NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
ICAR. 15. VIA
650.
Vol. VII
1937
THE
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science
AND
Animal Husbandry
Issued under the authority
of
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1938.
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The Indian Journal of Veterinary
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Editorial Committee
SIR BRYCE C. BURT, C.I.E., M.B.E., B.SC., I.A.S., Vice-Chairman, Imperial
Council of Agricultural Research.
COL. SIR ARTHUR OLVER, C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.V.S., F.N.I., Animal Husbandry
Expert, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
W. BURNS, D.Sc., I.A.S., Agricultural Expert, Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research.
F. WARE, C.I.E., F.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., F.N.I., Director, Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Mukteswar.
RAO BAHADUR B. VISWANATH, F.I.C., F.C.S., Director, Imperial Agricultural
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BURCH H. SCHNEIDER, PH. D., Professor of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Allahabad Agricultural Institute.
F. R. BHARUCHA, D. SC., Professor of Botany, Royal Institute of Science, Bombay
N. C. MEHTA, I.C.S., Secretary, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
"KUMRI" (SECOND PROGRESS REPORT)
BY
PROF. P. G. MALKANI, B.A. (HONS.), B.SC. (LOND. VET.), M.R.C.V.S.,
Research Officer and Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology, Bihar Veterinary College,
Patna
[Received for publication on 26th February 1936]
INTRODUCTION
MATERIAL for investigations forming the subject-matter of this progress report
was obtained from seven cases of " Kumri " sent to the laboratory from different
parts of the province. The animals were kept at the laboratory under observa-
tion and treatment for variable periods and then destroyed humanely under
chloroform. Careful post mortem examination was held in each case and tissues
were removed and preserved for histopathological studies. Clinical observa-
tions, results of the examination of blood, urine, faeces and the cerebro-spinal
fluid and post mortem findings are incorporated in this report, while the correlation
of the histopathological findings is held in abeyance as the greater part of this
work on the central nervous system still remains to be done.
CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS
The cases under investigation were fairly representative of the disease
in various stages. All the animals were " aged ". Out of 7 cases—one was an
Arab ; 4 were Walers and 2 were country-bred. Two were entires ; 3 were geldings
and 2 were mares. They were received from the following places:—
Name of Place
Arrah
.......
Purnea
....
Hazaribagh Police Training College...
Muzaffarpur
.....
Bettiah
.....
Number
received
1
2
2
1
1
7 Animals
2
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
[VII, I
In all cases paresis of both the hind legs (paraplegia) was present. This
was shown by the characteristic stance—the paretic hind legs being held wide
apart and the fore legs being carried backward under the body to bear more than
their share of the body-weight and by the marked inability to back without
dragging their toes along and tending to fall. The paraplegia in every animal
was of the spastic kind (spasm and rigidity), there being neither flaccidity nor
wasting of the muscles of the limbs showing loss of strength. In almost all the
cases, it was noticed, that one hind limb, usually the near hind, was more affected
than the other. It was further observed, that in the untreated cases the paresis
was distinctly progressive.
The gait in each case was that of spastic paraplegia combined with ataxy.
The spastic element in the gait was shown by the dragging of the hind limbs slowly
forward with the toes scraping the ground, very little flexion of hocks, pronounced
circumduction, specially noticed during a trot when the legs were swung out-
ward in an attempt to clear the ground, and the hind quarters showing the charac-
teristic swinging and strong adduction spasm, so that the legs both in walking
and trotting tended to cross each other. In two cases, the spastic element was,
indeed, so pronounced, that the gait actually assumed a " hopping " character.
The ataxic element of the gait was evidenced by the fact that, during walking,
the hind feet were lifted hesitatingly and incompletely from the ground, as though
in an attempt to correct the imperfect muscular sense. This imperfect muscular
sense was clearly seen in backing—all the animals showing great lack of con-
fidence, dragging their toes along, and tending to fall when backed quickly. The
ataxic element of the gait was particularly well brought out, when the animals
were made to turn; they lifted their limbs very cautiously, invariably crossed
them, and tended to fall when turned rapidly.
Two cases showed distinct tremor of muscles on attempting to move some-
what similar to the volitional or so called " intention tremor " seen in insular
sclerosis. The tremor was most marked in the hind legs. It was absent, when
the animals were at rest, and practically unnoticed during slow walk, but when-
ever the animals were made to trot, a course of jerky twitching of the muscles,
frequently convulsive throwing up of the hind legs, invariably occurred.
In no case was any loss of sensation observed. On the contrary, all cases
showed lumbar hyperalgesia, as evidenced by the visible wincing and crouching
caused by pressure over the loins. As regards the vesical and rectal sphincters,
in no case were they found to be affected.
EXAMINATION OF FAECES
Repeated microscopic examination of the faeces and scraping from selected
areas of intestinal mucosa was carried out. Almost all cases showed eggs of
round worms but the ova of schistosomes were not encountered.
"KUMRI" (SECOND PROGRESS REPORT.)
3
EXAMINATION OF URINE
Chemical and microscopical examination of the urine was carried out on
several occasions. In all advanced cases the urine was invariably bright yellow
in colour, and its consistency was such that it poured like thick linseed oil. On
standing, a thick yellowish somewhat flaky sediment settled down at the bottom
of the flask. Chemical examination showed that this turvidity was entirely
due to carbonates and excessive amount of phosphates. This yellowish colour
and thick oily consistency, with the characteristic sedimentation on standing,
appeared to be so striking and invariable a feature in all advanced cases, that it
might prove very helpful in the diagnosis of the disease. It was repeatedly
found, that during the improvement resulting from the specific therapy
advocated by this laboratory, there was a noticeable change in this character
of the urine. Chemical examination failed to reveal any other abnormality.
Microscopic examination showed crystals of carbonates and triple phosphates
in abundance, and in each case, cylindroids were present. Repeated examination
for schistosome ova gave negative results.
EXAMINATION OF THE BLOOD
Repeated examination of blood smears from each case failed to reveal
any parasites. No corpuscular abnormalities, e.g., anisocytosis, poikilocytosis,
polychromasia, or nucleated red cells were met with. Each case, however,
showed a slight but distinct increase in the number of eosinophiles, and this was
proved by the differential count, which showed the eosinophiles to be 14-16 per
cent of the total number of leucocytes (normal for the horse being 3-4 per cent.)
Hœmoglobin estimations always gave a figure in the neighbourhood of 85 per
cent.
CLOTTING OF BLOOD
Tests, similar to those described in my paper on Nasal Granuloma [ 1932 ],
were carried out on a few samples of blood to find out the retractability of the
clot in cases of "Kumri", which appeared to have an identical etiology. It
was found that there was a similar non retractibility of clot in these samples
as was observed in the samples obtained from cases of Nasal Granuloma.
FORMOL-GEL TEST (ALDEHYDE REACTION) WITH SERUM
While experiments were being carried out on the retractability of the clot,
Formol-gel tests were applied to many samples of serum with a view to excluding
the possibility of protozoan parasites (Leishmania and trypansomes) lurking
in the system of the animal. The results were all along negative.
CEREBRO-SPINAL FLUID
In view of the fact that some workers have reported the presence of filaria
in cerebro-spinal fluid in cases of " Kumri ", this fluid was obtained from four
cases by the method usually adopted for the intrathecal injection of Naganol
4
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [VII, I
in surra, and each sample carefully examined for protozoan and helminthic (schis-
tosomes and filaria) parasites. The results were in all cases negative. The
fluid was found to be clear in all cases except one, in which the turbidity was
obviously due to accidental admixture with blood. Examination of the cellular
content of the fluid by Thoma Zeiss counting apparatus revealed, in three cases,
only a " slight mononucleur Pleocytosis ". Two of the four samples showed
traces of glucose, while the other two failed to show any glucose when tested
with Fehling's reagent. Pandy's test gave, in two cases, an " Opalescence "
showing the presence of globulin. No quantitative examination of albumen
could be carried out, but qualitative examination by Aufrecht's method showed
about equal amount of albumen in all the four cases.
POST-MORTEM FINDINGS
All the cases at the laboratory were humanely destroyed by chloroform and
careful post mortem examinations were carried out. The abnormalities noted in
connection with the different parts were as follows :—
Alimentary canal.—In view of the fact that existing literature contains
no records of habronema tumours in the stomach in cases of " Kumri ", mention
must be made here of the finding of these tumours, varying in size from that
of a golf ball to that of a billiard ball, in four out of seven cases. In fact, these
tumours were so constantly found in the first few cases that they appeared to
have some etiological relationship with the disease. The position of habrone-
miasis had, however, so many distinct points of divergence from " Kumri " that
it was ruled out of consideration in connection with etiology—a position which
has later on proved to be correct by the absence of such tumours from other
three cases. Incidentally, reference must also here be made to the chemothera-
peutically important fact that full course of intravenous injections of antimony
compounds had produced no effect whatsoever on these worms. In two cases
the stomach contained gestrophilus larvae. Apart from these findings the
stomach did not show any other pathological change. No abnormalities were
noticed in the small intestines, and the only notable, although by no means un-
usual, feature in the large intestine was the presence of a variable number of
nematodes, chiefly strongyles, sclerostomes and trematodes.
Mesenteric vessels.—In view of the fact that the symptom-complex of para
sitic aneurysm of the anterior mesenteric artery shows some points of resemblance
to that of " Kumri", special pains were taken to make careful search for such
aneurysms in all cases. Only in one case was such an aneurysm present. Schis-
tosomes were, however, encountered in the blood, obtained in the manner des-
cribed in the previous report, from the mesenteric vessels of three animals, that
had not been treated, and in the one case, that had died after the third injection.
The mesenteric vessels were congested in all cases,
"KUMRI"
(SECOND
PROGRESS
REPORT.)
5
Peritoneum —Nothing abnormal was noticed in connection with the
peritoneum, or its contents. In only one case a filarial parasite (Setaria-
labiato-papillosa) was met with, but this case showed neither ocular filariasis nor
filarial nodules in the liver.
Liver.—In all cases, the capsule of the liver showed patchy fibrous adhesions
to the parenchyma. Careful search was made, in the manner described in my
previous report, for schistosomes in the portal vessels. Out of these seven cases
four had been treated and three untreated. In all the untreated cases schistosomes
were recovered from the portal blood. Out of the four treated, three had been
treated with antimony compounds and one with emetine hydrochloride. Schis-
tosomes were found in the animal treated with emetine and in the animal, which
died after the 3rd injection with tartar emetic, but no schistosomes could be
found in others treated with antimony compounds. Some portions of the liver,
in a few cases, showed distinct cirrhotic changes.
Iliac Vessels.—Another disease, the syndrome of which may simulate that
of "Kumri", is iliac thrombosis. Attention was accordingly focussed on these
vessels in each case, but no evidence of thrombosis was present. It may here
be mentioned that rectal exploration on the living animals had been carried
out in some cases and this too had failed to reveal the presence of such throm-
bosis.
Spleen.—The spleen did not show any abnormality. Only one case showed
a slight congestion of the renal medulla. The suprarenals were apparently un-
affected, and nothing noteworthy was seen in connection with the bladder, heart,
lungs, pleural contents, lymphatic glands, the skeletal structures or muscles. In
one case cysts were present in the ovary.
Nervous system.—The brain and the entire spinal cord of each animal were
laid bare by carefully sawing through the bones of the skull and vertebral canal,
and then carefully removed by cutting through their connections with the skull
and vertebrae. In these exposed cavities, search was, at this stage, made for filaria
and schistosomes, and many smear and cover slip preparations from different
parts were examined for protozoa and helmenthic ova. The results of this exa-
mination have, so far, been negative.
In each case the olfactory lobe, the cerebellum, the cerebrum, the caudate
nucleus, the hippocampus and the medulla oblongata were cut into and thoroughly
searched for abnormalities. In no case were filaria or schistosomes encountered,
and in no case was there any evidence of macroscopic change, either in the meninges
or the substance of the brain. In one case only were the vessels of the choroid
plexus rather significantly tortuous. Smear and cover slip preparations from
different parts have so far failed to reveal any protozoa or helmenthic ova,
6
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [VII, I
In the different regions of the spinal cord also, close searching, combined
with cover slip and smear examination, failed to reveal any protozoa, helminths
or their ova. In two cases gelatinous infiltration was observed around the cord
in the dorsal and lumbar regions. In no case was there however, any macros-
copic evidence of patchy or leptomeningitis. Even in the cases in which the
lumbar region of the cord showed disorganization, there was no morbid alteration
of the dural, arachnoid, and pial membranes.
The morbid anatomy of the substance of the cord, as revealed by close inspec-
tion of its cut surface, appeared to vary according to the stage at which the animal
was destroyed. In less severe cases, and specially those that had responded to
treatment, the grey matter did not show anything beyond a few punctate hae-
morrhages, specially in the lumbar region of the cord. In more advanced cases
there was a distinct vascularity of the grey matter giving it a pink appearance.
In the case which was clinically very advanced, and which gave no response
whatsoever to specific therapy with compounds of antimony, the lumbar portion
of the cord appeared to have had undergone such disorganisation that the line
of demarcation between the grey and white matter was rendered quite indis-
tinct.
The white matter did not show any marked naked eye abnormality in five
cases. In two other cases (Bhutani and Arrah Black) the white matter of the
first part of the lumbar cord showed, specially in the vicinity of posterior cornuas,
small pea-sized tumour-like growths. Only one such tumour was present in
the Bhutani, while the Arrah pony showed two, one near each cornua of the grey
matter. The surface of the cord opposite to that containing the tumours showed
in each case a cavity in which the tumour was apparently lodged in the intact
cord. Histological examination, now in progress, will reveal whether these growths
are neoplasmatic gliomas, or merely the result of hypergliosis.
DISCUSSION
Clinical observations detailed in this report have revealed sufficient uni-
formity in the syndrome to justify regarding " Kumri " as an entity. The para-
plegia with the elements of ataxy and spasticity, the absence of muscular wasting
of trophic and sensory disturbances and the non-affection of rectal and vesical
sphincters are seen in each case. Many workers have written about the diffi-
culties of diagnosis in cases of " Kumri". Series of observations have shown
that wherever with the symptom complex, usually described, one gets the charac-
teristic thick sedimenting urine, rich in phosphates, and showing cylindroids
on microscopical examination, one can be pretty certain that one is dealing with
a case of " Kumri."
The results of the chemical and microscopical examination of the cerebro-
spinal fluid would appear to show some points of correspondence with the syndrome
met with in human disseminated sclerosis, in so far as the slight cell increase and
''KUMRI"
(SECOND
PROGRESS
REPORT.)
7
the weak globulin reactions are concerned. It remains to be seen whether Lange's
Colloidal Gold reaction will yield a " paretic " type of Lange's curve, and whether
quantitative examination of the protein will reveal little or no excess, for, then
the correspondence between the two diseases would be exact—the Wasserman
reaction, the absence of which is of diagnostic value in disseminated sclerosis,
being ruled out of consideration, when dealing with equines, naturally insuscep-
tible to Treponema pallidum.
Post mortem examinations have revealed the presence of numerous schisto-
somes in the liver in every untreated case of the disease, and blood examination
has also revealed a slight but distinct eosinophilia, the occurrence of which while
common to many helminthic infestations and dermatic disturbances, is quite a
notable feature in schistosomiasis.
CONCLUSION
(1) " Kumri " is a definite morbid entity, because the majority of affected
animals present a uniform symptom-complex.
(2) Schistosomes are present in numbers in the liver in every case of " Kumri ".
REFERENCES
Malkani, P. G. (1932). Discovery of the cause of Nasal Granuloma in Cattle—
Preliminary report.—Ind. Vet. Jour. 9, 4, 257-277.
(1933). Etiology of " Kumri " ibid 10, 1, 184-192.
A PRELIMINARY MICROPHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF
THE FAT GLOBULES OF THE MILK OF INDIAN
BREEDS OF COWS AND BUFFALOES
BY
ZAL R. KOTHAVALLA, B.AG. (BOM.), B.SC. AGRI. (EDIN.), N.D.D. (SCOT.)
AND
S. D. SUNAWALA, M.Sc., A.I.I.Sc.
(Received for publication on 7th October 1936)
(With Plates I-VI)
INTRODUCTION
THE size, shape and number of fat globules of milk are of practical importance
in the separation of milk, the churning of cream, the shipping of milk or cream
over long distances, in cheese-making and in the manufacture of other products
of milk. The size of fat globules bears a relationship to the churning of cream
as the cream with larger fat globules churns with less agitation than that in which
the smaller globules predominate. The size is of further importance in connection
with the handling and shipping of milk. Milk having large globules churns more
rapidly and when transported over long distances may show evidence of partial
churning in the form of butter granules on the surface, which makes the milk
unsuitable for marketing purposes.
Most of the Western breeds of cattle have been studied and classified according
to the suitability of their milk for different dairy products like butter, cheese,
milk, etc., depending on the size, shape and number of fat globules in it. For
example, the Channel Island breeds, (e.g., the Jersey and the Guernsey) are known
as " butter breeds " due to the fact that besides containing a higher percentage
of fat their milk contains fat globules of large size, which makes them very suitable
for easy churning and consequently for butter-making. Similarly of all the
British breeds the Short Horn and the Ayrshire are considered more suitable for
cheese-making because of their milk having fat globules of medium size and fairly
uniform in shape. The Indian breeds of cattle had not, however, been syste-
matically studied so far from that point of view and this work was, therefore,
undertaken by the authors to ascertain whether by the study of the size, shape
( 8 )
MICROPHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF FAT GLOBULES OF MILK.
9
and number of fat globules in the milk of various Indian breeds of cows and
buffaloes, a similar classification could be made which would help the dairyman
in the choice of the breed of cow or buffalo most suitable for his requirement.
Early history of the detection of fat globules in milk.—The presence of fat globules
in milk was first reported by A. Van Leewenhocck in 1674. The manner in
which fat globules of milk are liberated by the mammary gland was explained
by Marshall [ 1922 ] in the form of three hypotheses which he put forth.
Bouchardat and Quevenne [ 1857 ] observed that the size of the fat globules
varied appreciably in the milk of different breeds, and indicated that the globules
in cow's milk varied from 10 to 2 microns in diameter.
Sturtevant [ 1873 ] reported the milk globules to appear as circles of unequal
diameters, and stated that these globules were enclosed in a thin membrane
or pellicle of extreme tenuity.
Babcock [ 1885 ] did not agree with Sturtevant that the fat globules were
enclosed in a thin membrane or pellicle. He compared the globules in milk
with artificial emulsions and concluded that they were not enclosed in a membrane
but were surrounded by a thin film of serum.
Methods employed for the study of size, shape and number of fat globules pre-
sent.—Different methods were used by different workers in the field for measuring
the fat globules of milk. The method used by Lamson [ 1888 ] was to dilute the
milk with three to four hundred parts of water, place a drop on a cover glass,
and invert over a cell on an ordinary microscope slide.
Collier [ 1891-92 ] used the method developed by Babcock, and studied the
variation in the size of fat globules in milk throughout the lactation period of
individual animals.
Various other workers have studied the variation in the size of the fat globules
in milk of individual animals of different breeds during their period of lactation,
a more recent publication in the field being that of H. Campbell [ 1932 ].
Results of the microphotographic study of the fat globules in samples of
milk of goats, cows, human beings and homogenised milk, have very recently
been published in an American journal by Apple [ 1935].
EXPERIMENTAL
Names of breeds studied.—The following is the list of breeds of Indian cows
and buffaloes which were considered for the purposes of this study. It represents
breeds of cattle of the purely draft type as well as milch type. The list is not
as complete as it should be and the omission of important breeds like the Sahiwal,
C