ON THE EPIZOOTIC. 
35 
code of laws afterwards instituted by Moses there is no mention 
of any epizootic disease, but the Israelites are commanded to 
place a line of separation between the clean and the unclean 
beasts, and, in case of touching any of the latter, carefully to 
purify themselves and their garments. 
While we are endeavouring to trace the existence of epizootic 
diseases in early times, we must proceed with no little caution, 
for to the poets we are indebted for the history of these maladies, 
and we know how often, in their writings, plain truth is sacrificed 
to all kinds of wild and chimerical notions. 
The first account that we have of the horrors of an epizootic is 
that related by Ovid of the depopulation of the island of iEgina, 
in the year a.c. 1295*. He thus relates the commencement 
of it : — • 
At first we only felt the oppressive weight 
Of gloomy clouds, then teeming with our fate. 
And labouring to discharge unactive heat ; 
But ere four moons alternate changes knew. 
With deadly blasts the fatal south wind blew. 
Infected all the air, and poison’d as it flew. 
Our fountains, too, a dire infection yield. 
For crowds of vipers creep along the field. 
And with polluted gore and baneful steams 
Taint all the lakes and venom all the streams. 
He then describes the effect of it on animals. The original is 
given in a notef, that the classical veterinarian may judge of 
the occasional inaccuracy of the translation. 
The young disease with milder force began, 
And raged ’rnong birds and beasts, excusing man. 
The labouring oxen fall before the plough ; 
The unhappy ploughmen stare, and wonder how. 
The tabid sheep with sickly bleatings pines. 
Its wool decreasing as its strength declines. 
The warlike steed, by inward foes compelled. 
Neglects his honours, and deserts the field ; 
Unnerved and languid seeks a base retreat, . 
And at the manger groans, but wished a nobler fate. 
* Ovid’s Metamorphoses, lib. vii. 
+ Strage canum primb volucrumque, aviamque, boumque 
Inque feris subiti deprehensa potentia morbi est. 
Concidere infelix validos miratur arator 
Inter opus tauros, medioque recumbere sulco. 
Lanigeris gregibus balatus dantibus aegros, 
Sponte sufi lanaeque cadunt et corpore tabent : 
Acer equus, quondam magnae in pulvere famae 
Degenerat, palmae veterumque oblitus honorum 
Ad prcsepe gcmit morbo moriturus inerti. 
