Origin of the words « épizootique » and « épizootie »

par Bernard Toma, Professeur émérite, Ecole nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Adel. bftoma@vet-alfort.fr

This article describes the investigations undertaken to determine by whom, when and under which circumstances the French words ‘épizootique’ and ‘épizootie’ were created. The first verified mention in a publication dates back to 1766, by Bourgelat, for the word ‘épisootique’. It also gives the probable dates for the first use of these words in several European languages.

Bull.Soc.Hist.Méd.Sci.Vét., 2007, 7 : 26-49