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Home Extracts. 
On Murrain, or the Vesicular Epizootic. 
By Mr. Finlay Dun, Jun., V.S., Edinburgh , 
Lecturer on Materia Medica at the Edinburgh Veterinary School. 
(Premium — Ten Sovereigns.) 
[We may venture to predict, that our readers will feel themselves 
no less pleased and edified by the perusal of the following paper 
than they have already been by that of the large extracts we 
have made from the one, by the same author, on Pleuro-Pneu- 
monia in Cattle, in our Numbers for October and November 
last. — Ed. Vet.] 
The “ vesicular epizootic,” also known by the name of “ mur- 
rain,” or “ malignant epidemic murrain,” is not confined to cattle 
alone, but shews itself among the other cloven-footed domesti- 
cated animals, such as sheep, pigs, and goats. The horse and the 
dog are, however, exempt from its attacks. It appears to consist 
in a specific inflammation of the mucous membranes and skin, and 
is characterised by the appearance of vesicles, or little bladders, 
containing a colourless fluid, on the inside of the mouth, and on 
those parts of the skin uncovered by hair. It is attended by more 
or less constitutional fever. Although indicated, for the most part, 
by local symptoms, it is an affection of the whole system, as is 
clearly shewn by its propagation from the mother to the foetus, 
which is occasionally born with all the symptoms of the disease 
fully developed. 
The vesicular epizootic belongs to the class of exanthematous 
diseases, and exhibits, in a striking degree, most of their remark- 
able peculiarities. Hence it is accompanied and ushered in by 
febrile symptoms ; it passes through various and definite stages ; 
is attended by eruption ; seldom occurs more than once in a life- 
time ; is contagious ; its progress cannot be arrested ; and an inter- 
ference with its natural course is almost always productive of inju- 
rious consequences. 
The form in which the. disease is best known, and in which it 
lately appeared in this country, is that of an epizootic. It accord- 
ingly assumed several characteristic features ; it spread over large 
tracts of country, attacked at the same time many animals, pre- 
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