ABSTRACTS
93
all these teats, the glass electrode was used in estimated
pH. The authors conclude that sterility is not of ten
to an acid reaction in the vagina. [J. B. P.]
determination and clinical correlation of
iations in the calcium, inorganic phosphorus,
serum proteins of horse blood. A. HENRY
AIGE, Jr. and JOHN. D. GADD. (1941). Amer.
vet. Res. 2, 227-256
ER a general review of literature on the calcium,
organic phosphorus and protein contents of normal horse
d as also the changes they undergo under variovs osteo-
rophic disease conditions, the authors proceed to give
r own findings and interpret the clinical variations
respect to various factors, such as age, sex, breed,
on, pregnancy and diseased conditions, etc. They
d hat the period allowed to elapse between the time
collection of blood and its chemical examination, had
effect on the inorganic phosphorus, calcium, and
ein values. If, however, the serum is separated soon
r the blood gets clotted, there is little change observed
ese values. Sex difference has got no influence on
ical composition of blood. Mares in foal and those
ntly delivered showed distinct variations from the non-
nant mares, specially in the serum protein values. In
nant mares, the total protein was high and the albu-
: lobulin (A:G) ratio was considerably low, averag-
0.8 as compared with 1.3, the average for males and
pregnant females. With respect to calcium, there
a definite tendency towards hypocalcemia during the
stage of pregnancy when the fetus was making strong
ands on the dam for calcium to promote ossification.
ganic phosphorus showed little alterations.
Age definitely lowers the inorganic phosphorus of blood.
foalsless than three months old, the average is 7.1 mg/
c.c. This average receded with advancing age to a
imum of 3.1 mg/100 c.c. for horses over five years old.
he case of pregnant mares, the value is still less for the
half of the year which exceeds the minimum (3.1)
in during the second half. Age does not appear to
any influence on the serum calcium values, average
g 12.2 mg/100 c.c. In the case of total serum pro-
, foals less than three months old showed a signifi-
ily low average (5.1), while for animals above this
the average was 6.1 gm./100 c. c. The A:G ratio
ie highest in the youngest group (below three
ths:1.7) reaching a constant average value (1.3) for
nals above six months through an intermediate value
for animals between three and six months).
Seasons, too, have their effects. The total serum
ein showed a distinct gradual rise and fall from one
on to another. In June and February the highest
Is were obtained. A similar trend was observed
he level of total calcium. From a high level in July,
average calcium value sinks in August to rise gra-
ly to another high point in November, while the
eins remain relatively constant until October. The
'age inorganic phosphorus in five year old horses,
males and pregnant and non-pregnant females,
aled a constant rise from a minimum of 2.8 mg/100
in March to a peak of 3.9 in July. Thence it gra-
lly receded to 3.3 by September. A further reduction
encountered only in winter. Feeding had also slight
t, especially on the calcium values.
Based on an idea that the variations in calcium and
phorus values are to a significant extent the result
nteractions among calcium, phosphorus and protein,
authors have suggested an equation, viz. Ca ++ + 0.4
P—Cage=Fv, where Ca ++ and phosphorus (inorganic)
arc expressed as mgs/100 c. c of serum; Cage is a cons-
tant varying with the age of the horse (table given); and
Fv, the result, is normally 0 and Ca
has been calcula-
ted from the figures for total calcium and protein accord-
ing to the formula of Me Lean and Hastings (1935 Amer.
J. Med. Set 189, 601) in order to coordinate the results of
calcium, phosphorus and protein analyses run simultaneou-
sly as an aid in indentifying primary disturbances in
the blood calcium and phosphorus.
Cases with acute bone lesions (e. g. acute arthritis,
fracture) revealed a high incidence of blood calcium
and phosphorus deficiency the latter showing a greater
variation. In subacute cases (e.g. subacute periostitis
and ostitis), however, these effects were progressively less
pronounced. Chronic bone lesions (eg. ringbones, spavins
and other oxostoses of chronic nature) were rarely asso-
ciated with calcium and phosphorus deficits in the blood.
From the study of clinical subjects with diseases of the
soft tissues, a distinct tendency toward slight hypocalce-
mia was observed in respiratory cases (eg. bronchitis,
pulmonary emphysema); and diarrhoea was associated
with marked reduction in the blood levels of both calcium
and phosphorus. Hypocalcemia, on the other hand, was
never encountered in connection with symptoms of tetany,
etc. [B. N. M]
Observation on the longevity of the liver fluke,
Fasciola Gigantica, in cattle. JOSEPH E.
ALICATA, AND LEONARD E, SWANSON
Amer J. vet. Res. 2., 417-18
THE authors carried out experiments on the longevity
of liver fluke, F. gigantica, and concluded that these
flukes are usually eliminated by the end of one year, but
in certain cases they may persist for even three years and
four months.
Five steers of weaning age were selected from an area
known to be free from fluke infection in cattle. These
steers were given 800 encysted metacercariae of F. gigan-
tica in gelatiue capsule. Faeces samples were examined
for fluke eggs every three to six months. Eggs started to
appear in the faeces from the third month and continued
to pass in large numbers for 16 months. There after, a
marked decrease was observed in the number of eggs
passed. One animal slaughtered at this time had no mature
flukes. By the end of the second year, two infected steers
showed no evidence of fluke ova in their faeces. In the
remaining two, a few ova persisted in their faeces till
they were slaughtered, the first at 37 months and the
second at 40 months. [S. K. C.]
Semen studies in the bull. R. W. DOUGHERTY and
HP.EWALT(1941). Amer. J. vet. Res. 2,418-26
IN this article the authors have described the prelimi-
nary results of their studies on bull semen. The routine
semen examination included 645 samples obtained from
103 bulls which were mostly herd sires and experimental
animals. Four hundred and seventy-eight samples were
obtained with an artificial vagina and 158 from the penis
of the bulls following dismounting after service; the rest
were taken by rectal massage, from the ampuli of a slau-
ghter house specimen and from the vagina of cows immedi-
ately after service. Artificial insemination work was
also undertaken to correlate the laboratory findings of
the semen studies with actual breeding efficiency. For
this work, 7 herd sires and 75 dairy cows of three diffe-
rent breeds were used. An artificial vagina was used to