ON THE EXTERNAL CAUSES OF DISEASE. 
559 
^‘The whirlwind/’ he says, “ that brings on a wantry storm, 
rushes not so frequent from the sea, as the plagues of cattle are 
numerous. Nor do diseases only sweep away single bodies, but 
also whole folds suddenly, tlie offspring and the flock at once, 
and the whole flock from the first breed.” It would occupy too 
much space to give the whole of his description ; we must there¬ 
fore content ourselves with a part. It is represented by this 
poet in most sublime expressions, and can never be enough 
admired. He describes the dreadful murrain as a doleful sweep¬ 
ing plague, arising from the distemper of the air, which grew 
more and more inflamed through the whole heat of autumn, and 
delivered over to death all therace of cattle, all the savage race; 
poisoned the lakes, and tainted the pastures with contagion.” 
His description of the noble horse, labouring under this disease, 
is inimitable: we submit Sotheby’s translation of it, but no 
translation can possibly give an idea of the beauty of the 
original. 
Forgetful of bis fame, the vietor steed 
Loathes the translueent rill and flow’ry mead; 
Low drops his ears, his hoof oft beats the ground, 
His wasted limbs in fitful sweats are drown’d; 
Sweats that, as dying pangs the vietim seize. 
With elammy ehiilness life’s slow current freeze. 
On his dry skin the hairs in bristles stand, 
Uise to the touch, and roughen on the hand. 
Such the first symptoms : but the fell disease 
Marks by more horrid signs its dire increase ; 
’J’he eyeball glares, deep breath with hollow tone 
Heaves the long flanks, and bursts with frecpicnt groan. 
T'he tongue furr’d o’er, th’ obstructed palate fills. 
And from the nostrils sable blood distils. 
Wine, pour’d through horns, that seem’d to soothe the pest, 
Lut lull’d awhile to transitory rest. 
This their last hope; yet fruitless to assuage, 
Hut gave each torturing pang recruited rage ; 
While with bare teeth the steed infuriate tore 
His limbs in death, and bath’d his jaws in gore. 
[To be continued.] 
