Thomas BATES, Surgeon to His Majesty, and sick cows: successful management of the rinderpest epizootic in 1714 ?

by François Vallat, Docteur Vétérinaire, Docteur en Histoire, Adel. francoisvallat@hotmail.com

This article contents a brief review of a rinderpest outbreak that occurred in the vicinity of London in 1714, followed by a report and some comments on the measures recommended by Thomas Bates to control the epizootic and whereby the disease was eradicated within a few months. A translation in French of the main sections (pages 873 to 885) of the original report of Bates entitled A brief account of the contagious disease which raged among the Milch Cowes near London, in the year 1714. And of the methods that were taken for suppressing it. Communicated to the Royal Society by Thomas Bates Esq., Surgeon to His Majesties Houshold [sic], and R.S.S. is added.

Bull.soc.fr.hist.méd.sci.vét., 2006, 6 : 40-51