NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
52 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
TABLE VI.
Bull No. 756. Age—9 years.
Date
January
20-27*
„
28
„
29
„
30
„
31
February
1
„
2
„
3
„
4
„
5
„
6
„
7
Total
protein in
grams per
100 c.c.
serum
7.6678
Albumin
in grams
per 100
c.c.
serum
3.1174
Globulin
in grams
per 100
c.c.
serum
4.5504
Euglobulin
in grams
per 100
c.c.
serum
1.3224
Pseudo¬
globulin
in grams
per 100
c.c. serum
3.2280
Albumin
Per cent.
41.2
Inoculated subcutaneously with 5 c.c. virulent rinderpest blood.
7.8473
8.0958
8.2321
7.8176
7.5515
6.8747
..
..
6.7536
Died
3.0024
3.3025
3.3242
2.9655
..
2.6359
..
...
2.8873
4.8449
4.7933
4.9079
4.8521
..
4.2388
..
..
3.8663
1.7540
2.1228
2.0954
0.9108
...
0.6830
..
..
..
3.0909
2.6705
2.8125
3.9413
..
3.5558
..
..
..
38.3
40.8
40.4
38.0
..
38.6
..
..
..
Globulin
Per cent.
58.8
61.7
59.2
59.6
62.0
..
61.4
..
..
..
Euglo-
bulin
Per cent.
17.15
22.3
26.2
25.4
11.6
..
10.0
..
..
..
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
41.65
39.4
33.0
34.2
50.4
..
51.4
..
..
..
Remarks
Serum under-
went gelation.
Serum under-
went gelation.
Do.
Do.
* Average of three estimations.
CHART IV. HILL BULL 756.
CHART V. HILL BULL 843.
SERUM PROTEINS IN BULLS HEALTHY, RINDERPEST ATTACKED AND RECOVERED 53
TABLE VII.
Bull No. 843. Age—8 years.
Date
January 10-17*
„
18
„
19
„
20
„
21
„
22
„
23
„
24
„
25
„
26
„
27
Total
protein in
grammes
per 100 c.c.
serum
7.5065
Albumin
in grammes
per 100 c.c.
serum
3.0152
Globulin
in grs.
per 100 c.c.
serum
4.5363
Euglobulin
in grs.
per 100 c.c.
serum
1.1680
Pseudo-
globulin
in grs.
per 100 c.c.
serum
3.3683
Albumin
Per cent.
40.15
Inoculated subcutaneously with 0.1 c.c. virulent rinderpest blood.
7.2944
7.2944
7.5510
7.2556
7.4893
6.3244
6.6154
7.0057
Died
3.1158
2.8882
3.4404
3.2350
3.2602
3.0673
2.9137
3.6020
4.1786
5.4062
4.1106
4.0206
4.2291
3.2571
3.7017
3.4037
1.4017
1.1081
1.0510
..
..
0.9340
..
0.7790
2.7769
4.2971
3.0596
..
..
2.3231
..
2.6247
42.7
39.6
45.5
44.6
43.5
48.5
44.0
47.0
Globulin
Per cent.
59.85
57.3
60.4
54.5
55.4
56.5
51.5
56.0
53.0
Euglobulin
Per cent.
15.5
19.2
15.2
13.9
..
..
14.7
..
11.1
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
44.35
38.1
45.2
40.6
..
..
36.8
..
41.9
* Average of three estimations.
54 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
TABLE VIII.
Bull No. 841. Age—7 years.
Date
January
10-17*
„
18
„
19
„
20
„
21
„
22
„
23
„
24
„
25
„
26
„
27
„
28
„
29
Total
protein in
grams
per 100 c.c.
serum
8.5018
Albumin
in grs. per
100 c.c.
serum
2.4659
Globulin
in grs. per
100 c.c.
serum
6.0359
Euglobulin
in grs.
per
100 c.c.
serum
2.2320
Pseudo-
globulin in
grs. per
100 c.c.
serum
3.8039
Albumin
Per cent.
29.0
Inoculated subcutaneously with 0.1 c.c. virulent rinderpest blood.
8.2322
8.5596
8.7474
8.5195
8.7474
..
..
8.2321
8.2321
..
Died.
2.7739
2.6451
3.0124
2.8142
3.7410
..
..
3.3690
3.0683
..
5.4583
5.9145
5.7350
6.3053
5.0064
..
..
4.8631
5.1638
..
1.8620
2.0590
2.2920
2.5050
2.1500
..
..
2.2120
2.2200
..
3.5963
3.8555
3.4430
3.8003
2.8564
..
..
2.6511
2.9438
..
33.7
30.9
34.4
33.0
42.7
..
..
..
37.2
..
Globulin
Per cent.
71.0
66.3
69.1
65.6
67.0
57.3
..
..
..
62.8
..
Euglobulin
Per cent.
26.2
22.6
24.0
26.8
29.4
24.5
..
..
26.8
26.9
..
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
44.8
43.7
45.1
38.8
37.6
32.8
..
..
..
35.9
..
Remarks
Serum under-
went
gela-
tion.
Ditto.
Serum under-
went
gela-
tion, later.
Ditto.
Ditto.
* Average of three estimations.
CHART VI. HILL BULL 841.
E
SERUM PROTEINS IN BULLS HEALTHY, RINDERPEST ATTACKED AND RECOVERED 55
It will be noticed that in all the above cases there was a marked variation in
the amounts of different serum protein fractions in the course of the infection.
All the six animals died within eleven days of the inoculation of the virus. There
was a fall in the absolute amount of the total protein in every case. A striking
instance of this is to be seen in the case of Bull No. 913 where the total protein fell
from 6.3252 grams to 4.9213 grams per 100 c. c. of serum; a reduction of 22 per
cent. This result confirms the previous observations of Hartley (loc. cit.) in this
laboratory. Other serum protein fractions also show considerable variations. For
example, there is a shift in the absolute amounts of total globulin, pseudoglobulin,
and euglobulin, but the albumin portion does not show a marked fluctuation.
Some interesting points are to be noticed when the results are calculated in per-
centages of the total protein. Thus in the case of Bulls 913 and 719, the euglobulin
decreases considerably before death occurred. The total globulin also decreased
while the albumin fraction increased considerably. In bull 841 there is, however,
some difference. Thus the euglobulin percentage remains almost constant while
both globulin and pseudoglobulin diminish. There is, however, a rise in the
albumin fraction. In case of Bull 962, euglobulin continuously diminishes but
there is not a marked variation of either globulin, pseudoglobulin, or albumin. It
seems, therefore, that we cannot generalise from these very few data as to whether
there is any definite variation of any protein fraction in any particular direction
during infection with the virus of rinderpest.
So far we have given the results of inoculation experiments in which animals
ultimately succumbed to the disease. In the next two tables, the data are given
of the variations of serum proteins of two animals which survived the attack of
the disease.
E2
56 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
TABLE IX.
Bull 900. Age—8 years.
Date
January, 20—27*
„
28
„
29
„ 30
„ 31
February,
1
„
2
„
3
„ 4
„
5
„ 6
„
7
„
8
„ 9
„ 10
„
11
„ 12
„
13
„
14
Total proteins
in grams per
100 c. c.
serum
7.0510
Albumin in
grams per
100 c. c.
serum
3.8531
Globulin in
grams per
100 c. c.
serum
3.1979
Euglobulin
in grams per
100 c. c.
serum
0.9508
Pseudo¬
globulin in
grams per
100 c. c.
serum
2.2471
Albumin
Per cent.
54.56
Inoculated subcutaneously with 5 c. c. of rinderpest virulent blood
7.5352
7.2944
7.2556
6.6881
6.8569
6.4204
6.2287
6.5833
6.4522
5.8733
6.2054
6.2054
5.8195
6.2371
6.0621
6.6487
6 7334
4.153
4.059
4.028
3.840
3 369
2.880
3.668
3.458
3.096
3.394
3.564
3.260
..
3.279
3.184
3.616
3.617
3.3822
3.2354
3.2276
2.8481
3.4879
3.5404
2.5607
3.1253
3.3562
2.4793
2.6414
2.9454
..
2.9581
2.8771
3.0327
3.1164
1.2212
1.280
1.1189
..
0.8033
..
..
..
1.0930
..
0.5014
0.7494
..
0.4575
0.4638
0.5951
0.7704
2.1610
1.9554
2.1087
..
2.6846
..
..
..
2.2632
..
2.1400
2.1960
..
2.5006
2.4133
2.4376
2.3460
55.1
55.6
55.5
57.4
49.1
44.8
58.8
52.5
47.9
57.7
57.4
52.2
..
52.5
52.5
54.4
53.7
Globulin
Per cent.
45.44
44.9
44.4
44.5
42.6
50.9
55.2
41.2
47.5
52.1
42.3
42.6
47.8
..
47.5
47.5
45.6
46.3
Euglobulin
Per cent.
13.48
16.2
17.5
15.4
..
11.7
..
..
..
16.9
..
8.09
12.09
..
7.30
7.73
9.0
11.6
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
31.86
28.7
26.9
29.1
..
39.2
..
..
..
35.2
..
34.51
35.71
..
40.20
39.77
36.6
34.7
* Average of 3 estimations.
SERUM PROTEINS IN BULLS HEALTHY, RINDERPEST ATTACKED AND RECOVERED 57
TABLE X.
Bull 927. Age—3 years.
Date.
January 10-17*
„
18
„
19
„
20
„
21
„
22
„
23
„
24
„
25
„
26
„
27
„
28
„
29
„
30
„
31
February
1
Total
protein in
grams per
100 c. c.
serum.
8.8004
Albumin
in grams
per 100 c. c.
serum.
2.8770
Globulin
in grams
per 100 c. c,
serum.
5.9234
Euglobulin
in grams
per 100 c. c.
serum.
1.9185
Pseudo¬
globulin
in grams
per 100 c.c.
serum.
4.0049
Inoculated subcutaneously with 5 c. c. virulent rinderpest blood
9.1697
9.1697
9.3799
9.3799
9.3799
8.8648
9.0412
8.5596
8.5596
8.8056
8.5596
9.0470
9.1697
9.1697
2.7240
2.4860
2.8530
2.5010
...
2.9030
3.6020
2.8480
2.8880
2.7340
2.7840
2.8130
3.1560
2.9130
6.4457
6.6837
6.5269
6.8789
..
5.9618
5.4392
5.7116
5.6716
6.0716
5.7756
6.2340
6.0137
6.2567
2.2630
2.0373
2.0143
2.5798
..
2.5020
..
2.2902
2.2902
2.5790
2.3733
2.9104
2.7627
1.3570
4.1827
4.6464
4.5126
4.2991
..
3.4598
..
3.4214
3.3814
3.4926
3.4023
3.3236
3.2510
4.8997
Albumin
Per cent.
32.7
29.7
27.1
30.4
26.7
..
32.8
39.9
33.3
33.8
31.05
32.5
31.1
34.4
31.8
Globulin
Per cent.
67.3
70.3
72.9
69.6
73.3
..
67.2
60.1
66.7
66.2
68.95
67.5
68.9
65.6
68.2
Euglobulin
Per cent.
21.7
24.6
22.2
21.4
27.5
..
28.2
..
26.7
26.7
29.2
27.7
32.1
30.1
14.8
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
45.6
45.7
50.7
48.2
45.8
..
39.0
..
40.0
39.5
39.75
39.8
36.8
35.5
53.4
* Average of 3 estimations.
58 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
TABLE X—contd.
Bull 927. Age 3 years—contd.
Date.
February 2
„ 3
„ 4
„ 5
„ 6
„
7
„ 8
„ 9
„ 10
„ 11
„ 12
„ 13
„ 14
„
15
„ 16
„ 17
Total
protein in
grams per
100 c.c.
serum.
8.8648
8.5195
7.9003
8.8648
7.6261
7.5809
8.2321
7.8176
8.2522
8.4087
8.6027
8.4087
8.5596
8.4087
8.4087
8.4087
Albumin
in grams
per 100 c.c.
serum.
2.6780
2.5016
2.5810
2.6150
2.4520
2.2850
2.2850
2.4270
2.5010
2.2520
2.4520
2.8840
2.7840
2.7840
2.5690
2.4800
Globulin
in grams
per 100 c.c.
serum.
6.1868
6.0179
5.3192
6.2498
5.1741
5.2959
5.9471
5.3906
5.7512
6.1567
6.1507
5.5247
5.7756
5.6247
5.8397
5.9287
Euglobulin
in grams
per 100 c.c.
serum.
1.6170
1.1539
0.8100
1.6170
0.8260
—
1.1570
—
0.8860
1.4910
1.7280
1.6560
1.1930
—
—
1,7586
Pseudo¬
globulin
in grams
per 100 c.c.
serum.
4.5698
4.8640
4.5092
4.6328
4.3481
—
4.7901
—
4.8652
4.6657
4.4227
3.8687
4.5826
—
—
4.1701
Albumin
Per cent.
30.2
29.9
32.6
29.9
32.1
30.1
27.9
31.04
30.3
26.9
29.9
34.3
32.5
33.1
30.5
29.5
Globulin
Per cent.
69.8
70.1
67.4
70.1
67.9
69.9
72.1
68.96
69.7
73.1
70.1
65.7
67.5
66.9
69.5
70.5
Euglobulin
Per cent.
18.2
13.5
10.2
18.2
10.8
—
14.1
—
10.5
17.7
..
20.09
19.7
—
—
21.0
Pseudo¬
globulin
Per cent.
51.6
56.6
57.2
51.9
57.1
..
58.0
..
59.2
55.4
..
45.61
47.8
—
—
49.5
* Average of 3 estimations.
CHART VIII. HILL BULL 927.
BULL 900.
CHART VII. HILL BULL 900.
SERUM PROTEINS IN BULLS HEALTHY, RINDERPEST ATTACKED AND RECOVERED 5
The animals of which the data are given in the above Tables showed different
clinical symptoms. Bull No. 927 passed through an attack of typical rinderpest
but was on the way to recovery by the seventh day after the inoculation. Bull
No. 900 did not show any temperature reaction; this animal, however, lost condi-
tion during the first ten days, and although no clinical symptoms of the disease
appeared, it is probable that the animal was affected to some degree by the inocula-
tion of virus. It will be observed from Tables IX and X, that in the case of
Bull No. 900, the absolute amount of the total protein fell from 7.086 grams to
5.8733 grams per 100 c. c. of serum during the first ten days, whereas in the
case of Bull No. 927 there was no appreciable fall in the total protein. A curious
fluctuation in the euglobulin percentage is also noticed during the whole period,
particularly in the case of Bulls Nos. 900 and 927, charts VII and VIII.
The results presented in the foregoing pages may be examined from two points
of view, namely first, whether the pre-existing ratios of different protein fractions
in a healthy animal have any effect on the reaction of the animal-body towards
rinderpest, and, secondly whether the observed fluctuations of serum protein
fractions of either a healthy animal or an animal which has recovered from an
attack of the disease are due to some metabolic disturbance. In order to test the
first point it was decided to inoculate another ninteen healthy animals with rinder-
pest virus, and then to determine the reaction of these animals to this inoculation.
Nine of them recovered from the attack of the disease while ten of them
succumbed. In Table XI, the pre-existing ratios of different protein fractions
of these ninteen healthy animals and their reactions after the inoculation of
rinderpest virus are shown. As the globulin portion usually shows some variations
in this disease we have confined ourselves mainly to the ratio of this fraction to
other protein fractions of the serum.
TABLE XI.
Number of the
animal
984
989
994
1044
988
Albumin/
Globulin
0.78
0.87
0.69
0.83
0.39
Euglobulin/
globulin
0.36
0.26
0.29
0.22
0.45
Total protein/
Euglobulin
4.78
7.01
6.17
8.40
3.10
Percentage
reaction
(Edward's Nota-
tion)
0
66.7
41.6
50
50.0
60 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
TABLE XI—contd.
Number of the
animal
981
977
855
1001
773
818
733
996
821
992
979
998
983
955
Albumin/
Globulin
0.808
0.76
0.83
0.93
0.97
1.05
1.02
1.007
1.01
0.81
0.89
0.68
..
..
Euglobulin/
globulin
0.35
0.20
0.315
0.21
0.32
0.337
0.203
0.23
0.28
0.21
0.11
0.33
..
..
Total protein/
Euglobulin
5.19
8.90
5.88
9.26
9.1
6.25
10.01
8.54
7.10
6.62
17.20
5.1
6.1
3.3
Percentage
reaction
(Edward's Nota-
tion)
83.3
83.3
83.3
66.7
50.0
50.0
83.3
50
41.7
100
83.3
50
83.3
83.3
NOTE.—For the method of calculating the percentage reactions, see the Annual Report of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, 1925. Bulls having a reaction of 50 per cent. or
less in these experiments survived, while the others succumbed to the infection.
A study of the above Table shows that no definite correlation can be arrived
at between any of the pre-existing protein ratios and the behaviour of the animals
towards rinderpest. It is well known that the relative proportions of total globulin
and albumin are in general consistently different in certain species of animals. In
man, sheep, goat, rabbit, dog, guinea pig and rat, the albumins predominate over
the globulins, whereas in the horse, hog, and cow, the relative proportion of these two
classes of proteins are nearly equal or the globulins tend to be in excess of the
albumins [Howe, 1920 loc. cit.]. It will be noticed from our results given in Table I,
that in the majority of cases, the globulin fractions predominate over the albumin
in the serum proteins of hill bulls. It was therefore thought probable that a higher
globulin fraction in the healthy serum might give the particular animal a greater
immunity towards the disease. This view would be in keeping with certain observa-
62 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
starvation leads to an increase in the proportion of albumin to globulin in the
serum. Apart from this possible effect of inanition, there is another possibility to
be borne in mind, namely, a seasonal or environmental variation of serum protein
fractions even in healthy animals. Thus the albumin content of the serum of the ox
has been found by Handovsky [1924] to be highest in summer with accompanying
changes in the globulin content. This fact, of course, may be due to an effect of
better dieting as it is well known that during summer months the pasture and other
green forage are rich not only in their protein content, but also in some of the
essential minerals and vitamins. It is, therefore, possible that the fluctuations of
serum protein fractions observed by us in the case of the recovered animals may be,
at least in part, an after-effect of undernutrition suffered during the course of the
disease.
In concluding this paper, we may mention some curious observations which we
have made regarding the condition of the blood during the latter part of an attack
of rinderpest, especially in those cases where the animal was in a very poor condi-
tion. It was found that in some animals the fragility of the red blood corpuscles
increased considerably after the 7th day of the disease. The blood samples were
invariably hæmolysed to a greater or less extent, though every care was taken not
to disturb the corpuscles more than was necessary. It is, of course, well-known
that in many diseases the resistance of the red blood corpuscles towards lysis
greatly diminishes and some authors are of opinion that this may be due to a change
in the plasma protein. We are not, however, aware of any one else observing this
phenomenon in rinderpest. Another interesting fact observed by us is that in several
cases the serum of the diseased animals freed from the clot which had stood over-
night became a clear jelly in three to four hours at the room temperature. This
phenomenon was observed in the case of three animals which died subsequently.
On making a post-mortem examination of these three animals, it was found that
none of these animals died of pure rinderpest but in addition to this disease either
piroplasmosis or coccidiosis or both were present. In none of the other animals
which died of pure rinderpest could this subsequent gelation of the clear serum be
observed. There was apparently no marked physico-chemical change in these three
samples of sera and the pH of each of them was normal. These two interesting
points, namely, the question of the fragility of the corpuscles and that of the
gelation of the serum are, however, under investigation and will be discussed in a
future paper.
SUMMARY.
1. An analysis of different serum protein fractions of twenty-eight healthy hill
bulls has been made by a modification of Wu's colourimetric procedure, and the
SERUM PROTEINS IN BULLS HEALTHY, RINDERPEST ATTACKED AND RECOVERED 63
standard data for total protein, albumin, globulin, euglobulin and pseudoglobulin
for these animals have been tabulated.
2. The pre-existing ratios between different protein fractions have been calcu-
lated, and it has been shown that these ratios do not give any indication of the
immunological behaviour of the animals towards a rinderpest infection.
3. An experimental study has been made of the variations of different serum
protein fractions during an attack of rinderpest. It has been found that in every
case when the disease ended fatally there was a decrease in the absolute amount of
the total protein, globulin, and euglobulin, thus confirming the results of Hartley
(loc. cit.) previously obtained in this Laboratory. When the results were, however,
expressed in percentage of the total protein, a daily analysis showed considerable
fluctuations in the values of these different fractions, and a clear-cut generalisation
could not be made.
4. There was a fluctuation of the different protein fractions for a long period
after recovery of the two animals which survived an attack of the disease. A con-
sideration of the different factors involved in this behaviour points to the view that
this phenomenon may be due to either a seasonal or environmental effect or to an
after-effect of under-nutrition during the disease period.
5. It appears that during the latter part of the disease, the fragility of the red
blood corpuscles increases and often the blood samples become hæmolysed. In
some cases it was also observed that, when rinderpest was associated with piroplas-
mosis or coccidiosis or both, the clear serum samples underwent a process of gelation
on standing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
The plan of the experiment was originally drawn up by Mr. J. R. Haddow,
B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., I.V.S., Serologist of this Institute and to him and to
Mr. F. Ware, F.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., Director of this Institute, we wish to offer our best
thanks for their constant interest and encouragement during this work. Our
thanks are also due to Mr. P. C. Banerji, G.B.V.C., Veterinary Deputy Superinten-
dent for his assistance in making observations and in calculating the percentage
reactions of the bulls after virus inoculations.
REFERENCES.
Berthelsen, K. C. (1931). J. Immunol., 21, 43.
Butjagin (1902). Hyg. Rundschau, No. 12,1193.
Epstein, A. A. (1921). J. Exper. Med., 16, 719-731.
Folin, O., and Denis, W. (1912). J. Biol. Chem., 12, 245-51.
64 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, I
Githens (1904). Hefmeister's Beiträge, 5, 515.
Glässner (1905). Z. f. Exper. Path. U, Ther., 2, 154.
Gibson and Banzhaf (1910). J. Exper. Med., 12, 411.
Greenberg (1923). J. Biol. Chem., 82, 549.
Hiss and Atkinson (1901). J. Exper. Med., 5, 47.
Hartley, P. (1914). Mem. Dep. Agr. India Vety. Ser., 1, 205-219.
Howe, P. E. (1921). J. Biol. Chem., 49, 93.
—
(1922).
J. Biol. Chem., 53, 479.
—
(1925). Physiol. Reviews. 5, 450.
Handovsky, H. (1924). Münch. Med. Wochenschr, 71, 708.
Joachim (1902). Arch.f. d. ges. Physiol., 93, 558.
Langstein, L., and Mayer, M. (1904). Beit. Chem. Physiol.U. Path., 5, 69.
Ledingham (1909). J. Hyg., 7, 65.
Lloyd, R. B., Napier, L. E., and Paul, S. N. (1938-29). Ind. J. Med. Res., 16, 1065.
Lloyd, R. B., and Paul, S. N. (1928-29). Ind. J. Med. Res., 16, 529.
—
(1929-30). Ind. J. Med. Res., 17, 583.
Mayer, M. (1905). Z. f. Exper. Path. XI. Pher., 1, 536-539.
Moll (1906). Z. f. Exper. Path. U. Ther., 3, 325.
Meyer, Hurwitz and Taussig (1918). J. Infect. Dis., 22, 1.
Robertson, T. B. (1912). J. Biol. Chem., 13, 325.
Rowe (1916). Arch. Int. Med., 18, 455.
Reymann (1924). Z.f. Immunittäs, 39, 15.
Seng (1899). Z. f. Hyg., 31, 513.
Sisto, P. (1907). Biochem. Zentralbl, 9, 750.
Szontagh and Wellman (1898). Deutsche. Med. Wochenschr, No. 27.
Schmidt and Schmidt (1917). J. Immunol., 2, 343.
Vadala, P. (1907). Biochem. Zentralbl., 6, 858.
Wu, H. (1922). J. Biol. Chem., 51, 33.
STUDIES IN SOUTH INDIAN PASTURES.
I. SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE MINERAL AND
NITROGEN CONTENT OF SPEAR GRASS
(ANDROPOGON CONTORTUS)
BY
P. V. RAMIAH, M.A., B.Sc. (Edin.),
Assistant Agricultural Chemist, Agricultural Research Institute, Coimbalore.
(Received for publication on 15th August 1932,)
(With one text-figure.)
India shares with no other country in the world, her pre-eminence as an agri-
cultural country. The system of agricultural practice prevalent makes it necessary
to maintain large herds of cattle for purpose of tillage, and the supply of fodder
for this large cattle population is a growing problem with the increasing pressure
of the human population on the existing tillage land. The Royal Commission on
Agriculture in India [ 1928, 2 ], in their report estimate the cattle population of
the Madras Presidency at 22,000,000 head, and that of the sheep and goats at
19,000,000 head. This huge livestock population requires for its maintenance, not
to speak of its improvement, roughage from the natural herbage of grasses and the
cultivated fodders. The supply of fodders from the cereal crops amounts to a huge
quantity, but still the deficiency of roughage is a notorious fact. The herbage of
natural grasses is in this Presidency an unknown factor both as regards quantity
and quality. Pasture in the sense in which it is understood in the temperate
regions is almost unknown, and the causes which have led to the evolution of a
system of agriculture in which the cultivation of grasses finds no place are many
and varied and may be classified under two broad heads, (a) Economic and (b)
Climatic.
The economic causes found their origin in the pressure of population on land,
which leads to high land values and rents, resulting in the evolution of a system
of agriculture which pays more heed to the needs of the human rather than the
cattle population, by growing food and money crops, thus making it impossible
for leaving fertile tillage land free for growing grass. The uncultivated waste lands
are left as grazing areas which, as the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India
[ 1928, 2 ] have pointed out, though affording a large amount of grazing in certain
brief periods of the year are of little use to the cultivator of tillage lands owing to
their distance from his holding. Each village has its grazing lands set apart for com-
munal grazing, but though the co-operative system of the ancient village community
has found its quintessence in the Panchyat system, the village grazing lands are pro-
bably the most neglected part of the village. They are not cultivated or cared for, and
( 65 )