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366 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, IV
DISCUSSION
In 1933, Minett, Stableforth and Edwards demonstrated the possibility of
assembling a herd of cows free from Str. agalactiæ infection. The initial incidence
of infection in the herd concerned (Herd B), which contained 49 cows, was 24.5
per cent, and in 1933 infection had been absent for about three-and-a-half years.
At the present date the herd is still free.
In 1933, control work was also proceeding in the six herds now being discussed.
It was hoped that by the use of similar measures it would be possible to eradicate
the disease from these herds or, at least, to reduce the number of new infections to
such a point that, with the normal disposal of animals as they got older, final
elimination would be in sight.
In Herd I our hopes have been realised, since it has now been free from infec-
tion for nearly three years. Herds A, C, J and K on the other hand have
continued to show new infections, although in all four herds the proportion has
steadily fallen whilst the size of the herds has increased. With Herds J and K a
number of circumstances have probably contributed to the failure to effect eradica-
tion. Thus, the intervals between herd tests had to be prolonged to about six
months, post-calving samples were not examined, and freshly drafted cows were
not examined at once, and, finally, it was impossible in some cases to remove
infected animals to the separate farm for some weeks or months.
With Herds A and C there were several factors which increased the difficulties
of control. Firstly, although the owners had prescribed strict precautionary
measures for preventing spread of disease, a large infected section had to be main-
tained in the same or neighbouring sheds. Although it is difficult to see how
the precautions taken could have been improved, the results, in conjunction with
those of Herd I, suggest that the procedure of keeping infected and non-infected
cows in the same or adjoining sheds is less satisfactory than the total removal
of infected cows. This accords with the view of Seelemann [1933], that unless
infected cows can be quickly evacuated, the removal of infection by suitable
treatment is in most cases a valuable and perhaps essential aid to eradication.
Secondly, in both herds the retention of Str. agalactiæ infected cows has helped
to keep up the size of the infected group. Thus, in Herd A, there has been a large
number of cases of clinically evident mastitis due to streptococci other than Str.
agalactiæ, apparently arising in a sporadic manner. The Str. agalactiæ infections,
on the other hand, were insignificant clinically, and it was not to be expected,
therefore, that the owner would evacuate these in preference to the more obviously
affected animals. In Herd C, it is to be noted that many infected cows were re-
tained much longer than they would have been under ordinary circumstances
to their high pedigree breeding value.
In Herds A and C the results at first appear to be disappointing. When
the data are analysed, however, the results are less discouraging than they appear,
STUDIES ON BOVINE MASTITIS
367
for the following reasons. It should be noted that in 1932 the laboratory control
was made more strict and, also, that a selective enrichment medium was introduced
capable of detecting very small numbers of streptococci in milk. The considerable
increase in the number of new infections revealed in Herds A and C in 1932 may
thus be accounted for. It follows at the same time that the incidence of infection
prior to 1932 was probably higher than is represented by the figures given. Sub-
sequent to 1932 the number of new infections fell, although not so much as was
anticipated. In both herds a large number of new infections—mostly with non-
hæmolytic Str. agalactiæ—were diagnosed solely by means of the enrichment
medium and such animals were practically always giving normal milk. In a few
cases chronic infections developed later or an obvious mastitis associated with
large numbers of streptococci, but in nearly all cases infection was shown at one
test and not at subsequent tests. In practice, however, such cows were always
treated as infected and they appear as such in the tables, so long as they were
still present in the herd. Thus, although the infected sections appear large in
these two herds, many of the cows therein are not in fact infected at the present
date. On the other hand, most of the cases which were diagnosed by direct
plating of milk deposits have shown persisting infections. It should be said,
finally, that the streptococci concerned in the transient infections mentioned were
typical Str. agalactiæ biochemically and serologically and in some instances have
been found capable of producing a chronic infection when injected into the udder
of goats experimentally via the teat canal.
The experience in Herds A and C is of particular interest in establishing
the fact that Str. agalactiæ is capable of setting up transient self-healing infections
which can only be detected by the most stringent bacteriological tests. Since
most of such infections were diagnosed by the enrichment medium only, there
is some reason for regarding the use of an enrichment medium as superfluous
for the control of the disease in practice.
Herd L remains for comment. This, it will be remembered, was formed
from freshly-calved heifers and hence was expected to remain entirely free from
Str. agalactiæ. As already stated, however, one heifer was found to be infected
at her first test and two others subsequently became infected. Nevertheless,
the disease is well under control and, although it is still too soon to conclude that
infection will not appear later, the incidence of infection amongst these animals,
most of which are now in their second or third lactation, need only be compared
with that shown in Table 6 to realise that where chronic mastitis is at all prevalent
the formation of a separate heifer herd is a measure of the greatest value.
Emphasis has been laid in another article [Stableforth, 1935] on the practicability
of forming a separate herd from young animals and the value of this procedure
in protecting them from infection with other chronic contagious diseases besides
mastitis.
368 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, IV
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
An account is given of attempts in six herds to control chronic mastitis due
to Str. agalactiæ. Latent infections were diagnosed by making cultural tests of
the milk in blood agar plates or in a selective enrichment medium, these methods
being supplemented by taking the chemical reaction of the milk and by noting
the amount and character of the centrifuge sediment. These tests were made at
three- to six-monthly intervals and in three herds also shortly after calving.
Infected animals were milked after the healthy ones either in the same shed or in
another shed on the same premises, or they were removed to another farm and
milked by different attendants.
One herd (I) in which the original incidence of infection was 55 per cent
has now been free for three years, a contributing result being the early sale of
most of the infected cows. In three others (C, J and K) in which the original
incidence was 40, 30 and 53 per cent respectively, the number of new infections
has decreased during four to five years to 9.3, 7 and 7.8 per cent respectively
in 1935. Herd L under the same ownership as Herds J and K was built up early
in 1933 from freshly-calved heifers and is at present free. In Herd A, the
incidence and numbers of new infections were at first low ; the number of new
infections rose in 1932, but since then has steadily fallen to 5 . 3 per cent in 1935.
The results are discussed in the light of the conditions prevailing in each
herd and of the degree of control that could be exercised. For instance, in Herds
J and K, although a separate isolation farm was used, the interval between tests
could not be less than six months. In Herds A and C infected cows were kept
in the same shed as the healthy or in sheds on the same premises, but in both
herds, for reasons given, infected cows were retained far longer than would nor-
mally have been the case. Actually in Herds J, K, A and C the results are
more encouraging than they appear. Thus, in general the new infections due to
Str. agalactiæ have been insignificant clinically. Also, the real incidence of infection
is at present less than the above statement implies because many cows, in which
infection was diagnosed only by means of the enrichment medium and on one
occasion only, have now been free from infection for at least two years although
in practice they are still regarded as infected.
The experience in the present herds and in Herd B of the previous paper
[1933] justify the following conclusions :—
(1) Eradication of contagious streptococcus mastitis may be achieved under
certain conditions by the simple expedient of segregating infected cows, or, if that
is not possible, by milking them last. The chances of success, however, are
greatly increased if infected cows can be evacuated within a reasonable time.
When this cannot be done, infusion of the infected udder with a suitable bacterid-
cidal agent should prove a useful aid.
STUDIES ON BOVINE MASTITIS
369
(2) Whilst Str. agalactiæ in nearly all cases leads to permanent infection, it
occasionally causes transient infections detectable only by the use of enrichment
media.
(3) Experience has shown that the disease does not arise sporadically once
all known sources of infection are removed. New infections must, therefore, be
due to errors in milking or to deficiencies in methods of diagnosis.
(4) The formation where possible of a separate heifer herd is a measure of
the greatest value.
REFERENCES
Edwards, S. J. (1932). J. Comp. Path. Therap., 45, 43 ; Ibid. (1933) 46, 211.
—.
(1930). Proc. R. Soc. Med., 24, 1369.
Krage, P., and Gipmann, W. (1931). Arch. wiss. prakt. Tierhk. 63, 65.
Minett, F. C., Stableforth, A. W., and Edwards, S. J. (1929). J. Comp. Path. Therap.
42, 213 ; Ibid. (1932), 45, 1; Ibid. (1933), 46, 131.
Plastridge, W. N., Anderson, E. O., White, G. C., and Rettger, L. F. (1934). Storrs
Agric. Exp. Stn., Connecticut, Bull. 197.
Preuss. Landwtsch. Min. (1934). Bull. 16.
Seddon, H. R., and Rose, A. L. (1934). Aust. Vet. J., 10, 3.
Seelemann, M. (1932). " Die Streptokokkeninfektionen des Euters." M. & H. Schaper,
Hannover.
—(1933).
Deuts. tier. Woch., 41, 337.
Seelemann, M., and Hadenfeldt, A. (1933). Milchwirtsch. Forsch., 16, 101.
Stableforth, A. W. (1932). J. Comp. Path. Therap., 45, 185.
—.
(1935). Vet. Rec., 47 (N. S. 15), 189.
K
ABSTRACTS
Reproductive Hormone Therapy in Domestic Animals. G. H. HART AND
H. H. COLE (1936). J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assn., 88, 12-23.
The authors have demonstrated the possibilites of harnessing the hormones which
control the physiological process of reproduction in mammals for therapeutic
application in correcting dysfunction of reproductive organs in both sexes in our
domestic animals. The hormones concerned in reproduction are Gonadotropic
hormone, Oestrin, Corporin, Male-sex hormone and Prolactin. Most of these
hormones are ineffective when administered orally, as they are rendered biologically
inactive in the gastro-intestinal tract.
The gonadotropic hormone is indicated in cases of impotency in males of any
species of Mammalia as well as in females that fail to come in heat. This hormone is
obtainable from the blood serum of pregnant mares from 37th to 200th day of preg-
nancy and from the urine of pregnant women. The authors used pregnant mare serum
in their studies as in this material there is no danger of anaphylaxis in other species
and no loss of potency in storage. This serum is readily standardized to a concentra-
tion of from 50 to 100 Rat units per cubic centimetre and it is very constant in the
relative amounts of follicle-stimulating and luteinising principles. One rat unit is the
amount that will produce from three to ten mature follicles in each of six immature
female rats and half of which amount will fail to produce a vaginal smear of oestrum
in a second group of six rats.
In ewes and sows 100 to 250 R. U. are sufficient and in the male, approximately
double the dose for females is recommended. 750 R. U. are required to produce a
physiological reaction in cows and mares. The authors claim good results by the use
of this hormone on a stallion, boar and bull that were impotent. In wild animals
in captivity, unresponsive males served their mates as early as 24 hours after injec-
tion.
Oestrin, now available on the market, in sufficient dosage stimulates the uterine
musculature to most marked rhythmic contractions and for this reason can be used in
causing the evacuation of the uterine contents in cases of pyometra and in increasing
the epithelial cell activity in chronic metritis and vaginitis. The authors have not
given any data regarding the indications and responses of Corporin and male-sex hor-
mone.
Prolactin, also available in the market, is indicated in bitches or females of
other species that fail to produce milk following parturition. However, this hor-
mone has no place in increasing the normal milk flow of a lactating cow.
The authors remark that interesting and valuable results can be expected from
the use of these products as therapeutic agents when the product to be used is care-
fully selected and judicially applied. [P. R. K.]
( 370 )
372 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, IV
Ephedralin, in a 9 c.c. dose, administered once subcutaneously produced similar
results. Of the above treated animals, 15 cows, and three oxen are stated to have been
cured, while 10 cows and one ox had to be slaughtered.
The histopathological details, and the clinical symptoms described are in confor-
mity with what is already known. [S. C. A. D.]
A new toxicant occurring naturally in certain samples of plant foodstuffs:
IX. Toxic effects of orally ingested selenium. KURT W. FRANKE AND
VAN R. POTTER (1935). J. Nutrition 10, 213-221.
X. The effect of feeding toxic foodstuffs in varying amounts, and for
different time periods. KURT W. FRANKE (1935), 10, 223-230.
IX. Sodium selenite when fed to rats in doses corresponding to 22.3, 33.5 and
52.1 parts of selenium per million of a control wheat diet, developed symptoms of
poisoning practically identical with those produced by the natural plant poison
found associated with the protein fraction of some cereals. High levels of haemoglo-
bin prior to a certain critical period (the ninth to seventeenth day of the experiment)
followed usually by a distinct tendency towards anemia, voluntary restriction
of food intake adversely affecting the rate of growth and profound pathological
changes in the liver, spleen, kidneys and sometimes in the reproductive organs,
are some of the main symptoms of selenium poisoning. The toxicity of selenium
depends upon its ionic combination and although it has not been definitely proved by
the authors that the toxicity of cereal grains is strictly proportional to their selenium
content, the results support the view that selenium is closely connected with the
natural toxicant.
X. Feeding experiments on rats with varying amounts of toxic grain have shown
that even a concentration of 17.5 per cent of it in the diet produced depression of
growth rates and caused deaths. As the percentage of toxic foodstuffs in the diet was
increased, the consumption of food by the animals decreased, followed by retardation
of growth rates, pathological lesions and deaths.
Rats kept on a diet containing toxic wheat for 30-, 20-, and 10-day periods re-
sumed normal growth when they were changed to a control diet of safe grain, but
the damage to the organs was never repaired. [A. C. R.]
CORRESPONDENCE
JOWAR (SORGHUM VULGARE) POISONING IN CATTLE
[The correspondence published below, regarding the article published in the
December (1935) issue of the Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal
Husbandry, on "Jowar (Sorghum vulgare) Poisoning in Cattle" by G. K.Sharma,
G.P.V.C., is of considerable practical importance. It is a well-authenticated
fact that the sorghums and a variety of other fodder plants, including certain
grasses, are poisonous to stock in certain circumstances. It is well, therefore,
that stock-owners should be warned of the danger and that veterinarians should
be informed of ready means of making an accurate diagnosis. From enquiries
made by the Director of Veterinary Services, Punjab, at the Hissar Farm, it
appears, however, that very large quantities of jowar have been fed to their
cattle for many years without mishap. The matter is, therefore, one in regard
to which an open mind should be kept but it is clear that the danger of
poisoning by such plants should not be lost sight of.—EDITOR.]
To
THE EDITOR,
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry.
SIR,
I notice with pleasure in the Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal
Husbandry, Vol. V. Part IV, December 1935, an article, " Jowar (Sorghum vulgare)
Poisoning in Cattle " by G.K.Sharma. G.P.V.C. An article of this kind is very
welcome to us of South India where the main fodder for cattle is jowar or jola,
as it is called. Apart from what grazing (which is sometimes very poor) the
cattle can pick up, they are fed on jola, ragi and paddy straws. During the grow-
ing season, however, green jola is fed in large quantities. So an article on this
subject is of special interest to Mysoreans and will have effects all over Mysore
State, if the advice is of real value. As I have been resident in Mysore State for
more than ten years, I venture to offer some remarks on jola for feeding to
stock.
I have been in charge of this Palace Dairy Farm for the past seven years
and can speak of personal experience in the matter. The average annual rainfall
for this Farm and the surrounding districts is about 30 in., some years more and
some years less. Mr. Sharma's article seems to have a special bearing on the
conditions here in that every year drought-conditions prevail, this dry weather
extending up to six and seven months, and the nature of the crop is conditioned
by the good or bad rains that were precipitated, the crop being sometimes very
stunted.
( 373 )
374 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, IV
Now, according to Mr. Sharma's article, " When there is scarcity of rain,
the formaldehyde by simple dehydration gives rise to prussic acid and water ",
which would lead to the inference that during droughty weather there is an abun-
dance of prussic acid in the jola plant, which makes it unsafe to feed to stock.
I have never heard, however, of serious casualties among cattle during this
period.
The chief fodder for the cattle at the Farm is jola which we grow during the
rains and is fed either green or as silage. There has never been a casualty so far
through feeding this fodder. On the contrary, it makes excellent green feeding
and silage, both of which maintain the milk-yield during times when there
is little or no grazing in the pastures. This jola fodder is cut when the flowers
open, i. e., when its feeding value is at its highest. The cattle relish it very much
and give good returns in milk.
A point of interest worth noting is that in Bangalore district the variety
of jola grown is the red or "khaki" jola, while that grown in Mysore district
and other parts of the State is the white variety, called " bili " jola, the botani-
cal species being the same. I have grown and fed green to stock both varieties
without any casualties, although the strength of the herd is over 320 head.
There seems to be a difference of opinion as to one variety being more poisonous
than the other. In any case even among the ryots, it is considered safe to feed
green jola to cattle when the flowering stage has been reached, when the jola is said
to have little or no prussic acid.
Another interesting point is that green jola can and has been fed to or grazed
by cattle before the flowering stage has been reached without grave results.
Noticing this feature I made enquiries of the local ryots as to why it is not danger-
ous to feed green jola before the flowering stage has been reached. The reply
given me by an old stager was that jola is safe to feed when one or more inter-
nodes have formed on the stalk, which is in reality quite a young stage. More-
over, young ratoon jola (second growth that comes after the crop has been cut)
has been grazed without dire results.
Experience in Mysore State shows that green jola can be fed safely to stock
even if the plants have become stunted through drought, a condition that has
been rather frequent within the past few years, in Mysore District alone. The
ryots from long tradition, which comes of experience, know that green jola is quite
safe to feed to stock. In fact, who has not commonly seen a ryot squatting on
the ground holding his cattle by the nose-strings and pushing the green jola stalks
from a bundle into the animals' mouths ? No harm comes to these animals.
This method of feeding is in fact to fatten and bring these animals into condi-
tion for show or sale purposes. The feeding of green jola thus shows that, contrary
to experiences in the Punjab, there is absolutely no danger, but rather a gain
in feeding this kind of fodder,
CORRESPONDENCE
375
We, in Mysore State and South India in general, will become extremely alarmed
if articles on sorghum poisoning should prohibit us from feeding stunted, green
jola to cattle. If there have been no casualties through feeding green jola, whe-
ther well-grown or stunted—in fact it is more general to see short, stunted jola
being grazed off rather than to permit it to ripen for harvest —it is not because
sulphur or some other antidote has been administered as a preventive for
cyanide-poisoning. The ryots' cattle will consider themselves extremely
fortunate if they get a lick of salt! Ryots as a rule are not given to spending money
on modern or western veterinary medicaments, simply because they cannot afford
it.
Why the Mysore cattle survive, even after eating green jola, seems to me a
special field for investigation by biological chemists. The climate and soil of Mysore
State will, in most probability, be one of a different nature from those prevail-
ing in the Punjab, but the climatic conditions here seem to be excellent for
cyanide poisoning according to the findings of Mr. Sharma.
In conclusion, I would like to say that until physiological and biological che-
mists and investigators can enlighten us more on the poisoning effects of hydro-
cyanic acid in green jola it seems to be safe for the Mysore ryots and animal
husbandrymen to carry on, as they have done in past ages, of feeding green jola to
their livestock, adopting the simple precautions of the past.
I shall be much obliged if you will kindly publish the above matter in your
next issue in order that it may alleviate any fears that animal husbandrymen may
be feeling regarding the feeding of green jola to cattle after reading the article
on jowar poisoning.
Rayankere Dairy Farm,
Yours, etc.
The Palace, Mysore,
P. MCISAAC, B.SC. (HONS.),
Dated 27th January, 1936.
PH. D. (EDIN.)
To
THE EDITOR,
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry.
SIR,
I am glad to receive the criticism on my paper " Jowar (Sorghum vulgare)
poisoning in cattle" by Dr. P. McIsaac.
Dr. McIsaac says that he has grown and fed green jola (Sorghum vulgare)
without any danger to the cattle of Palace Dairy Farm, Mysore. He further
adds that green jola can be fed to stock safely, even if the plants have become
stunted through drought.