NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
258
COMPARISON OF FIRST AND SECOND EJACULATES, ETC. [Vol. XXI, Part IV
RESULTS
Averages of the various semen characteristics studied as well as the reaction
times for the two ejaculates of the 8 bulls are presented in Table I. The differences
between the ejaculates have been tested using the technique of analysis of variance.
Due to the obvious correspondence between the first and second ejaculates of different
bulls, the analysis given by Snedecor [1947] for two criteria of classification was
adopted. The results are shown in Table II. From Tables I and II it will be
seen that:—
(i) Volume. The average volume of semen in the first ejaculate was uniformly
higher than in the second ejaculate. The overall average over bulls
for the first ejaculate was 2.33 c.c. as compared to 2.04 c.c. of the
second ejaculate. The difference was statistically not significant.
(ii) Initial motility. In five out of the eight bulls, the average initial motility
was higher in the second ejaculate than in the first. In two bulls
(Nos. 33 and 20), it was higher in the first ejaculate, while in one bull
(No. 21), it was the same for the two ejaculates. The overall average
for the bulls was slightly in favour of the second ejaculate (I=3.07;
II=3.32). The difference was, however, not statistically significant.
Bull X ejaculate interaction, however, was significant at five per cent
level showing that between ejaculates differences in initial motility
varied significantly from bull to bull.
(iii) Sperm concentration. In five bulls (Nos. 4, 21, 33, 17 and 16) the average
sperm concentration was higher in the first ejaculate than in the second,
while in the remaining three bulls the opposite was the case. The
overall average for bulls was in favour of the first ejaculate (1975.92
M/C as compared to 970.79 M/C). The difference was not statistically
significant.
(iv) Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. With the exception of Bull No. 4,
in all the bulls the average percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was
higher in the first eajculate than in the second. The overall average
for the bulls was 5.14 per cent for the first ejaculate and 4.16 per cent
for the second ejaculate. The difference was statistically significant
at 5 per cent level.
(v) Total sperm in an ejaculate. The overall average number of sperm in the
first ejaculate was 2422.22 millions per c.c. as compared to 1916.88
millions per c.c. in the second ejaculate. The difference just approaches
the 5 per cent level of significance.
(vi) Initial pH. The average overall pH for bulls was slightly higher in the
second ejaculate than in the first. The average was 6.79 for the
first ejaculate and 6.82 for the second ejaculate. The difference is
not statistically significant.
(vii) Percentage of dead spermatozoa. In all bulls without exception, the
average percentage of dead spermatozoa was decidedly higher in the
first than in the second ejaculates. The overall bull average for
the first ejaculate was 22.64 per cent as compared to 17.21 per cent
S. S.
PRABHU
259
ious semen chara
(vi) Initiuly Total motile sperm in the eja-
culate (M)
I
(a)
6.76
6.82
6.79
6.75
6.76
6.81
6.80
6.84
6.79
II
(b)
6.81
6.82
0.77
6.75
0.80
6.90
6.81
6.86
6.82
I
(a)
51.53
19.77
28.58
19.28
46.56
79.03
32.41
86.12
80.88
II
(b)
272.95
344.17
661.74
854.59
650.98
191.42
935.97
466.55
548.80
Difference
(a—b)
+178.58
+ 75.60
—133.16
—335.31
—204.42
—12.39
+46.44
—230.43
—67.92
(xii) Reaction time (Sec.)
I
(a)
49.86
24.93
64.92
34.55
14.21
34.57
20.21
26.64
33.13
II
(b)
82.71
26.36
48.83
22.00
13.14
72.29
10.71
30.64
38.48
Difference
(a—b)
—32.85
—1.43
+16.09
+12.55
+1.07
—37.72
+9.50
—4.00
—5.35
[Vol. XXI, Part IV
8.30**
85
(x) Percentage of total motile
D.F.
7
1
7
184
M.S.
2686.54
1458.38
412.92
490.61
F.
5.48**
2.97
(xi) Total motility sperm
D.F.
7
1
7
182
M.S.
1421219.26
228342.29
186788.88
171035.78
F.
8.30**
1.33
1.09
(xii) Reaction time
D.F.
7
1
7
198
M.S.
10886.71
152S.90
2742.90
2197.23
F.
4.95**
..
1.24
December, 1951] S. S. PRABHU AND P. BHATTACHARYA 261
for the second ejaculate. The difference was statistically significant
at 1 per cent level.
(viii) Percentage of weakly motile spermatozoa. With the exception of bull
No. 4, the average percentage of weakly motile spermatozoa was higher
in the first than in the second ejaculate. The average over bulls for
the first ejaculate was 14.66 per cent as compared to 11.61 per cent
of the second; but since between the ejaculates and within-ejaculates
variation was high, the difference between ejaculates was found to
be not statistically significant.
(ix) Percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa. With the exception of
bulls Nos. 21 and 33, the average percentage of progressively motile
spermatozoa in the second ejaculate was found to be higher than in the
first. The average over bulls was 32.62 per cent for the first ejaculate
and 41.07 per cent for the second ejaculate. The difference was found
to be not statistically significant.
(x) Percentage of total motile spermatozoa. In five bulls (Nos. 33, 17, 19, 16
and 31) the average percentage of total motile spermatozoa was higher
in the second than in the first ejaculate in bulls, while in the remaining
three bulls, it was the other way. The average over bulls was in favour
of the second ejaculate by 5.40 per cent. The difference, however, was
statistically not significant.
(xi) Total number of motile spermatozoa in an ejaculate. In five out of the
eight bulls (Nos. 33, 17, 19, 20 and 31), the total number of motile
spermatozoa in the second ejaculate was higher than in the first. The
average over bulls for the first ejaculate was 480.88 millions and 548.80
millions for the second ejaculate. The difference was not statistically
significant.
(xii) Reaction time. It was observed that the reaction times varied consider-
ably from bull to bull and within a bull from day to day of collection
and within a given day, for the two ejaculates. The average over bulls
for the first ejaculate was 33.13 seconds and for the second ejaculate,
38.48 seconds. The difference, however, was not statistically signi-
ficant.
With the exception of percentage of weakly motile spermatozoa and initial pH,
the overall differences between bulls in the various semen characteristic studied
were found to be statistically highly significant.
CONCLUSION
The two major factors which materially affect bulls in producing uniformly
good quality semen and thereby, their intensive use in artificial insemination
are (i) volume and (ii) sperm concentration. In Bos taurus dairy bulls, Herman and
Swanson [1941] observed that the second ejaculate had a larger volume and a higher
concentration of spermatozoa. Similar results have also been reported by Anderson
[1941, 1942 a, b] and Weatherby [1941]. Our results showed no significant difference
either in volume or sperm concentration between the first and second ejaculates of
262
COMPARISON OF FIRST AND SECOND EJACULATES, ETC. [Vol. XXI, Part IV
buffalo bulls collected in rapid succession at weekly intervals. The total number of
spermatozoa in the ejaculate approached the 5 per cent level of significance and was
in favour of the first ejaculate. At the same time, it was observed that the first
ejaculate on an average contained significantly larger number of dead and abnormal
spermatozoa than the second, which should on an average make the latter
ejaculate a better sample for routine use.
SUMMARY
Comparison was made between the various semen characteristics and reaction
time of over 100 pairs of ejaculates collected in rapid succession at weekly intervals
from 8 buffalo bulls.
With the exception of percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and percentage of
dead spermatozoa, differences in no other attributes studied were statistically signi-
ficant. The difference in total number of sperm in the two ejaculates approached
five per cent level of significance. In case of initial motility, the interaction bulls
X ejaculates was significant. With the exception of percentage of weakly motile
spermatozoa and initial pH, variation due to bulls in the other semen characteristics
was highly significant.
On the basis of the results obtained, it has been suggested that possibly on an
average the second ejaculate obtained at weekly interval may be a better sample
for routine use.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are indebted to Messrs. A. R. Roy and V. N. Amble of the Statistical
Section, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, for advice in the statistical treat-
ment of the data and to Dr S. Datta, Director, Indian Veterinary Research
Insititute, for providing all facilities.
REFERENCES
Anderson, James (1945). Semen of animals and its use for artificial insemination Imp. Bull.
Anim. Gen., Edinburgh
Bhattacharya, P. and Prabhu, S. S. (1950). Unpublished
Davis, H. P. and Williams, N. K. (1939). Proc. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod., 32nd Meet., 232
Herman, H. A. and Swanson, E. W. (1941). Mo. Agric. Expt. Sta. Rec. Bull., 326
Kirillov, V. S. and Morozov, V. A. (1937). A.B.A., 7, 120
Lasley, John F. (1944). J. Anim. Sci., 3, 433
——,
Easley, G. T. and Mackenzie, F. F. (1942). Anat. Rec., 32(2)
Snedecor, George W. (1947). Statistical Methods. The Collegiate Press, Inc., Iowa
Trimberger, G. W. and Davies, H. P. (1942). J. Dairy Sci., 25, 692
Weatherby, E. T., Reece, R. P. and Bartlett, J. W. (1942). J. Anim. Sci., 1, 80-81
Webster, W. M. (1932). Aust. Vet. J., 8, 199
ABSTRACTS
The Low Temperature Storage of Ram, Bull and Rabbit Spermatozoa. EMMENS,
C. W. and BLACKSHAW, A. W. (1950). Aust. vet. J. 26, No. 9, 266-268
T HE paper gives the preliminary account of the results of preserving
mammalians spermatozoa at low temperature.
A percentage of human spermatozoa survive rapid freezing to —79° C. in their
own seminal plasma and in that of ram, bull and rabbit, but spermatozoa of other
species fell to stand similar treatment. A series of tests were repeated with 24
samples of ram semen, each in several replications. Ram spermatozoa were slowly
frozen to —79° C. in mixtures of glycerol and a pentose. The best results were
obtained with 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent of glycerol and 1.25 per cent of arabinose,
rhamnose and xylose in the semen diluent mixture. The results also indicated that
revival of spermatozoa would have been complete at temperature not below —25ºC.
This, however, needs further confirmation. The same method with bull semen
gave equally good results in a run of 12 tests. There was no diminution of activity
of spermatozoa after three or four days of storage at —79°C., thereby showing that
semen could be preserved in that state for a long time.
The diluents used in ram and bull semen are more toxic to rabbit spermatozoa
than bull or ram spermatozoa. Rabbit semen slowly frozen to —79°C. in 7.5 per
cent of ethylene glycerol with 1.25 per cent or more of various sugars showed
revival of spermatozoa upto 25—30 per cent. Further work is being continued
to evolve a less toxic diluent (G. S.)
Some Factors Confirmed with Practical Aspects of Progency Testing. HUTT, E. B.
(1950). B. vet. J. 107, No. 3, 97-103
A S the result of 15 years of poultry breeding with the object of evolving a Leucosis
resistant, higher and larger egg producing, early maturing and good body sized
strain, the author has concluded the importance of various factors that make progency
testing easier and more profitable.
An important one was to reduce the testing period to 500 days after hatching,
instead of the traditional 365 days after first egg, to get the results quicker and
thereby economise on utilisation of the housing space, allowing more time for
computation of records and encourage early maturity. The records were kept on a
separate card for each pullet, dam, sire, etc. and a master sheet for comparison of all
sires. Annual record cards of pullets were punched and slotted to permit quick
calculation and evaluation of results. Partial tests for four months were also carried
as they permitted immediate reuse of the best sires and dams and allowed an extra
year of reproduction from them. Cockrels were picked up by sib tests i.e. by the
performance of their full and half sisters. Egg size was measured by taking an
263
R
264
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXI, Part IV
average of the weight of four eggs from each first year pullet during March and
December instead of throughout the year. To get a maximum number of proven
sires, 'multiple shifts' of cockerels were used on a definite number of pens, each
having at least 18 females, so that each male got about 50 daughters. Artificial
insemination was also practised to shorten the interval between successive males
when paternity was uncertain. (B. N. G.)
A Note on Newcastle Disease. ZAKI MORCOS (1950). B. Vet. J., 106, 240-241
T HE author, as a result of his experiments and experience claims, that Ranikhet
Vaccine, with an average dose of 1 c.c. of a 1/1000th suspension of dried chick
embryo attenuated culture as an effective prophylactic, has a curative effect of
saving about 50 per cent of the affected birds irrespective of their age, when given
in small repeated doses, whereas 100 per cent of the unvaccinated birds die (trials
will be worthwhile in India). (B.N.G.)
Control and Prevention of Neurolymphomatosis (Fowl Paralysis). WILSON, J. E.,
(1950). B. Vet. J. 106, 196-200
IT is observed, that young birds are most susceptible for fowl paralysis during the
first 4 weeks of their life, and therefore strict isolation by removing them from
contaminated runs or where, this is not possible recourse to intensive system, is
suggested as measure of prevention. All direct or indirect contact with adult birds
during the critical period i.e. the first six to eight weeks after hatching should be
avoided, because of the danger of their being carriers, inspite of apparently being
healthy. An experiment on above lines showed 1.11 per cent mortality in stock
reared on uncontaminated grounds as compared to 34.4 per cent mortality in chicks
reared on contaminated one. In another experiment, where isolation was effected
after eight weeks, age, there was no material reduction in disease incidence.
The author finds that direct egg transmission of the virus is not so important a
factor in causing serious losses, as the non-isolation during the first few weeks of life.
Routine fumigation, soon after setting eggs, will eliminate the virus from egg
shells contaminated through birds, droppings.
Large scale production of high degree resistant males from State aided breeding
stations for distribution to the poultry industry is suggested. (B.N.G.).
Some Aspects of Immunity in Rinderpest. MUKERJII, A. (1951). Indian Vet. J., XXVII,
No. 5, 351-355
THE article is a review of the work done in the evolution of an effective rinderpest
vaccine in the country, which materialised in 1928 with inactivation of rinderpest
virus after being passaged through the goat and being fixed at the eightieth passage.
It is mentioned that antigenicity of G. T. V. varies with the nature of the strain,
the type of goat, the number of passages, the age and condition of vaccinated animal,
the post.vaccination treatment and the climatic conditions prevailing at the time,
266
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXI, Part IV
only 45 per cent thereby showing that the culture test did not reveal all cases of
Mastitis and those cases in which the pathogenic organism was absent but inflamma-
tion was present would be classified as false positive, thus reflecting erroneously upon
the value of indirect tests.
A total cell count of 100,000 per ml. generally regarded as the border line for
normal milk was shown to be too high and a count above 21,000 per ml. was
regarded positive for mastitis.
The pathological changes caused by Str. agalactiae were found to be primarily
subacute catarrhal, marked by highly productive changes in the interstitial tissue
and sever leucocytic infiltration in the alveoli, while those caused by Str. dysgalactiae,
Str. uberis and pathogenic staphylococci were much milder. In one case of
Corynebacterium pyogenes infection the lesions were mainly severe, subacute and
were characterised by the presence of a suppurative exudate. The fibrous tissue
was formed, which persisted resulting in extensive fibrosis. (M.M.S.).
Storage of Bull Spermatozoa at low Temperatures. AUDREY, U. S. and POLGE, C.
(1950). Vet. Rec. 62, 115-116
T HE paper deals with the effect of glycerol on the revival of bull and goat spermato-
zoa from very low temperatures without considering the fertilising power. Sam-
ples of diluted bull and goat semen having concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 per cent
glycerol showed full motility, both immediately after and 3 hours after dilution when
kept at room temperature (+20º C.) or at +2ºC. Motility was higher after 24 hours
at + 2ºC. than at +20ºC. Sample of semen diluted in egg.yolk citrate showed no
better result at these temperatures.
Samples cooled at the rate of 1ºC. per minute from 0ºC. to —79ºC. showed 50
to 60 per cent revival in 5 per cent glycerol and about 70 per cent revival in 10 per
cent and 15 per cent glycerol. Another set of tubes cooled in eleven successive
stages at 0ºC., —2ºC., —5ºC., —8ºC., —10ºC., —13ºC., —15ºC., —26ºC., -40ºC.,
—60ºC. and —79ºC. with 2½+5 minutes at each temperature, showed similar results;
but the order of 90 per cent revival was found in 15 per cent glycerol on three addi-
tional stages of —30ºC., —50ºC. and —70ºC. When sealed ampules of bull semen in
15 per cent glycerol were thus cooled and then thawed after 10 minutes, 2 hours and
24 hours at —79ºC., sperm motility was undiminished. In samples stored at +2ºC.
or at +20ºC., after thawing, motility was slightly reduced after 3 hours but diminished
considerably after 24 hours. (K.D.B.).
The Cattle Trypanosomiases Cryptic Trypanosomiasis. FIENNES, R. N. T. W. (1950).
Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit. 44, 222-237
I T has long been recognised that Trypanosoma vivax in cattle become 'cryptic' or
create a state of 'premunition'. The author after reviewing the literature on
December, 1951]
ABSTRACTS
267
the subject has dealt in detail with:
(1) the course of Trypanosoma congolense infection in cattle; (2) the demons-
tration of antibody as a proof of the existence of secondary trypano-
somiasis; (3) blood changes occurring during the incubation period
of acute T. vivax infection of cattle; (4) the cryptic infection resulting
from subcurative therapy and (5) the cryptic infection following the
prophylactic use of drugs. The author reported in an earlier study
that T. congolense hitherto considered to be a blood parasite, has also
been found to act as a tissue parasite in the adrenal cortex and in the
anterior pituitory glands. Though such findings were not constant
but it was suggested by him that the lesions in the endocrines might
have been caused by the direct action of the flagellates in the tissues.
In discussing the results obtained from his observations on the above lines he
emphasized that the cryptic infection of cattle trypanosomiasis constituted a form of
'secondary trypanosomiasis'. This condition was consequent upon a natural
'primary' stage, and that it was disease entity which could produce morbid symptoms
ultimately resulting in the death of the animal.
The author suggests that it was probable that the cryptic parasites in the animal
body were active and not lying dormant, and that there was some focus of infection,
but, where it was located and in what way it produced pathologic condition yet re-
mained to be discovered. The reasonable hypothesis that followed was that during the
secondary stage of trypanosomiasis the antibody in the serum was powerful enough
to prevent blood invasion unless of course the host was subjected to some adverse
conditions. The author suggests that the small number of trypanosomes that may
have appeared in the blood from time to time was perhaps, due to an overspill from
some tissue focus rather than the active cause of symptoms of disease. It was also
reasonable to suppose that if substances inimical to trypanosomes were present in
the blood serum they would inhibit the primary blood invasion and resulted in the
creation of a tissue focus which might or might not be accompanied by active symp-
toms. This explained how the drug prophylaxis and unsuccessful drug therapy
led to inhibit the primary stage of the disease but allowed the development of the
secondary stage. The antibody could be demonstrated in the serum during both
primary and secondary stage but disappeared when the parasites were eliminated.
It has been emphasized that the demonstration of antibody was a sure test of the
presence of cryptic infection.
The author has rightly concluded that the problem of trypanosomiasis could
only be solved by a thorough study of the pathology and immunity reactions of the
host and the behaviour of the parasite in response to exposure to sera and drugs.
(H.N.R.).
REVIEWS
INDEX OF TREATMENT
BY HAMILTON KIRK
(Published by Bailliere Tindall and Cox—London—1951, pp. X+826, 40 S.)
T HE book is divided into three parts. Part I deals with different kind of therapy,
antiseptics and anaesthetics. Separate chapters are assigned to the therapy
by Actino, Electro, Chemo, Hormone, Vaccine and Serum, Vitamin, and therapy
by the Barbiturates. This part gives the reader all the up to date and modern
knowledge on the therapy by all such known methods and the most suitable methods
of practising efficient antisepsis and anaesthesia, in so far as the small animals are
concerned.
Part II then deals with the index of treatment proper. This is a sort of en-
cyclopaedia covering all affections met with, in small animal practice that require
medical or surgical intervention: In a brief and concise manner is mentioned the
steps necessary to be taken to deal with all the ailments.
Part III has chapters devoted to imparting knowledge on such essential items
as handling and restraint of small animals, administration of medicines, care and
feeding of sick, humane methods of euthanasia. The posological table is at the end
of this part.
The subject matter in the book is neatly described and well illustrated.
Throughout the book is written in a clear and simple style. The printing and get.up
are commendable.
The book is invaluable for all veterinary practitioners in this country, parti-
cularly in urban areas where small animal patients are by no means infrequent.
The book should also prove of great help to veterinary students who require
knowledge concentrated in a nutshell. (M.R.M.).
BREEDING AND IMPROVEMENT OF FARM ANIMALS*
BY VICTOR ARTHUR RICE
(Published by Mc/Graw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1942, 3rd ed., 10th imp.
pp. X+750, 213 fig, Price Rs. 5.50)
T HE book is an excellent general treatise on the subject, both for students and
practical breeders. It presents the principles of animal breeding and related
sciences and their application in farm animal breeding practice. The essentials of
*With chapters on the endocrine basis of reproduction and artificial insemination by Dr
Frederick Newcomb Andrews.
268