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50
At first sight it would therefore seem that the flesh
of animals in such a condition must be unwholesome,
and that if it did not immediately prove
injurious to health, it might do so after a continued
use of it. As far back as the years 1514
and 1599, when the disease was in Italy, the
Council of Venice forbad the use of beef and
veal, on account of the danger from eating it; and
last year, when the malady was at Cobourg, some
people died from the effects of the diseased flesh.
It is said, too, that dogs have been made ill by it in
Russia; and that pigs have refused to drink the
milk from infected cows. But on the other hand,
it is very positively declared by good authorities,
that the meat is not at any time injurious to health.
Professor Briicke, of Vienna, has stated that two
years ago, when the cattle plague was in Bohemia,
the authorities, according to their practice, had the
diseased animals slaughtered and buried; but as
fast as they were thus disposed of, the populace dug
them up and ate them, and no injury to health
resulted from it. The writings of Parent du
Chatelet, Michel L6vy, Tardieu, Chevallier, and
others, abound with examples of the apparent
innocuousness of such meat; and it is very probable
that in the early stage of the disorder, before
the more decided symptoms of fever have shown
themselves, the flesh may not be unfit for human
food; but I think it would be very dangerous to