An outbreak of rinderpest occurred in Britain in 1865 following the importation of diseased cattle from Estonia. Serious economic and long-lasting political consequences resulted from the epizootic, which occurred at the height of the Victorian 'golden age' of farming. It lasted two years in England, but only one in Scotland, where it did not affect the Highlands and islands. Rinderpest or cattle plague is caused by a viral infection that spreads swiftly in susceptible herds, a survival rate in 1865 of 20-30% being a good average in Britain. 2 It arose prior to the beginning of the development of germ theory, when the causes of epidemic disease were disputed, and belief in miasma as well as contagion as causal factors persisted. Effective control measures similar to those used in epizootics today were eventually imposed by the Privy Council.This study is concerned with the ecclesiastical response to the epizootic, in particular in Scotland. In it an attempt is made to look beyond the more tangible facts and results of the plague outbreak to the attitudes and beliefs of people affected, as reflected in one form of cultural activity. Such elements are equally valid subjects of historical enquiry, 3 which in this case have been relatively neglected.
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