ON THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF DISEASE. 
453 
to come. But I consider the year I have before stated as the 
proper period whence to date a general change. Strange to say, 
the locality in which it first shewed itself (at least that there is any 
record of) was on a particularly airy and healthy spot about four 
miles south of London — Brixton Hill — and for some time it was 
confined to that spot and its immediate neighbourhood. In August 
and Septemher it began to shew itself in London. The next 
point to which I can trace it was Windsor, in December. There 
were many isolated instances, I doubt not, of its occurrence in 
various places, but still not sufficient to draw particular attention 
to it. At the end of January 1837, and following month, it 
shewed itself throughout the whole of England, but few spots 
escaping. From June 1836 to January 1837 it was manifested 
amongst horses only; from the latter period, among men and 
horses ; and, speaking in a general way, it was confined to them 
alone. The period of attack for cattle in general came a year 
and a half later. 
In October 1838, I knew from good authority that in the cattle 
districts of the West of England, particularly Somersetshire, the 
epizootic was insidiously spreading itself amongst stock in general. 
So insidious was the outspread, that general attention was not in 
any way drawn to it ; and, except among the reflective, no universal 
disease was anticipated. It, however, still went on spreading to the 
east, every now and then turning back upon its course to visit 
those spots which it skipped in its onward march. In the spring 
of 1839 it had advanced considerably, and reached the lower 
part of Wiltshire. In July, it had found its way across the 
county of Wilts into North Hants. During this course it did not 
spread itself regularly, but skipped and bounded along, always 
keeping the course from west to east. In July and August,, it 
seemed to have acquired sufficient force to spread more boldly 
and rapidly, and in the next six months it extended nearly all over 
England, affecting cattle, sheep, pigs horses, men, and, indeed, 
all animal life, in a greater or less degree. That this change, so 
important in its consequences and so lasting in its effects, was not 
a sudden one, I think the above sketch of its progress or deve- 
lopment will shew : that there was a something that was insi- 
diously acting, inducing a change in the relative proportions of the 
solids and fluids of the body, is perfectly evident, for no stretch 
of fancy can suppose that a complete reversal of previously exist- 
ing states could be the work of a few days — nay, even of several 
weeks. 1 am disposed to believe that it was a change going on 
gradually for many months, and when set up, waiting only for some 
local circumstance to arise in order to bring it into active develop- 
ment. Thus, over-exertion, bad ventilation, exposure to wet and 
VOL. XIX. 3 Q 
