NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
ABSTRACTS
Panting in cattle—a sequel to foot-and-mouth disease. MINETT, F. C. (1948).
J. Amer. Vet. Med. Ass. 113, 545-550
THIS article gives a general account of a pathologic condition in cattle referred
to as panting. There is strong reason to believe that it is sometimes a sequel
to foot-and-mouth disease. The condition has been encountered in countries where
foot-and-mouth disease is of common occurrence, even in countries where the
prevailing climate is temperate. The information acquired through a questionnaire
from the Military Farms in India revealed the incidence percentage of panting in
European and cross-bred cattle to be 8.4 as compared to 2.4 in the indigenous breeds.
Of the latter the Sahiwal has greater susceptibility. The incidence in buffaloes
was of very negligible significance, so much so, only two panters were reported in
a total of 12,363 buffaloes including an unknown number of young stock. The
affected animals apart from their being anaemic and dyspnoic suffer long rough
coat and there is evidence of more or less permanent physical failure of heat regulation
due to defective functioning of the endocrines. The condition though not fatal is
extremely troublesome to the victim. Panting is of rather virulent type during
hot weather. Animals below six months are rarely attacked. Among the adults
high milkers are most readily affected. There is no effective treatment other than
certain palliative measures such as provision of cool surroundings and arrangements
for frequent hosing, etc.
As a preventive measure, back-crossing with indigenous stock is recommended.
(N.S.D.)
Experimental study of Johne's disease in goat. LEVI, M. L. (1948). J. Comp.
Path. and Therap. 58, 38-63, (Table 8, Figs. 8, References 34)
L EVI has successfully set up Johne's disease in young goats by feeding johne's
bacilli in the form of intestinal scrapings from affected cattle or more conve-
niently with pure cultures of the organisms of bovine origin. Resistance to infection
per os appeared to increase with the age. On repeated oral administration of 24 to
48 mg. moist culture, typical symptoms and lesions developed. The symptoms
and the incubation period in goats were almost similar to those of bovine paratuber-
culosis except that the fluid diarrhoea was limited to the very last stage. In isolated
cases oedema in the 'jowl' with deformation and puffiness of the intermaxillary space
were seen. The duration of the disease was from 10-24 months.
59 L
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The use of sulfonamides in the control of Pullorum disease. ROBERTS, E.,
CARD, L. E. AND ALBERTS, J. O. (1948). Poult. Sci., 27, 194-200
T HE various preparations used against experimental infection (S. pullorum)
in chicks or poults include sulfamerazine, sodium sulfamerazine and soluble
Sulfonamide No. II. They were mixed in feed and fed for 8 days to the birds which
had been orally inoculated, one day of age, with known amounts of S. pullorum
culture. The survivals, in percentages, at the end of 21 days were recorded.
Though quantities of sulfamerazine less than 0.5 per cent in the feed were found
effective in reducing mortality, the authors recommend the use of larger amounts
as the degree of protection was correlated with the amount of drug in the blood.
Concentrations of 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent in the feed were found to be toxic
and 0.5 per cent was the better dosage.
With poults some difficulty was experienced in controlling the infection as
they ate very little of the feed during the first few days and received only small
amounts of the drug. The feed consumption was, however, increased by the simple
expedient of putting a few ten-days old chicks in each brooder with the poults.
How long chicks should be given the medicated feed for sufficient protection was
investigated. Treatment of chicks for eight days was as effective as for a longer
period of ten days, while treatment for six days and less did not provide as high a
a degree of protection.
Tests were also made to give information about the effect of treatment at various
times after inoculation. The results indicate that a period longer than three or four
days before inoculation and the beginning of treatment, will reduce the protective
value of sulfonamide treatment.
In untreated chicks the major mortality from pullorum disease occurred well
before the end of 21 days and even before 14 days.
Administration of sulfonamides in the drinking water did not give results quite
as good as those when mixed in the mash.
The effect of sulfonamides (0.3 to 1 per cent) on the growth-rate of chicks was
determined. At concentrations used in the experiments no depressing effects on
growth, as judged by weight at 21 days, was observed.
The average blood level of chicks on 0.2 per cent sulfamerazine in the feed was
only 1.8 mg. per 100 c.c. of blood which was too low for protection. (S. G. I.)
The effect of supplemental vitamin A upon growth, blood plasma carotene,
vitamin A, inorganic calcium and phosphorus of Holstein heifers.
ROSS, R. H. AND KNODT, C. B. (1948). J. Dairy Sci. 31, 1062
W ITH a view to find the nutritive value of supplemental vitamin A, an experi-
ment with two similar groups of 11 Holstein heifers each was conducted from
February 1 to May 24, 1946. Both the groups were fed normal ration except for
the difference that one group received an average supplement of 40,382 U. S. P. units
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of vitamin A per heifer daily. No significant difference in gain of body weight or
height at withers was obtained, the control group gaining 130 lb. and 4.9 cm. and
the vitamin A group 135 lb. and 4.9 cm.
Another experiment with 28 heifers divided into two similar groups based upon
age, body weight, blood plasma carotene, vitamin A, inorganic calcium and phos-
phorus concentrations was conducted from January 1 to May 6, 1947. The vitamin
A group received a supplement of 129, 400 U. S. P. units of vitamin A apart from
114,000 U. S. P. units contained in the basal ration. A significant increase in gain
of body weight but not of height resulted from feeding supplemental vitamin A,
the average values being 235.9 lb. and 9.4 cm. for the vitamin A group and 187.6 lb.
and 8.4 cm. for the control group. General condition of the heifers in the vitamin A
group was better.
Mean blood plasma vitamin A concentrations of the heifers used in the first
and second experiments were 18.14 and 15.82r/100 ml. for the control groups and
21 and 21.71r/100 ml. for the vitamin A fed groups. In the first trial the blood
plasma carotene concentration decreased from 183 to 96r/100 ml. in the vitamin A
group and from 220 to 153.. /100 ml. in the control group. The corresponding values
in the second trial were 271 to 85.. /100 ml. in the vitamin A group and 278 to 156.. /
100 ml. in the control group. The increase in the blood plasma vitamin A concen-
tration and the decrease in the carotene concentration in the vitamin A groups was
highly significant.
The cattle were fed on pasture for three months after the first experiment and
it was found that the heifers receiving supplemental vitamin A had lower blood
plasma carotene and vitamin A concentrations while on pasture than the heifers
which did not receive supplemental vitamin A.
Blood plasma inorganic calcium and phosphorus concentrations were not altered
by feeding supplemental vitamin A. (I.K.)
A preliminary note on the use of two recently introduced insecticides, Chlordan
and Toxaphene in the control of the cattle Tick. (Boophilus microplus).
LEGG, J. (1949). Aust. Vety. J. 254 65-66
T HE effectiveness of spraying 0.25 per cent emulsion of Chlordane (C 10 H 6 Cl 3 )
and toxaphene (chlorinated camphene) in the form of Cooper Tox (65 per cent
toxaphene) against ticks in cattle have been studied in a few cases. Not unlike
arsenic, chlordane destroyed the younger ticks but adult female ones were but little
affected. It is superior to arsenic as it is not toxic to cattle in strength much greater
than recommended. The residual effects appeared to be very high.
Practically 100 per cent kill of ticks including even the female adults in the last
two to three days of parasitic life was obtained with 0.65 per cent and 0.55 per cent
emulsion of toxaphene. (C.M.S.G.)
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63
Result of trials with hexachlorethane in the treatment of Distomatosis of sheep.
STAUFFRR. V. D., LOUIS GONZALES MUGABURU, REY DE CASTRO, A. (1947).
North Amer. Vet., 28, 437-439
T HE authors tried hexachlorethane alone and in combination with bentonite
on four lots of sheep infested with F. hepalica. Lot. A consisting of four sheep was
given one bolus containing 20 gm. of hexachlorethane each. Lot B consisting of
six sheep was given 1½ boluses containing a total of 30 gm. of hexachlorethane and
7.5 gm. of bentonite each. Five sheep of lot C and six sheep of lot D received 20 gm.
and 30 gm. of pure hexachlorethane each in the form of bolus respectively. Nine
sheep were kept as controls and left untreated. The animals were not fast prior to
or following the treatment.
The results obtained had shown that the dry pressed form of hexachlorothane
was rapidly dissolved in the ruminant digestive tract and was effective in the removal
of the common liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica))of sheep from the bile ducts of the
liver in a high percentage of cases. The drug had no untoward effect upon the
mucous membrane of the digestive tract and had a wide margin of safety with regard
to the dosages and could safely be given to the animals that were in poor condition,
pregnant or nursing lambs.
The larger dose of hexachlorethane-bentonite mixture (30 gm.) showed some
advantage over 20 gm. dose but the 30 gm. dose of hexachlorethane alone proved
to be equally efficacious. (H.S. D )
The breeding season of the sheep with particular reference to the modification by
artificial means using light. YEATES, N. T. M. (1949). J. Agric. Sci. 39, 1-43
P OSSIBILITY of altering the seasonal rhythmicity of sexual activity in sheep
by modifying the light environment has been studied. Work was carried out on
36 ewes and four rams of grade Suffock breed. Half the number of the ewes and
the four rams were subjected to the experimental condition which consisted of gradual
increase in light environment during the shortening days of the year and a continuous
decrease in the amount of light allowed during the lengthening days of the year.
The remaining ewes acted as controls and received the normal amount of day light.
The investigation lasted for about 15 months. Specially designed pens were used
for housing the experimental and control animals.
Ewes. It was observed that the natural sexual season (which embraces the
autumn and winter months) may be modified or even reversed at will by suitable
artificial alteration of the daily light ration. In the ewes studied, the onset of sexual
season in response to decreasing daily amounts of light, occurred 13 to 16 weeks
after the change from increasing to decreasing length of day; while the cessation
of sexual season took about 14 to 19 weeks after the change from decreasing to
increasing length of day. The responses occurred irrespective of the level at which
the change over in trend of daily lighting took place and was unrelated to specific
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to show that testosterone functions in the body before the testis is capable of pro-
ducing speamatozoa. (A. R.)
The Control of the Swarming of Proteus vulgaris by boric acid.SYKES,
J. A. and REED, R. (1949). J. of General Microbiol. 3, 117
T HE swarming of Proteus vulgaris is mixed cultures has been a continual source
of trouble to the bacteriologists. Chloral hydrate and some surface active
agents suggested by some workers for controlling the swarming of Proteus did not
give the desired effect with the authors when used for the isolation of gonocci from
urogenital tract. Aluminium which proved to be the active part in potash alum
which prevented the swarming of Proteus but inhibited the growth of other organisms
lead to the trial of other members of the group 3 of the periodic table. Boron com-
pounds especially boric acid was found to be very effective. The most satisfactory
concentration of boric acid was found to be 0.1 per cent while one per cent affected
the growth of certain bacteria and 0.05 per cent or less did not prevent the swarming
of Proteus.
The standard medium used for the isolation of gonocci from the urogenital tract
was heated blood agar containing 20 per cent blood and 0.125 per cent boric acid.
On examination of 350 specimens 56 of the control plates (without boric acid) were
swarming with Proteus while none of the plates containing the above medium showed
swarming. Gonocci were isolated in 38 instances in boric acid medium and only
in 26 of the control plates.
Electron microscope studies of Proteus vulgaris and free flagellar suspensions
in media with and without boric acid and viscosimetric measurements of the flagellar
suspensions suggested that the control of the swarming was probably due to the
formation of a boric acid-polyhydroxylic complex, resinous in character, the for-
mation of which caused flagellar disintegration.
When copper sulphate was substituted for boric acid or the p H was lowered
with 0.1N Hcl no changes in the flagella was noticed. (P. R. N.)
Mineral Metabolism Studies in Dairy Cattle—Effects of Mineral Supplementation of
the Prepartal Diet upon the Composition of the Blood of cows and their calves at
Parturition. REID, J. T. WARD, G. M. and LAWRENCE SALSBURY, R. (1948). J.
Nutrition. 36, 75-90
T HE effects of calcium and of calcium with various trace elements in the prepartal
diet upon the composition of the blood of calves and their dams immediately
following parturition are reported. Forty nine cows and their 50 calves were divided
in four groups, one receiving the basal diet and the other three CaCO 3 , calcite flour
and mico respectively. Mineral supplements given for at least two months pre-
partum did not affect the levels of calcium and inorganic P in the plasma of the
new born calves or their dams. The outstanding group differences were in the lower
level of reduced and total glutathione in the group receiving calcite flour as supple-
ment as compared to the other three groups. The blood of the new born calves
N
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showed a great concentration of reduced and total glutathioneca, inorganic P,
acid and alkaline phosphatase, ascorbic acid and a greater number of erthrocytes
as compared with their dams. However a comparatively greater corpuscular
volume and corpuscular haemoglobin content, a higher plasma level of total proteins,
globulin and albumin were found in cows. Similar concentrations of various blood
constituents were found regardless of the sex of the new born calf.
Calves which had received colostrum prior to the procurement of blood at an
average age of 4.5 hours had higher plasma levels of total proteins, globulin, and
albumen, with less haemoglobin, smaller numbers of erythrocytes and a smaller
proportion of whole blood volume consisting of erythrocytes (probably owing to
dilution). Before the ingestion of colostrum the new born calves showed a small
quantity of globulin in their plasma. (A. N. B.)
The newer sulfonamides in veterinary practice. THROP, W.T.S, (1945). J. Amer.
Vet. Med. Assoc. 106 75-82, 6 tables, and 9 references
THE author has briefly discussed the value of different sulfonamides like sul-
fathiazole, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulfaguanidine, sulfasuxidine and sul-
fathalidine with regard to their toxicity and therapeutic efficiency in various dosages.
The comparative value of sulfathiazole, sulfadiazine and sulfamerazine in the
treatment of calf pneumonia has been ascertained and on the basis of experimental
studies and clinical observations it has been shown that sulfathiazole is less toxic
and just as efficient as sulfadiazine. Sulfamerazine also gives encouraging results
in the treatment of the above mentioned disease.
Sulfaguanidine has been proved to be efficacious against calf scours and has
also been used successfully in coccidiosis both in poultry and live-stock. It is
more effective for coccidiosis than either sulfathalidine or sulfasuxidine.
Clinical observations have indicated that sulfathalidine and sulfaguanidine when
used with or without a vitamin supplement for enteritis in swine produce good
results. Sulfathalidine has proved to be of great therapeutic value against calf
scours and studies on its toxicity have also given favourable indications.
While prescribing, a necessary care should be exercised so that each sulfonamide
is used for the purpose for which it is intended and during their administration
increase in the fluid intake of the body should be made to prevent dehydration.
(H. S. D.)
Tuberculosis in the horse. INNES, J. R. M. (1949). British Vety. J. 105,
373-383. 9 plates and 28 references
THE paper is an addition to series of papers, published by the author on this
subject in this journal, reviewing the pathology of equine tuberculosis and
containing a discussion on five autopsy cases. The incidence of tuberculosis, in
horse concluded on the basis of post-mortems in knackeries is rare, being 0.06
per cent in Saxony, 0.14 per cent Germany, 0.09 per cent in Sweden, 0.22 per cent
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in Denmark and 0.07 per cent in Paris. The difficulty of finding the correct in-
cidence is stressed, on account of the difficulty of carrying out complete post-
mortems in knackeries and difficulty of clinical diagnosis due to unreliable tuber-
culin reaction because of high percentage of 'no visible lesion reactors'. So called
classical symptoms of stiffness of neck, due to affection of cervical vertebrae and
infection of mesenteric lymph glands, do not appear to be really classical, after
the pathology and incidence of disease is studied in detail. Primary infection is
by ingestion and in horses is mainly due to bovine type of bacillus. The organs
mentioned as mostly being affected include, lungs, liver, spleen and nasal mucosa.
Lesion in the brain meninges, testis, pancreas, long bones, uterus and tongue have
not been recorded. Though infection of pleura and peritoneum has been recorded,
the typical 'Perlsucht' of cattle appears to be rate.
The histological studies by the author go to confirm that lesions in horse are of
chronic proliferative character and are rarely caseating and calcifying as seen in
bovines and human beings. The presence of numerous giant cells in horse lesions
in absence of necrosis, is taken to indicate that they are not a response to necrosis
as was once believed. It is suggested that study of histology of the intestinal lesions
and mesenteric glands in horse, where reaction to the bovine strain is in the form of
proliferative tuberculoid and of the reaction of avian infection in horse may clear
up the doubts, about the similarity of lesions of regional ileitis in horse to lesions
of Johne's disease in cattle, and occurring of chronic proliferative lesions, in pigs and
cows in response to avian infections. (H. K. L.)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES.
MORTALITY IN SHEEP AND GOATS IN INDIA
By F. C. MINETT*
(Received for publication on 14 September 1949 )
T HIS is an analysis of deaths among animals on certain Government sheep
and goat breeding farms. Some of these are now closed. Two sets of data
have been used, (a) a sample or series of at least 100 fatal cases which at my request
the farm managers have been good enough to provide (Section 1), and (b) the reports
submitted annually by most of the farms to the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (Section 2). A comparison of the data in Sections 1 and 2 is shown in
Section 3.
The results of the analysis are intended to emphasize the lines along which
veterinary control effort and research may be directed. It is not suggested that
these results represent anything that is altogether new, since many of the facts
are well-known to those concerned with the farms and are mentioned in the valuable
reports thereof. The facts, however, will be the better for collation and critical
analysis and will bear repetition. Moreover, the opportunity has been taken to
consolidate the data so that comparisons may be as comprehensive as possible.
To make the narrative more complete, the opportunity is also taken to give in outline
some information regarding the farms themselves, their situation and purpose,
their size, livestock population and birth-rate, and the conditions of husbandry
and weather under which the stock are kept. Fuller information on many of these
points can, of course, also be obtained from the reports themselves.
PARTICULARS REGARDING THE FARMS
1. Banihal
Banihal in Kashmir lies between Jammu and Srinagar at 5,200 ft. The sheep
farm is on a mountain slope, with abundant facilities nearby for grazing and grow-
ing hay and other fodder. Routine management is as follows. During the summer
the flocks move up a few miles to forest grazing areas at 6,000 ft. to 12,000 ft. About
November, while the 'stationary' part of the flock remains at Banihal, the migra-
tory part moves down to winter forest at Reasi (Jammu), at 2,000 ft. to 3,000 ft. The
journey of 80 miles across the hills takes about a fortnight, but the rams are moved
by lorry in the day. At Reasi, there are also good grazing and watering facilities.
There in November and December the ewes are mated and are moved again to
Banihal in April where it is stated they lamb in April to June. Mating of those
staying at Banihal is rather earlier.
*The author was formerly Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteshwar and the
work referred to in this paper was done during his tenure there. He is now Director with the
Animal Health Trust, Westminster, Victoria St., London, S. W. 1.
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