SECTION I.
OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE LAWS OF EPIDEMIC DISEASES.
The results obtained by comparing certain facts connected with Epidemic Affections of animals, with analogous affections in plants, afford, from the few instances I shall here notice, a very strong presumption, that analogous causes operate in the production of these affections. I have already quoted from Hecker, to shew that previously to, and during the Epidemics of the Middle Ages, the minuter forms of animal and vegetable life appeared to be called into existence, much more abundantly than usual; that famines prevailed in consequence of failure of cereal crops, no doubt depending then, as now, upon the various forms of fungiferous growth. I cannot refrain quoting here, a passage or two from our old friend Virgil; for he confirms not only the fact of peculiar showers in
connexion with diseases, but he also refers to the rust of corn, thus:
150. "Mox et frumentis labor additus; ut mala culmos
Esset rubigo ...
... Intereunt segetes."
Georg. 1.
Then:
311. "Quid tempestates autumni et sidera dicam?