145
Hydatid disease
as affecting
transport bul-
locks in Quetta.
721. In the month of November 1896 an outbreak of disease occurred
amongst the transport bullocks at Quetta, and as the disease at the time
appeared obscure, the Inspecting Veterinary Officer, Bombay Command, asked
for the assistance of this Department, as no Veterinary Officer of the Army
Veterinary Department is stationed closer than Karachi. I note this in order
to show how one Department can come to the assistance of the other.
722. In accordance with the Inspecting Veterinary Officer's request, the
Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department, directed Veterinary Captain
Maxwell, who was on the spot, to investigate the disease and to afford all the
help in his power to the Commissariat Department. At first the disease
appeared to abate, but in January last it again assumed a severe form.
Veterinary Captain Maxwell made two post mortem examinations, and all he
could discover was the presence of numerous large hydatid cysts in the lungs,
liver and spleen. During this period about 40 bullocks were attacked and
about 50 per cent. of these died. As hydatid disease is so common in this
country, Veterinary Captain Maxwell was diffident in ascribing the death of
all these animals to this source. Dr. Lingard, the Imperial Bacteriologist,
was deputed to Quetta in order that he might investigate and report on
the disease; in the meantime, Veterinary Captain Maxwell continued his
researches, and on 30th January 1897, submitted a supplementary report,
from which I extract the following:—
"Since my previous report I have made several additional post mortems and studied the cases carefully and
I am now quite statisfied in my own mind that the disease is Parasitic and that death results from asphyxia,
owing to the very extensive destruction of lung tissue, caused by the pressure of large numbers of hydatid
cysts.
"One pair of lungs I removed from a large siege train bullock, weighed 49 lbs., and when hung up by the
trachea, looked exactly like two huge bunches of grapes. There were certainly hundreds of cysts in these lungs,
and I do not think there were six square inches of normal lung tissue. The liver, spleen, and kidneys were also
largely affected in the same way, but the remaining abdominal organs were healthy.
"The case above reported is the most exaggerated one yet examined, but I think the different post mortems
made all point to the same conclusions. Of course, the disease is met with in different stages of development,
and the appearances thus presented must necessarily not always be identical. Throughout my investigation
Captain Wickham, the Chief Commissariat Officer, has maintained that exposure to the extreme weather that
has lately prevailed is in some way or other answerable for the outbreak of disease and great mortality. This
Officer's view is undoubtedly correct—Catarrh and the degree of pulmonary congestion resulting from cold affect-
ing the lungs in proportion to the destruction of lung tissue. Those animals in which these organs are not as yet
severely affected, having, by being housed, clothed, and carefully nursed, shaken off the attack and temporarily
recovered. While those in which the destruction of lung tissue has been extensive, have quickly succumbed.
As previously reported, the fatal cases usually prove so in from 24 to 48 hours. I used the words 'temporarily
recovered,' as I am of opinion that all animals affected must, when the destruction of lung tissue is sufficiently
extensive, through pressure resulting from the growth of the cysts, sooner or later die from this disease. This,
as you will at once see, is a matter of vital importance from a military point of view, as I think it not impro-
bable, should the whole of the siege train and transport bullocks now in Quetta be suddenly subjected to hard
work and exposure, such as an advance into Afghanistan would entail, they would die in large numbers.
"The question of treatment needs no discussion; if the organic disease is not yet extensive, the animal may
recover, if it be extensive then he will probably quickly die."
One of the lungs affected was forwarded by Veterinary Captain Maxwell to
the Principal, Lahore Veterinary College, who is an expert in cattle disease.
This Officer submitted the following report:—
"I have the honour to inform you that I made a careful examination of the lung of a bullock forwarded to
me by Veterinary Captain Maxwell from Quetta. I found that the lung was affected with an enormous number
of 'Hydatics.' The number was so great that the lungs presented the appearance of a bunch of grapes; there
was very little lung tissue remaining; and there is no doubt whatever in my mind that the bullock in question
died from hydatid of the lung, so extensive as to leave scarcely any lung tissue capable of performing its func-
tion. There was some pleurisy and pneumonia, the result of the hydatid invasion. Hydatid disease is very
common in this country, about 85 per cent. of cattle being in some parts affected, but the presence of a few
'Hydatids' does not give rise to any marked symptoms of disease as a rule, in fact it is practically impossible to
detect that there is anything wrong with the host. But there is no doubt whatever that the presence of these
cysts is frequently the cause of death in bullocks when they are situated in vital organs or when they are present
in very great numbere. The Hydatids are the Echinococcus Multilocularis."
723. Dr. Lingard submitted a full and interesting account of the disease
which no doubt will be found in his Annual Report when received. As pre-
ventive measures are more called for than any attempt at treatment,
Dr. Lingard made the following recommendations which have been submitted
for the consideration of the General Officer Commanding Quetta District, by
the Inspecting Veterinary Officer, Bombay Command :—
"1. That all the diseased offal (hydatid cysts, etc.) be removed and destroyed in the cinerator, under
the supervision of a European, instead of, as at present, being removed by native contractors and
disposed of in the bazar to the great risk of further infection.
"2. That dogs be kept away from the bullock lines as much as possible, and all ownerless dogs found in
the Cantonment be destroyed.
"3. That instead of the small windows which now exist in the bullock sheds, creating more draught
than ventilation, openings be made by which a thorough current of air can be admitted, following
as a pattern the bullock sheds of the Municipality of Quetta.
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