MARCH
1948]
ABSTRACT
59
The animal experiments were conducted in the Southern Hemisphere in air-conditioned room
and the duration of each experiment was seven hours, unless the fowl's life was threatened on account
of high rectal temperature (113°F.).
Air temperature of 80°F. (dry bulb) is comfortable for the fowl, but beyond this, slight disturbances
of bodily functions become obvious. The fowl cannot safely withstand an air temperature of 100°F.
for seven hours, unless the relative humidity is less than 75 per cent, while at 105°F, the fowl can with-
stand only a few hours whatever be the humidity. The authors have observed, that if shade tempera-
tures above 105°F. are likely to be experienced for more than one hour during the day, the well-being
of the hens will be upset and death may occur. In Australia it has been observed that if at any time
before 1 p.m. the air temperature exceeds 100°F. active precautions are necessary as it is likely to be
a hot day and the temperatures remains high until 5 p.m.
Ventilation of poultry houses is helpful in preventing exessive moisture and removing the heated
air from houses.
The provision of a constant and adequate water supply, permitting the bird to douse the heap
whilst drinking, is stressed.
It has been stated that the level of protein in the diet has nothing to do with heat tolerance.
Hens can become acclimatized to hot environment but in the initial stages the acclimatization
may be accompanied by a drop in eggs production.
Six breeds of hens, consisting of both light and heavy, have been studied ; Leghorns (white and
brown). Minorca. White Wyandotte, Australorp, and Rhode Island Red. Under hot conditions
(105°F. with 25 per cent relative humidity) the White Leghorn showed the least rise of temperature
and the Brown Leghorn the greatest, while the heavy breeds—Australorp and Rhode Island Red,
were intermediate. It has been stated, that generally a hen laying under hot conditions is likely to
be affected with heat stroke. In the opinion of the authors under shade conditions, colour is perhaps
immaterial.
In house construction it has been observed that protection from heat can be given by galvanized
iron, while washed on the outside, or by covering the roof with creepers of thatch.
The indicatons of heat effects in a hen are : leg weakness, panting and wing drooping, sulking
in corners, staggering gait, ultimately leading to collapse. Simple immersion in cold water is a very
effective means of saving the bird, but the bird should be placed in a cool airy place to dry out.
(Work along these lines to study the effect of heat upon growth, egg production, and reproduction
is called for under Indian conditions, so that the poultry industry may be able to maintain scientific
control of breeding and production performance.) (S.G.I.)
O. WILFORD OLSEN (1946). Hexachlorethaue-Bentonite suspension for the removal of the
common Liver-fluke, Fasciola hepatica from Sheep. Am. J. Vet. Res. 7, 14 : 358-364
A FTER a review of literature on hexachlorethane as a faseiolicide in sheep and cattle, the author describes
his experiments with hexachlorethane-bentonite suspension for the removal of Fasciola hepatica from sheep.
The drug was quite effective and well tolerated by sheep.
Hexachlorethane-bentonitc suspension was prepared as an aqueous drench by mixing 500 gm. of commercial
hexachlorethane ground to finer than 60-mesh size, 50 gm. of bentonite, ¼ to ½ tea-spoonful of white flour and 750 c.c.
of tap water added slowly while stirring. The final mixing was done by passing the wet ingredients through a fine
sieve. The suspension was administered orally in a single dose. The results of the treatment were determined by
egg-counts, post-mortem examinations, and condition of flocks in which losses were occurring previously.
Of 110 infected sheep given 30 c.c. of suspension (15 gm. of hexachlorethane) each, 104 were found negative for
liver-fluke ova after a single treatment. Little change occurred in the egg-count of three animals whose original
counts were 16 per gram or less. The remaining three sheep showed only four eggs per gm. as compared with a
premedication count of 60 to 112.
Of 20 sheep, examined post-mortem, 13 were treated each with 30 c.c. and seven each with 60 c.c. of the suspension.
Necropsy of the former lot, revealed immature flukes in six animals and mature in five, and the mean number per