NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA
97
the innumerable native-owned cattle to, be controlled, rendered the task of
the Veterinary Department extremely difficult, and some emergency method of deal-
ing with the disease had to be devised. Fortunately the exceptional features descri-
bed suggested to the writer three methods of dealing with the disease, and these
were boldly and successfully adopted ; with the result that twenty months after the
appearance of the disease some 185,388 cattle having been inoculated, the disease
has been completely eliminated from the Colony—a notable achievement of which
the veterinary profession in that country has every reason to be proud.
The three methods advocated were :—
Method 1 :—The issue of standardised virus from the laboratory to be used by
officers in the field.
Method 2 :—The preparation of virus by veterinary officers in the field, in
accordance with the following directions :—From a naturally infected herd some
dozen hardy animals to be selected and kept under observation. These to be young
animals of " native " or Africander type, not too fat, thin, or suffering from any
" open" lesion. Their temperatures to be taken daily. On an elevation of
temperature indicative of foot-and-mouth disease, blood to be taken and
injected into the noses of the others. When these in turn reacted their
blood also to be drawn into separate bottles containing glycerine and citrate-saline
solution to make equal parts of each. The bottle containing the blood-virus
mixture to be kept in a cool dark place in order that piroplasms, trypanosomes and
other contaminants might die out. The donors to be watched and the blood from
any reacting severely to be discarded. The supplies from suitable reactors to be pooled
and 2½ c.c. of the pooled mixture to be injected into each nostril of the animal to be
inoculated. During the following fortnight the inoculated animals were not to be
driven or exposed to any severe condition and were to be regarded as infective to
healthy animals with which they came in contact.
It may be mentioned that as much as 1,500 c.c. of infective blood could be
taken from each bleeder and this mixed with preservative provided 4,500 c.cm. of
liquid containing virus.
Method 3 :—This was based upon the observation that infection could be
transmitted by close head-to-head contact. It was suggested that to hasten infec-
tion sick and healthy animals should be herded together in closest contact in kraals
for several days, and that, if possible, rock-salt or maize-meal should be put down
to encourage head-to-head contact.
The Report of the Chief Veterinary Surgeon for Southern Rhodesia for the
year 1932 has now been published and contains interesting information concerning
the application of these methods which have resulted in the elimination of foot-ard-
98 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, I.
mouth disease from Southern Rhodesia. Reports from his District Veterinary
Officers are included which show that the original directions were in some
cases slightly modified but that the general principles laid down were adhered
to, one or other of the methods being adopted. Generally speaking, the idea was to
" burn the disease out " instead of allowing it to smoulder indefinitely, and to
establish, belts of immune cattle between infected and clean areas. The Chief
Veterinary Surgeon states, " It was indicated in my report for 1931 that two of the
methods recommended by the Director of Veterinary Research, Mr. LI. E. W. Bevan,
for the rapid spread of infection in areas likely to become infected were adopted.
The direct contact method, that is, the introduction of diseased animals was carried
out on a large scale in the Victoria area with very satisfactory results. In all other
areas the intra-nasal method of inoculation was practised. The total number of
cattle inoculated during the year was 185,388. The results were extraordinarily
satisfactory, the reactions being invariably well marked, practically 100 per cent.,
excluding calves, and all signs of active infection had generally disappeared in less
than four weeks from the date of inoculation. In two instances only was there
any variation from the normal reactions ; in these, fresh cases of disease continued
to appear up to thirty days from the date of inoculation. Inoculation, of course,
cannot be successful unless a cattle-free belt is established between the area in which
it is being carried out and the surrounding clean country. The method usually
adopted was to concentrate the cattle for inoculation and, where feasible, move
cattle not in immediate contact with infection outwards, thus creating a cattle-free
belt, both sides of which were strongly guarded" Since the elimination of the
disease from Rhodesia it has appeared in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, where it
is being dealt with by the intra nasal method of inoculation slightly modified to
local conditions. According to the latest reports some 85,000 cattle have been
treated.
In the course of this unique experiment on an enormous scale, several interesting
observations were made by officers in the field. With regard to the duration of
immunity resulting from infection with the Rhodesian virus the Chief Veterinary
Surgeon states, "There is no doubt that it gives a complete immunity for a consider-
able period. This is demonstrated by the inoculation with proved virulent blood
of 266 head of transport oxen at the Nuanetsi Ranch which had been infected about
fourteen months previously. Not a single beast showed the slightest sign of a
reaction to the inoculation."
One officer presents evidence which indicates that calves born of cows shortly
after recovery from natural infection are immune. Concerning methods of dis-
semination of the disease in Rhodesia, experience has gone to prove the accuracy of
the earlier theories. The Chief Veterinary Surgeon writes :—" It can be stated with
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA
99
confidence that the great majority of outbreaks during the year were the result of
contact with diseased animals
There is no doubt that game, especially some
of the larger species, contract the disease readily, but there is no information as to
the course it pursues when a herd becomes infected
At the same time it is
evident that game cannot be a frequent cause of the dissemination of infection,
otherwise no measures would have prevented the greater part of the Colony becom-
ing involved."
Although numerous opportunities must have occurred to ascertain whether
recovered animals become " carriers " of infection, some 795,000 head of cattle
having contracted the disease naturally and a further 185,000 as the result of
inoculation, no instance of such a case has been recorded.
It is of interest to note that the Rhodesian virus was sent by the writer in
January, 1932, to the Weybridge Laboratory to be " typed". The first passage
through English cattle resulted in a severe reaction with characteristic lesions.
Also the resulting infection proved to be readily transmissible from animal to
animal. The viability of the virus outside the animal body and in body tissues
and on different substrata, appeared to be approximately the same as for European
viruses. In other words, with a single passage, the Rhodesian virus lost its local
characteristics. On the other hand, in Rhodesia the virus dose not appear to have
undergone any change or mutation in cattle, otherwise the inoculation process would
not have proved so successful.
NOTICE.
BIHAR AND ORISSA VETERINARY COLLEGE, PATNA.
The next session of the Bihar and Orissa "Veterinary College will commence
from the 1st July 1934.
1. Each candidate desiring admission should submit his application on the
prescribed form, together with the following certificates in original, so as to reach
the Principal on or before the 1st June 1934:—
(a) Age and moral character certificate from the Headmaster of the school
at which he last read.
(b) University certificate or a certificate from the School or University
authorities to show that he has passed the Matriculation Examina-
tion.
(C) Medical Certificate of fitness from an Assistant Surgeon.
(d) Letter from his guardian stating that all expenses incurred by his ward
during the latter's period of study at the college will be paid.
(e) Letter of identification from some well known person stating that the
candidate is known to him and that the statements made in the
application form are correct.
2. Each Government or District Board stipendiary should, in addition to the
above, produce a letter from the Director of Veterinary Services, Bihar and
Orissa, or from the Chairman, District Board concerned, to whom he should
apply in the first instance, stating that their selection as stipendiary has been
approved.
3. Preference will be given to candidates who have passed the I. A. or I. Sc.
Examination of a recognised University. A good knowledge of English is essential.
4. Non-stipendiary candidates will have to appear before the Governing Body
of the College when called for interview.
5. Fees must be. paid in advance according to the scale under rule 8 of the
college rules, the initial payment due at the time of admission being Rs. 35-8 only.
6. Candidates will reside in the college hostel from the date of their admission
unless specially exempted.
7. Admission forms may be had free on application to the Principal. Pro-
spectus will be supplied on receipt of Annas 4 for each copy required.
( 104 )
PLATE XVI.
CAPTAIN HUGH COOPER, M.R.C.V.S.
(Reproduced with the permission of the Editor, The Veterinary Record.)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
CAPTAIN HUGH COOPER, M.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., 1896-1933.
AN APPRECIATION.
(With Plate XVI)
It is with the greatest regret that we have to announce the death of Captain
Hugh Cooper, Pathologist, Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, on
the 6th December 1933 at Northwood, Middlesex.
The loss of an officer of his calibre and attainments will cause deep sorrow, and
his cheering energy and keen application to his work or play, will long be remember-
ed by his colleagues and those associated with him in his work at Muktesar, and also
by those members of his profession and others with whom he came in contact
throughout India.
We tender our most sincere sympathy to his widow and other relations. As a
fitting tribute to his character and courage we feel that we cannot do better than
associate ourselves with the appreciation published in the Veterinary Record, Decem-
ber 23rd, 1933 issue, which we reprint below :—
" The death of Hugh Cooper, recorded in your issue of last week, cuts short in
its prime a promising and useful life. For India, the country in which he had chosen
to spend his professional career, this loss must be regarded as a tragic one, for by
temperament and bearing he was eminently attuned to that environment, and the
large experience which he had been steadily gaining in the problems of animal
pathology peculiar to that country would have been of inestimable value when it
was duly placed on record in his more mature years from the massive collection of
documents and personal knowledge which he had accumulated on the subject during
a period of ten years' well-directed industry. The circumstances of his death display
the reactions of a gallant nature to the consciousness of a slowly impending doom, the
precise outcome of which was clear beyond doubt to his mind by the knowledge
gained in his own expert calling.
Born at Hampstead, on September 13th, 1896, the youngest child of the late
Mr. C. H. and of Mrs. Cooper, he was educated at Broadoak School, Northwood, and
then at Uppingham School, from which he entered the Royal Veterinary College in
1913. He served his pupilage with Mr. F. T. Trewin, of Watford. He qualified in
1917, after winning the Walley Memorial Prize of the R. C. V. S., entered the R. A.
V. C. during the War, and saw service in Mesopotamia. After demobilisation, he
( 105 )
B 2
106 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, II.
went into veterinary practice for a short time, and then returned to the Royal
Veterinary College, early in 1920, as a research assistant in the Department of
Research in Animal Pathology, soon afterwards becoming Sir John M'Fadyean's
Demonstrator in Pathology. He also lectured in protozoology. Towards the end of
1921, he was appointed to the post of Pathologist on the staff of the Imperial Bacte-
riological Laboratory (now the Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research), Muktesar-
Kumaun, U. P., India. He took on his duties there after a short visit for special
training to Sir Arnold Theiler's laboratory in South Africa, where he seems to have
caught a good deal of that master's zeal for research. At the time of his death, he
had spent ten years, as has been said, in actual service, not counting leave periods,
at the Muktesar laboratory.
If a selection had to be made of his most important contributions during this
period to the advancement of knowledge in veterinary pathology, perhaps the most
outstanding would be his extensive and careful survey of the nature and distribution
of bovine coccidiosis and piroplasmosis and the resuscitation of latent forms of these
infections during intercurrent attacks of rinderpest. There were several other pro-
blems that he had gone far to elucidate from among the wealth of material that lay
awaiting investigations, notably, for example, pseudo-fowl plague (ranikhet disease),
fowl Spirochaetosis, glanders, rinderpest in goats, Johne's disease, surra, and bovine
theileriasis. It was fully expected that in the normal course of events he would
have survived to place on record the masses of evidence which he and other collea-
gues had gathered round such problems.
His real service to the study and diffusion of knowledge upon animal pathology
in India cannot, however, be estimated, even approximately, by his achievements in
specialised pieces of large research, important though many of these were. At the
Institute, he developed a large and varied routine and advisory pathological side,
which was of incalculable benefit to the civil and military veterinary services in the
field. His replies to enquiries were invariably characterised by courtesy, helpful-
ness, precision in diagnosis, and soundness in prognosis. Further, in the classes of
training at Muktesar for various grades of veterinary officers in India, including the
two years' courses started by the Government of India for the education of Indians
in India to the highest standard, he took a prominent part, and his practical teach-
ings will long be remembered by veterinary officers now scattered in responsible
positions throughout the sub-continent.
In that isolated hill station his social qualities were an immense asset. Kind,
gentle, unfailingly generous and hospitable, he was the friend of everyone : the inti-
mate companion of his European colleagues, he was beloved and trusted by all
grades of Indians; these he encouraged at their work, listened to sympathetically in
CAPTAIN HUGH COOPER, M.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., AN APPRECIATION
107
their difficulties, and fired with, enthusiasm in their games. He was a sincere lover
of animals.
Soon after his marriage to Miss Janet Beazley in India, in April, 1931, he came
home to England on ordinary leave combined with a prolonged period of study
leave, which he arranged to spend at Professor Buxton's Research Institute in
Animal Pathology at Cambridge, where he was to resume contact with his early
friends then on the staff there. He was due to return to his work in India at the
beginning of the cold weather season, in the autumn of 1932.
There supervened, however, at this stage in his career, when his future seemed
secure and full of bright prospects, one of those unexpected tragedies that seem to
fall with special malignity upon those whose minds are fully enlightened as to their
fate by the special culture acquired in their avocation and cannot obtain relief in
the succour afforded by easy illusion. Characteristically, he faced this position with
unwavering courage, betraying till the last no signs of anguish or exhaustion of his
ample reserves of sane judgment. Instead, he was coolly solicitous not to inflict his
personal sufferings on his friends and relations. At one stage during the course of
treatment phenomenal success was achieved; indeed, so remarkable was the im-
provement in Hugh Cooper's condition that in May, 1933, he was passed fit to
return to India, whither he proceeded, accompanied by his wife and young son,
overjoyed at regaining a glimpse of the gorgeous Himalayan scenery surrounding his
Indian home and getting back to the scenes of his former happy labours. It was
not long, however, before the trouble recurred and in July he returned back to
England once more. Deeply grateful as he was for all candid advice, he became
reconciled to his doom and gallantly met it. The writer now learns that throughout
his affliction Cooper kept methodically a daily record of his condition, believing that
it might be of some scientific use afterwards. The record is in the custody of the
Mount Vernon Hospital. This attitude towards his condition was, it must be felt,
a singularly heroic and objective one, but it had no trace of morbidity or callousness
about it. His spirit was naturally deeply sensitive and courageous. He who was
seen to run unarmed shouting after a panther to rescue his pet bull-terrier from its
jaws was not a subject whom familiarity with disease processes and the experimental
method had hardened. Rather it seems to have endued him all the more strongly
with the calm that pertains to a human caste—that to which he belonged—which
holds that in the face of dire personal adversity, certain things, display of subjective
emotion among them, are just ' not done'. "
MINERAL ASSIMILATION FROM TWO TYPICAL FODDERS.
BY
A. VISWANATHA IYER, B.A.,
AND
N. KRISHNA AYYAR, B.A.
(From the Animal Nutrition Section, Bangalore.)
(Received for publication on the 25th January 1934.)
The work recorded in this paper is a continuation of experiments published a
year ago by Warth, Viswanatha Iyer and Krishna Ayyar [ 1932 ]. The references to
the literature on the subject and the object of the present enquiry having been set
forth fully in the first paper, these matters need not be touched upon here again.
The fodders previously tested were Ragi straw and mature hay. In the present
experiments Jouar hay and Rice straw have been tested.
The procedure adopted was exactly the same as that already described. A long
period feeding test was carried out with the two fodders, three bullocks being main-
tained on each. A small amount of concentrate was fed to all animals alike to
ensure a sufficiency of protein.
The feeding test was divided into three periods :—
First Period:—The fodder without mineral supplement.
Second Period:—The fodder with supplement of calcium phosphate.
Third Period:—The fodder with calcium phosphate and green food. The last
test was intended, as in the previous experiments, to determine whether green food
with its accompanying vitamins led to further assimilation. During each period
numerous determinations of the mineral balance were made. Variations in the
quality of the fodders during the course of the experiment are shown in Table I.
TABLE I.
Expt. No
1 . .
2 . .
3 . .
4 . .
5 . .
6 . .
7 . .
8 . .
9 . .
Total .
Average .
Jouar hay
CaO %
0.248
0.325
0.359
0.344
0.291
0.374
0.570
0.536
0.391
3.438
0.382
P 2 O 5 %
0.301
0.256
0.344
0.256
0.215
0.242
0.232
0.118
0.079
2.043
0.227
N%
0.651
0.496
0.651
0.514
0.512
0.608
0.688
0.369
0.394
4.883
0.543
Rice straw
CaO %
0.565
0.557
0.454
0.524
0.483
0.561
0.638
0.651
0.643
5.076
0.564
P 2 O 5 %
0.139
0.137
0.146
0.155
0.140
0.169
0.204
0.220
0.209
1.519
0.169
N%
0.396
0.419
0.364
0.391
0.368
0.403
0.451
0.539
0.541
3.872
0.430
( 108 )
MINERAL ASSIMILATION FROM TWO TYPICAL FODDERS
109
It will be noticed that the Jouar hay was fairly consistent in composition,
except towards the very end of the test when it fell off in quality. The quality of
the rice straw improved definitely in the later stages. It is important to compare
these figures with values obtained elsewhere. The accompanying table enables us to
judge the mineral status of our samples.
TABLE II.
Showing the average composition of the herbages.
—
Great Britain—
1. Good cultivated pasture
.....
2. RomneyMarsh, "fatting" field . . .
3. Average Scotch lowland-pastures
....
4. Average poor Scotch hill-pastures.. . . . .
South Africa—
1. Pasture (average of six samples of hay) . .
2. Green fodder (% on dry matter) Tall Fescue. . .
3. Sheep's Parsley . . . . . .
4. Average for whole Season for herbage at Armoeds¬
vlakte
India—
1. Jouar hay
.......
2. Rice straw
CaO
Per cent.
1.004
0.878
0.821
0.152
0.135
0.310
0.500
0.510
0.382
0.564
P 2 O 5
Per cent.
0.735
1.227
0.875
0.420
0.278
0.120
0.160
0.175
0.227
0.169
N
Per cent.
2.825
4.38
3.30
2.27
..
..
..
..
0.543
0.430
Compared with good English fodders our experimental samples are poor in
mineral content. Compared with the South African fodders, the Jouar hay is poor
in lime, but fairly well provided with phosphoric acid. Rice straw is distinctly poor
in phosphoric acid but moderately well provided with lime.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS.
First Period:—Fodder without mineral supplement.
The mineral balances during the first period are shown in the accompanying
table.
110 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, II.
TABLE III.
First Period—(Fodder without mineral supplement).
1 .
. {
2 . . {
3 . {
Jouar hay
In grams per day
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Average . .
CaO
13.82
13.22
+0.60
16.76
12.79
+3.97
17.47
14.20
+3.27
+2.61
P 2 O 5
19.26
15.03
+4.23
16.04
13.49
+2.55
17.81
15.24
+2.57
+3.12
Rice straw
In grams per day
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Intake . .
Excretion . .
Balance . .
Average . .
CaO
27.18
25.76
+1.42
26.10
28.90
—2.80
21.45
27.34
—5.89
—2.42
P 2 O 5
11.86
10.87
+0.99
11.20
11.10
+0.10
10.35
11.17
—0.82
+0.09
It should be noted that every figure in this and in subsequent tables is the
average intake and outgo determined for six consecutive days with three animals.
It is strikingly clear from these results that Jouar hay gives positive assimilation
for both lime and phosphoric acid, while rice straw gives negative balances for lime
with no assimilation of phosphoric acid. The lime balances are instructive. The
rice straw ration, which provides more lime, leads to loss of lime, while the Jouar
hay ration, providing much less lime, induces assimilation of lime. These results,
coupled with the corresponding phosphoric acid data seem to indicate that lime
assimilation is largely dependent upon the phosphoric acid intake. A similar con¬
clusion was reached in the previous paper (loc. cit. page 329). It will be useful at
this point to compare the results obtained during the two seasons. The following
table shows the average intake and outgo of minerals for the entire series of tests
in which the fodders were fed without a mineral supplement.