere slaughtered, and 
by this means the plague put a stop to. 
E. 
