ON EPIZOOTIC DISEASES. 
167 
his friends, as on account of the pestilential diseases which had 
for a considerable period devastated the country; and, treating of 
which, he, to a certain extent, included diseases of every kind. 
The greater part of his labours were subsequently lost, but his work 
on epidemics remains. Although it contains numerous errors, it is 
the most perfect work on the subject of which antiquity can boast. 
It contains the substance of Chiron, Absyrthus, and Columella. 
If he sometimes appears to copy those who preceded him, he im- 
proved upon them all. We perhaps shall wonder a little at the 
different symptoms and different treatment of some diseases, but 
there are parts which cannot be improved upon at the present 
day. Take, as an illustration of this, his account of the symptoms 
of malignant epidemic. “ The animal is dull and out of spirits ; 
his flanks heave convulsively; the respiration is unnaturally la- 
boured or precipitate ; the eyes have lost their expression, and the 
gaze is fixed ; the ears are cold ; the head is depressed ; he has 
ceased to eat or to ruminate; he falls away every day. At its 
commencement it is difficult sometimes to distinguish this from 
simple fever. He who would act prudently will separate the ani- 
mals for fear of communicating the disease to others. At the 
expiration of one or two days it will be clearly enough seen 
whether it is an ordinary or malignant fever, and medicine will 
be administered and care will be taken accordingly.” 
There are, according to him, seven or eight kinds of epidemic 
and other diseases. The first is called malis, par excellence. It 
is principally distinguished by a discharge from the nose resem- 
bling glanders — a thick, mucous, sticky fluid constantly flowing, 
of a noisome smell and pale colour. The animal hangs his head ; 
there is weeping from the eyes ; difficulty of breathing is observed ; 
his coat is strangely rough ; the countenance is repulsive, or, 
sometimes, horrible. Occasionally a little blood runs from the nose 
mingled with mucus ; at other times the discharge is of a saffron 
colour; soon after which the animal is almost sure to die. 
The second malady is called the dry disease. The animal coughs 
and breathes with pain. There is no discharge from the nose, but 
the alae of the nose are dry and open. He is drawn up at the 
flanks ; the spine of the back appears to be contracted and curved ; 
the testicles are drawn up, and scarcely to be seen ; no appetite ; 
the thirst is unquenchable ; the eyes fixed, and it appears as if he 
regarded the objects around him obliquely ; he can scarcely move 
himself or lie down. This disease is regarded as incurable if 
prompt succour is not afforded at the commencement. 
The third variety is the subcutaneous disease — scabies sub- 
cutanea. It consists in ulcers or excoriations on different parts 
of the body, like the pealing off of mange. An acrid humour is 
