An inflammatory disease of cattle and sheep (symptomatic anthrax), causing putrefaction in one or more of the quarters. Called also quarter-evil, black quarter, etc.
1797. Bailey & Gulley, View Agric. Northumb., 130. The loss of lambs is sometimes very considerable … from … the ‘quarter-ill.’
1834. Youatt, Cattle, 362. The first symptoms are those of quarter ill.
1855. Stephens, Book Farm (ed. 2), II. 185. Another effect of the same febrile affection in calves in autumn is the quarter ill or evil.
1881. W. Gregor, Folk-Lore, 186. When the quarter-ill made its appearance [etc.].
