120
Fluorine Intoxication of Cattle in India
of blood inorganic phosphorus are likewise not uniform. Thus, in some observations the
phosphorus value shows a tendency to rise [Phillips, 1932 in heifers], in others.to decline
[Pavlovic: and Bogdanovic, 1932 in dogs], and in few others to remain unaffected [Hauck
et al, 1933 in rats; Lny and Thormahlen, 1932 in cattle]. It should, however, be stressed that
the fluctuations in either serum calcium or phosphorus reported by various workers are, very
slight and it is doubtful whether such changes are significant. In Part I of this series [Majum-
dar et al. 1943], it has been shown that no changes in serum calcium and phosphorus could be
recorded in the field cases of fluorosis. The changes in phosphorus content in the blood of
calves are interesting, as it brings to light some influence of fluorine on phosphorus metabolism
in growing animals, but as all the figures were well within the normal range of values given
for blood phosphorus, such changes cannot be considered to indicate aphosphorosis.
Phosphatase
Like haemoglobin and red cells, the phosphatase value of serum was found to be great-
ly affected by fluorine feeding. In both adult and young animals, the values at the end
of the experimental period were greatly diminished. In calves, however, the trend was
not uniform; at first it showed a sharp rise but after a month started to decline and the
final value fell significantly lower than the initial figures. Phillips [1932] observed, a simi-
lar rise in phosphatase content in heifers on feeding fluorine, but as his experiments were
not continued for long, the decline observed in the present experiments was not recorded.
It was interesting to observe in adult animals that aluminium supplements helped to delay
the decline in serum phosphatase, and the final value was also not significantly lower than
the initial figures.
High serum phosphatase is a manifestation of rapid growth of bones. The increased
initial phosphatase concentration, therefore, points to growth-promoting activity of fluorine
compounds on bony tissues. The formation of extensive deposits on the long bones support
this theory. In course of time, due to the poisonous effects of fluorites, the osteoblasts are
degenerated, resulting thereby in a diminished bone formation which is reflected in the
lowering of phosphatase content in the serum. Histological examination of bony materials
also supports this hypothesis, as extensive degeneration of osteoblasts has been found to
occur in fluorosis [Pande, 1944].
SUMMARY
A severe anaemia with low red cell count and haemoglobin was produced in animals
suffering from chronic fluorine intoxication.
Serum calcium and blood inorganic phosphorus in adult animals were not affected by
fluorine feeding. In growing animals, the blood phosphorus showed an initial fall and then
remained more or less steady during an experimental period of one year.
Serum phosphatase content was greatly diminished in fluorosis, and the significance of
this is discussed.
Fluorine ingestion at the level of 3 mg. per kg. body-weight seemed to have little
effect on the concentration of the other constitutents examined. A. trend towards increased
value in the case of chlorides and creatinine was observed; but the final values all lay within
the normal ranges found for cattle.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Our thanks are due to Dr K.C. Sen, Officer-in-charge, Animal Nutrition Section for
his helpful criticism and guidance.
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