84 THE FARMER'S 



fatal, preventive measures should never be lost 

 sight of. 



Murrain or Pest. 



These terms correspond with that of plague in 

 the human species, (and the diseases are said to 

 have a similar origin, to wit, in putrid miasmata,) 

 and like the plague is attended with boils or buboes. 

 The plagne of horned cattle is said to be of a pe- 

 culiar nature, and not communicable to other ani- 

 mals. Yet in a contagious disposition of the air, 

 it may chance that various species of animals may 

 be affected at the same time. The infection is first 

 denoted by a decrease of appetite, difficulty of 

 swallowing, shaking the head, hanging down of the 

 ears, and dulness of the eyes. Constant diarrhoea, 

 or scouring, foetid breath, nauseous steams from 

 the skin, infecting the surrounding air. The blood 

 Is florid, hot, and frothy, and the urine high col- 

 oured. Roof of the mouth ulcerated. Tumours 

 or biles are felt under the fleshy membrane of the 

 skin; eruptions all along the limbs, and about the 

 bags of the cows. Milk dries up suddenly. The 

 animals groan much, and are worse towards eve- 

 ning, mostly lying down. These symptoms con- 

 tinue increasing until the seventh day, in which, 

 generally, although sometimes protracted to the 

 ninth, the crisis or turn takes place. 



Dr. Darwin proposes, when this distemper 

 makes its appearance, to slaughter all the cattle 

 within five miles of the infected place, which ap- 

 pears to be a very harsh mode of proceeding; and 

 although " death's a cure that never fails," such 

 a remedy is commonly thought to be as bad ai= the 

 disease. Mr. Lawrence advises, on the appear- 



