the 
VOL. XIV, No. 160.] APRIL 1841. [New Series, No. 100. 
ON THE PREVAILING DISEASE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, 
AND SWINE; 
Being a Better by Professor Dick, of the Veterinary College , 
J Edinburgh , addressed to his Pupils. 
Edinburgh Veterinary College, 
21st January, 1841. 
IN consequence of numerous inquiries from many of my former 
pupils regarding the murrain, and the difficulty of devoting a 
sufficient portion of time to answer every individual at length, I 
have been induced to give the following statement as a general 
reply to the questions which have been put to me. 
I am glad to be able to state that the murrain is a less formida- 
ble disease than has generally been represented ; at least, such 
has been the case with it so far as it has fallen under my notice. 
It appears to be a slight influenza or catarrh, attended with 
blisters about the nostrils, upper lip, tongue, and gums, some- 
times also upon the teats and about the heels, and especially at 
the interdigital space in front, above and between the hoofs. 
The blisters break in about twenty-four hours. In the mouth 
the cuticle peels off, but is reproduced in about three or four 
days ; on the other parts the serum contained in the blisters 
escapes, and a dry scab is soon formed, which, when the animal 
is properly treated, falls off and leaves the skin healed beneath, 
and the animal is quite well in about a week. There is little, if 
any, fever, the pulse commonly ranging from 50 to 0*0. The re- 
spiration is not affected, but the appetite is considerably impaired, 
more, however, apparently from the state of the mouth, than 
from any functional or structural derangement. 
VOL. XIV. A a 
