NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
270 Effect of Certain Drugs etc. on Helminthiasis of Ruminants
Anthelmintics not possessing a purgative property were preceded and
followed by purgatives. Salines were used for calves and castor oil for sheep,
but later on it was observed that castor oil produced a deleterious effect on the
health of sheep, and had, therefore, to be abandoned.
RESULTS
Butea powder and copper sulphate when tried with purgatives proved
fairly effective, but due to the reason stated above purgatives had to be omitted.
The administration of these drugs alone did not prove of much use.
Kamala in curd-whey, melon pumpkin seeds in mucilage of tragacanth,
spineless cactus in green fodder, turpentine oil in simple oil. varnonia
anthelmintica in the form of an infusion (unstrained), did not prove suffi-
ciently effective to warrant their use on a large scale in the field.
A combination of butea with kamala suspended in curd-whey proved
fairly effective. On calculation its efficacy was found to be 67 per cent in the
way of eradication of parasites.
Butea with embelia infusion, ferrous sulphate with aloes, and ferrous
sulphate with pot. ant. tartrate did not prove satisfactory anthelmintics.
Copper sulphate with kamala proved to be the most effective combination
amongst those tried in this experiment. Both the constituents serve a dual
purpose. Copper sulphate, besides being an anthelmintic, has the property of
passing directly into the abomasum. Thus besides itself it leads kamala also
directly into the abomasum. Kamala, being an anthelmintic and purgative,
kills and stupefies the parasites and expels these along with others acted upon
by copper sulphate. Both these constituents are reasonably cheap and easily
available. This combination proved efficacious to the extent of 90 per cent.
The combination of copper sulphate and sodium arsenite proved effective
to the extent of 58 per cent. Though the combination of kamala with butea
showed a greater efficacy, yet it cannot be favourably compared with the
former combination, as the preparation of butea for administration is very
tedious ; in addition to this the question of freshness of butea and kamala is an
important factor. Moreover the combination of copper sulphate with sodium
arsenite is cheaper. Due to these considerations it probably stands next to the
combination of copper sulphate and Kamala, regarding its use on a large
scale in the field.
NUTRITION
With regard to the relation between malnutrition and parasitic infestation
as observed in these series of experiments, it is common knowledge that parasi-
tic infestation in calves and sheep is noticed to be particularly heavy in young
stock reared on scanty or deficient diet, but no experiment with sufficient
control animals appears to have been undertaken in this country with a view
to study this problem. Bearing on this question, however, there is a certain
amount of literature published by workers in other countries. Thus, Ross
[1932] observed that immunity of sheep to stomach worms may be weakened
KARAM CHAND 271
by subjecting them to impaired nutritive conditions. Fraser and Robertson
[1933] found that the average number of worms in the poorly fed sheep was
three times greater than in the well-fed animals, and the difference was
statistically significant. Further, the well-fed lambs had a high degree of
resistance to worm infection than those fed poorly. Ross and Graham [1933]
found that pasture improvement was far more effective in improving the condi-
tion of sheep infested with small Trichostrongylid worms than was drug
treatment. Taylor [1934] and Mönning [1936] stress the importance of
adequate feeding of sheep in the control of parasitic infestations. Robertson
[1936] points out that good diet is more important in the control of parasitic
infestations than drug treatment. Ross and Gordon [1933] pointed out further,
that in sheep kept on a diet, low in proteins and minerals, the resistance to
Haemonchus contortus was completely broken down.
In view of these findings it is evident that malnutrition has an adverse
effect on the resistance of the animal body towards parasitic infestations.
A description of the different feeds and design of the experiment has
been given under ' Material and method '. The data recorded were (1) protein
consumption, (2) mineral (soluble ash) consumption, (3) parasitic counts and
(4) live-weights. It was not possible to record the protein and mineral con-
sumption individually for each animal as a weighed quantity of the feed was
given to each group as a whole. Data for individual animals were, however,
recorded for parasitic counts and live-weights. The analyses of variance of
these two items during the different years are given in Appendix B. Where a
large number of animals died during the course of the experiment, no analysis
is given.
PARASITIC INFESTATION
Calves.—The data of 1934-35 and 1936-37 only are capable of analysis.
The differences in the infestation due to different feeds are not significant in
both the years.
Sheep.—All the three years' data have been analysed. Only in the year
1934-35 the differences were significant, the balanced ration giving the least
average infestation and the normal area grass having the least amount of
mineral matter the highest, though the animals fed on it stood next to
balanced ration group as far as the increase in weight was concerned.
LIVE-WEIGHT
The live-weights of the animals were recorded from the commencement to
the end of the experiment. The percentage increase of each animal was cal-
culated. The percentage increases in weight were corrected on the basis of the
initial weight of each animal by the method of covariance. The conclusions
were, however, not materially altered by this correction. Normally, there
should not be a large variation in the initial weights of the animals selected and
also the total weight of animals in each group should be approximately the
D
272 Effect of Certain Drugs etc. on Helminthiasis of Ruminants
same. These two conditions were not however observed in the 1934-35 experi-
ments. In the next two years the animals were so selected that the differences
fn initial weights were not very much and the grouping of animals for giving
several feeds was done in such a way that the total weights of all the groups were
almost equal. In the case of calves only, the experiments continued success-
fully as there were ery few deaths. In the case of sheep, however, there were
a number of deaths during 1935-36 and 1936-37, so that the final weights of
only a iew animals could be recorded.
Calves.—In 1934-35, the percentages of increase in live-weight varied
from 94.8 in the case of balanced ration to such a low figure as 0 • 7 in the case
of grass Adjoining Deg Nullah. The increase due to balanced ration is signifi-
cantly greater than the rest, while the differences between increases amongst
other feeds are not significant. Again, in the year 1935-36 the same results
were obtained. In the final year, however, there was a decrease in weight on
the average in the Deg Nullah and Adjoining Deg Nullah groups. The increase
due to the balanced ration was significantly greater than the rest. The
difference between normal area grass and Adjoining Deg Nullah was also
significant. This is not, however, of much importance as the Adjoining Deg
Nullah grass actually reduced the weight.
Sheep.—As mentioned already the data of 1934-35 only could be analysed
in the case of sheep. The Deg Nullah grass has decreased the live-weight.
The only significant difference is that between balanced ration and Deg Nullah
grass.
On the whole the balanced ration only appears to increase the live-weight
significantly. The normal area grass stands next, with the grass from Deg
Nullah and Adjoining Deg Nullah having a tendency to reduce the live-weight
in certain cases.
CORRELATIONS
An attempt was made to find out whether there is any correlation between
the different factors, viz., protein consumption, mineral intake, increase in live-
weight and parasitic counts in spite of the fact that the figures of protein con-
sumption and the mineral intake are available only for the group as a whole
and not for individual animals. The correlations were, therefore, worked out
with these figures and the average figures of each group in the case of live-
weight and parasitic counts.
It may be mentioned that huge variations exist in the live-weight and
parasitic counts within animals in the same group, though the number in each
group is only four or five and sometimes only two. Finer methods of correla-
tional analysis were, therefore, not adopted. In working out the correlations
the three years' data for each set of two characters was treated as a whole.
The variation due to years and feeds were eliminated and the correlation was
calculated from the residual variation only.
KARAM CHAND 273
The following table gives the values of simple correlations between the
several factors:—
Correlations based on residual variance eliminating seasons and feeds.
—
Protein consumption and per cent increase in live-weight .
Mineral intake and per cent increase in live-weight .
Protein consumption and number of parasites . .
Mineral intake and number of parasites . . .
Live-weight and number of parasites . . . .
Calves
— .511
—*.886
+ .308
—*.709
+ .503
Sheep
—.100
—*.606
+ .398
+ .451
..
* Significant at P = .05.
The negative correlation between mineral intake and number of parasites
is significant only in the case of calves.
SUMMARY
In this experiment various cheap anthelmintics were tried against Hea¬
monchosis and Oesophagostomiasis in calves and sheep, and the combination
of copper sulphate with kamala has proved to be the best; next in efficiency
is the combination of copper sulphate with sodium arsenite. Further, experi-
mentation points to the probability that mineral deficiencies lower the resis-
tance of animals to parasitic infestation. This shows some tendency in the
case of sheep (Appendix A) but is statistically significant in the case of calves.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am indebted to Mr. W. Taylor, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.H., I.V.S., Director,
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, and Captain U. W. F.
Walker, M.C., M.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., Principal, Punjab Veterinary College,
Lahore, for their valuable suggestions and kind help.
Thanks are also due to Mr. A. C. Aggarwala, B.Sc. (Hons.), M.R.C.V.S.,
Professor of Animal Husbandry, and Sardar Sahib Sardar Mool Singh, G.P.V.C.,
Professor of Pharmacology for reviewing the Nutrition and Anthelmintic
portions respectively.
I also wish to place on record my appreciation of the pains taken by
Mr. T. Krishnamurti, B.Sc., of the Statistical Section, Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research, for the statistical analysis contained in this paper.
274 Effect of Certain Drugs etc. on Helminthiasis of Ruminants
Appendix A
TABLE I
Relation between protein consumption and live-weight
Year
1934-35
1935-36
1036-37
Name of
food
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
Average daily pro-
tein consumption in
lb. calculated on
the entire experi-
mental period
Calves
0.673
0.657
0.638
0.258
0.510
0.387
0.313
0.343
0.960
0.462
0.299
0.240
Sheep
0.305
0.272
0.253
0.108
0.219
0.165
0.132
0.110
0.483
0.134
0.125
0.109
Live-weight, gain
or loss per cent
Calves
110 gain
30
„
15
„
5 loss
91 gain
42
„
12
„
4
„
50 gain
7
„
10 loss
13
„
Sheep
50 gain
33 „
12 loss
14 *gain
55 gain
2
„
15 loss
22
„
14 gain
33 loss
44
„
44
„
Remarks
*Sheep
were
replaced
Abbreviations :—
B. R.—Balanced Ration
N. A.—Normal Area grass
D. N.—Deg Nullah grass
A. D. N.—Adjoining Deg Nullah grass
KARAM CHAND 275
TABLE II
Relation between mineral intake and live-weight
Year
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
Name of
food
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
Average daily mineral
(soluble ash) con-
sumption in lb.
calculated on the
entire experimental
period
Calves
0.662
0.295
0.412
0.442
0.699
0.091
0.114
0.167
1.062
0.380
0.199
0.201
Sheep
0.242
0.102
0.137
0.084
0.179
0.036
0.042
0.040
0.254
0.096
0.073
0.078
Live-weight gain or
loss per cent
Calves
110 gain
30
„
15
„
5 loss
91 gain
42
„
12
„
4
„
50 gain
7
„
10 loss
13
„
Sheep
50 gain
33 „
12 loss
14 gain
55 gain
2
„
15 loss
22
„
14 gain
33 loss
44
„
44
„
Remarks
TABLE III
Relation between protein consumption and parasitic infestation
Year
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
Name of
food
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
Average daily protein
consumption in lb.
calculated on the
entire experimental
period
Calves
0.673
0.657
0.638
0.258
0.510
0.387
0.313
0.343
0.960
0.462
0.299
0.240
Sheep
0.305
0.272
0.253
0.108
0.219
0.165
0.132
0.110
0.483
0.134
0.125
0.109
Parasitic infestation
No. of worms
Calves
42
91
76
63
118
638
575
441
188
200
1,027
582
Sheep
4,255
4,934
19,417
5,282
1,501
3,849
3,500
3,869
1,919
2,059
3,138
2,782
Remarks
276 Effect of Certain Drugs etc. on Helminthiasis of Ruminants
TABLE IV
Relation between mineral intake and parasitic infestation
Year
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
Name of
food
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N.
Average daily mineral
(soluble ash) consump-
tion in lb. calculated
on the entire experi-
mental period
Calves
0.662
0.295
0.412
0.442
0.699
0.091
0.114
0.167
1.062
0.380
0.199
0.201
Sheep
0.242
0.102
0.137
0.084
0.179
0.036
0.042
0.040
0.254
0.096
0.073
0.078
Parasitic infestation.
No. of worms
Calves
42
91
76
63
118
638
575
441
188
200
1,027
582
Sheep
4,255
4,934
19,417*
5,282
1,501
3,849
3,500
3,869
1,919
2,059
3,138
2,782
Remarks
*The
only
sheep which
developed
severe Hae¬
monchosis
was out of
this batch.
TABLE V
Relation between live-weight changes, minerals intake and parasitic infestation
Year
1934-35
1935-36
1936-37
Name of
food
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N. .
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N. .
B. R. .
N. A. .
D. N. .
A. D. N. .
Live-weight changes
per cent
Calves
110+
30+
15+
5—
91+
42+
12+
4+
50+
7+
10—
13—
Sheep
50+
33 +
12—
*14+
55 +
2+
15—
22—
14+
33—
44—
44—
Minerals (soluble ash)
in the daily ration
Calves
0.662
0.295
0.412
0.442
0.699
0.091
0.114
0.167
1.062
0.380
0.199
0.201
Sheep
0.242
0.102
0.137
0.084
0.179
0.036
0.042
0.040
0.254
0.096
0.073
0.078
Parasites. No. of
worms
Calves
42
91
76
63
118
638
575
441
188
200
1,027
582
Sheep
4,255
4,934
19,417
5,282
1,501
3,849
3,500
3,869
1,919
2,059
3,138
2,782
Remarks
Gain :— +
Loss :— —
*Sheep were replaced.
KARAM CHAND 277
Appendix B
TABLE I
Analyses of variance of parasitic counts
Calves.
1934-35 . .
1935-36 . .
1936-37 . .
Sheep.
1934-35 . .
1935-36 .
1936-37 .
Due to
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Only a few samples
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
D. F.
3
13
16
3
6
9
3
15
18
3
14
17
3
11
14
S. S.
5775.10
26259.02
32034.12
Not analysed
119008.93
894917.17
2084926.10
757915342.37
645778226.26
1403693568.63
18162912.5
28706350.0
46869262.5
3676549.75
28635874.05
32312423.80
Variance
1925.03
2019.92
396669.64
149152.86
252,638447.45
430,51881.75
6054304.16
2050453.57
1225516.58
2603261.27
V 1 V 2
' Within groups'
higher S.S.
2.7
5.8
2.9
' Within
groups '
S. S. higher
Significant or not
Not significant
Not significant
Significant at
1 per cent level
Not significant
Not significant
TABLE II
Analyses of variance of percentages of increase in weight after correction for
differences in weights at the commencement of the experiment
Due to
Calves (17 animals)
1934-35
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total
D. F.
3
13
16
Initial
weight
38699.6
42966.5
81666.1
Percen-
tage
Increase
S. S.
19559.7
4825.4
24385.1
Products
—24288.4
—4886.0
—29174.4
Adjusted
S. S.
14584.6
4270.4
18855.0
Adjusted
M. S.
4861.5
355.9
...
Significance
V 1 /V 2
13.7
P<.01
...
Conclusions
B.R.>.
the rest
(other differences
not significant)
278 Effect of Certain Drugs etc. on Helminthiasis of Ruminants
TABLE II—contd.
Due to
Calves (16 animals)
1935-36
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Calves (20 animals)
1036-37
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
Sheep (17 animals)
1934-35
Between feeds .
Within feeds .
Total .
D. F.
3
12
15
3
16
19
3
13
16
Initial
weight
360.0
12336.0
12696.0
592.9
25675.6
26268.5
541.1
727.1
1268.2
Percen¬
tage
increase
S. C.
18686.2
10754.8
29441.0
10115.7
1001.3
11117.0
8840.6
10732.5
19573.1
Products
—780.5
65.0
—714.5
449.6
867.5
1317.1
—1181.1
289.3
—891.8
Adjusted
S. S.
18694.5
10754.3
29448.8
10085.8
972.0
11057.8
9866.3
10617.1
20483.4
Adjusted
M. S.
6231.5
977.7
3361.9
64.8
3288.8
884.7
Sigini¬
ficance.
V 1 /V 2
6.4
P<.01
51.9
P<.05
3.7
P<.05
Conclusions
B. R.>.
the rest
(other differencs
not significanes)
Do.
B. R.>.
D. N.
(other differencs
not significante)
REFERENCES
Dungal, N. and Gislason, G. (1936). J. Comp. Path. Therap., 49 (3), pp. 210-217
Eraser, A. H. N. and Robertson, D. (1933). Nature, 131, 94
McEwen, A. D. (1935). J. Comp. Path. Therap. 48 (3), pp. 218-235
Monning, H. O. (1936). Farming in South Africa, 11 (127), pp. 431
Robertson, D. (1936). Scottish J. Agri., 19 (4). pp. 359-363
Ross, I. C. (1932). J. Council Sc. and Indus. Res. Aust., 5, pp. 73-80
Ross, I. C. and Gordon, H. McL (1933). Aust. Vety. J. 9, pp. 100-107
Ross, T. C. and Graham, N. P. H. (1933). J. Council Sc. and Indus. Res. Aust.
6, pp, 191-204
Stewart, W. L. and Piercy, S. E. (1934). Vety. Rec. 14 (39), pp. 1165-1169
Taylor, E. L. (1934). J. Comp. Path. Therap., 47, pp. 235-254
Veglia, F. (1928). S. Afri. Dept., Agri. Rept. 2, pp. 755-797
GOAT VIRUS VACCINATION IN THE CENTRAL
PROVINCES AND BERAR* (FINAL REPORT)
BY
CAPTAIN BACHAN SINGH, M.R.C.V.S.
Veterinary Investigation Officer, Central Provinces and Berar
INTRODUCTION
The economic and scientific importance of rinderpest which is known
to be responsible for 60 per cent of the total annual mortality in cattle in
India, has been more realised in recent years, and this vast problem has come
into greater prominence since the appointment of the Disease Investigation
Officers under the auspices of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
in the country.
The original researches conducted at Mukteswar Institute by Dr. Edwards
between the years 1926 and 1928, went to prove the value of " goat virus
alone " method of vaccination and possibility of its introduction in indigenous
breeds of cattle in India. The Central Provinces Veterinary Department got
the credit for having introduced the above method of vaccination for the first
time in India in 1930, under the guidance of the late Major R. F. Stirling, who
was successful in his attempts in proving the efficacy of the method in field
conditions by inoculating a number of animals, with satisfactory results.
With a view to study, on a comprehensive scale, the various aspects of this
new method of vaccination and to make it " fool proof ", a scheme for employ-
ment of a field staff consisting of eleven Veterinary Assistant Surgeons was
prepared by the Local Government and submitted to the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research, for sanctioning the necessary funds, and was approved
by them in 1934. The scheme actually came into force from March 1935.
The sanctioned staff consisting of one Senior Veterinary Assistant Surgeon,
Mr. G. D. Pani, who had previously worked under Major Stirling as his field
assistant in Goat Virus Work, and ten Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, fresh
graduates from different Colleges in India, was appointed under the scheme
from 15th March 1935.
To begin with, a preliminary course of training for the benefit of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons was arranged at Nagpur, where they were trained
in the technique of goat virus vaccination. The team of field workers under
the control of the Veterinary Investigation Officer made a start in the district
of Saugor with Saugor as their headquarters. During the first year of the
scheme, that district remained as the centre of their activities. The reasons
* Scheme financed by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research for three years from
March 1935 to March 1938.
( 279 )
E
280
Goat Virus Vaccination in the Central Provinces & Berar
for selecting that particular district was that due to greater movements of
nomadic cattle imported into the Province from neighbouring States like
Gwalior and Bhopal, rinderpest had been a perpetual source of menace to the
cattle of that district and the nomadic herds coming from States were respon-
sible for dissemination of the disease.
During the first year of the scheme, as many as 1,17,115 head of cattle
in 414 villages were protected by the " goat virus alone " method ; out of these
4,000 animals were inoculated with tissue virus manufactured locally. The
system of field work followed was mass inoculation of cattle in villages lying
on main routes by which nomadic cattle move. The results of these inocula-
tions were strikingly successful in gaining the confidence of local cultivators in
this method of vaccination. Up to the middle of the second year, the
scheme was continued in the same district by which time most of the cattle of
the villages situated along all the important routes were immunized against
the disease.
In order to collect more comprehensive data in varied conditions, the
work was extended to different centres in the Province where there was a
demand for such work, and Nagpur was made the central station for experi-
mental work and production of virus. On shifting to Nagpur in October 1936,
the manufacture of tissue virus was intensified, and moreover, the Provincial
Veterinary staff was also trained in the technique of manufacture of tissue virus
which was introduced for the first time in the Province.
In the three years during which the scheme remained in force, the in-
vestigation work was carried on altogether in 9 districts, viz., Saugor, Jubbul¬
pore, Hoshangabad, Nimar, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Bilaspur, Amraoti and
Nagpur. Apart from the study of various interesting problems relating to goat
virus vaccination, a large number of cattle were protected against the disease
with the result that the incidence of rinderpest became considerably less as
compared to former years when only serum inoculation was done, and thus
a great relief was afforded to the cultivators. Altogether in three years, as many
as 382,621 animals were inoculated with different methods and the results
have been extremely satisfactory throughout (The details of the vaccinations
are given in Appendix A).
The main problems which formed the technical programme of work
approved by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research are enumerated as
under:—
(a) The best method of obtaining virus, should Mukteswar goat virus be
used, and whether local virus obtained from an actual outbreak
could be attenuated by a certain number of passages through
goats.
(b) What number of " passages " are necessary before the local virus
could be used safely and effectively for vaccination of cattle ?
(c) At what age the goats can be considered most suitable for the
production of virus ?