An Effay on the Nature, Caufes, and Cure of the contagious Dif temper among the Horned Cattle in thefe Kingdoms. By Daniel Peter Layard, M. D. Member of the Royal College of Phyfi cians, in London, and of the Royal Society.

Rivington.

8vo. 2s. 6d.

HE Author attributes the cause of this diftemper to pef

TH

tilential effluvia, of a very subtle and active nature, taken in either by infpiration, or deglutition, firft vitiating the fluids, then relaxing, and laftly, deftroying the folids of the cattle; and thinks that the feveral ftages, progrefs, and effects of this congious diftemper, exactly refemble thofe of the fmall-pox, and, therefore, that the method of cure fhould be analogous.

The fymptoms of the diftemper are, upon the first appearance of this infection, a decrcafe of appetite; a poking out of the neck, implying fome difficulty in deglutition; a fhaking of the head, as if the ears were tickled; a hanging down of the ears, and deafnefs; a dimnefs of the eyes; and a moving to and fro in a conftant uneafinefs. All thefe figns, except the laft, increafe till the fourth day. Then a ftupidity ⚫ and unwillingness to move; great debility, a total lofs of appetite, a running at the eyes and nofe, fometimes fickness, and throwing up of bile, a hufky cough and fhivering. The head, horns, and breath are very hot, while the body and limbs are cold. The fever, which was continual the three first days, now rifes and increafes towards evenings; the pulfe is all along quick, contracted, and uneven. A conftant diar

rhoea, or fcowering of foetid green fæces, a ftinking breath, and naufeous fteams from the fkin, infect the air they are placed in. The blood is very florid, hot, and frothy. The urine, or ftale, is high coloured; the roofs of their mouths, and their barbs, are ulcerated. Tumours, or boils, are to be felt under the panniculus carnofus, or fleshy membrane of the skin: and eruptions appear all along their limbs, and about their bags. If a new milch cow be thus ill, her milk dries up gradually, her purging is more violent, and on the fourth day he is commonly dry. There is fuch acrimony, or fharpneis in their dung, that a visible irritation is to be observed during fome time, in ano. They groan much, are worfe in the evening, and moftly lying down. Thefe fymptoms continue increafing, till the feventh day from the invafion, on which generally, though fometimes protracted till the ninth, the crilis, or turn, takes place.'

If after the feventh day from the invafion (at which ime a crifis may be expected) the eruptions, boils, or ab• fcefles

fceffes are decreased in bulk, or totally difappeared, without having broke, or difcharged outwardly,'-or an aggravation of the fymptoms already mentioned, with no intermiffion,-it may be affuredly pronounced, the beaft will die.

As to the cure, immediately upon the firft appearance of the diftemper, the beast should be put into fome place where it may be kept clean, warm, and free as poffible from infectious fteams of other beasts in the fame condition. The beast must be bled in proportion to its ftrength, washed with warm water and vinegar, to clear the hair from filth and infects, and rubbed every morning and evening, for a quarter of an hour, with a dry linnen or woollen cloth, or ftraw, to promote perfpiration. A rowel also is to be made in the dewlap, to draw the humours to that part; which is to be dreffed twice every day: which rowel is to be kept in a month at leaft after the recovery of the beaft.

Should the beast be hot, hang down his head, breathe with difficulty after the bleeding, dung hard, and the skin feel tight and thick, which is called being hide-bound; then it will be very proper to give a gentle, cooling purge in this firft ftage. When the beast has voided the hardened dung, or if it should not have wanted purging, the following drench is to be given. Take of madder-root, three ounces; of turmeric and horse. raddish-root, each one ounce; of fenugreek-feeds, bruised, two ounces; of chamomile-flowers, dried leaves of feverfew, rue, and fage, of each one handful. Boil them half an hour in a gallon of fmall ale, well hopped, to three quarts; then ftrain the liquor, and give the beaft three pints in the morning, and the remainder in the evening. No dry or folid fodder is to be offered till the beaft cheweth the cud. Between these drenches, a quart or two of diftilled vinegar-whey must be given frequent

in the day, to dilute the hardening fodder, and ftrengthen the coats of the ftomach; and hay-water may be alfo given. Great care must be had, twice or thrice a day, to cleanse the mouths, barbs, and noftrils of the diftempered cattle, with fome abfterging, acidulated liquid. On the fourth day, if the beaft be heavy, dull, fhivering, no pimples or knots arife, and a purging be coming on, the following drench must be given, at about eight in the evening, and repeated three or four nights, as occalion requires. Take of Virginia fnake-root, contrayervaroot, chamomile-flowers powdered, of each half an ounce; venice-treacle, fix drachms: mix all thefe in three pints of vinegar-whey, and give the drench lukewarm. Let a perfon fit up all night with the beaft, and give it frequently a quart of vinegar-whey. Venice-treacle may also be ferviceable; and if there be any figns of mortification from the dark and relaxed

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38 appearance of the mouth, the coldness of the fkin, the black foetid dung, infenfibility, &c. the Peruvian-bark must be instantly given every four or fix hours, as occafion may require, taking the ufual medicines in the intermediate spaces. If the morbid matter fhould be depofited in the horns, which is known by the head's being ftill hung down on one fide more than the other, and a heat is felt in the horn, while the body is temperate; it will be proper to bore the horns about three inches below the tip, without wounding the pith, to give vent to the matter. In the laft ftage, let the fwellings that puff up the skin be opened and digefted; and after the crifis takes place, if a fcowering fhould enfue, it is not to be haftily stopped, though diligently watched and reftrained, left it weaken the beast too much; and to cleanse the bowels and ftomach, let a purge of thubarb, fenna, &c. be given. Let the beaft drink watergruel lukewarm, and be kept on dry meat, though fparingly; and at night give an ounce of electuary of fcordium, commonly called diafcordium, in a quart or three pints of small ale, warm. But if after the crifis the beaft is coftive, and the fkin be dry, harsh, and tight on the flesh; dunging may be procured, by giving in the evening a mesh of bran, with an < handful of beans bruifed, and an ounce of Epfom falt. However, I cannot avoid recommending the greatest exactness in obferving that the crifis is over; for the leaft laxative medicine, or opening food, given at the axun, or height of the disease, and confequently in the former ftages of expulfion and maturation, will certainly bring on a fcowering, attended with fatal confequences, or at leaft very difficult to be removed.'-In winter time, the cattle, upon recovery, fhould not be turned out at once into the pafture-grounds, let them be never fo dry: but towards the middle of the day, in fair weather, turning them out two hours, and then bringing them in again, will gradually ufe them to the open air. In fummer, morning and evening will be the most suitable time; for the beat of the fun, or exceffive cold, may bring on other diforders.

LAYARD on the Contagion among the Cattle.

A farmer had already loft ten head of cattle, two more were dying, and feven others ill, when Dr. Layard took upon him the direction of the feven which were laft fallen ill. By the preceding treatment five of thefe recovered. One cow, very near her time of calving, died; and the feventh was certainly loft for want of obferving the due time of the crifis, and purging too foon.

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The Lives of Cleopatra and Octavia. By the Author of David Simple. 4to. 10s. 6d. Printed for the Author, and fold by Millar, &c.

T were fuperfluous to compliment the Author of David Sim

Readers ignorant of characters that have been drawn by Shakefpear, Sidley, and Dryden. Suffice it therefore, that we give a fhort account of the purpofe and plan of this performance, with a few fpecimens of the Lady's colouring.

To excite an abhorrence of vice, by expofing its deformity and wretchedness, tho' attended with the dazzling circumftances of pomp and power; and to infpire a reverence for even afflicted virtue, by exhibiting its prefent amiableness, and lasting felicity; is the manifeft defign of this publication: nor does History furnifh any two characters ftronger contrafted, or more adequate to this, certainly, commendable purpose, than thofe here chofen.

With respect to the plan of this work, let our Author speak for herself. The famous amours of Anthony and Cleopatra,? fays fhe, having a true foundation, will more effectually imprefs the fatal confequences of a mad intoxicated Lover, and a falle infinuating Woman, than may be expected from the moft admired or accomplished novels; and the diftrefles of a "virtuous Octavia will excite a more lafting fenfibility of pity ⚫ or relentment, than can be indulged from the most pathetic • defcriptions of Romance. For in the latter the Reader feldom fo far forgets himself, as not to recollect that the characters are imaginary and feigned; whereas the former, like true mirrours, reflect the real images of our perfons.

Thefe fuperior advantages of real characters induced the Author of the Lives of Cleopatra and Octavia, to select the most interesting parts of their hiftories for the entertainment of the public. But as the modern relifh for works of imagi⚫nation would almoft tempt her to defpair of approbation with⚫ out some mixture of romance, she has, in complaifance to this tafte, introduced the lives of thofe Ladies, as fuppofed to have been delivered by themfelves in the fhades below. By which method the Reader may at least expect a more impartial, diftinct, and exact narrative of their feveral adventures, and of the motives they were influenced by; unlels he is fo inveterately prejudiced in disfavour of the fair-fex, as to prefume, with the ill-natured fatyrift, that a woman is not to be credited, any more than truffed, tho' dead.

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The Author begs leave to account for her interview. with thofe Heroines, as Homer, Virgil, Ariftophanes, Lucan, and others, have, on the like occafion, through the affistance of an eastern Sorcerer or Magician, who conveyed her to the gloomy realms of Pluto, and by his intereft at court, prevail⚫ed on that grand Monarch to command those celebrated Shades to give her a faithful detail of their lives during their abode. on earth. There was no difputing his orders; and the only fhadow the imperious Queen of Egypt retained of her former royalty, was the permiffion granted her to take place of Octavia in the recital of her ftory.'

Proceed we now to discharge the laft part of our promise. Thus Cleopatra is made to describe herself: As I was naturally of a difpofition so selfish, as to direct every person, and to center every defire within the narrow compafs of my own gratification; and as this talent was likewife improved by education, my elevated fancy (even whilft I was yet very young) • looked upon the reft of mankind with the utmost contempt; and I confidered them as no more capable of feeling, than if they were inanimate.-The pleafures or pains of others were to me of fo little importance, that I lived as if I had been the only creature on earth who had any fenfation. And yet, had ⚫ mankind been fo unfufceptible of pleasure or pain, how should I have been difappointed in purfuing my revenge on those who, in any manner, piqued my pride, in not paying me the adoration which I thought my due.'

The character of Mark Anthony, his fitnefs to become the dupe of artifice, and Cleopatra's contrivances to continue him fo, are not unaptly painted. Anthony was very apt to place a full confidence in the integrity of others: a fine difpofition to be managed by the woman he liked! He was naturally fincere, though somewhat flow of apprehension, but as foon as he was made fenfible of his faults, much troubled, and rea⚫dy to afk pardon of thofe he had offended. This was true of him in general; how then would he fawn and cringe when • he had offended his Miftrefs! It was impoffible for a woman of my pride or ambition to have met with a Lover more fuited to indulge her inclinations.

His raillery was very fharp; but the edge of it was taken 6 off, and rendered inoffenfive, by his fuffering any kind of re6 partee; for he was as well contented to be handfomely rallied, as he was to rally others. This difpofition was the best cal⚫culated for treachery to work on; for the freedoms that were taken with him, on his own permiffion, he imagined arofe from open honefty; and therefore could not fear deceit from those

who