NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
Medical Officers of the Army of India.
55
In conclusion, I may suggest the possibility and probability of cases of
Psoas and Iliac abscess and obscure pains in the post-abdominal and pelvic
regions being at times due to the irritation of this parasite. The neighbourhood
of the Pelvis where the calcified specimens were found showed, as I have pre-
viously stated, signs of old inflammation, and the ' remains' were walled off from
the system by the usual protective membrane.
Explanation of Plates.
Figures 1, 2, 3. Calcified remains of Filaria medinensis, corresponding to
three separate worms, 9 probably.
The " cast . " i n f i gur e 1 i s an excel l ent one : t he r ound body i s wel l shown ;
neither head nor tail can be made out. This is the most mature of the speci-
mens, and was found nearest of the three to Poupart's Ligament in the neigh-
bourhood of the External Iliac vein of right side. It is encapsuled by a thin
membrane evidently derived from the surrounding tissues and inflammatory .in
nature.
Figures 2 and 3 are smaller, and represent specimens of a very much less
mature age. The diameter of the body of figure 3 is not one-fourth that of the
body of figure 1. These calcifications remind one of the convoluted abodes of
some of the Tubicolæ seen on the outside of shells on the sea-shore.
Figure 4.—Filaria medinensis ♀ . Life-size drawing of worm. The three
pieces of which it consisted have been placed in position and the sketch made
from them. Length about 284. mm. Diameter 1 mm. Papillæ on head not
seen. Mucronate tail well shown.
Figure 5. —Filaria medinensis —male and female in copulation. Represent-
ed twice the actual size.
The male ( a ) has been somewhat injured about the free end, which is the
head ; the brownish strip down from head correspond to the injured " pharynx!'
This is better shown in the case of the female ( b), on the head (d) of which the
brownish marking with a dilatation is seen. The other extremity ( c) of the female
is broken off. The genital opening ( e) of the female is shown, though it is perhaps
represented too definitely. It is the tail end of the male which is within the
body of the female. This specimen when found in March last was in excellent
preservation. At that time I partially withdrew the male, but did not completely
do so, not wishing to spoil the position of the worms. Now, although everything
is quite plain, the male is somewhat dilapidated.
Figures 4 and 5—Were removed from near the sacral promontory. It will be
noted that in the two " subjects " from which all the specimens—calcified and
unc-alcified—were removed the seat of the parasites was either in the sub-
56
Scientific Memoirs by Medical Officers of the Army of India.
peritoneal tissue of the attachment of the mesentery to the post-abdominal wall,
or in the same tissue a little further down—the smallest specimen being highest
up and nearest to the intestine.
Figure 6.—Drawing of head of female ( shown in Figure 5) by means of
the Camera Lucida x 25. The tubercles on head are well shown ( a). The
mouth and dilatation behind it (pharynx) will be observed—
a= tubercles,
b= cuticle,
c= muscle fibre,
d= internal cylinder extending from mouth,
It will be observed that the alimentary canal is easily seen in the less mature
specimens (Figures 5 and 6), whilst in the older and more developed worm the
alimentary canal is not apparent (Figure 4).
Figure 7.—Drawing of mucronate tail of worm, shown in Figure 4, by means
of Camera Lucida x 25
—
a= transversely striated cuticle,
b= muscular fibres,
For the sketches of Figures 6 and 7 I am indebted to the kindness of Dr.
Murray, Professor of Pathology in this College.
R. HAVELOCK CHARLES, M.D., M.CH., F.R.C.S.I., F.Z.S.,
Surgeon, Bengal Medical Service.
The 15th December 1891.
G. I. C. P. O.—No. 16 S. C.—25-4-92.—300.
Reg. No. 742, San. , I ndi a. —Feb. 92. —300.
Litho., S. I. O. Calcutta.
Sanawar, the 23rd May 1892.
G. M. GILES.
ADDENDUM.
A recent fresh find of the species described in these memoirs as Trichoso-
m u m v e r r u c o s u m
sp. n., including a number of males, has enabled me to deter-
mine definitely its generic position. It is undoubtedly a Spiroptera, and should
therefore stand as Spiroptera verrucosa sp. n. The males, which appear to be
much less numerous than the females, are much smaller than the latter, measur-
ing only 4.2 c. m. in length, and are about half their thickness. The favourite
habitat of the worm appears to be the reticulum and psalterium and most com-
monly it burrows the whole or the greater part of its length into the submucosa.
The present find was in the zelu and not in sheep, and its prevalence appears
seasonal, as none could be found in the winter, whereas it now appears to be
tolerably common.
•
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE ARMY OF INDIA.
EDITED BY
W. R. RICE, ESQ., M.D.,
SURGEON GENERAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
PART VII.
•
1892.
1.—Some observations on the life-history of Sclerostomum tetracan-
thum, Diesing, and on Sclerostomiasis in equine animals; in connection
with a so-called outbreak of " Surra " at Shillong.— surgeon G. M. f.
Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page 1.)
2.—On a new Selerostome from the large intestine of mules (a postscript to
the preceding paper),—surgeon G. M. f. Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S.
(Page 25.)
3.—On nodular disease of the intestine in sheep.— Surgeon G. M. f. Giles,
M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page 31. )
4.—A description of two new nematode parasites found in sheep.— Surgeon
G. M. f. Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page 45. )
5.—A Contribution on the life-history of the male Filaria medinensis founded on
the Examination of specimens removed from the abdominal cavity of
Man.—Surgeon R. Havelock Charles, M.D., M.ch., F.R.C.S.I., F.Z.S.
( Page 51. )
CALCUTTA :
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1892.
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ICAR. 15. IX
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Vol. IX
1939
THE
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science
AND
Animal Husbandry
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JAMES N. WARNER, M.Sc., Offg. Professor of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad.
S. BASU, O. B. E., I.C.S., Secretary, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
EDITOR
F. M. DE MELLO, B.A., B.Sc. (ECON.)
The Editorial Committee, in its work of examining papers received for publica-
tion, is assisted in an honorary capacity by a large number of scientists working in
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXISTENCE OF CONTAGIOUS
BOVINE PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN BRITISH INDIA
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF PRELIMINARY PATHO-
LOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CASES OF THIS
DISEASE REPORTED FROM ASSAM
BY
J. F. SHIRLAW, M.R.C.V.S.
Pathologist, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-Kumaun
(Received for publication on 5th December 1938)
(With Plates V and VI)
SINCE the earliest days of veterinary organisation in British India, the
question of the existence of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia has frequent-
-y recurred. Over this question opinion has always been divided and no
satisfactory answer has yet been given. The wide areas to be covered the
difficulties in disease nomenclature, the insufficiency of an expert staff com-
petent to differentiate between the various types of bovine pneumonia have
all contributed to this failure to reach conclusions regarding this problem.
Many standard authorities quote the existence of the disease in India ;
others refer to its existence in vague or ambiguous terms, while the majority
fail to mention it at all, the presumption being either that no authentic in-
formation was available or that they considered it not to exist.
Hutyra and Marek state : " In Asia, the disease appears especially wide-
spread in the Russian territories as well as in India ". Baldrey and Williams
[1909] make mention of the disease in India and Woodruff [1934], Moore
[1906], Miller [1935], Gaiger and Davies [1938] state that it exists in Asia.
As the latter writers do not specifically exclude India, it must be concluded
that their opinion is that the disease does exist here. Edmonds and Walker
[1929] consider that the occurrence of contagious bovine pleuro-pncumonia
in India is doubtful. Henning [1932] mentions the existence of the disease
in central Asia and India.
Currasson [1936], in writing on contagious bovine pleuro-pneu-
monia states : " L'Inde anglaise a été très atteinte a la fin du xix e siècle :
dans la seule province de Bombay il y avait, en 1894, 1,215 malades. Depuis.
elle est moins inquiétante. En 1929 et 1930, il y avait encore de foyers dans
quatres préféctures ".
Edwards [1927] in a discussion at the Far Eastern Association of Tropical
Medicine, when speaking of the peculiar anomalies of geographical distribu-
tion of diseases in eastern countries, said : " One knows very well that pleuro-
pneumonia is a very serious and widespread affection of cattle over a large
( 139 )
140 Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia in British India
part of the African continent and also occurs in the Far East, while India in
her intervening position for some reason has escaped infection. Is there any
risk of the disease becoming established in the country through the importation
of affected cattle from the countries where it exists " ?
Law [1906] gives " phush phush ", " pirdaho " and " pheepree ", as
Bengali synonyms of the disease, which he considered a true pleuro-pneumonia
contagiosa of cattle, although he makes no mention of the disease elsewhere
than Bengal. In the Quarterly Journal of Veterinary Science in India, Army
Animal Management, Nunn [1885] mentions " phepri" and " khulak " as
Punjabi synonyms of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, and in the same
publication, the occurrence of this disease is mentioned in Shahpur (Punjab)
in July and September (1884), while in 1890, an editorial indicates the necessity
for research upon the disease. In the Annual Administration Report of the
Civil Veterinary Department in India (1892-93), bovine pleuro-pneumonia
is included in a provisional list of diseases believed to occur in India, in the
class ' non-ordinary' (i.e., not ordinarily amenable to treatment.)
No mention is made of the specific contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia,
the features of which, at that time, were well known. It is presumed, in view
of the fact that the prevailing Indian form was designated ' non-ordinary',
that the relationship between the form of bovine pneumonia in India and the
widely known and specific contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, was accepted.
In succeeding annual reports, mention is again made of the same disease.
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, remarks (1893-94)
on the prevalence of Anthrax, Rinderpest, Foot-and-Mouth disease and
bovine pleuro-pneumonia. The inclusion of the last mentioned with formid-
able epizootic diseases leaves little doubt as to the seriousness of the disease,
During the same year, the Central Provinces report pleuro-pneumonia in
addition to the usual epizootic diseases.
In 1894-95, the Superintendent. South Punjab, reports that 138,000
bovines were attacked with pleuro-pneumonia in the Ferozepore area alone, of
which about 4,000 died and in the same year, the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Bombay, mentions the existence of the same disease
in several districts, with an incidence of 336 animals affected and 274 deaths,
while from Bengal, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, reports :
" Pleuro-pneumonia in the contagious form may be said to be non-existent,
at least no case has come to my knowledge ".
In the report for 1895-96, this opinion is again reiterated : " The disease
as a contagious malady may be said to be non-existent in Bengal".
In the report for 1897-98, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, North Punjab, states : " Pleuro-pneumonia
only 62 cases
It is very doubtful if these were true contagious pleuro-pneumo-
nia. It is much more likely that they were ordinary pneumonia with pleurisy."
In Bombay Presidency during the same year, there were only four animals
affected, with two deaths.
J. F.
SHIRLAW
141
It is an eminently important observation that during the years covered
by the reports of the Animal Administration, no mention has been made of
hæmorrhagic septicæmia, now recognised as the most important bovine
epizootic, in which pneumonia in the more subacute cases, not infrequently
simulating the lesions of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia is, a character-
istic. It is noteworthy, in these reports., that the most Serious epizootic of
bovine pneumonia recorded was reported from a localised area, which is
today recognised as one of the centres wherein hæmorrhagic septicæmia, in
epizootic form, is normally encountered.
The history of the disease in India may be further studied in the annual
reports of the Civil Veterinary Department of the provinces. From the year
1900, reports of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia have been issued from
Bombay Presidency (including Sind), the provinces of Punjab, Bengal, the
United Provinces, the Central Provinces and Berar, and Assam.
1893-94
.
.
.
.
1896-97.
.
.
.
1897-98
.
.
.
.
1899-1900
.
.
.
.
1900-01
.
.
.
.
1903-04
.
.
.
.
Punjab.
Bovines attacked. . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
139,518
5,155
233
66
117
45
565
275
154
76
49
14
In succeeding years, there is no further mention of bovine pleuro-pneu-
monia. In disease returns, a separate entry for hæmorrhagic septicæmia
is made, and cases of bovine pleuro-pneumonia entered as such. No direct
evidence is available that cases designated as bovine pleuro-pneumonia had
been definitely diagnosed as contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, although
the remark of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Punjab,
(1897-98) indicates that, in certain quarters, the existence of the disease had
been suspected.
1897-98
.
.
.
.
1898-99
.
.
.
.
1899-1900
.
.
.
.
1900-01
.
.
.
.
Bombay Presidency.
Bovines attacked
Bovines died .
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
.
Bovines died .
.
.
.
.
4
2
Nil
Nil.
10
5
142 Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia in British India
1901-02
.
.
.
.
1902-03
.
.
.
.
1903-04
.
.
.
.
1904-05
.
.
.
.
1905-06
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
.
Bovines died .
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
Bovines died .
.
.
.
.
Report not available
Bovines attacked
.
.
.
.
Nil
7
7
30
26
Nil.
During these years, no separate entries of hæmorrhagic septicæmia were
made in disease returns. After this procedure was commenced in the year
1906, no further mention was made of bovine pleuro-pneumonia as a specific
disease entity. The remark of Joslen, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Bombay, commenting on the returns of bovine pleuro-pneumonia
for the year 1903-04, is significant of the doubt already existing regarding the
correct diagnosis of cases accepted as contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia.
He says, " I am doubtful if the diagnosis was correct in these cases. Conta-
gious pleuro-pneumonia I have not met with in the plains of India ". No
further mention of bovine pleuro-pneumonia is made from Bombay, until,
in 1928-30, when further cases are reported.
During the years 1931-32, contagious pleuro-pneumonia was reported
front Karachi district. Seven calves died out of eight attacked.
In 1932-33 ; thirty deaths from bovine pleuro-pneumonia were recorded-
The fact that these cases were not accepted as hæmorrahagic septicæmia in-
dicates doubt as to the diagnosis of the type of pneumonia reported
1900-01
.
.
.
.
1901-02
.
.
.
.
1902-03
.
.
.
.
1903-04
.
.
.
.
1904-05
.
.
.
.
Bengal.
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines died . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . ..
Bovines died .
.
.
.
.
Bovines attacked . . . . .
Bovines attacked . . . . .
No mention.
13
8
11
11
Nil.
Nil.
In the year 1905, a separate entry is made for hæmorrhagic septicæmia
and, as no further reports are made of bovine pleuro-pneumonia, it must be
presumed that considerable doubt existed as to whether authentic contagious
bovine pleuro-pneumonia was actually a disease entity with which to reckon.
Trydell, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal [1905] remarks,
" .... the machinery employed for the collection of these statistics has been
found to be insufficient to ensure even approximate accuracy ". This state-
ment, in conjunction with the fact that no further cases of bovine pleuro-
pneumonia were reported after 1905-06, is doubtless an indication of the
extreme caution taken in expressing an opinion regarding the actual existence
of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia,
J. F.
SHIRLAW
143
United Provinces.—From the year 1903, separate entries are made for
hæmorrhagic septicæmia, and it is not until the year 1905-06, that specific
mention is made of ' pleuro-pneumonia contagiosa '.
In the annual report for this year, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, writes, " There is every reason to believe that tick fever fluke
disease, pleuro-pneumonia contagiosa, tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis
cause losses amongst cattle, but no reports of any of these have been received."
During the years 1906-37, sporadic cases of bovine pleuro-pneumonia,
presumably not related to hæmorrhagic septicæmia, are reported in bovines.
Central Provinces and Berar.—In 1902-03, Jethiji, the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, reports:
" Contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia—a few cases have been reported
from Jubbulpore and Nagpur districts. I could not attend the outbreaks, so
that I cannot say definitely that the disease was the true contagious pleuro-
pneumonia or some other kind of pneumonia. Judging from the severity of
the outbreak and the high percentage of deaths, I am inclined to think that it
was the true Western Cattle Plague "
Three hundred and forty-one animals were attacked with a mortality of
sixty-three per cent.
In the following year, nine animals were attacked with the same disease
and eight died.
Until the year 1908-09, nothing further is heard of this disease, but in
this year Baldrey, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,writes:
" Pleuro-pneumonia contagiosa has been reported in Nimar, but I have not
been able to verify it "
From that time, no more mention is made of the disease.
Assam.—There is no mention made of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumo-
nia until 1936. In October of this year, however, the Disease Investigation
Officer, Assam reported to the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute on the
occurrence of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, without specifying the
particular tract of the country in which the disease outbreaks were noted.
The investigation at Mukteswar of this and succeeding outbreaks reported
from Assam constitutes the first serious attempt to elucidate, on a pathological
and experimental basis, the debatable question of the existence of contagious
pleuro-pneumonia in India.
The first batch of specimens received from Assam (October, 1936) com-
prised pleuritic fluid in sterile pipettes, ampoules containing similar fluid
preserved in 10 per cent. glycerine, and representative pieces of the lung
lesions in Zenker's fluid and 10 per cent. formalin.
The medium and methods employed for the cultural investigation of the
pleuritic fluid and identification of the causal organism, Borrelomyces peripneu-
moniae [Turner, Campbell and Dick, 1935] were those used by Bennet [1932]
in his work on the study of the organism.
144 Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia in British India
A series of culture tubes sown with the suspected fluid were examined for
the presence of colonies of Borrelomyces peripneumoniae, and beyond a few
discrete colonies of a coliform organis , no growth of the organism specially
sought was evident on examinati
between the second and fifth days of
cultivation.
On naked eye examination, the small pieces of lung showed lesions which
presented a considerable resemblance to those described in contagious bovine
pleuro-pneumonia, and the description of the early lesions of this disease,
" isolated, small, dense, sharply circumscribed nodular foci with broadened
interlobular connective tissue " (Meissner) were readily apparent. The inter-
lobular connective tissue of the lung was widely infiltrated by a clear or
greyish gelatinous exudate and with the coincident hyperplasia of this tissue,
the ' marbled ' appearance of the lung was typical. (Plate V, fig. 1). The
lymph vessels in the larger traveculae of the interstitium were widely distend-
ed with coagulated fibrinous exudate. Several of the smaller vessels were
thrombosed (terminal branches of the pulmonary artery) but this was not
a general lesion. Small, discrete areas of infarction were present, and
areas of interstitial hæmorrhage were frequent.
The lung lobules, sharply outlined by the lesions affecting the interstitial
tissue, were in a comparatively uniform degree of catarrhal inflammation.
Hepatization, variegation of the lobules, with the presence of practically
unaffected lobules, a lesion peculiarly specific of contagious bovine pleuro-
pneumonia, were absent.
Microscopic examination revealed the interstitial exudate to be fibrino-
cellular, a dense accumulation of cells being present on the outer margin of the
distended spaces and around the widely patent lymph vessels. The air
vesicles contained an exudate mainly catarrhal with little fibrin and were not
distended with fibrinous exudate as in true contagious bovine pleuro-pneu-
monia.
No evidence of lobular necrosis was evident and the areas of necrosis ap-
parent on macroscopic examination appeared to be related to the peribronchial
tissue, which was densely infiltrated. Evidence that the essential lesions were
bronchiogenic was not lacking in view of the degree of inflammatory change
affecting small bronchi and bronchioles.
Scattered here and there through the lung tissue were observed, in over-
night-Giemsa stained preparations, what appeared to be the spores of a fungus.
These averaged about 6 µ in diameter and various forms of budding, sug-
gestive of a torula or a cryptococcus, were observed. Dehiscence of these
spores could be seen in many places, with the formation of a curved, sheathed
protoplasmic stem, very faintly staining, terminating sharply in a point. It is
not intended at this preliminary stage of the investigation, to express an
opinion as to the identity of these bodies, nor of their source of origin. Their
presence in the epithelium of the bronchi, whence they may be seen migrating
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb. Vol. IX, Part II ]
PLATE V
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
Ind. Jour. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. IX, Part II ]
PLATE VI
Camera Lucida — Leitz 10 ocular 1/12 objective