CUTANEOUS ERUPTIONS IN RINDERPEST
By * RAM NARAIN MOHAN, Veterinary Investigation Officer, West Bengal
(Received for publication on 19 September 1947)
T HE development of some form of eruption on the skin of cattle during the course of rinderpest
has been noted by many observers. The phenomenon seems to have been recognized in India
since time immemorial and, as in most other countries, the popular names given to rinderpest have
usually been the same as for human pox. In Bengal particularly, it has received some attention in
recent years, notably by MacGregor [1944] who, in collaboration with another officer [Mr M. B.
Menon], made some preliminary observations and tests. The desirability of making further observa-
tions and critical tests to establish the association of the exanthema with rinderpest led to the problem
becoming a part of the author's programme of work during 1943-1945. The work done and the
information collected are described in the author's reports [Mohan, 1944, 1945] and are partly included
in MacGregor's paper. In order to stimulate more interest in this aspect of rinderpest, a summary
of these observations is given in this paper along with a résumé of relevant literature.
LITERATURE
The cutaneous eruptions of rinderpest have been observed in almost all the European countries
and in many parts of Africa. It is stated by Curasson [1921, 1932] that the cutaneous form of rinder-
pest had attracted the attention of the authors of the eighteenth century and that the relationship
between the exanthema and the infection had been recognized as early as 1712 by Ramazzini. In
those days, rinderpest is reported to have been classed among the eruptive fevers, as it tended to
simulate serious forms of vaccinia [peste varioleuse de Vicq-d'Azyr] and, according to Gerlach [1873],
Ramazzini went so far as to designate rinderpest as ' pockenseuche', i.e.,'pock disease '. The develop-
ment of the eruptions as a characteristic feature of rinderpest was recognized by later writers also,
but once the specific relationship was established no further importance was attached to them, so
that the subject was gradually forgotten and was mentioned only exceptionally. The eruptions
were repeatedly noted during the great wars of the nineteenth century and were described by Gerlach
(loc. cit.), Peuch [1892], Nocard and Leclainche [1903], and other European writers. Gerlach's
notes were based on observations made chiefly in Holland and Germany, but also in Hungary and
England. Gärtner [1920] found them to be a common feature in East Africa. Hutyra and Marek
[1916] described them from Roumania and noted their frequent occurrence in cattle of the steppes
of Russia, where considerable importance has been attached to the phenomenon. Curasson (loc. cit.)
and his colleagues working in West Africa during the epizootics of 1916-1919 found the eruptions a
more or less constant feature in Sudan and other parts. Croveri [1921] found them very frequent
in Italian Somaliland, Carlier [1920] in Belgian Congo, and Pecaud [1924] in Chad. Malfrey [1927]
and Schein [cited by Curasson, 1932] have discussed the phenomenon and have sought explanation
in climatic influences.
Angeloff [1918], on the other hand, noted the eruptions in only two cases out of several hundred
during the 1912-13 Balkan War, and Malfrey [cited by Curasson] observed them in only exceptional
cases in Nigeria during the 1916-1919 epizootics. Vrijburgh [cited by Hutyra, Marek and Manninger,
1938] and Melanidi and Stylianopoulo [1927] never observed any cutaneous lesions in West Indies
and Greece, respectively.
In India, MacGregor (loc. cit.) seems to have been the only modern writer to draw attention to
the appearance of these eruptions. The Indian Cattle Plague Commission's report [1871] contains
several interesting references to the subject. A few selected extracts are given below.
Page 59. (A letter from Hiram Farrell, Veterinary Surgeon, His Majesty's Bengal Army, to
Baboo Hem Chander Kerr, Deputy Magistrate, Diamond Harbour, District 24-Parganas, Bengal.)
'
body is covered with small vesicles resembling pimples (which later) become ulcerated,
dry and covered with scabs
I have invariably found that the greater the amount of erup-
tion the more favourable was the case'.
* New Veterinary Investigation Officer, United Provinces, Lucknow.
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