MORBID GROWTHS IN THE HORN CORE OF A BULLOCK
By BALBIR SINGH, M.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Investigation Officer, Central Provinces and Berar
and D. J. GUPTE, G.B.V.C., Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
(Received for publication on 8 November 1942)
(With Plate XV)
OUR knowledge so far about the diseases of
the horn of cattle is very limited. The condition
known as Huequera (literally hollow horn,
a rarefying ostitis), was recorded by Lerena in
1934 * from Buenos Aires in South America.
He observed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the
lesions, while the blood of affected cattle showed
Trypanosoma viva infection.
' Horn cancer ' is a condition commonly met in
different parts of India. It was known to be
peculiar to Indian cattle only till Burgraaf in
1935 * reported its incidence in Dutch East
Indies also. It was believed that the disease is
related to (a) certain working conditions of cattle
in India, e.g. rope galls on horns, (b) the possibility
of irritation of the cranial cavity set up by certain
flies and worms and (c) the irritation due to
frequent use of coal tar in treatment. There is,
however, no scientific evidence in support of these
beliefs. The morbid material obtained from
affected cases has been studied in detail from time
to time by various workers but the etiology still
remains obscure. The present note records a
case encountered in the horn core of a bullock
in the Central Provinces.
History of the case. The right horn of an aged
grey bullock became loose and in nearly a month's
time descended gradually from its normal posi-
tion to hang on the ear of the affected side. While
standing, the animal held its head slightly bent
n the affected side. At the root of the horn
there was a circumscribed inflammatory ring,
from which oozed out a steady flow of sticky
discharge which seemed to cause good deal of
local irritation. The horn could be moved antero-
posteriorly as if on a. ball and socket joint and
this movement caused some pain to the animal.
This kind of horn loosening is locally known as
'Karanjooa'. It is believed that the cattle contract
the disease when a bird named Karanjooa perches
on their horns.
Diagnosis and treatment. The case was pri-
marily diagnosed as horn cancer. The amputa-
tion of the affected horn was carried out at about
an inch from its root. It was surprising to find
that instead of the usual profuse bleeding en-
countered at such operation, a steady stream
of yellowish frothy discharge oozed out instead.
On examination the horn core was found to
contain a big cyst, which ruptured when an
attempt was made to remove it.
On further examination, the rest of the core
was found to be full of such cysts varying from
the size of an Indian berry to a big tomato.
Plate XV shows
(A) T. S. of the horn showing a cyst with a
small pedicle.
(B) A cyst removed from the horn.
The amputated part was dressed by an antiseptic
dusting powder containing 15 per cent phenols
(crude cresols) spread over a cotton pad and a
tight bandage was applied. The affected part
was examined on the fourth day when the wound
was found to have started granulating. Then
0.1 Picis carb dressing was applied daily and the
part was bandaged tightly. The animal recovered
completely after 21 days treatment.
Some morbid material was forwarded to the
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Muktes-
war, and the report on its examination states
' that the growth presents the histopathological
picture of a mucoid cyst arising from the lining
membrane of air sinuses of the skull. Prolonged
examinations have failed to reveal any evidence
of an infestation with Zoo-parasites. There is
reason to believe that the growth is of mycotic
origin.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to the Director, Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, for the
examination of specimen.
* Mukteswar, An. Rep. I. V. R. L., 1936-37
174