165 
ON EPIZOOTIC DISEASES. 
By Mr. W. You att. 
[ Continued from page 38. ] 
For many centuries after the commencement of the Christian 
aera there is but little account of these maladies ; not that they 
rarely occurred, but because there were few writers capable 
of recording them. We in vain look for any thing satisfactory 
relating to such matters in the strangely-written chronicles of the 
cloister, or in the lives of the saints. The few fragments, how- 
ever, that may be gleaned, we will endeavour to collect, but de- 
prived of the marvels which give them so suspicious a character. 
Columella, who flourished about the year 40, speaks of a 
pestilence occasionally appearing among cattle. It was accom- 
panied, or characterized, by cough and emaciation, and, ulti- 
mately, phthisis. He says, “ when this lights upon a herd, you 
must presently change the climate, and distribute the cattle into 
several divisions, at a distance from each other, and so separated 
that not so much as one may come among them that may, with 
the contagion, infect the rest. Then a seton must be placed 
in the ear, formed of the root of the pulmonaria , or lungwort, 
passing through the ear in a very peculiar way, and with some 
superstitious ceremony. After this there must be administered, 
for several successive days, a half-pint of the juice of the leek, an 
equal quantity of olive-oil, and a pint of wine.” 
A tumour is also described by the same author as appearing 
on the palate, and causing swelling of the tongue and buccal 
membrane, producing some cough, and interfering with the 
breathing. We have had quite enough of these tumours in the 
late epidemic among cattle. Columella describes this character 
of the disease as frequently dangerous, and the forerunner of 
absolute pestilence ; and so it would be if neglected. He advises 
the application of the heated iron ; the setons, already described, 
to be inserted in the ears; and the juice of the leek, mingled 
with salt, to be administered internally. The most important 
remedy of all, however, according to this writer, is change of 
air. 
A very similar disease appeared in the mouths and on the lips 
of lambs and goats. He traced it to the youngsters being too 
soon in the morning suffered to quit the fold. Those that were 
sucking almost invariably died; they who were weaned had a 
somewhat better chance. His remedy, and not a bad one, was 
