NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
I ndex.
Fe—In
F
Fees—
Civil duties .. .. .. .. ..
inspection of dogs suspected of rabies
..
..
Followers—
enrolment of
..
..
..
..
Forage—
advice on
..
..
..
..
..
for sick animals in hospitals
..
..
..
Forms—
used by A. V. S. .. .. .. ..
Furlough
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
G
Glanders—
destruction of animals
..
..
..
..
..
freedom from
..
..
..
..
..
mallein testing
..
..
..
..
..
Glanders and Farcy Act .. .. .. ..
H
Hospitals—
distribution and location .. .. .. ..
function
..
..
..
..
..
..
inspection of animals on admission and discharge
..
..
private animals not to be treated in
..
..
..
ration for sick animals
..
..
..
..
..
I
India Army Forms—
to be supplied to veterinary hospitals, etc. ..
..
Infectious disease
(see Disease).
Inoculation—
anti-rinderpest
..
..
..
..
Paras., etc.
Appx. I.
..
..
..
..
47
29
19
33
17 & Appx. III.
..
..
..
..
12
45
45
45
Appx. IX.
..
..
..
..
..
6
6
34
39
33
Appx. III.
46
45
In—No
Index.
Inspection—
animals on admission to and discharge from hospital
animals on transfer from one unit to another
by A. D. V. S. Comd. .. .. .. .. .. ..
by D. A. D. V. S. Dist. .. .. .. .. .. ..
by D. D. V. S. Comd. .. .. .. .. .. ..
by V. O. allotted to station .. .. .. .. .. ..
Instructions—
regarding the submission of applications for furlough and leave
L
Leave—
followers
..
..
..
..
Veterinary assistant surgeons
..
..
. .
veterinary officers
..
..
..
Line of march—
veterinary arrangements .. .. .. ..
Lymphangitis, epizootica—
..
..
.. .. ..
M
Medicines—
indents for .. .. .. .. .. ..
not to be supplied from veterinary hospital for private animals
supply to Military Farms Dept. .. .. .. ..
Mobilization veterinary equipment—
responsibility of O. C. veterinary hospital for completion and
serviceability .. .. .. .. .. .. ...
when used in peace .. .. .. .. .. ..
Movement of troops—
marching and sick returns to be sent to the D. A. D. V.S
district to which proceeding .. .. .. .. .. ..
N
Nomenclature—
of diseases
..
..
..
.. ..
N. Y. D.—
(not yet diagnosed) to be entered against cases not definitely
diagnosed .. .. .. .. .. ..
Paras., etc.
34
42
3
3
3
4
Appx. VI.
12 &Appx. VI.
12 &Appx. VI.
12, 13, &Appx. VI.
..
18
44
21
39
22
4
15
18
Appx. VIII.
..
38
46
Index.
Of—Ra
O
Office—
of the D. A. D. V. S. dist. .. .. .. ..
O. C. Section I. A. V. C. .. .. .. ..
Officers' chargers—
forage for .. .. .. .. .. ..
Officers, Veterinary—
appointed under Glanders and Farcy Act .. ..
area of operation as inspector .. .. ..
in charge of veterinary hospital of remount depot .. ..
inspection of animals by .. .. .. ..
leave and furlough
..
..
..
posting of .. .. .. .. .. ..
pivate practice .. .. .. .. .. ..
reserve of .. .. .. .. .. ..
responsibility for mobilization veterinary equipment.
Organization—
of the A. V. S. .. .. .. ..
P
Poisons—
Chemical examination of specimens for .. ..
Private practice—
of V. Os. and Vety. Assistant Surgeons .. .. ..
R
Rabies—
fees for examination of dogs suspected of rabies .. ..
inspection of dogs suspected of rabies .. ..
prohibition against keeping rabid dogs in veterinary hospital
Ration—
for sick animals in hospital
..
.. ..
Paras., etc.
..
..
..
3
27
33
Appx. IX.
..
..
45
5
3& 4
12& Appx. VI.
3 & 4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
39
10
4
1
25
39
47
47
47
33
47
Re—Sy
Index.
Record of treatment—
to be maintained in hospital for usual or important cases ..
Record Office, I. A. V. C .. .. .. .. ..
Recruitment—
Indian other ranks .. .. .. .. .. ..
Register of sick and lame animals—
consolidated, maintenance of .. .. .. ..
to be maintained for each unit or detachment .. ..
Remount Depots—
veterinary officer in charge of veterinary hospital of .. ..
Reports and Returns—
annual statistical, of units transferred to another district, how
prepared .. .. .. .. .. ..
confidential reports on veterinary personnel .. .. ..
outbreak of contagious and infectious diseases .. ..
rendered by I. A. V. C. ..
..
..
..
transfer of copies of the last monthly returns of unit and detach-
ment transferred to another station .. .. ..
Reserve—
of V. Os. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Rinderpest—
apparatus for inoculation .. .. .. ..
immunization of animals .. .. .. ..
S
School, Army Veterinary
Section, I. A. V. C.
Sera—
supply of, to Military Farms Dept.
Slaughter animals—
inspection of .. .. .. .. .. ..
Store accounts .. .. .. .. .. ..
Syllabus—
of examination for promotion of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
(W. O.) to Jemadar ..
..
..
..
Paras.,etc
35
8
29
36
36
5
37
11
41
16 & Appx.II.
18
10
46
46
7
27
22
19
20
Appx. VII.
48
Index.
Tr—Ve
T
Training—
of I. A. V. C. combatant personnel .. .. ..
V
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons—
appointment
examination for promotion .. .. .. ..
leave and furlough
..
..
..
posting .. .. .. .. .. ..
private practice .. .. .. .. .. ..
promotion .. .. .. .. .. ..
Veterinary Officer—
in charge of veterinary hospitals of remount depots, duties of ..
Paras., etc.
30
28
28
12 & Appx.VI.
28
39
28
5
M196QMG(Misc)—1000—1-5-35—GIPS
49
No. 18.
( NEW SERIES. )
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
O F T H E
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
HÆMOGREGARINA GERBILLI.
BY
L I E UT . S . R. CHRI S T OP HE RS , M. B. , I . M. S .
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA.SIMLA.
CALCUTTA .
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA.
1905.
Price Annas 10 or 1s.
No. 18.
(NEW SERIES.)
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
HÆMOGREGARINA GERBILLI.
BY
LIEUT. S. R. CHRISTOPHERS, M.B., I.M.S.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA, SIMLA.
CALCUTTA
.
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING INDIA.
1905.
Agents for the Sale of Books published by the Superintendent of Government
Printing, India, Calcutta.
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H. S. KING & CO., 65, Cornhill, and 9, Pall Mall,
London.
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IN INDIA.
E. A. ARNOLD, 41 and 43, Maddox Street, Bond
Street, London, W.
THACKER, SPINK & CO., Calcutta and Simla.
CONSTABLE & CO., 16, James Street, Hay Market,
London, W.
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S. K. LAHIRI & CO., Calcutta.
P. S. KING & SON, 2 & 4, Great Smith Street,
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R a n g o o n .
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List of numbers of Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary
Departments of the Government of India (New Series) published previous
to the present issue.
No. 1. Standardisation of Calmette's anti-venomous serum with pure cobra venom : the
deterioration of this serum through keeping in India, by Captain G. Lamb,
I.M.S., and Wm. Hanna, Esq., M.B. Price As. 3 or 4d.
No. 2. Malaria in India, by Captain S. P. James, I.M.S. Price Rs. 1-8 or 2s. 3d.
No. 3. Some observations on the poison of Russell's Viper (Daboia Russellii), by Captain
G. Lamb, I.M.S., and Wm. Hanna, Esq. M.B. Price As. 5 or 6d.
No. 4. On the action of the venoms of the Cobra and of the Daboia on the red blood cor-
- p u s c l e s a n d o n t h e b l o o d p l a s m a , b yC
a p t a i n G , L a m b , I . M . S .
P r i c e A s .
8
or 9d.
No. 5. Specificity of Anti-venomous sera, by Captain G. Lamb, I.M.S. Price As. 3 or 4d.
No. 6. Fi rs t reprt on the anti-malarial oprations in Mian Mir, 1901.03, by Captain
S. P. Jamcs, I.M.S. Price As. 1 2 or is, 2d.
No. 7. Some observations on the poison of the Banded Krait (Bungarus Fasciatus), by
Captain G. Lamb, I.M. S. Price As. 8 or 9d.
No. 8. A prelimenatry report on a para-its found in pationts suffering from enlargement
of the spleen in India, by Lieutenant
S.R. Ceristophers, I.M.S. Price Rs. 1-3
or 2S. 3d.
No. 9. Second report of the anti-malarial operations at Mian Mir, 1901-03, by Lieutenant
S. R. Christophers, I.M. S. Price As. 10 or 15.
No. 10. Specificity of anti-venomous sera (second communication), by Captain G. Lamb, I.M.S.
Price As. 8 or 9d.
No. 11 On a parasite found in persons suffering from on'argement of the s pleen in India,
Second Report, by
Lieutenant
S. R.
Christophers, I.M. S. Price Rs. 2 or 3s.
No. 12 On the Morphology, Teratology and Diclinism of the flowers of Cannabis, by
Major D. Prain, I.M.S.
Price As. 14 or 18 . 4d.
No. 13 Oriental or Delhi sore, by Captain S. P. James, 1.M.S. Price As. 10 or 18.
No. 14. On a para. ite found in the white corpuscles of the blood of dogs, by Captain S. P.
James, I.M.S.
Price As. 10 or 18.
No. 15. On a parasite found in persons suffering from enlargement of the spleen in India—
Third Report, by Lieutenant S. R.
Christophers I.M.S. Price As, 10 or 18.
No. 16. The specificity of anti-venomous sera with special reference to a serum prepared
with the venom of Daboia Russellii, by Captain G. Lamb, I.M.S. Price As. 6
or 7d.
No. 17. Snake-venoms in relation to Hæmolysis, by Captain G. Lamb, I.M.S. Price As.
6 or 7d.
No. 18. Hæmogregarina Gerbilli, by Licutenant S. R. Christophers, M.B., I.M.S. Price
As. 10 or 18.
Publ i shed by and on sal e at t he ef f ect of t he Super i nt endent of Gover nment pr i nt i ns, I ndi a, Cul cut t a. Copi esi nc al so avai l abl e f r om al l Agent s f or t he sal e of Gover nment publ at i ons.
HÆMOGREGARINA GERBILLI.
IT has hitherto been believed that parasites belonging to the group of hæmo-
gregarines are confined to cold blooded vertebrates, for, unless the parasite
recently found in the leucocytes of the blood of dogs1 i s o f t h i s n a t u r e , n o o n e
has yet recorded the discovery of hæmogregarine parasites in either a bird or a
mammal. There is also an undesirable gap in our knowledge of this interesting
group of blood parasites, for we know little or nothing of the means by which
they are transmitted from infected to healthy animals. I consider myself
fortunate, therefore, in having recently found a characteristic hæmogregarine
parasite in the blood of a mammal, a species of Indian field rat, kindly identi-
fied by Professor Henderson of Madras as Gerbillus indicus, and in having
added interest to the discovery by finding that the parasite develops in the
body of a louse which infests this animal. I propose to give in this paper a
description of the parasite in the rat and of its developmental stages in the louse,
so far as the details have been worked out up to the present time.
The Parasite in the Rat.
The examination of a large number of rats, of the species named, caught near
Madras, shewed that infection with the parasite is very common: only very few
of the rats examined were quite free from infection although the number of
parasites present in some animals was much greater than in others. Young and
medium sized rats were more frequently infected than adults. The number
of parasites present in an animal was very constant over a considerable period of
time. In the systematic examination of a number of rats the following results
were obtained:—
Rat 1
. Examined almost daily
for 22 days.
Parasites always swarming.
Rat 2
. Examined almost daily
for 34 days.
Parasites always abundant.
Rat 3
. Examined at intervals
for 37 days.
Parasites always present but in
small numbers.
Rat 4
.
Ditto
.
. Sometimes no parasites found, at
other times one or two after
long search.
Rat 5
.
Ditto
.
. Parasites always present but
scanty.
Rat 6
.
Ditto
.
. Parasites always abundant.
Rat 7
.
Ditto
.
. Parasites always present but
scanty.
2
Rat 8
. Examined at intervals Parasites always very abundant.
for 12 days.
Fresh preparations.—In fresh preparations of the peripheral blood the
characteristic parasites are seen lying quite motionless in spaces in, what appear
to be, enlarged pale red cells. The enlarged corpuscles are oval, corresponding
to the shape of the parasite and the cavity which it occupies. The affected
corpuscles average 10μ in greatest length and 7μ in shortest diameter. Un-
affected corpuscles in the same preparations vary from 5.5 μ to 6.5μ . The
substance of the corpuscle is of lighter colour than that of the normal red cell
and stains less deeply with eosin. In some cases the enclosing red cell is hardly
distinguishable. The space occupied by the parasite is clearly outlined and oval
in shape. The parasite appears as a vermicule, possessing a short "tail" sharply
flexed upon the body. A refractile mass (nucleus) is seen lying close to the beat
end of the parasite, and one or two refractile granules are usually visible in the
"tail." No pigment grains are present. (Fig. 1.)
In addition to the motionless intracellular forms, especially in certain
preparations, a number of free bodies, exhibiting active movements, are conspi-
cuous. These resemble the encysted forms, with the exception that the "tail"
is no longer curved inwards. They traverse considerable distances by a rapid
gliding motion, in which the "head" end is situated forwards. They also twist and
turn among the corpuscles, using the "tail" extremity as a fixed point. When
red cells are approached they cling to the body of the parasite and are
forced quickly backwards. On reaching the hinder extremity they remain
attached and are often dragged a considerable distance in this manner.
Eventually they are liberated, but usually only after fresh cells have been similarly
attached. (Fig. 7) In many instances constricting waves are seen passing
backwards along the body of the parasite, and it happens very commonly that
forms in which all movements have ceased possess a moniliform shape, apparently
due to the action of such constricting waves. Not infrequently forms were seen in
the act of leaving the red cell. This process was accompanied by a bulging of
the anterior portion of the parasite, which always protruded first from the cell.
After exhibiting movement for a certain time the vermicules became quiescent and
did not appear to become active again. In preparations kept under observation
for considerable periods, both under the coverglass and as a hanging drop, only
a minority of encysted forms were observed to exhibit any change.
Blood containing a very large number of parasites was also taken by means
of a sterile syringe, wet with solution of sodium citrate, from the heart of a freshly
killed rat and afterwards kept at a temperature of 24°C. Up to the third day
no appearances suggesting development were seen.
3
In fresh films made from the liver and spleen forms were sometimes seen
apparently lying in cells, but such were probably superposed. No developmental
forms could be detected in these preparations.
Stained preparations.—In stained preparations of peripheral blood, made
directly from the living animal, the parasite is seen in the encysted form only.
Free vermicule forms are seen only in blood kept a short time in vitro, or in the
organs, when these are examined at an interval after the death of the animal. In
well stained specimens the characteristic parasites, having a blunt head and
sharply flexed tail, are seen lying in spaces in enlarged and faintly stained
corpuscles. (Fig. 2.) In imperfectly stained films the general aspect of the para-
site is, with the exception of the absence of pigment, very like that of a malarial
crescent. (Fig. 6.) This appearance is due to the " tail" not being differentiated
from the body of the parasite. In specimens strongly stained with Romanowski's
stain, (Leishman's modification) the space in which the parasite lies appears as a
capsule owing to the presence of lines of stippling. When the capsule is stained
in this manner it is difficult to differentiate the parasite clearly. A large chromatin
mass is situated in the portion of the parasite just above the sharp curve at the
tail. In some cases the mass extends so far back as to touch the origin of
this structure, but usually a small area of protoplasm intervenes. The protoplasm
is usually clear and free from granules except in the " tail" portion. This, nearly
always, contains a variable number of small granules of chromatin, and also
frequently stains a darker blue than does the rest of the parasite. In many
instances a few chromatin granules are seen in the body of the parasite, both in
front of and behind the chromatin mass. There does not appear to be any
special significance in the arrangement of these granules.
Although certain forms were not so broad as others, no form that could be
identified as young or developmental or in process of invading a red cell was
seen. The chromatin mass in the attenuated forms stains intensely. It may
be circular or elongated in shape. The protoplasm of these forms also
appears denser and stains more darkly than in the bulkier parasites. The
" tail " is conspicuous and more space is left for the parasite in the capsule.
Every gradation is found between the fine forms and the swollen, apparently
fully mature, forms. These more completely fill the capsule and the " tail " is
sometimes so closely approximated to the body as to be distinguished only
by its more granular appearance and darker staining. The chromatin mass
is most frequently quadrangular in shape, and stains less densely than in
the young forms. As a rule the strands form an open network. The young forms
are almost invariably seen lying upon their sides. The swollen mature forms,
though usually so situated, are not infrequently seen lying so that the " tail " (fig. 3)
is either above or below the body of the parasite. They then appear oval in
B 2
4
outline, one extremity being clear, whereas the other shews a blue reticulum
(" tail "). In such parasites the chromatin mass shews a marked tendency to form
strands passing transversely. Occasionally the appearance is such as to suggest
fission in a longitudinal direction. This may be evidenced by a partial splitting
of the chromatin into two lateral masses and by a division of the protoplasm
(fig. 4). Forms were sometimes found in which the protoplasm was very clear and
free from granulations, though other forms in the neighbourhood were stained in
the usual manner. No very certain differentiation of two sexual forms could be
made out. A very common appearance was that of two forms lying in opposition.
Undoubtedly this was most often accidental but in many cases the two forms
were so exactly similar as to suggest that they had resulted from a process of
fission. In every instance noted, however, each parasite possessed a separate
capsule.
When films were made from a drop of blood which had been kept moist for
some time, elongate vermicule forms were readily found. The chromatin mass,
though elongated, was still situated nearer to the posterior extremity, and this
portion of the parasite as heretofore contained most of the granules. A few fine
granules were also usually present in the anterior portion of the parasite. Some
of the free forms were very long and slender. (Fig. 8.)
Prolonged search for evidence of phagocytic action was made in several
animals but in no instance was a parasite seen included in any form of leucocyte.
Examination of Viscera. —The tissues of two rats, whose peripheral blood
contained very numerous forms, were examined with great care. Parasites were
seen in almost all the viscera and in the muscles, but no forms not previously
seen in the peripheral blood were distinguishable. The organs examined were
the spleen, liver, bone-marrow, kidney, lungs, testes, thymus, thyroid, supra-
renals, brain, muscles, and lymphatic glands. Parasites were most abundant in
the spleen, less abundant in the liver and bone-marrow. In the other viscera
they were for the most part present in small numbers only. In the spleen and
liver, forms were seen which were thought at first to be included in white cells,
but it is very probable that such forms were superposed.
The whole alimentary tract was laid open and scrapings of the mucosa
taken at different levels. Both in fresh and stained films, exhaustive search
was made for encysted forms in the epithelial cells but without result. In both
rats a large number of protozoa including amœbae, flagellates and infusoria,
were found. The epithelium of the gall bladder, trachea and urinary bladder
was also examined but without result.
In addition to the two animals systematically examined, many spleen and
liver smears were searched for developmental forms, but with the exception of
occasional signs of longitudinal division no developmental stages were observed.
5
Effect of infection upon rats. —In the case of animals with severe infections
no constitutional disturbance was noticed, but the blood shewed a certain degree
of anæmia as evidenced by its pale colour. The percentage of the leucocyte
values was little, if at all, altered even in animals very severely infected.
Examples of counts of 500 leucocytes are the following :—
Rat 1.—Very severe infection.
Polymorphonuclear .
.
. .
. . 40 per cent.
Large mononuclear .
.
.
. .
. 10 "
Small mononuclear .
. .
. .
. 43 " , ,
Mast cells
.
. .
. .
. 7 "
Rat 3.—Scanty infection.
Polymorphonuclear .
.
.
.
. . 43 per cent.
Large mononuclear .
.
.
.
. . 9 "
Small mononuclear
.
.
.
. 30 ",,
Mast cells
.
.
.
.
. . . . 18 ",,
Rat 4.—Parasites only seen in very small numbers or absent.
Polymorphonuclear .
.
.
.
. . 43 per cent.
Large mononuclear .
.
. .
. . 10 "
Small mononuclear .
. .
.
.
.
. . 41
"
Mast cells.
.
.
.
.
.
. 4 "
Development in the Louse.
An examination of a considerable number of the rats shewed that many of
them were infested with a species of louse.* No fleas were found on any of the
animals examined. It was thought probable that mosquitoes or the louse
might transmit the infection. Preliminary experiments with "culex", "taeniorr-
hynchus" and "mel anoconi on", as genera l i kel y t o be concerned, were st art ed,
but were abandoned on finding evidence of transmission in the louse.
D e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e l o u s e .
As a rule about a dozen full grown lice are found on infested animals.
They chiefly frequent the long hair at the back of the neck and occiput, but
they are found also in other situations. The lice are active and evade capture.
Fully grown specimens measure 1.4 m. m. in length and reach a breadth of
.5 m. m.
The head is quadrangular in shape owing to the broad straight front and two
large flat processes posteriorly. There is a marked constriction at its junction
with the thorax.
The antenna are five jointed. The basal joint is greatly developed, so
that it forms a large globular mass. The third segment in the male has a
* Dr. Stephens to whom I sent specimens of the louse, has written to me that Mr. Newstead has kindly
identified it as a new species of " Hæmatopinus. "