THE CATTLE EPIDEMIC. 
613 
the disease acquires great intensity, and, becoming violently conta- 
gious, spreads throughout the country. Thus, in 1829, an im- 
mense number of bullocks accumulated beyond the Pruth, for the 
use of the Russian army against Turkey, having perished from 
starvation through mismanagement, the cattle plague immediately 
ensued. The mortality in the principalities alone, during the au- 
tumn of that year, exceeded 200,000 head. The entire stocks in 
Bessarabia were destroyed ; and the provinces northward became 
infected, and suffered enormous losses. 
In 1837 the same disease again broke out, and caused a similar 
destruction of cattle throughout these parts. It is believed to have 
then first appeared in the Bondjak in Lower Bessarabia, where 
many thousand draught-bullocks had been long detained without 
pasturage or other sufficient food around the salt lakes that are ad- 
ministrated by government. 
In 1842 and 1843 the disease ravaged the Tchernamov country, 
to which it was confined by severe measures on the Don and at 
Taman, preventing all communication. No antecedent causes 
were then known, nor can any be assigned for the present out- 
break, which was first observed in August last. Its original seat 
is believed to be Bessarabia, though the people of that province 
say that the contagion was brought to them from Galicia, an opi- 
nion probably erroneous. In 1829 the disease was first noticed in 
August, and it continued till nearly the approach of the following 
summer. In 1837 it began in September, and lasted till May. 
The autumns of those years were very damp, and the winters re- 
markably severe. Last autumn was exceedingly dry, and the 
winter moderate, though long. The seasons and the temperature 
seem in no way whatever to affect the intensity or duration of this 
destructive disease. That it is supremely contagious is univer- 
sally believed ; but phenomena similar to those of the cholera 
have been observed, which seem to give it the character also of 
an epidemic. 
The following description of the symptoms and course of the 
disease 1 believe to be very correct. It was given to me by an 
intelligent proprietor, and it has been confirmed to me by the evi- 
dence of many others. 
The infected animal loses its appetite, and ceases to ruminate. 
It remains long motionless on its legs, which seem to be stiffened. 
The ears are cold and pendant ; later, the eyes begin to water, and 
a slimy foam drops from the mouth. The beast becomes agitated, 
lying down and getting up often ; little thirst ; and the hair along 
the back is bristled up. At length, too weak to rise, it remains 
upon the ground moaning, the flanks heaving quickly, and with 
every appearance of cruel sufferings that end in death. In most cases 
