NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
B. N.
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of the finished leather ', ' spotted and make a very poor leather', ' black
spots in the leather '
On a piece of raw hide the tick bites are distinguished by small inflamed or
reddened areas somewhat swollen (Plate XXVII, fig. 1). When examined with
a lens the skin in a narrow circle about the tick puncture is found densely
packed with infiltrated cells. Thus the grain of the hide is damaged and the
tanned leather is weakened and spotted. In order to ascertain the actual
nature of damage, an experiment was undertaken by the present writer at
the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, when young larval
forms of the two most commonly occurring species of tick in India
(Boophilus australis and Hyalomma ægyptium) were made to feed on a hill
bull in fairly good condition. After a period of 30 days, the bull was des-
troyed and its hide taken off. The hide was salted and dried and cut in six
pieces showing separate regions of the animal's body and was sent to the
Chrome Leather Co., Ltd., Madras, for tanning. The tanner's report is
reproduced below :—
' Six dry ox hide pieces
No. 1 piece—
(Right front).—Full of tick marks.
No. 2 piece—
(Left back).—Grain cracked in the centre and several tick marks.
No. 3 piece—
(Right back).—A few old scratches and many tick marks.
No. 4 piece—
(Lumbar region).—Grain cracked and is full of tick marks.
No. 5 piece—
(Left front).—Full of tick marks.
No. 6 piece—
(Middle back).—Branded, grain cracked and full of tick marks.'
The tick marks alluded to in the tanner's report appeared like tiny pits on
the grain side of the tanned hide (Plate XXVII, fig. 2), but were somewhat
different from those observed in the case of the so-called ' spotted ' leather
or ' ticky ' hides, some samples of which were shown to the present writer while
visiting certain tanneries at Cawnpore, Calcutta and Madras. In order to
observe experimentally the actual nature of damage on the finished leather,
the writer sent back a piece of the pitted tanned hide to the Chrome Leather
G
364
Damage to hides caused by Cattle Ticks in India
Co., Ltd., Madras, for finishing. An examination of the finished material left
no room for doubt that the appearance of tick marks on the tanned hide is
the reaction to tick bites, resulting in the subsequent ' spotting ' of the
finished leather (Plate XXVII, fig. 3).
EXTENT OF LOSS SUSTAINED BY THE HIDE INDUSTRY
Hides and skins are now articles of international trade and they are often
tanned in countries far away from their places of origin. To give an unhappy
instance, the present author has information that recently 35 per cent of a
consignment of 18,000 goat skins sent to America for tanning by Messrs.
Marks & Co. of Calcutta were declared complete rejections by the tanners.
The sole cause upheld was the damage caused by ' warbles ' and ticks. This
is similar to the position in the wool trade, where the dirty condition of wool
exported from India has been adversely criticized by foreign consumers.
Further information gathered by the present author through the courtesy
of Mr. Bleeck and the Chrome Leather Co., Ltd., Madras, revealed the fact
that tick damage is one of the most important factors governing the grading of
hides in India. Repeated observations made by the tanners and exporters
have led them completely to reject or heavily depreciate raw stock raised in
certain areas of the country called ' ticky ' areas. Dacca in Bengal and the
Malabar Coast in southern India are held to be the worst tracts from this point
of view, while a large proportion of the hides produced in Bengal and Madras
are depreciated on this account to the extent of 50 per cent of the
price by the Chrome Leather Co., Madras. Similarly, Cawnpore tanners have
stated that 50 to 60 per cent depreciation in price is caused by ticks alone
to nearly 20 to 30 per cent of the total stock produced in the United Provinces,
Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province. While grading a large stock
of tanned hides the selector or the jachandar, as he is called, keeps a look out
for any tick marks. The de-grading of tick-damaged stock varies from one
grade to four grades, depending upon the intensity of tick blemishes per sq. in.
These blemishes are capable of causing a reduction of Re. 1-8 to Rs. 3-8 per
piece which would normally be valued at about Rs. 7.
SUMMARY
Ticks always damage hides and prices are reduced accordingly. The
Hides Cess Enquiry Committee have briefly dealt with the subject of tick
damage to hides and skins in India. Available literature shows that, in the
United States of America,' ticky' hides or Southern hides do not sell for as
much money as Northern hides and these' ticky ' hides when unhaired are all
spotted and make a very poor leather and most tanners refuse to buy
Southern hides at any price. Information collected by the present writer
from some of the leading tanneries and hide dealers in India and also certain
experimental observations carried out by him at Mukteswar lead to the con-
clusion that the problem of tick damage to hides and goat skins in India is
probably not less serious than in the United States of America. The worst
B. N.
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365
tracts from this point of view in southern and eastern India were found to be
the Malabar Coast and Dacca. Hides produced in the United Provinces,
Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province are believed to be tick-damaged
to the extent of 20 to 30 per cent of the total stock, with a depreciation of 50
to 60 per cent in price.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The facilities extended by Mr. J. R. Haddow, Offg. Director, Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, and the guidance rendered by
Mr. S. K. Sen, Entomologist, are thankfully acknowledged. The author is
also indebted to Mr. J. Bleeck of Calcutta and the management of the Chrome
Leather Co., Ltd., Madras, for providing useful information on the subject.
The illustrations were prepared with the help of Mr. S. Sen Roy, Artist, to
whom the writer is grateful.
REFERENCES
1. Damage to Hides caused by Cattle Ticks. (Published by the proprietors of Cooper
Cattle Dips, n. d.)
2. Report of the Hides Cess Enquiry Committee, 1. (Calcutta, Government of India,
Central Publication Branch, 1930)
STUDIES ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE LARVAL
FORMS OF HYPODERMA CROSSII PATTON *
BY
B. N. SONI, B.Sc. (PB.), B.Sc. AGRI. (EDIN.)
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 26th January 1939)
(With Plate XXVIII)
INTRODUCTION
THE occurrence of Hypoderma crossii, as a parasite of goats in the Punjab
(Salt Range Area), was first discovered sometime in 1922 by Captain Cross,
Camel Specialist, Civil Veterinary Department, India, and the species was
described by Major W. S. Patton during 1922-23. It was named after the
discoverer.
As a result of short surveys in the Punjab and the North-West Frontier
Province, the present author has been able to collect a large number of Hypo-
derma larvae affecting goats. The collection contains both young and full-
grown larvae and the author proposes to redescribe these in the present paper.
It is also proposed to indicate the main morphological features of the full-
grown larva of H. crossii, as distinguished from those of the larva of H. linea-
tum, in the same stage.
YOUNG LARVA
The young larva of H. crossii is pure white in colour with black spiny
armature spread over different segments of the body in transverse linear
arrangement. The larval body is club-shaped, tapering towards the posterior
end which terminates in a pair of spiracles. The size of the larva at this stage
varies from 7.5 mm. to 10.5 mm. in length × 2 mm. to 4.5 mm. in greatest
breadth (i.e. at sixth and seventh segments). Each transverse band on the
ventral surface of the larva consists of six to eight rows of minute, black,
chitinous spines. These encircle the body of the larva from the second to the
fifth segments inclusive. Each of these four segments has a band near the
anterior margin and a similar band in front of the posterior border. The
sixth segment has a complete band only on the anterior border, the band in
* Presented at the Indian Science Congress held at Lahore in January 1939.
( 367 )
368
Studies on Larval Forms of Hypoderma Crossii
front of the posterior margin being confined to the ventral surface only of the
larva. On the dorsal surface, the seventh to the tenth segments inclusive
show a complete absence of spines ; ventrally the seventh to the ninth segments
inclusive have each a double band of spines, both on the anterior margin as
well as in front of the posterior border. The tenth segment is entirely without
spines dorsally as well as ventrally. Unlike the full-grown larva, the body
is devoid of rings of fleshy, recurved, spine-like tubercles [Plate XXVIII, fig. 1,
(a), (b) ]. The posterior spiracles consist of a pair of orange-brown stigmatic
plates, each of which is composed of a number of thick-walled round discs or
rings, varying from 14 to 18 in number in different specimens. These discs
are closely connected to each other leaving an empty space in the centre of
the plate (Plate XXVIII, fig. 2).
FULL-GROWN LARVA
It is barrel-shaped, its general colouration being cream-buff. It measures
15.5 to 17.5 mm. in length and from 8 to 9.5 mm. in greatest width
(i.e. across the sixth and seventh segments). Each segment from the
second to the eighth inclusive bears, near its anterior border and extending
completely round the dorsal, lateral and ventral surfaces, a compound ring
of more or less fleshy, recurved, spine-like tubercles, some of which, on the
second segment at any rate, have black, chitinous points. On the ventral
surface, each of the three following segments bears, near its anterior border,
transversely placed, similar bands of fleshy tubercles. The dorsal surface
is devoid of tubercles on these three segments. The transverse band of
forwardly directed chitinous spines are observed ventrally on the posterior
borders of the segments from the second to the eighth inclusive. No spines
are visible on any of the segments on the dorsal surface. Posterior spiracles
consist of a pair of orange-brown posterior stigmal plates, each plate being
composed of a large number of slightly oval, thick-walled discs, which are
irregularly placed and are fairly close to each other, thus giving the whole
plate a homogenous appearance (Plate XXVIII, fig. 3).
A comparative study of the spiny armature of a large number of full-
grown larvae of H. crossii and H. lineatum has shown that the latter possess
on the ventral surface a number of transverse bands of forwardly directed,
chitinous spines on each of the second to the tenth segments inclusive, while
in the case of H. crossii larvae, similar bands of spines are present only from
the second to the eighth segments inclusive. Dorsally, the larvae of H.
lineatum possess a single row of transversely placed spines on each segment
from the second to the fourth segments inclusive. The fifth to the tenth
segments inclusive are each provided with a number of transverse rows of
spines, whereas the larvae of H. crossii, on the dorsal surface, are completely
devoid of spines (Plate XXVIII, figs. 4 and 5).
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. IX Part IV ]
PLATE XXVIII
FIG. 1a.
Ventral view of
young larva of
H. crossii
FIG. 1b.
Lateral view of
young larva of
H. crossii
FIG. 2.
Posterior spiracles of young larva
of H. crossii
FIG.
3. Posterior spiracles of full-grown larva of H. crossii
FIG. 4a.
Dorsal view of full-grown larva
of H. crossii
FIG. 4b.
Ventral view of full-grown larva
of H. crossii
FIG. 5a.
Dorsal view of full-grown larva
of H. lineatum
FIG. 5b.
Ventral view of full-grown
larva of H. lineatum
B. N.
SONI
369
SUMMARY
A young larva of H. crossii measuring 7.5 to 10.5 mm. in length
and 2 to 4.5 mm. in greatest breadth, possesses on its ventral surface
a double band of spines, on each segment, from the second to the ninth seg-
ments inclusive. On the dorsal surface there is a double band from the
second to the fifth segments only, the sixth segment having a single band on
the anterior border only. The seventh to the tenth segments inclusive on
the dorsal surface and the tenth segment all round are completely devoid
of spines. A full-grown larva of the size of 15.5 to 17.5 mm. in length
and 8 to 9.5 mm. in greatest width possesses, on its ventral surface,
transverse bands of forwardly directed chitinous spines, on each segment
from the second to the eighth segments inclusive. No spines are present on
the dorsal surface of these larvae.
A full-grown larva of H. crossii may be differentiated from a larva of
H. lineatum in the same stage by the fact that the latter possesses transverse
bands of spines on its ventral surface from the second to the tenth segments
inclusive.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The guidance rendered by Mr. S. K. Sen, Entomologist and the
facilities provided by the Director of the Institute during the course of this
study are gratefully acknowledged. The writer is also indebted to Mr. S. Sen
Roy, Artist, for assistance in preparing the illustrations.
REFERENCES
Cross, H. E. (1925). Agric. Res. Inst. Pusa Bull. 160
Patton, W. S. (1922-23). Ind. J. Med. Res. 10, 573-8
A FEW UNUSUAL HELMINTHS OF SOME DOMESTIC
ANIMALS IN INDIA*
BY
G. D. BHALERAO, D. Sc., PH. D. (LOND.,) F. Z. S., F. R. M. S., F. A. Sc.
Helminthologist, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 27th May 1939)
IN spite of sustained efforts for the last ten years on the part of several
workers in this country, the helminth fauna of the domestic animals in India
has not yet been completely explored. The truth of this statement can well
be appreciated by a glance at the number of new species described and new
records of helminths made from time to time by the helminthologists in India.
The present communication gives details of the study of three helminths
recorded for the first time in India with additional data concerning a species
previously described.
Mesocestoides litteratus—More than 24 species of the genus Mesocestoides
have so far been recorded from various animals ; of these, only six
have been determined in domesticated animals. In his critical analysis
of the genus Mesocestoides, Witenberg [1934] reduced the number of species
assigned to this genus to only three valid species, i.e. M. lineatus with the
forma Caesta, lineatus and litterata, M. perlatus and M. charadrii. This scheme
of Witenberg has not, however, been accepted by subsequent workers. Joyeux
and Baer [1935] consider that the species M. ambigus, which Witenberg
regards as a synonym of M. lineatus, is a species quite distinct from the
latter. The joint authors have adduced strong anatomical evidence in
favour of their view. Neveu-Lemaire [1936] also does not appear to be in
agreement with Witenberg since some of the species regarded as synonyms by
the latter are considered valid by the former. Only three species of Mesoces-
toides have been recorded from India, viz. M. lineatus, M. tenuis and M.
mesorchis. The first two have been recorded from a tiger and a dog, and the
third one from a Tibetan fox. Although Witenberg regards M. mesorchis
as a synonym of M. lineatum forma litterata and M. tenuis as a synonym of
M. charadrii, the writer is not inclined to support this view particularly after
the evidence advanced by Joyeux and Baer. A survey of the cestodes of cats
at Mukteswar revealed that in addition to the common tapeworms, viz. Taenia
taeniformis and Dipylidium caninum, one cat harboured in its intestine a small
*Paper read before the Medical and Veterinary Section of the 26th Indian Science
Congress, Lahore.
( 371 )
F
374 Unusual Helminths of some Domestic Animals in India
description of both the sexes, but for the present a few observations on the
material at my disposal are given below. It is a curious fact that Tubangui,
who propounded the species P. bovicola, had also only two females for study.
The worms measure 37.3-43 mm. in length. The anterior end is orna-
mented with transverse ridges interrupted at irregular intervals, the rest of
the cuticle is striated, the striations being 0.0025-0.003 mm. apart. The
cervical papillæ are situated at a distance of 0.212-0.233 mm. from the
anterior end. The œsophagus is 0.158-0.197 mm. long. The vulva opens
at the anterior end, at a distance of 0.08-0.087 mm. from the opening of the
mouth.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The writer wishes to record his gratitude to the Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geon, Broach, and to Messrs. S. R. Chadda, B. Sc. M.R.C.V.S. and H. S.-
Bawa, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Investigation Officers for North-West Frontier
Province and Sind respectively for the material supplied.
REFERENCES
Dey, D., (1909). J. Trop. Vet. Sci., Calcutta, 4, 556-560
Gaiger, S. H., (1907). J. Trop. Vet. Sci., Calcutta, 2, 316-321
Hall, M. C, (1916). J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 50, 214-223
Joyeux, C. & Baer, J. G., (1935). Bull Soc. Zool. France, 60, 482-501
Neveu-Lemaire, M. (1936). Traite' d'Helminthologie Medicale et Veterinaire. Paris,
XXIII+1514 pp
Southwell, T. (1912). Ceylon Mar. Biol. Rep., 6., 259-278
(1930). Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Cestode
II. London, IX+262 pp
Tubangui, M. A. (1934). Phil. J. Sci., 55,115-124
Witenberg, G. (1934). Arch. Zool. Ital., 20, 467-508
VISCERAL GOUT OF FOWLS IN INDIA*
BY
S. GANAPATHY IYER, G.M.V.C.
Offg. Assistant Veterinary Research Officer, Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 10th February 1939)
INTRODUCTION
THE term Visceral gout is applied to a condition of the organs, charac-
terized by a chalky appearance with fine whitish flour-like deposits. It is
said to result from the accumulation of uric acid in the blood and an altered
function of the renal system leading to the storage and deposition of urates
in the tissues of the internal organs. The present paper is the result of
having encountered visceral gout in dead fowls from time to time. In parti-
cular mention may be made of the recent incidence of five such cases in one
week during the month of June 1938, among what were considered to be
healthy fowls. Gout of joints is not uncommon but in none of the cases
comprising the subject of this paper was there any abnormality of the joints,
and as mentioned above the lesions were confined to the viscera and simulated
the description given in textbooks.
ETIOLOGY
The cause of the gout in the fowls under study is not definitely known.
Various opinions have been expressed with regard to its etiology ; one theory
is that it is due to a fungus. The feeding of birds with abundant horse meat
for several months, chronic poisoning by oxalic acid, carbolic acid, corrosive
sublimate, aloin and acetone are known to cause typical gout [Kaupp, 1933].
Ligaturing the ureters of the bird can produce deposition of urates in the
tissues. The dietetic cause may be attributed to forced feeding with rich
protein diet combined with inadequate exercise. Tuberculosis and chronic
forms of fowl cholera may also cause similar changes in the joints [Hutyra
and Marek, 1926]. Most of the above causes are considered improbable in
the fowls under reference. No fungus or pathogenic bacteria were seen on
microscopical and cultural examinations and it may reasonably be assumed
that only dietetic errors were involved.
PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY
The birds were very light when received for autopsy. The eyes were
sunken. On opening the thorax and abdomen there was chalky adherent
deposit over the heart, pericardium, air sac membranes, liver, spleen, kidneys,
the entire external surface of the intestines, including the mesentery and the
* Paper read at the Indian Science Congress, 1939.
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376
Visceral Gout of Fowls in India
genital organs. The lesions were almost uniform in all the fowls. However,
in one bird No. 49, the kidneys were infiltrated with abundant white fine
granular material and macroscopic appearance of the kidney was like that
of brain. By scraping with a blunt scalpel, the white deposit could be removed
with little difficulty as a pasty mass. Neither the microscopic nor the cultural
examination of the heart blood, liver and spleen suggested the incidence of
any specific parasitic bacterial infection. There was no diarrhœa nor any
marked lesions in the gastro-intestinal tract. The pericardium was dry,
tense, thick and slightly adherent to the cardiac muscle. The kidneys seldom
looked normal and as stated above presented the external appearance of
brain.
SYMPTOMS
The actual cause of the disturbance is seldom recognized during life
unless the joints are affected as well. The author did not see the fowls during
life, but there seems to be no specific symptom which would enable one to
diagnose the condition as visceral gout.
PREVENTION
The following are suggested as preventives :—
Exclusion of meat and rich nitrogenous substances from the diet,
free use of alkaline drinking water to neutralize acid substances in the
blood, administration of epsom salt and liberal use of gram food. If the
joints are likewise affected it may be treated as for rheumatism.
SUMMARY
Cases of gout, though reported elsewhere, are recorded for the first time
in India. The clinical, pathological and the etiological aspects are discussed.
All the viscera contained in the thoracic and abdominal cavities were covered
with chalky uratelike deposits. The possibility of bacterial infection was
eliminated and the etiological factors have been discussed.
REFERENCES
Hutyra, F. and Marek, J. (1926). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the diseases of
domestic animals
Kaupp B. F. (1933) Poultry Diseases. 6th Edn.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. IX Part IV ]
PLATE XXIX
FIG. 1. Scolex showing rostellum and suckers
FIG. 2. Scolex showing rostellum and suckers