rinderpest

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An acute, often fatal, contagious viral disease, chiefly of cattle, characterized by ulceration of the alimentary tract and resulting in diarrhea.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An acute infectious disease of cattle, appearing occasionally among sheep, and communicable to other ruminants. In western Europe the disease has prevailed from time to time since the fourth century in extensive epizoötics. From its home on the steppes of eastern Russia and central Asia it has been carried westward by the great migrations and later by the transportation of cattle. The losses in Europe have been enormous. Thus, in 1711-14 1,500,000 beeves are said to have perished, and in 1870-1 30,000 beeves in France alone. The infection (the precise nature of which has not yet been definitely determined) may be transmitted directly by sick animals or indirectly by manure, or by persons and animals going from the sick to the well. It may be carried a short distance in the air. Its vitality is retained longest in the moist condition. The disease, after a period of incubation of from three to six days, begins with high temperature, rapid pulse, and cessation of milk-secretion. This latent period is followed by a congestion of all the visible mucous membranes, on which small erosions or ulcers subsequently develop. About 90 per cent. of all attacked die in from four to seven days after the appearance of the disease. If the animal survives, one attack confers a lasting immunity.

Wiktionary

1. n. a contagious disease of ruminants and swine caused by an RNA virus of the genus Morbillivirus.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A highly contagious distemper or murrain, affecting neat cattle, and less commonly sheep and goats; -- called also cattle plague, Russian cattle plague, and steppe murrain.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an acute infectious viral disease of cattle (usually fatal); characterized by fever and diarrhea and inflammation of mucous membranes