RINDERPEST. 
235 
themselves. During the last outbreak in Great Britain (in 1866) the 
disease was spread on the shores of the Frith of Forth by carcasses thus 
committed to the waves. A similar instance of the propagation of the 
disease through the infected bodies thrown into fresh water is mentioned 
by Buniva ; the carcasses were thrown into the Canal del Rotto , and, 
carried on by the current, they infected the stock all along its course. 
Many facts go to show that the poison is not readily destroyed in water. 
Bruckmuller records how soldiers washed the infected meat furnished as 
their rations in a tributary of the Leitha, and that a cow and calf taken 
to drink from the river below showed symptoms of the disease in eight 
days, and had to be slaughtered, together with the rest of the horned 
cattle. Fie adduces other similar cases, as do also Oppeln and Gerlach. 
Separated as we are by the broad Atlantic from all present seats of 
infection, this may seem to be a subject of small moment to us. Yet it 
should at least enforce the precaution, that when a ship from an infected 
country arrives at an American port with one ruminant short of the 
cargo she started with, not only should the others be carefully examined 
and quarantined, but the authorities along the shores where there is any 
danger of such carcass being stranded should be notified to bury it 
promptly, and disinfect the place where it has lain. 
INFECTED MEAT. 
The infected flesh, when carried around and sold for human food, 
has often propagated the disease. Instances of this kind are given by 
Buniva, Bojanus, Ribes, Hofacker, Renner, Maresch, Bunne, Bruck¬ 
muller, Gerlach, Fleming, Bouley, Reynal, &c. As we do not import 
fresh meat, and have no temptation to allow the flesh of animals arriving 
infected to be used for human food, this may seem of small moment to 
us. Yet, there is the remote possibility of ships reaching our shores 
that have been infected by carrying such meat between different coun¬ 
tries in Europe. As an example of how such infection will operate, I 
need only quote the case of the two gazelles that carried the disease to 
the Jar din d' A cclim a ta tion , Paris, in 1866. These were carried to the 
steamer in London in a covered wagon that had been used for transport¬ 
ing beef, and to those who investigated the matter, this seemed the only 
cognizable source of infection. This question of infected ships will be 
referred to elsewhere. 
Closely connected with this subject of infected meat and carcasses, 
is the influence of dogs, cats, and other carnivorous animals and birds in 
spreading the malady. Such meat being considered less valuable than 
