NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
56
Treatment of Equine Surra in Assam
the preliminary experiments an intravenous injection of 100 c.c. of 2 per cent
solution of Naganol was given followed by another dose of 150 c.c. (2 per
cent) on the sixth day. Inconvenience was, however, experienced by the
use of a large volume of the solution for the purpose of injection. With that
end in view, it was reduced to 50 c.c. without affecting the required quantity
of Naganol.
In the early stages of the experiment all the cases treated were under
observation up to a year. Some of the ponies treated in 1935 are healthy
and working up to the moment of writing the paper. Out of 309 equines
treated and observed so far (vide Table II) relapse of the disease was found
in two ponies, four months after the treatment. It could not be definitely
ascertained whether it was a relapse or a reinfection. Even considering
them as cases of relapse the percentage would appear to be practically negli-
gible. In a few cases urticarial eruptions, mild laminitis and sometimes
cracking of the anus were recorded. But there had been no serious untoward
effect and always satisfactory progress was noticed in the course of four or
five days.
The present routine method of treatment consists of two injections as
noted below:
1st injection . . . .
2nd injection . . . .
50 c.c. of a 4 per cent solution of Naganol
given intravenously immediately on
microscopical confirmation of the disease.
50 c.c. of a 6 per cent solution of Naganol
injected as above on the sixth day after
the first injection.
The treated cases are kept under close observation for three months follow-
ing the last injection of Naganol and periodic microscopical examination of
blood is carried out for detection of relapse, if any. On the whole, the results
of the treatment have been most satisfactory. The opinion relating to the
encouraging result of this treatment was expressed in the Annual Report
for the year 1935-36 by the Director, Veterinary Department, Assam, to the
effect that ' another signal success which the Department claims this year
is a simple six days ' short course treatment of equine surra which proved
almost 100 per cent a success as opposed to a complicated five weeks' course
treatment of distinctly lesser efficacy hitherto followed'. Subsequent ex-
periences have amply justified the claim. Some of the recent equine cases
treated have been under the close observation of the writer and there was
nothing eventful in the success of the treatment. The parasites disappeared
from the general circulation in about 24 hours and there was subsidence of
clinical symptoms in the course of a week.
The average weight of a pony in Assam is about 500 lb. and a uniform
dose of 5 gm. of Naganol in two doses of 2 and 3 gm. each, has been found
sufficient to effect a satisfactory cure. The same dosage is recommended
even for ponies weighing less than 500 lb. But for horses, a proportionately
larger dose is advised, depending upon the body-weight. In this connection,
a word about the cost of treatment is, however, necessary. Nowadays the
treatment is so popular that the owners ungrudgingly pay for the cost of
treatment which is limited to Rs. 10 per pony.
V. R. GOPALAKRISHNAN
57
PROPHYLAXIS
In certain enbemic areas, espscially in Surma Valley, prophylactic treat-
ment was tried. For an average pony, 50 c.c. of a 4 per cent solution of
Naganol has been used once in a month during the season. As this work
was started only in 1937, it will require some more time to draw definite
conclusions. There is, of course, great demand for prophylactic treatment
and no less than 200 ponies were given this treatment from 1 April 1938 to
date. Relating to the problem of prophylaxis it is stated in the Annual
Report of the C. V. D., Assam, for the year 1936-37 that incidentally it may
be noted that the drug (Naganol) was also tried as a preventive against the
disease in a very limited number of cases with apparent good result. At
present great caution has been taken in regulating the issue of Naganol as the
supply is likely to be affected due to war conditions. In this connection
mention may be made of two recent products—Antrypol (a British Drug
House product) and Moranyl (a French preparation) that have been tried
In the treatment of equine surra (Annual Report, I. V. R. I., 1939-40). These
preparations have been reported to be as effective as Naganol excepting
that in case of relapse the period was more prolonged. It is proposed to
study their value under field conditions.
DISCUSSION
The method adopted in Assam in the treatment of equine surra involves
only two injections at an interval of six days. As the period of treatment is
short, it is less inconvenient to field workers and the owners of animals. The
required quantity of Naganol is issued and the field worker injects it after
dissolving it in boiled water and passing it through a filter-paper. This can
be easily done even in villages.
The average weight of a pony is only about 500-lb. and the first injection
of 2 gm. in 50 c.c. does not generally evoke complicating symptoms. The
second injection of a larger dose is well tolerated and presumably reinforces
the curative effects. The second injection has been insisted upon as the
experience with the single-injection method sometimes gave indications of
relapse as has been recorded elsewhere. Relapses would appear to depend
upon the stage of the disease when treatment was undertaken. Hence when
a second injection has been found necessary the question was—when to give
it ? Experience in the treatment of equine surra during the early stages
of the experiment gave sufficient indications that urticarial and other com-
plications attributable to the initial dosage passed off in four to five days
at the most. The second injection on the sixth day was observed to be
uniformly tolerated. An early second injection would probably tend to
maintain the concentration of the drug in circulation and thus ward off any
likelihood of relapse.
Another factor worth noting is the general improvement in the condi-
tion of the treated animals, which begins after a week following the last in-
jection, is complete in about a month and is maintained well.
It is necessary to point out that the method adopted in Assam is more
convenient and less complicated in its application in the field. A single
58
Treatment of Equine Surra in Assam
injection method however desirable, does not appear entirely to eliminate
the possibility of relapse [Mahajan, 1939]. Pfaff [1934] recommends that
0.4 gm. per 100-lb. body-weight is a safe dose and in most cases protects the
animal for six weeks. Although a single injection cures ' most cases of
surra' he also suggests that the same dose repeated on the eighth day will
cure ' nearly all cases of surra '. It is essential to resort to a method that
gives as far as possible no chance for relapse in the treated cases. From this
point of view the method practised in Assam is quite satisfactory.
In conclusion, it may be stated that if the method of treatment as now
adopted in Assam be given a fair trial by field workers in other provinces,
it will minimize the difficulties that confront workers and owners alike. The
observation that the long course of treatment and the multiplicity of injections
adversely affect the popularity of treatment must always be borne in mind ;
these two factors have been reduced to the minimum in the method now
recommended.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The writer is deeply indebted to Rai Sahib Srish Chandra Ghose,
Director, Veterinary Department, Assam, for permitting to publish the
method of treatment adopted in Assam. To Messrs B. C. Chatterjee and
U. Nobindro the writer's thanks are due for furnishing the figures, etc.
SUMMARY
The method adopted in the treatment of equine surra in Assam is des-
cribed. It consists of a course of two injections as under :—
1st injection
.....
2nd injection
50 c.c. of a 4 per cent solution of Naganol
given intravenously immediately on
microscopical confirmation of the disease.
50 c.c. of a 6 per cent solution of Naganol
injected as above on the sixth day after
the first injection.
The treated cases are kept under close observation for three months
following the last injection of Naganol and periodic microscopical examina-
tion of blood is carried out for detection of relapse, if any.
In over 300 ponies treated in the province, the results have been uniformly
satisfactory and no relapse occurred.
Further, the paper deals with the various methods adopted in the
treatment of surra in India and refers to the advantages of the method ad-
vocated. It is safe, effective and as compared with other methods, less com-
plicated and easy of accomplishment.
The use of Naganol as a prophylactic agent in known infected areas
gave sufficient indications of success.
V. R. GOPALAKRISHNAN
59
REFERENCES
Assam, Ann. Rep. C. V. D., 1935-36, 14
—
Ann. Rep. C. V. D., 1936-37, 15
Cross, H. E. (1914). Mem. Dept. Agri. India, Vet. Series, 2, 155
—(1920).
Agri. Res. Inst. Pusa Bull. No. 95
Edwards, J. T. (1928). Mem. Dept. Agri. India, Serial—4, No. 1
Handbook of Cont. and Inf. Diseases Q. M. S. Army Hqts. 1938, 260
Holmes, J. D. E. (1908). J. Trop. Vet. Sci. 3, 434
—(1910). J. Trop. Vet. Sci. 5, 1
Leese, A. S. (1910). J. Trop. Vet. Sci. 5, 397
Lingard, A. (1899). Report on Surra.
Mahajan, M. R. (1939). Ind. J. Vet. Sci. Anim. Husb. 9, 217
Mukteswar, Ann. Rep. I. V. R. I., 1939-40, 33
Pfaff, G. (1934). C. V. D. Burma, Bull. No. 1, 1933
Sen, S. K. (1933). Ind. J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb. 3, 85
Shahi, H. B. (1936). Ann. Rep. V. I. O., U. P. 1935-36, 77.
Taylor, W. (1934). Ind. J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb. 4, 29
60
Treatment of Equine Surra in Assam
TABLE I
Showing the monthly incidence of Surra in Assam
Year
1929-30 . . .
1930-31 . . .
1931-32 . . .
1932-33 . . .
1933-34 . . .
1934-35 . . .
1935-36 . . .
1936-37 . . .
1937-38 . . .
1938-39 . . .
1939-40 . . .
Total .
April
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
May
..
1
..
1
..
..
..
4
1
2
..
9
June
2
1
3
..
10
..
2
4
2
4
..
28
July
..
1
5
1
9
3
4
11
3
11
4
52
August
6
3
..
1
11
1
13
34
2
43
13
127
September
26
..
2
5
15
1
28
9
6
23
13
128
October
13
1
2
15
..
4
5
4
1
2
21
68
November
3
1
..
21
..
2
5
2
4
5
8
51
December
2
..
2
4
3
..
..
3
1
1
..
16
January
2
..
..
..
1
1
2
6
..
..
..
12
February
..
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
1
1
..
3
March
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
1
Total
54
8
14
49
49
12
59
77
21
93
59
495
TABLE II
Showing the treated cases of surra
Year
1935. . . . . . . . .
1936. . . . . . . . .
1937. . . . . . . . .
1938. . . . . . . . .
1939. . . . . . . . .
Total .
No of
equines
treated
57
73
26
92
61
309
Result
All cured
PLATE II]
[ Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. XII, Part I
Calves showing unbifurcated hooves of the fore limbs
A SHORT NOTE ON CALVES WITH UNBIFURCATED
HOOVES
BY
SULTAN SINGH, L.AG., B.Sc.AGRIC.(READING)
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Cattle Breeding and Bundelkhand Circle,
Jhansi, United Provinces
AND
R. K. TANDON, M.Sc., A.I.A.R.I.
Divisional Superintendent of Agriculture, Bharari (Jhansi)
(Received for publication on 9 July 1941)
(With Plate II)
B OVINE species of animals are provided with bifurcated hooves but a few
instances of a strange abnormality have occurred at the Government
Cattle Breeding Farm, Madhurikund. Eight calves consisting of six females
and two males born of different parents showed lack of normal bifurcation in
the hooves of the fore limbs. These hooves do not strictly compare with
those of an equine but they taper down in form of an inverted cone or wedge
[Plate I]. The exact nature of this abnormal character cannot be known
unless elaborate breeding experiments are undertaken. These may be
instances of only somatic variations or of an interesting genetic character of
hereditary nature.
The following table shows the pedigree of all the calves with abnormal
hooves. This information may provide some indication as to the nature of this
abnormality.
Serial
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Ear No. of calves
23
27
57
61
63
28
80
10
Sex
Male
Female .
„
„
„
„
„
Male
Breed
Hissar
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
Date of
birth
5-3-37
4-4-39
24-7-40
3-9-40
5-9-40
19-4-39
27-12-40
7-2-41
Sire
277
277
373
373
373
655
655
655
Grand
sire
313
313
313
313
313
313
313
313
Dam
763
841
801
689
721
767
674
851
Grand
Dam
378
46
319
530
351
261
213
319
Grand
sire
(Dam's
father
210
313
210
313
195
195
313
313
All the sires, grand sires, dams and grand dams of these claves had no such
abnormality or bodily defect of any kind. From the above pedigree records
it is clear that these calves are progeny of different dams and three different
sires. The grand dams are also different, but the grand sire is same in all the
cases, i.e. Hissar bull No. 313*. It is not possible to analyse the exact nature
of this character from the above records but these data point to one fact and it
is that the grand sire may in some way be responsible for this abnormality.
No definite conclusion can be drawn at this stage. This little note is not
an attempt at the analysis of the exact nature of inheritance of this abnormality,
but it places on record the fact that such abnormal calves have been met with
in our normal course of breeding.
* It has been ascertained from the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, that none of
the relatives of this bull are reported to have shown any abnormality in hooves.
61
E
SELECTED ARTICLES
THE CATTLE OF INDIA AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT
BY
F. WARE, C.I.E., F.R.C.V.S., F.N.I., I.V.S.
Animal Husbandry Commissioner with the Government of India
(With plates III-VIII)
(Reprinted from The Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol. IX, No. 33, January
1941)
INTRODUCTION
W HEN making a public presentation of two stud bulls for the improve-
ment of cattle in Delhi Province, H. E. the Marquess of Linlithgow, the
Viceroy of India and previously Chairman of the Royal Commission on Agri-
culture in India, observed that' the cow and the working bullock bear on their
patient backs the whole structure of Indian agriculture '. This remark puts
in a nutshell the great importance of cattle to Indian economy. India is a vast
agricultural country with a human population of 350 million people, 90 per
cent of whom live on agriculture. The bullock is almost the only source of
power available for carrying out the various agricultural operations extending
over an area of about 300 million acres of cultivation, besides acting as the major
road-transport animal. Most of the peoples are vegetarian and depend en-
tirely on milk and milk products as the source of animal protein in their diets.
The social and economic importance of cattle to India is therefore self-evident.
The actual as well as the potential value of India's cattle industry is huge
even in its present undeveloped state. The annual value of milk and milk
products is by a conservative estimate not less than Rs. 300 crores (£225
million). The output of hides and skins, of which India is the largest exporter
in the British Empire, is annually worth about Rs. 40 crores. Cattle labour is
variously estimated to be worth between Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 crores annually,
whilst the cash value of their manure, which may be used either for increas-
ing soil fertility or as fuel, is about Rs. 270 crores.
With such an enormous potential value, the question of developing this
industry has naturally received attention, and a reference to the background
of the problem may enable the reader to appreciate the difficulties in the way
of rapid large-scale improvements in India.
First, the number of cattle in India is far too great for the fodder resources
of the country. The area of cultivated land available per head of bovine
population is 1.8 acres, as compared with 3.4 acres in Great Britain, 4.5 in
New Zealand, 31.4 in Canada, and 24.9 in U. S. A. The Royal Commission
on Agriculture estimated that for every 100 acres of net sown area there are 21
acres fallow, 92 acres of grazing, and 20 bullocks, 17 cows, 16 other cattle, 3
male buffaloes, 3 female buffaloes, 5 young buffaloes, and 27 sheep and goats.
This shows the pressure on the land and the acute nature of the fodder prob-
lem. Over wide areas concentrates are fed only to transport ponies and
bullocks and to milch buffaloes, the remainder of the live stock of a village
having to depend on what roughage they can pick up. The grazing land is
very poor after the monsoon, i.e. for most of the year, and in many localities
62
F. WARE 71
cattle rapidly deteriorate. Of the different breeds of buffaloes in India, the
Murrah has been most developed for milk production.
The following table shows the averages of latest lactations and the highest
lactation obtained in this breed of buffaloes and also in some of the less develop-
ed breeds of cattle :
Murrah buffalo ....
Gir
Ongole
.....
Kankrej
.....
Average
4,037 lb. in 277 days
3,721 lb. in 333 days
3,164 lb. in 303 days
3,159 lb. in 303 days
Highest
8,252 lb. in 318 days
5,188 lb. in 366 days
5,237 lb. in 365 days
6,073 lb. in 358 days
In order to obtain a correct picture of the improvement which has been
obtained in some of India's milch breeds it is necessary to compare the yields
obtained in farms run on modern lines with the performances noted in village
breeding-areas. The following are the details of some breeds made available
by an inquiry conducted in certain typical breeding tracts and made the sub-
ject of a special report [1]:
Breed
Sahiwal
......
Hariana
......
Kankrej
......
Ongole
......
Murrah buffalo
....
Average daily
yield lb.
(average of
7 days)
4.72
4.46
3.90
4.64
11.21
Average
lactation.length
in months
10.43
7.62
7.90
9.54
8.65
Average dry
period
in months
7.24
7.62
10.21
9.47
6.10
The interesting point which arises out of this inquiry is that, where village
cattle are concerned, there is no significant difference in the levels of production
of these different breeds, except the Murrah buffalo. This exception is largely
explained by the fact that the buffalo is kept almost entirely for milk production
and therefore more attention is paid by the villager to the rearing of heifer
buffalo calves than to cow calves. Moreover, as the buffalo is not a sacred
animal, some culling of this species has always been practised by the villager.
The similarity in the yield of village cattle of the above breeds leads to
the conclusion that the differences noticed in different herds may be indicative
not so much of the intrinsic values or potentialities of the different breeds as
milk producers, as of the differing amounts of attention paid to them. From
the high levels already reached by certain breeds it is reasonable to assume
that when equal attention is paid to all those showing potentialities as milk
producers, they will respond equally well and provide breeders with satisfactory
results. Another striking fact is the rapid rate of evolution which seems to be
72
The Cattle of India and their Development
possible in these Indian breeds of cattle. The Sahiwal has reached in 25
years a level of milking performance which foreign breeds would have taken
more than a century to attain.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In the compilation of this article I have received much useful help from
my assistants, Mr H. B. Shahi and Mr K. P. R. Kartha. The Library and
Office of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research have been used freely
for records and photographs, and in this connexion it may be stated that the
Animal Husbandry Bureau of this Council is now in a position to give detailed
information to anyone interested in Indian breed of cattle and other lives stock.
Inquiries should be addressed to the Secretary, Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research, New Delhi, India.
REFERENCES
1. Report on a Village Enquiry : The Production and Consumption of Milk in 7 Breeding
Tracts of India. Imp. Coun. Agric. Res., 1939, Misc. Bull. No. 22.
2. R. M. GORRIE, Herbage Reviews, 1937, 5, 74-8.
3. H. H. CURSON and R. W. THORNTON, A Contribution to the Study of African Native
Cattle. J. Vet. Sci. (Onderstepoort), 1936, 7.
4- Sir A. OLVER, A Brief Survey of some of the Important Breeds of Cattle in India.
Imp. Coun. Agric. Res., 1938, Misc. Bull. No. 17.
5. L. H. SHIRLAW, Indian J. Vet. Sci., Pt. I, 1940, 10, 28.
6. H. EPSTEIN, J. Heredity, 1933, 24, 449-62.
7. A. M. BOSMAN, Cattle Farming in South Africa, 1932.
8. V. A. SMITH, The Oxford History of India, 2nd ed., revised by Edwardes, 1923.
9. F. WARE, Definition of the Characteristics of Seven Breeds of Cattle of All-India
Importance. Imp. Coun. Agric. Res., 1930, Misc. Bull. No. 27.
10. N. C. WRIGHT, Report on the Development of the Cattle and Dairy Industries of
India, 1937.
11. K. P. R. KARTHA, A Note on the Comparative Economic Efficiency of the Indian
Cow, the Half-bred Cow, and the Buffalo as Producers of Milk and Butter-fat, 1935.
(Received September 14, 1940)
Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. XII, Part I ]
[
PLATE
III
a. Kankrej Bull
b. Kankrej Bullock
c. Lyre-horned Malvi bull, ca. 3000 B.C.
d. Malvi Bull
PLATE IV ]
[ Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. XII, Part I
a. Bhagnari Bull
b. Hariana Bull
c. Krishna Valley Bull
d. Ougole Breeding Bull
Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim Husb., Vol. XII, Part I ]
[ PLATE V
a. Gir Bull
b. Nimari Bull
c. Sahiwal Bull
d. Sindhi Bull
PLATE VI ]
[ Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. XII, Part I
a. Khillari Bull
b. Hallikar Bull
c. Kangayam Bull
d. Alumbadi Bull
Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim Husb., Vol. XII, Part I ]
[ PLATE VII
a. Afghan Cow
b. Afghan Bull
c. Lohani Cow
d. Kumaon Hill Bull
PLATE VIII ]
[ Indian J. Vet. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. XII, Part I
a. Sahiwal Cow
b. Sindhi Cow
c. Tharparkar Cow
d. Murrah Buffalo Cow
Make Fruitful the Livestock
75
From the writer's vivid recollection of present deficiencies in training
through having recently passed through a veterinary college there are, in his
submission, changes in the curriculum that could and ought to be made imme-
diately. Far less attention need now be paid to the anatomy, medicine and
surgery of the horse and dog. Far more attention ought to be paid to pre-
ventive medicine and animal husbandry as affecting the food animals, parti-
cularly the cow. The interest of the student in animal nutrition and genetics
should be sustained during the final two years of the curriculum. It is essential
that the course in physiology should cover two years, of which the second
year should be devoted to the applied physiology of the domesticated animals,
and stress be given to the special physiology of the digestive system and re-
productive systems of the food animals. These subjects ought to be taught
by none other than men who have devoted themselves to their special study,
and students ought to be examined afterwards by none other than men who
are fully conversant with recent developments in the subjects. To obtain
an insight into agricultural methods, which cannot be obtained by merely
' seeing practice ' students should be compelled to spend at least six months
working on a farm.
Long ago, Sir John M'Fadyean, to his credit, emphasized that the progress
of veterinary science must in the first place depend upon the training
of the veterinary student. It is on our insistence upon the fundamental
importance of this matter of the training of the student that will come to de-
pend our professional ability to effect some amelioration in the country's
livestock production and ultimately it will be the vindication for the continued
existence of the veterinary profession itself. In our war-time planning, there-
fore, we must press for the changes advocated with all our endeavour.—
JOHN FRANCIS, The Research Station, Pirbright, Surrey.