Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/268

246] M U R increases rapidly, is often succeed- ed by delirium, and has sometimes proved fatal. The mumps being a disease which commonly terminates with- out danger, it is scaicely necessary to specify any remedies. The principal requisite is, to keep the head and face warm, to avoid tak- ing cold, and to regulate the bowels by the mildest couling laxatives.— 'But, should the tumor in the neck suddenly vanish, and the in- ilammacor_v fever increase, so as to induce an ap<prehcnsion.that the brain will be affecT:ed, it will be advisable to promote and reproduce the swelling by warm fomenta- tions j and, to obviate the fatal consequences that may result from its sudden repression, by means of tmetics, veneseftion, or blisters, according to the nature of the case. MUXDIC, or Maecasite, a species of copper-pyrites found in the tin-mines of Cornwall, and in other parts of the world. It is of various colours, being sometimes yellow, green, or white ; but Is easily distinguished by its glitter- ing, and frequently contains a considerable portion of copper. The steams of this mineral are very offensive to the miners ; they are, however, reputed to be a good vulnerary, and are the only remedy employed by the labourers in tin-mines, who wash their wounds in the water which runs from the mundic-ore. MURRAIN, a contagious dis- ease incident to cattle ; it is known by the animals hanging down their heads, which are swollen ; by short and hot breatlnng; palpita- tion of the heart ; staggering ; an abundant secretion of viscid mat- ter in the eyes ; rattling in the tJiioat J and a shining tongue. MUS The murrain is occasioned by various pauses, but principally by a hot, dry season, or a general cor- ruption of the air ; in consequence of which, the blood becomes in- flamed ; the symptoms above stat- ed speedily appear ; and, if no pre- cautions be taken, the disease sud- denly proves fatal. It raged about the middle of the last century in, various parts of the Continent, and carried off great numbers of cattle. The remedy then employed, both for its prevention and cure, con- sisttd in a mixture of equal parts of gunpowder, salt, soot, and brim- stone : one spoonful of this com- position was given for . a dose, and washed down with warm water. In the SGth vol. of Jnnah of Agriculture, the following recipe is inserted for the murrain in hogs : A handful of nettles is to be pre- viously boiled in a gallon of small- beer, when half a pound of flour of sulphur, a quarter of a pound of elecampane, three ounces of liquorice, and a quarter of a pound of aniseeds, are to be added in a pulverized state. This preparation should be administered in milk, and the quantity here stated, is said to be sufficient for six doses. But the most effettual preven- tive of this destructive contagion is, to keep the cattle cool'during the summer, and to allow them a sufficiency of water : all carrion should be speedily buried ; and as the feeding of those useful ani- mals in wet places, or on rotten grass or hay, frequently causes this malady, their food ought to consist of dry and sweet fodder. — See also Distemper. MUSCLE, or Mussel, Mytilus, L. in ichthyology, a genus of shell- fish, coiiaisling of several species j the