Extracts from an essay on the nature, causes, & cure of the cattle plague, which raged in this kingdom from 1744 to 1756 / originally published by Daniel Peter Layard ; containing the symptoms, also the method of cure and remedies which then proved successful in curing the disease, and now re-published from family documents and the original essay by Lieut.-Colonel Layard.

  • Layard, Daniel Peter, 1721-1802.
Date:
[1865?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extracts from an essay on the nature, causes, & cure of the cattle plague, which raged in this kingdom from 1744 to 1756 / originally published by Daniel Peter Layard ; containing the symptoms, also the method of cure and remedies which then proved successful in curing the disease, and now re-published from family documents and the original essay by Lieut.-Colonel Layard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    The deep anxiety felt by all parties on the subject of the present “Cattle Plague,” or “Rinderpest,” will, I am sure, prove sufhcient excuse for my venturing to reprint the following Extracts from Dr, Daniel Peter Layard’s Essay on the “ Cattle Plague ” which visited England during the last century. In 1744, it first made its appearance, and continued its ravages till 1756 ; at which time Dr. Layard, M.D., was residing at Hunting- don, and practising there as a Physician, of considepble eminence. And, by permission of a neighbouring Farmer, he_ investigated the disease, and was present at the post mortem examination of several cattle that had died. Dr. L. then undertook the treatment of some belonging to Mr. M , of Godmanchester, who had lost ten head of cattle ; and out of seven which he treated, five recovered. This success induced him to pursue his investigations; and, in 1757, he published an Essay on the subject, addressed to The Right Hon ® John Earl Granville, President of the Privy Council of that day, from which the following chapters are republished, viz: “ Of the Symptoms;” “ Of the Method of Cure,” and “ the Remedies;” with “ Observations on the result of such Treatment.” The following Extract from the Nan-ative of Dr. Layard’s Services from 1769 to 1777, will fully prove the success of his treatment of The Distemper, and the appreciation of the same by the Government of the Day; together with the fact of his having been appointed, by the King, Corresponding Secretaiy with The Foreign Courts, which post he held to the time of his death in 1794. EXTRACT. “The general distress occasioned all over the Kingdom by the Mortality among the Homed Cattle, from the year 1744 to 1756, drew the attention of every humane Physician who was at hand to offer any relief. It then cost the Na,tion above me hmidred and fifty thousand pounds, exclusive of the heavy loss to mdividuals. Ihe difficulties which attended a proper examination prevented that success winch might have been expected from the abilities of several worthy and experienced Practitioners in London ; vague opinions and unsuccessful attempts were the con^quence ot trusting entirely to the report of Farmers and Cowkeepers. Dr. Layard havmg long seen with concern that nothing effectual had been satisfactorily obscn ed ; by mere