Murrain
Umbrella term for deadly disease, especially of livestock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The word "murrain" /ˈmʌrɪn/[1] (like an archaic use of the word "distemper") is an antiquated term covering various infectious diseases affecting cattle and sheep.[2] The word originates from Middle English moreine or moryne, in parallel to Late Latin morina ("plague"), a probable derivative of Latin mori ("to die").[3][4]
The word "murrain", much like the word "pestilence", did not refer to a specific disease but rather served as an umbrella term for what veterinary science now recognises as a number of different diseases with high morbidity and mortality, such as rinderpest, erysipelas, foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, and streptococcus infections. Some of these livestock diseases can also affect humans. The term "murrain" also referred to an epidemic of such a disease.
There were major sheep- and cattle-murrains in Europe during the 14th century, which, combined with the Little Ice Age, resulted in the Great Famine of 1315–1317, weakening the population of Europe before the onset of the Black Death in 1348.[5]
Biblical references
The term murrain is also used in some Bible translations relating to the fifth plague brought upon Egypt. [6]
Exodus 9:3: "Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain."
"Pestilence", which is mentioned 47 times in 46 verses of the Bible, can be translated "murrain" by Christian apologists. [Enhanced Strong's Lexicon]. see Psalms 91:3 KJV
The word in Hebrew is דֶּבֶר "dever" (Strong's #01698), derived from the primitive root "dabar" in the sense of "to destroy."
Superstitions
In some parts of Scotland, force-fire was believed to cure it. In some remote regions of Cumbria, England, and the Isle of Man, murrain is still used as a term for a curse, specifically one placed upon land or livestock. It is believed that the medieval term has, by a process of syncreticism become synonymous with witchcraft.[7] This usage inspired the ATV television play, Murrain, written by Manxman Nigel Kneale, which was broadcast on 27 July 1975 as part of the channel's Against the Crowd drama strand.
Distemper among cattle in England, 1745–1757
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1745 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to enable His Majesty to make Rules, Orders, and Regulations, more effectually to prevent the spreading of the Distemper which now rages amongst the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom. |
| Citation | 19 Geo. 2. c. 5 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 13 February 1746 |
| Commencement | 17 October 1745[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by |
|
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1746 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to continue, explain, and amend, an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, "An Act to enable His Majesty to make Rules, Orders, and Regulations, more effectually to prevent the spreading of the Distemper which now rages amongst the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom." |
| Citation | 20 Geo. 2. c. 4 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 5 February 1747 |
| Commencement | 18 November 1746[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1745 |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1749 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to continue several Laws, for preventing the spreading of the Distemper which now rages amongst the Horned Cattle, and for empowering His Majesty to prohibit the killing of Cow-Calves. |
| Citation | 23 Geo. 2. c. 23 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 April 1750 |
| Commencement | 16 November 1749[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1751 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to continue, explain, and amend, several Laws, more effectually to prevent the spreading of the Distemper which now rages amongst the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom. |
| Citation | 25 Geo. 2. c. 31 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 March 1752 |
| Commencement | 14 November 1751[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1754 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to continue several Laws, relating to the Distemper now raging among the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom. |
| Citation | 27 Geo. 2. c. 14 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 6 April 1754 |
| Commencement | 15 November 1753[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1755 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to continue several Laws relating to the Distemper now raging among the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom. |
| Citation | 28 Geo. 2. c. 18 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 April 1755 |
| Commencement | 14 November 1754[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Distemper Amongst Cattle Act 1757 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act more effectually to prevent the spreading of the Distemper now raging among the Horned Cattle in this Kingdom. |
| Citation | 30 Geo. 2. c. 20 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 June 1757 |
| Commencement | 2 December 1756[a] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
| Repealed by |
|
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
In those years, acts of the Parliament of Great Britain were passed to "more effectually to prevent the spreading of distemper which now rages amongst the horned cattle in this kingdom".[8]
For at least a dozen years, 1745-1757, a murrain made such tragic inroads upon the cattle of England that the virtual extinction of entire herds was frequently recorded. Within the period of greatest mortality, at least half a million cattle perished from the disease or were killed by official orders.[9]
— The Cattle Distemper in Mid-Eighteenth-Century England, Charles F. Mullett, Department of History, University of Missouri
Notes
- Start of session.
