Murrain

Murrain is a term historically used to describe a fatal epidemic disease affecting livestock, particularly cattle. It was not a specific diagnosis but rather a general description of a widespread and deadly pestilence that could decimate herds. The causes of murrain were poorly understood in earlier times and were often attributed to divine displeasure, bad air, or miasma. Symptoms could vary but often included fever, weakness, respiratory distress, and death within a short period. Outbreaks of murrain had significant economic and social consequences, leading to food shortages and the ruin of farmers. Throughout history, various regions experienced devastating murrain epidemics. While modern veterinary science has identified specific diseases like rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease that might have been referred to as murrain, the term itself is now largely obsolete in scientific contexts, replaced by more precise terminology. However, it persists in older literature and in some cultural references.