1<':2 REPORT ON MURRAIN. 



REPORT ON MURRAIN. 



By George Armatage, V.S., Pensher, by Fence Houses. 



Premium — the Gold Medal. 



Murrain — or, as it has been variously denominated panzootic 

 aphtha, and epizootic aphtha by continental writers ; exzema 

 epizootica of Professor Siniinonds ; and in the vernacular, foot and 

 mouth complaint ; epidemic ; the blister, &c, &c. — is an exan- 

 thematous or eruptive febrile disease of horned cattle, possess- 

 ing contagious characters, by which it is capable of propagation 

 and communication to man under certain circumstances, and 

 most other animals. 



Like all diseases of similar characters which appear in man 

 and the lower animals, murrain is considered liable to attack an 

 individual only once in its lifetime ; this, however, is erroneous, 

 as well authenticated instances prove that animals have suf- 

 fered more than once from its effects, but as a rule not by any 

 means so severely, although exposed to influences of a specially 

 extreme character. 



Its contagious and infectious properties are truly verified in 

 the numberless instances in which the symptoms are so speedily 

 exhibited in cattle on farms where others are introduced la- 

 bouring under the affection, horses, pigs, dogs, and even 

 fowls* not escaping ; and by the rapidity with which it is 

 communicated from one herd to another in the vicinity. This 

 depending — as in all highly contagious diseases — upon the 

 blood being primarily affected through absorbtions by the lungs, 

 or mucous surfaces, innoculation, &c, which developes a poison 

 the true nature of which is unknown, and communicable by 

 the natural secretions, or resulting diseased products in its 

 true type to other animals. The poison of aphthous disease, 

 no matter how conveyed, is not only very delicate, but per- 

 manent in its general characters, as evidenced by the fact that 

 animals become affected when turned upon pastures or into 

 byres where diseased cattle have not been for some consider- 

 able time. 



The distinguishing characters of murrain are, however, vari- 

 able in their intensity ; at times being comparatively mild, at 

 others virulent ; and as such it has been styled " malignant 

 epidemic " by older writers — Government being aroused by its 

 nature and tendencies to issue its first legislative enactment with 

 reference to it in March, 1745. But within the past twenty 

 years, although it has prevailed to such an extent, that the three 

 kingdoms may be said to have never been free, it has doubtless 



* Veterinarian, September, 1864, p. 661. 



