NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
234 VALUE OF A MIXTURE OF DERRIS ROOT POWDER AND DDT [Vol. XXI, Part IV
Birds dusted with Gammexane D 025 (0.6 per cent gamma isomer) 10 per cent
derris, 5 per cent DDT and a mixture containing equal parts of 10 per cent derris
and 5 per cent DDT had louse infestation approximating their original popu-
lation within 40, 20, 35 and 30 days respectively.
Throughout the experiment the louse populations of the control birds were
either stationary or found increasing.
SUMMARY
A series of experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of DDT
derris powder, mixture of derris and DDT, Gammexane D 025, Pyrethrum and
sodium fluoride on poultry lice. The insecticides were used in various propor-
tions.
Gammexane D 025, 5 per cent and 2.5 per cent DDT and a mixture
containing equal parts of 10 per cent derris and 5 per cent DDT were found
equally effective both in killing and residual effect.
Ten per cent derris had similar killing properties but was found to have
less residual effect.
Pyrethrum gave quick knock down and complete kill within four hours
but had no residual effect.
Thirty three per cent sodium fluoride had practically no residual effect
but gave complete kill within 60 hours.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The writers are grateful to Dr S. Datta, Director, Indian Veterinary Research
Institute and Dr H. N. Ray, Officer-in-charge, Section of Parasitology or giving
them facilities for this work.
REFERENCES
Abbott, W. S. (1919). Naphthalene vs. chicken lice. J. econ. Ent. 12 (5), 397-402
Bishopp, F. C. and H. P. Wood (1917). Mites and lice on poultry. U. S. D. A. Farmer's Bull.
801
Hermes, William B. (1939). Medical Entomology, Macmillan Co. New York
Lamson, G. H. (1917). Mercurial ointment, an effective control of hen lice. J. econ. Ent
10 (1), 71-4
McIndoo, N. E., A. F. Sievers and W. S. Abbott (1919). Derris as an insecticide. J. agric
Res. 17 (5), 177-200
Parman, D. C., W. S. Abbott, J. J. Culver and W. M. Davidson (1928). Ineffectiveness of internal
medication of poultry for the control of external parasites. U.S.D.A. Tech. Bull, 60
Pearl, Raymond, F. M. Surface and M. R. Curtis, (1915). Diseases of poultry, Macmillan Co.
Telford, Horace S. (1944) Chicken lice control. Soap and Sanitary Chemicals 20 (8), 113,
139
Telford, Horace S. (1945). New insecticides for chicken lice control. J. econ. Ent. 38 (5),
573-576
Wells, R. W., F. C. Bishopp and E. W. Laake (1922). Derris as a promising insecticide. J.
econ. Ent. 15 (1), 90-5
INVESTIGATIONS ON TRACE ELEMENT COPPER
I. THE DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
By K. SAHAI and N. D. KEHAR, Animal Nutrition Section, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 1 June 1951)
T HERE are now no less than thirteen mineral elements known to be essential for
animal life. These are Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, I and Co. Five
of these, namely Cu, Mn, Zn, I and Co, have, in laboratory jargon, been dubbed
'trace' elements since they have been shown to function in quantities so minute that
they may appropriately be described as traces.
Copper as a metal has been used since very early times, the oldest specimens
of cast copper dating back to 4000 B. C. The presence of this metal in biological
materials, however, remained undetected until the beginning of the nineteenth
century. Bucholz [1816] and Meissner [1817] were probably the first to establish
definitely the presence of copper in plant life. The presence of copper in animal
organism was for the first time detected by Sarzeau [1830]. Chevruel [1868], in a
review on the copper content of biological material, suggested that the metal was
widely distributed, but it was not until the observations of Bodansky [1921] and
Mc Hargue [1925, 1926], however, that copper became recognized as other than an
accidental constituent.
Bertrand [1920] and Guerithault [1920] suggested that copper should be placed
in the group of catalytic elements found in plants. Maquenne and Demoussy [1920]
concluded that copper in some way aided the vital functions of the plant. Mc-
Hargue [1927] suggested that copper together with other minor elements played
an important role in life processes. The classical researches of Hart and coworkers
[1928] suggested the role of copper in haematopoiesis. The specificity of copper as
a supplement of iron in the regeneration of haemoglobin has since been demons-
trated by Elvehjem and Hart [1929], Keil and Nelson [1931], Hamilton, Hunt and
Carroll [1933], Meyers, Remp and Bing [1934], Potter, Elevehjem and Hart [1938],
and Frost, Potter, Elvehjem and Hart [1940]. A specific effect on red cell produc-
tion has been attributed to copper by Oda [1932], Schultze [1932], Stein and Lewis
[1933], Binnet and Strumza [1934], Somogyi [1935] and others.
The livestock malady which has been found to be associated with copper defi-
ciency has been reported from widespread regions of the world. Sjollema [1933
described a disease of cattle in parts of Holland called 'Lecksucht', characterized
by anorexia, emaciation, anaemia and diarrhoea, which responded to copper therapy
In Florida a condition in cattle with similar symptoms and known as 'Saltsick'
was reported by Becker et al. [1931] to respond to Fe and Cu therapy. Bennetts
and Chapman [1937], found that a usually fatal condition of ataxia in new born
235
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December, 1951]
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is now cooled and 1 ml. perchloric acid and 2 ml. A. R. nitric acid are added and
heating resumed. No undue frothning takes place and the dark brown colour gradu-
ally lightens to faint greenish yellow or colourless. The tube is cooled and in order
to ensure the removal of the last traces of organic matter, heating is again resumed
after the addition of 0.5 ml. of perchloric acid and the same volume of nitric acid.
After the digestion is complete, the flame is slightly raised and heating continued
until thick white fumes of perchloric acid are no longer evolved. A little water is
added to the tube while still warm, to keep in solution the salts separating out in
the final stages of digestion.
The liquid in the tube is now diluted to about 10 ml. and 5 ml. of each of a
5 per cent solution of sodium pyrophosphate and 10 per cent solution of sodium
citrate are added and made alkaline with ammonia. The precipitate formed is
rendered granular by heating the tubes in a water bath for 20 minutes. The tubes
are next cooled and the contents diluted with water. A drop of 40 per cent
solution of NaOH is added and is followed by 10 ml. of redistilled amyl alcohol
and the volume made up with water to 50 ml. mark. Two ml. of 0.5 per cent sodium
diethyl-dithio carbamate solution are now added and the tube is closed with a rubber
stopper, and vigorously shaken for about a minute. The amyl alcohol takes up
the yellow copper compound and is filtered through acid extracted filter paper.
For colour comparison convenient matching ranges are made by taking in
a 200 mm. x 25 mm. pyrex test tubs, 0.5 ml., 1 ml., 1.5 ml. and 2 ml. of a standard
solution of copper sulphate containing 0.01 mgm. copper per ml. and adding the
same quantities of water, pyrophosphate and citrate, making alkaline with ammonia,
heating in a water bath, cooling, diluting, adding NaOH, etc., as after combustion
to the unknowns; and the one nearest to the unknown was used.
The accuracy of the modified method was determined by performing a number
of recovery tests. The recovery worked out to be of almost the same order as
with the original method.
Greatest care was observed to prevent the introduction of any copper from
outside. Even the reagents of the highest grade obtainable were not used until
found to be copper free by actual test. The water used was redistilled from all-
glass apparatus.
All analyses were run in triplicate and to one of them was added a known quan-
tity of copper for recovery. If a satisfactory recovery of the added copper was
obtained it was felt that the copper content of the samples was being accurately
determined.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The copper content of various animal feeds—straws, green feeds and concentrates
which constitute the principal basal diet for live stock in various tracts of the country
are given in Table I. The results have been calculated on dry weight basis and
presented in mg. of copper per kg. of dry sample.
238
INVESTIGATIONS ON TRACE ELEMENT (COPPER) I.
[Vol. XXI, Part IV
TABLE I
The copper content of some of the common animal feeds
Botanical name
Avena sativa
Hordeum vulgare
Triticum vulgare
Oryza sativa
Andropogon sorghum
Pennisetum typhoideum
Cicer-arietinum
Dichanthium annulatum
Moringa pterygosperma
Panicum phragmatoides
Iscilma laxum
Anogeissus latifolia
Apluda mulica
Eremapogon faveolatus
Setaria du-toits-krall strain
Bothriochloa pertusa
Eulalopsis binata
Cynodon plectestachyum
Morus alba
Cynodon dactylon
Andropogon sorghum var. sudanensis
Kydia-calycina
Ficus glomerala
Pisum sativa
Banhinia purpuria
Grivia elastica
Popular name
Straws) Oat straw
Barley straw
Wheat straw
Rice straw
Jowar straw
Bajra straw
Gram straw
Green feeds
Bara jargi
Sanjna
....
Musel
Bakli
Bhanjura
Murrjhana
....
Choti jargi
Baib
Giant star grass
Tutri
Dub
Sudan grass
Pula
Gular
Pea plant green
Khariwal
Dhaman
Copper content
in mg. per kg.
(dry basis)
3.6
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.7
5.9
5.9
6.0
6.2
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.4
6.6
6.6
6.8
6.8
7.1
7.1
7.5
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.7
December, 1951]
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TABLE I—contd.
The copper content of some of the common animal feeds
Botanioal name
Digitaria swasilandensis
Ongenia dalbergiodes
Bothriochloa intermedia
Avena sativa
Ficus infectoria
Andropogon contorius
Digitaria seriata
Azadirachta indica
Digitaria peutzii
Terminalia tomentosa
Andropogon sorghum
Sporobolus arabicus
Adina cardifolia
Penniselum purpureum
Ficus religiosa
Ficus bengalensis
Panicum maximum
Trifolium resupinatum
Pennisetum typhoideum
Morus sp.
Acacia arabica
Banhinia variegala
Trifolium alexandrinum
Pennisetum purpureum
Cenchrus ciliaris
Medicago saliva
Elusine aegyptiaca
Popular name
(Straws)
....
Sandan
Sandhaur
Oat plant green
Pakar
Spear grass
....
Neem
....
Sain
Jowar green
Usar
Baldu
Elephant grass
Pipal
Bargad
Guinea grass
Shaftal grass
Bajra green
Tut
Babul
Kachnar
Berseem grass
Napier grass
Anjana
Lucerne grass
Maka kewai grass
Copper content
in mg. per kg.
(dry basis)
7.8
8.1
8.2
8.2
8.3
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.7
8.8
9.0
9.1
9.2
9.2
9.2
9.8
9.8
9.9
9.9
10.4
10.8
10.8
10.9
11.0
G
240
INVESTIGATIONS ON TRACE ELEMENT (COPPER) I. [Vol. XXI, Part IV
TABLE I—contd.
The copper content of some of the common animal feeds
Botanical name
Hordeum vulgare
Stereosperma sanseolens
Sesamum indicum
Gossypium
Andropogon sorghum
Oryza soliva
Brassica compestris
Zea mays
Triticum vulgare
Linum sitatissimum
Cicerarietinum
Pennisetum typhoideum
Mangifera indica
Brassica alba
Phaseolus mungo var. radiatus
Ervum lens
Phaseolus mungo, var. glabar
Arachis hypogaea
Cajanus indicus
Popular name
(Straws)
Parley young
Padal
Concentrates
Til cake
Cotton seed cake
Jowar
Rice
Rape cake
Maize
Wheat
Linseed cake
Gram
Bajra
Mango seed kernel
Sarson cake
Urad
Masur
Mung
Groundnut cake
Arhar
Copper content
in mg. per kg.
(dry basis)
11.9
17.8
9.2
9.6
9.8
9.8
10.6
10.9
11.4
11.6
11.8
12.4
12.4
13.3
13.3
13.4
14.5
16.6
17.2
The copper content ranged between 3.6 mg. in oat straw to 17.8 mg. in Stereo
sparmuna snaviolens (padal) leaves and a critical examination of the results suggests
a tentative grouping on the basis of their copper content. When arranged in ascend-
ing order the cereal straws with copper content ranging from 3.6 mg. per kg. in oat
straw to 4.7 mg. per kg. in gram straw constitute the first group. The green feeds
which include a variety of samples representing grasses, leafy fodders and culti-
vated plants of mixed botanical composition and possess medium copper content
December, 1951]
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241
ranging from 5.9 mg per kg. in Dichanthium annulatum (bara jargi) to 11. 9. mg.
per kg. in Hordeum vulgare (Barley young)' form the second group. Stereosparmuna
snraviolens (padal) leaves with a copper content of 17.8 mg. per kg. stand out
characteristically, possessing a value even higher than any of the concentrates.
The samples forming the third group include oil cakes, grains and seeds and
their by-products. The copper content in these feeds ranged from 9.2 mg. per kg.
in Sesamum indicum (til cake) to 17.2 mg. per kg. in Cajanus indicus (arhar).
The data presented above serves to throw light on the copper content of various
Indian animal feeds and feeding stuffs. Since copper appears to serve as a link
in the various physiological processes going on inside the animal body, the adequacy
or otherwise of copper in a feed is likely to affect many a vital functions of the animal
and is apt to be reflected in the copper content of various animal organs. A study
of the copper status of a few more important animal organs was next undertaken.
In Table II figures are given for the copper content of blood, liver, spleen.
bone-marrow, lymph-gland and pancreas of six adult normal Kumaoni bullocks.
The results have been calculated in mg. of copper per 100 ml. of blood or per kg.
of dry tissue.
TABLE II
Copper content of blood and tissues of normal Kumauni bullocks
Kumaoni
bullock
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average
Copper in mg. per 100 ml.
Blood
0.148
0.133
0.153
0.129
0.144
0.139
0.141
Liver
200.1
172.9
160.6
168.0
178.6
164.4
173.6
Copper in mg. per kg. on dry weight basis
Spleen
16.3
18.0
16.2
15.6
19.2
17.4
17.2
Bone-
marrow
24.6
27.0
27.6
28.8
25.2
36.4
26.6
Lymph
gland
38.4
36.0
39.0
36.6
35.4
37.2
37.1
Pancreas
22.0
19.2
21.0
23.4
24.0
21.6
22.0
Of all the tissues examined, liver is the richest and spleen the poorest in copper.
In descending order of copper content liver is followed by lymph-gland, bone-marrow
pancreas and spleen. The concentration of copper in the liver per unit dry weight
is 5 to 10 times the value recorded for the rest of the tissues. The observations
regarding the high copper content of the liver are in conformity with those of Bodansky
[1921], McHargue [1925] and Tompsett [1935]. The average concentration of copper
in the liver of Kumaoni bullocks amounted to 173.6 mg. per kg. on dry basis, which
is about six times the concentration of copper in adult human liver [Kleinmann
and Klinke, 1930]. The copper content of bone-marrow of Kumaoni bullocks
H
242
INVESTIGATIONS ON TRACE ELEMENT (COPPER) I.
[Vol. XXI, Part IV
ranged between 24.6 and 28.8 with an average of 26.6 mg. per kg. of the dry tissue.
Data on the copper content of bone-marrow are few. Analytical limitations and
the difficulty of obtaining satisfactory samples have been a serious handicap. The
copper content of spleen, lymph-gland and pancreas on dry weight basis ranged
from 15.6 to 19.2, 35.4 to 39.0 and 19.2 to 24.0 mg. with an average of 17.2, 37.1
and 22.0 mg. per kg. respectively. The copper content of the blood of Kumaoni
bullocks ranged from 0.129 to 0.153 mg. per 100 ml. with an average of 0.141. The
copper content of the blood of different species of normal animals has been studied
by [Locke, Main and Rosbash, 1932, Roncato and Bassani 1934; Sarata, 1933,
Tompsett, 1934]. The values of the copper content of blood quoted by these
authors, for the blood of man and most of the animals studied, range between 0.120
—0.150 mg. per. 100 ml. The copper content of the blood of Kumaoni bullocks agree
closely with these figures.
SUMMARY
The copper content of seventy two common feeds and feeding stuffs and blood
and tissues of six normal Kumaoni bullocks was examined.
The copper content of straws ranged from 3.6 to 4.7 mg. per kg. of the dry
matter. Oat straw was the poorest. The green feeds representing grasses, leafy
fodders and cultivated plants showed a wider range of 5.9 mg. per kg. in Dichan-
thium annulatum (bara jargi) to 17.8 mg. per kg. in Stereosparumuna Snaviolens
(padal) leaves. Leafy fooders appear to be a better source of copper compared to
straws. The copper content of the concentrates ranged from 9.2 to 17.2 mg. per kg.
of the dry sample, the til cake being the poorest and arhar the richest, in this respect.
When arranged in ascending order of copper content, the cereal straws constitute
the first group, green feeds the second group and concentrates the third.
Copper content per 100 ml. of blood ranged between 0.129 and 0.153 with an
average of 0.141 mg.
Copper content of liver per unit dry weight was about 5 to 10
times the value recorded for the rest of the tissues. In descending order of copper
content liver is followed by lymph-gland, bone-marrow, pancreas and spleen.
The degree of variation in the copper content of feeds was less than that observed
in the tissues and blood of animals.
There is a wide distribution of copper in biological materials, no sample examined
being without this element.
REFERENCES
Becker, R. B., W. M. Neal, and A. L. Shealy (1931). Florida Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 231
Bennetts, H. W. and F. E. Chapman (1937). Austral. Vet. J. 13, 138
Bertrand, G. (1920). Bull. Soc. Sci. Hyg. ailment, 8, 49
Binot. L. and M. V. Strumza (1934). Sang. 8, 1041
Black A, O. J. Kahlenberg, J. W. Bratzler and E. B. Forbes (1937). J. Nutrit, 14, 521
Bodansky, M. (1921). J. biol. Chem., 48, 361
Boughton, I. B. and W. T. Hardy. (1934). Texas. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 499, 32
Bucholz, C. F. (1816). Report, Pharm., 2, 253
Bull, L. B., Marston, H. R. Murnane D. and Lines, E. W. L. (1938). Commonwealth Austr
Council Sci. Indust. Res. Bull. No. 113, 23
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Callan, T. and Henderson J. A. R. (1929). Analyst, 54, 650
Chevruel, M. E. (1868) Compt. Rend. Acad. 66, 567
Dunlop, G. and Wells, H. E. (1938). Vet. Record., 50, 1175
Eden A. (1950). J. comp. Path, 53, 90
Eden, A. and Green H. H. (1940). Biochem. J., 34, 1202
Eenjem, C. A. and Hart, E. B. (1929). J. biol. Chem. 84, 131
Frost, D. V., Potter, V. R. Elvenjem, C. A. and Hart, E. B. (1940). J. Nutrit, 19, 207
Gorter, F. J. (1935). Nature, 136, 185
Gooeritbault (1929). Compt. Rend. Acad., 171, 196
Hamilton, T. S., Hunt G. E. and Carroll. W. E. (1933). J. agric. Res. 47, 543
Heart, E. B., Steenbock, H. Waddel J. and Elvehjem, C. A. (1928). J. biol. Chem., 77, 797
Kehar, N. D. and Momin, (1950). Indian J. vet, Sci.
Keil, H. and Nelson, V. K. (1931). Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 28, 392
Keinmann, H. and Klinke J. (1930). Virchows Arch. Path. Anat, 275, 422
Locke, A., E. R. Main and D. O. Rosbash. (1932). J. Clin. invest. 11, 527
Mc. Collum, E. V. et al. (1939). Nutrit. Macmillan & Co.
Mc. Farlane, W. D. (1932). Biochem. J. 26, 1022
Mc. Hargue, J. S. (1927). Ind. Eng. chem. 19, 274
Meissner, W. (1817). Ann. chem. phys., 4, 106
Myers, V. C., Rem, D. G. and Bing, F. C. (1934). Abs. Div. Biol. chem. A.C.S. Cleveland,10
Oda, S. (1932). Ztschr, f. d. ges. exp. Med. 84, 719
Potter, V. R., Elvehjem, C.A. and Hart. E. B. (1938). J. biol. chem., 126, 155
Pullar, E. M., (1940). Austral. vet. J., 16, 147
Roncato, A. and Bassani, B. (1934). Arch. Sec. Biol. 19, 541
Sarata, U. (1933). Japan J. Med. Sci. II Biochem,. 2, 247
Sarzeau, M. (1830). J. pharm. et. chim. 16, 505
Schultze, K. W. (1932). Klin Wehenschr, 11, 497
Sjollema, B. (1933). Biochem. ztschr., 267, 151
Somogyi, J. (1935). Mag. Orv. Arch, 36, 317
Stein, H. B. and R. C. Lewis (1933)., J. Nutrit, 6, 465
Tompsett, S. L. (1934). Biochem. J. 28, 1544
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE REGIONAL AND SEA-
SONAL INCIDENCE OF BOVINE CONTAGIOUS PLEURO-
PNEUMONIA IN ASSAM*
By V. R. GOPALKRISHNAN, Veterinary Investigation Officer, Assam, Gauhati
(Received for publication on 22 January 1951)
T HE existence of the classical contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Assam as
a specific epizootic and its tendency to spread in a slow and insidious manner were
recorded in a previous article [Gopalkrishnan, 1943]. A systematic investigation
of the occurrence of the disease has been carried out since the month of January
1940 when the writer had, for the first time, an opportunity to observe a natural
outbreak of the disease in Goalpara district. Attempts were made to study the
nature of the disease in the field in various parts of the Province and to collect all
pertinent data. The present paper deals with some observations made on the
regional distribution and seasonal incidence of the disease in Assam, for a period
of nine years—January 1940 to 1949. During this period, particulars were collected
from 43 outbreaks which occurred in 8 districts of the Province. This article also
includes similar observations in a locality in Kamrup district, where vaccination
trials were undertaken, the results of which were published in an earlier article
[Gopalkrishnan, 1946].
Regional distribution
Generally the disease has been known to occur in all the districts of the Brahma-
putra Valley, also called Assam Valley. The existence of the disease is usually
confined to the contiguous areas lying on either side of the Brahmaputra, from
Lakhimpur in the north-east where the river enters the Assam Valley, Sibsagar,
Darrang, Nowgong and Kamrup along with its course, to Goalpara on the western
border of the Province. Brahmaputra Valley lies on the south of the Himalayan
region and numerous tributaries, big and small, flow southwards to join the main
river. On the southern sector of the Valley are numerous ranges of hills where
from the tributaries flow northward into the river. So the entire valley contains
large riverain tracts, swamp forest and marshy lowlying areas with some scattered
forest hills. On the bed of the Brahmaputra, which is very wide at some places,
there are many islands, known as charland or chars that are very fertile due to the
new alluvium. Apart from the cultivated areas, there are large tracts of grass-
land with aquatic and other types of grasses. Communications in the interior are
not satisfactory and are actually bad in certain localities.
Being a pastoral country, agriculture is the main occupation of the people.
Cattle are maintained in fairly large numbers in villages as well as in khutis. Main-
tenance and indigenous breeding of cattle in khutis in these parts are rather peculiar.
* Paper read at the Indian Science Congress, Section of Medical and Veterinary Sciences,
Poona, January 1950.
245
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