NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
78 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ II, I
effect of alkaline salt licks in preventing pica, and that observation assumed a new
importance. Pica in Nigerian cattle is stopped by supplying sodium ions along
with calcium ions, but not by either alone. That must mean that the sodium
base is used to neutralise excess acids in the circulation, and that excess has to be
supplied to overcome this acidosis, and so permit of the retention of the calcium
ions. But does an acidosis exist in animals suffering from trypanosomiasis ?
Linton (1930) found that in an acute trypanosome infection there is an early
acidosis which eventually ends in a sub-terminal breaking down of the kidneys.
He also showed, of course, that the CO 2 combining power of the serum was
markedly lowered early in the infection. Kligher, Geiger, and Comaroff (1929)
found that lactic acid is so rapidly produced that it cannot be eliminated, and so
the whole process of oxidative metabolism is upset, with a depletion of the alkali
reserve, and consequence acidosis. Bocka (1929) in his paper on the nature of
osteomalacia defines the disease a pathological type of calcium metabolism which
eventually becomes an acidosis and bases his treatment by magnesium hydrate on
these grounds. An important confirmatory point of the acidotic origin of the
pica is the disappearance of the pica when the trypanosomes are not present, and
therefore not multiplying in the blood stream.
CALCIUM LACTATE INJECTIONS.
It now seemed that if intravenous injections of calcium lactate cured the
condition that the case was proved. Accordingly a fifth group of animals was
obtained and five animals were chosen. All were eating earth daily, and all were
infected with trypanosomes.
No. 1. This beast was given altogether five injections directly into the
jugular vein, each consisting of 1 gramme cali lactate in solution. The first
injection was given on December 23rd, and two days after this injection the animal
ceased eating earth. It was given a second injection similar to the first
on December 30th (i.e., seven days later), and two days after this second
injection the animal ceased eating earth. It was given a third injection on
January 2nd, and subsequently two more at intervals of three days. These
injections did not appear to have any effect on the condition, the animal continued
to eat earth, and gradually became more and more emaciated, and eventually died
three days after the last injection.
Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The four beasts were each given four injections consisting
of 1 gramme of calcium lactate in solution. The second injection was given seven
days after the first, and the other two at the intervals of three days. No. 2 ceased
eating earth the day following the second injection, and did not recommence.
RELATIONSHIP OF PICA IN CATTLE TO TRYPANOSOMIASIS
79
Nos. 3, 4 and 5 ceased eating earth three days after the first injection, and did
not recommence. Although these four beasts ceased eating earth, they continued to
lose condition rapidly, becoming very emaciated, and, at the request of the owners,
after the fourth injection of calcium lactate they were given the usual treatment
for trypanosomiasis (i.e., three intravenous injections of a solution of pot.
antimonii tartrate and sod. chloride). They very quickly recovered, and were sent
away cured.
From these series of experiments it therefore appeared that the condition of
pica could be stopped either by feeding bone meal and salt or by intravenous
injections of calcium lactate, and that the only conditions that fitted the facts
found were an acute acidosis, accompanied by a deficiency of sodium and calcium
in the feed of the animals.
EXPERIMENTAL (b): AN ATTEMPT TO INDUCE PICA ARTIFICIALLY.
R. S. MARSHALL, M.R.C.V.S., H. M.O. LESTER, B.Sc, M.R.C.S.,
L.R.C.P., AND F. KANE, M.D.
It has been decided that the part of this research to be undertaken by the
tsetse investigation should consist of an attempt to induce pica artificially at
Gadau. Experiments were planned to show whether trypanosomiasis played a
part in the development of pica, and, if so, whether this could be obviated by
giving extra salt in the diet. The animals available for this work consisted of a
mixed group of twenty Fulani cattle, viz., two heifers, an aged cow, and the
remainder, bulls of varying ages. These had been obtained from different local
herds., and had been brought into very good condition by supplementing their
grazing with a dry mash made from guinea-corn and cotton seed. They continued
to receive this dry mash throughout the experiment. Gland juice, fresh and thick-
stained blood films from all the cattle were examined for trypanosomes and all
proved negative.
At the end of July these healthy animals were divided into two groups,
Group 1, Nos. 1-10, being kept on the ordinary diet without salt, while Group II,
Nos. 11-20, had the same diet with rock salt ad lib. On August 30th, five animals
from Group I, Nos. 1,4, 5, 7, and 10, were given an estimated dose of I X 10
trypanosomes (T. Vivax) subcutaneously, and five animals from Group II, Nos. 11-15
inclusive, were given a similar dose. The trypanosomes were obtained from a goat,
on whose blood a count had been made, the blood being drawn off into the
requisite amount of citrated saline, and given immediately (within two minutes).
The control animals did not receive any infection artificially.
F 2
80 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ II, I
Temperatures were taken twice weekly, the blood being examined for
trypanosomes by the fresh and thick-stained film methods. Weekly estimations
of the blood calcium and chlorides were made also. Trypanosomes were first
observed in the blood of animals 14 and 15 after an incubation period of seven
days, and in all the other infected animals within a few days later. The
appearance of trypanosomes in the blood was coincident within a rise in
temperature up to 105° (range 103.2°-105°). Thereafter trypanosomes could be
demonstrated in the blood in irregular waves, the temperatures showing similar
gradations. No difference in the course of infection as indicated by the incubation
and clinical picture could be detected in either group. There were no significant
variations in the blood calcium and chlorides, even up to the point of death.
An unfortunate development arose in the control animals: No. 18 in Group
II died after two days' illness. No trypanosomes could be demonstrated in the
blood or lymph glands, the post-mortem picture being that of an acute hæmorrbagic
septicæmia. This was followed by the death of No. 3, after twenty-four hours'
illness. Again no trypanosomes could be demonstrated microscopically, and the
post-mortem appearance was similar to No. 18. Animal No. 16 then became ill,
and a blood examination was made of all the controls; all except No. 2 showed
either infection with T. vivax, T. congolense or both. This examination was
made microscopically and by mouse inoculation, all the mice inoculated showing
pure infections with T. congolense.
The one animal in which trypanosomes could not be demonstrated, No. 2, was
an aged cow which was pregnant at the time. As this beast gradually went down
hill and died later, it is almost certain that it was infected with trypanosomiasis
with the others. The accidental infection of the controls was probably acquired
by their being bitten by wild Glossina morsitans while grazing in the bush. Late
in the wet season the spread of these tsetse is very considerable, and they were
found in close proximity to the station. This occurrence does not affect the
validity of the experiment, as it can be shown that all the cattle seemed quite
healthy when first purchased, and certainly exhibited no signs of pica, although
they were being given no increase in their diet. Moreover, it is well known that
the local healthy Fulani cattle do not show pica in the ordinary course of events.
During the latter half of November, animals Nos. 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, all in
the no-salt group, were seen to be eating ant-hill, and they continued to do so on
and off throughout the remainder of the experiment. No animal in Group 2 was
seen at any time to exhibit this appetite for earth. This occurred three and
a-half months after salt was withdrawn, and two and a-half months after infection.
RELATIONSHIP OF PICA IN CATTLE TO TRYPANOSOMIASIS
81
Table I shows the course of the disease in three typical animals in Group L
while Table II gives that of three animals from Group II.
TABLE I.
Group I.—Without salt.
Date.
30-8-30 . .
9-9-30
. .
13-9-30 . .
16-9-30 . .
23-9-30 . .
30-9-30 . .
11-10-30 . .
16-10-30 . .
23-10-30 . .
7-11-30 . .
21-11-30 . .
23-11-30 . .
No. 7.
Temp.
°F.
100.0
102.0
103.2
104.0
102.0
101.2
104.8
104.0
104.2
103.0
103.0
100.0
Tryps.
neg.
neg.
+
+ +
neg.
neg.
+ + +
+ + +
+++
+
+ +
+ +
(Pica).
Ca.
8.7
—
10.6
9.4
9.4
10.0
—
—
9.6
9.4
9.7
—
No. 10.
Temp.
°F.
101.4
100.2
101.0
103.0
102.4
103.0
101.0
101.0
101.0
102.0
101.0
101.0
Tryps.
neg.
neg.
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
neg.
neg.
neg.
neg.
+ +
+ +
(Pica).
Ca.
8.3
—
10.2
8.7
9.1
9.5
10.0
—
11.1
10.7
9.0
—
No. 9 (control).
Temp.
°F.
102.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
104.8
102.4
103.0
102.0
102.0
Tryps.
neg.
—
—
—
—
—
—
+ + +
+ +
+
neg.
(Pica.)
neg.
Ca.
9.0
—
10.2
8.9
8.6
9.5
10.6
—
10.4
9.9
10.9
—
TABLE II.
Group II.—With salt.
Date.
30-8-1930 . .
7-9-1930 . .
13-9-1930 . .
18-9-1930 . .
25-9-1930 . .
11-10-1930 .
25-10-1930 .
2-11-1930 .
15-11-1930 .
21-11-1930 .
13-12-1930 .
No. 12.
Temp.
°F.
100.0
102.4
103.0
102.4
103.2
101.2
103.2
102.8
103.0
101.4
Tryps.
neg.
neg.
+ +
neg.
+ +
neg.
+
+
+
neg.
Ca.
9.4
..
9.6
9.4
8.8
10.0
9.6
10.5
11.3
10.5
Animal died 30-11-30
Temp.
°F.
101.4
103.2
101.4
1050
104.0
101.0
101.4
103.0
101.1
101.0
103.2
No. 13.
Tryps.
neg.
+ +
neg.
+ +
+ +
neg.
neg.
neg.
neg.
neg.
+ +
Ca.
9.7
—
8.9
9.5
8.8
9.7
9.0
9.9
10.6
—
—
No. 17.
(control).
Temp.
°F.
102.0
—
—
—
—
1032
105.0
Tryps.
neg.
—
—
—
—
+
+ +
Ca.
8.9
—
8.4
9.4
8.5
9.7
9.7
Animal died 27-10-30
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Conclusions to be drawn from these experiments are :—
(1) That the giving of an increased salt ration has no effect on the virulence
of trypanosomiasis in cattle.
82 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ II, I
(2) That animals infected with trypanosomiasis may exhibit pica, but that
this does not occur if they are given salt ad lib.
It seems probable that animals suffering from trypanosomiasis owing to changes
in their general metabolism require increased quantities of salts; when these are
not available in their ordinary diet, they attempt to make up the deficiency by eat-
ing earth.
These experiments clearly bring out the effective ' buffer' action of sodium ions,
if they are supplied to animals during the course of being infected. This could not
occur if the conditions were other than an acidosis, as the administration of salt
after infection does not prevent pica.
CONCLUSIONS.
It is concluded that:—(a) Pica in Northern Nigeria bears a close relationship
to trypanosomiasis of cattle, (b) The infection by trypanosomes causes an acidosis
in the animal, with consequent upset of the ' alkali reserve ' of the blood. (c) The
excessive excretion of sodium and calcium during an acidosis cannot be compen-
sated by the amount of these elements in the herbage normally grazed by the
cattle, (d) The uncompensated loss of sodium and calcium leads to a craving for
salts containing these elements, and it is expressed by the showing of pica symp-
toms and signs.
REFERENCES.
Elliot, Crichton, and Orr (1922) : Brit. Journ. Exper. Path. 1922. III.
Theiler, Green, and du Toit (1924): " Phosphorus in the Livestock Industry ", 1924.
Foster (1927): Kenya and East Africa Medical Journal, June, 1927.
Cathcart (1921): The Rift Valleys and Geology of East Africa, 1921.
Ostertag and Zuntz (1906): Zeit. f. Inf. Krankh. der Haustiers, 1906, II, 409.
Woodman and Evans (1930): Journal of Agriculture Science, June, 1930.
Hutyra and Marek (1926) : " Special Path. and Therapeutics of Diseases of Domestic Animals '',
Vol. III, 250.
Linto (1930) : Journal of Experimental Medicine, 52, 1, 103.
Klegher, and Geiger, and Cormaroff (1920): Annual of Tropical Medicine and Parasatology, 23, 325.
Becker (1929): Prager Arch. f. Tiermedizin, 9, A I and 2, 3.
SARCOPTIC MANGE IN CAMELS.
BY
MAJOR G. K. SHAW, R.A.V.C.
(Reprinted from the Veterinary Record, No. 43, Vol. XI, October 24,1931.)
Officers of the R. A. V. C. naturally prefer suporting their own Journal with
articles of a clinical and other nature, and it was hoped that in due course the
subject matter of this communication would be found there. But I am prompted
to send it to the Veterinery Record for two reasons.
(1) Because of the paper read by Dr. Arthur Whitfield on ' Scabies and
Ringworm as Transmissible between Animals and Man,' and which afterwards,
appeared in No. 30, Vol. XI, dated July 25th, 1931, of that organ, and (2)
because, in the subsequent diseases, it was stated that ' it was almost impossible
to cure the camel of sarcoptic mange when once it had contracted it '.
During the operations in Waziristan on the North-West Frontier of India I
spent the greater part of the years 1921-22 in command of a Camel Hospital, in
which the daily number of sick was rarely below 800, and generally in the neigh-
bourhood of from 1,200 to 1,500.
Three-fourths of these animals were undergoing treatment for sarcoptic mange.
One day I noticed some of the sarwans (camel men) picking at their bodies
and scratching, and on making inquiries was informed by my Indian Officer that
they had mange, but that it was nothing unusual amongst attendants on mangy
camels.
I reported the matter to the medical authorities and on a subsequent inspec-
tion parade it was found that the majority of the hospital personnel (some 400
men in all, including sarwans) were affected. Scrapings were taken from a number
of them and sarcopts indistinguishable from the camel variety were demonstrated.
A few days' treatment with sulphur ointment and hot baths cleared up the whole
business.
The line of treatment in this hospital for camels suffering from mange was
similar to that used in the Great War for equines, except that, for reasons of
conformation, the camels were not plunged into a swimming dip. They were led
into a shallow bath and made to squat down and then scrubbed all over with the
hot solution of calcium sulphide. This treatment was quite effective, but with so
many camels to handle it was slow and numerous other time-saving methods were
( 83 )
84 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ II, I
tried. I had heard that crude oil (mineral) had been used in Mesopotamia on
camels, but knew nothing of the method of application. We decided to experiment
with it and the results were so striking that I cannot do better than quote
verbatim from a copy of a report which I sent to higher authority after the treat-
ment had proved itself, and which, I believe, resulted in the method being used in
other veterinary units of the Waziristan Field Force.
'Dated May 16th, 1922.
" . . . .In January of this year 120 proved mange cases were selected
out of a batch of camels received from the forward area, and isolated, with a view
to trying experimental treatment with different oils and comparing results with
those obtained from calcium sulphide treatment. Out of these, 40 were treated
with the calcium sulphide dip in the usual manner, 40 with taramira oil and 40
with crude mineral oil.
" Of these three methods the crude oil treatment gave undoubtedly the best
results.
" The following was the procedure adopted: The camels were clipped and un-
diluted crude mineral oil applied to the whole of the body and limbs. This was
left on for four days, the camel being groomed as usual. At the end of the fourth
day the camel was smeared with a thin plaster of mud which was left on for 24
hours and then washed off. This removed a great deal of the hard scales and
corrugated skin which the crude oil had softened. The camel was then groomed
as usual for two days when a second dressing of the oil was applied, mud plaster
again being used at the end of the fourth day and washed off as before. This
second dressing removed most of the corrugated skin and hard scales, leaving the
skin soft and pliable.
"A third dressing of oil was applied and after four days the animal is washed
with soap and water, no mud being used.
" The majority of cases required no further treatment except grooming and
occasional washing.
ADVANTAGES OF CRUDE OIL TREATMENT.
" 1. Economical. Average period under treatment, 21 days, i.e., three dress-
ings. The supply Depot stock book rate for crude oil (mineral) is rupees two per
four gallon drum. Used undiluted, four gallons is sufficient for the complete
dressing of four camels, or one camel four times, so that the cost of treatment is
very small.
" 2. After one dressing itching and rubbing cease.
" 3. Easily applied. It is rubbed on with a piece of cloth or old sacking.
SARCOPTIC MANGE IN CAMELS
85
" 4. Stimulates the skin and growth of hair.
" 5. Disinfects Jhools (rugs) and grooming kit.
" 6. Keeps of flies. This is a great factor in its favour, especially if the animal
is suffering from injuries or septic wounds in addition to mange.
" 7. Does not blister. A number of camels have been kept tied in the open
after dressing to find if the sun caused blistering. In no cases did this occur.
"8. Easily obtainable. Out of every batch of camels admitted since this
treatment was tried, a number of the worst cases have been dressed in the fore-
going manner with the same excellent results."
Some people may, perhaps, consider the application of mud unusual and not
highly hygienic. To these I would suggest the more expensive Fuller's earth or
kaolin, but those who know India will be familiar with the fact that the average
Indian is never happier than when he is plastering mud on something, whether it
be his own body or the path leading up to the Sabib's office.
But mud has its uses. Native camelmen in the Punjab apply a dressing of
taramira oil to their mangy camels in the evening, and next morning smear a thin
coating of mud over the dressing, as taramira oil blisters the skin when exposed
to the sun.
With the crude oil treatment blistering does not occur, the mud being used
simply as an adjunct, as when it has baked hard and is then washed off the oil-
softened dead scales and dirt come away with it.
INFECTIVITY OF SHADE-DRIED HIDES FROM RINDERPEST
INFECTED CATTLE.
BY
W. G. BEATON, M.R.C.V.S.,
Veterinary Laboratory, Vom, N. Nigeria.
(Reprinted from the Veterinary Journal, November 1931.)
In most of the large towns in Northern Nigeria, where the slaughter of cattle
and the flaying of hides is under Government supervision, the hides are dried in
the shade in a shed, which is roofed only. The drying is continued for forty-eight
hours, after which they are released for sale. These measures are part of a success-
ful endeavour to improve the type of hide for export. After forty-eight hours
drying, however, there are still small areas in the folds of skin around the cut
edges of the hide which remain somewhat softer and moister than the bulk,
which is dry and hard. This is especially the case in the rainy season.
It is well known that the hide of a rinderpest infected animal, which is dried
in the open sun, is no longer infective after a few hours' exposure, but in the case
of similar hides shade-dried, is forty-eight hours long enough to render them
a virulent ? All the hides used in the following experiments were from rinderpest
virus producers, bled to death on the seventh day after inoculation with virulent
blood, and having shown a satisfactory thermal reaction.
Experiment 1. Bovine, 3,360. Hide removed within an hour of death and
shade-dried. Approximately twenty-four hours later a portion was removed from
one edge. This was still slightly moist. It was emulsified in saline 1 in 4, and
10 c. c. of the fluid was inoculated subcutaneously into rinderpest susceptible
bovine No. 3,377. At forty-eight hours a similar process was gone through, and
bovine 3,378 received 10 c.c. These bovines were isolated from each other and all
other stock, and daily temperatures taken.
Result. There was no thermal reaction for seven and six days respectively, and
both were given known rinderpest virulent blood, and both reacted to rinderpest.
Bovine 3,378 developed a local swelling from the original inoculation, but death
was due to rinderpest from the test dose.
Conclusion. Neither twenty-four hours old hide, nor forty-eight hours old was
infective in this case, but no control of the fresh hide was used, though this hardly
seemed necessary.
( 86 )
INFECTIVITY OF SHADE-DRIED HIDES
87
Experiment 2. The process of the first experiment was repeated, using a con-
trol to the fresh hide. Bovine 3,457 inoculated S/c with 10 c.c. fresh hide; reacted
to rinderpest. Bovine 3,456 inoculated S/c with 10 c.c., twenty-four hours hide;
reacted to rinderpest. Bovine 3,479 inoculated S/c with 10 c.c., forty-eight
hours hide; no reaction. Bovine 3,507 inoculated S/c with 10 c.c., forty-eight
hours hide; tested with virulent blood; reacted to rinderpest.
Conclusion. That forty-eight hours old shade-dried hide is not infective. A
possible reason for the infectivity of the hide at twenty-four hours in this experi-
ment and non-infectivity at the same period in the first experiment, is that the
first experiment was conducted during the exceedingly hot and dry period just
prior to the breaking of the rains, while in the second test some 21 days later the
rains had begun and the air was moist, and considerably cooler, there by retard-
ing drying. The above conclusion was confirmed by this repetition experiment
carried out during the cooler season.
Experiment 3. Bovine No. 3,567; inoculated S/c with 10 c.c. fresh hide;
reacted; died of rinderpest. Bovine No. 3,565: inoculated S/c with 10 c.c. twenty-
four hours dried hide ; reacted; died of rinderpest. Bovine No. 3,559: inoculated
with S/c 10 c.c. thirty-six hours dried hide; reacted; died of rinderpest. Bovine
No. 3,566 : inoculated S/c with 10 c.c. forty-eight hours dried hide ; no reaction ;
tested twelve days later with virulent blood ; reacted. Bovine No. 3,568 : inocu-
lated S/c with 10 c.c. forty-eight hours dried hide ; died eight days later of other
causes.
Conclusion. The period of infectivity reached at least thirty-six hours, but
not forty-eight hours. The two days concerned during which the hide was drying
were exceedingly wet and undoubtedly retarted desiccation considerably. In
spite of these circumstances, however, the hide was not infective at forty-eight
hours.
Summary. It has been shown that forty-eight hours' drying in the shade, but
exposed to the wind, is sufficient to render non-infective the hides from rinderpest
mortalities.