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728. The disease Dumree, above alluded to, would seem to be similar to
that known as Tinea Tonsurans, which is very common among young cattle
in England. It is caused by the fungus Tricophyton tonsurans. Its consti-
tuents are smaller than those of Favus, and it does not project as cups on the
surface, simply invading the epidermal structures and constituting a fine
powder on the epidermis. It affects young animals, especially when exposed
to damp, and with dirty skins, and is readily transmissible from ox to ox, or
to man or other animals. It attains a greater luxuriance of growth in the ox
than in man, and the disease, when first received by man from the ox, is so
luxuriant that it has been described as specially distinct.
Symptoms.—Circular patches in various parts of the body, characterised
by the absence of the hair, the presence of vesicae near the outer margin, and
a scurfy condition of the central parts; here and there in the ring may be seen
a dry looking hair, of a greyish colour, somewhat twisted at the root, or the
stump of a hair which has broken off. Megnin considers the true Tinea of the
ox distinct from that of the horse, and terms it T. decalvans or T. depilens.
This he finds to be generally nearly three times the size of T. tonsurans, to give
rise to more formidable symptoms when communicated to the horse by inocula-
tion, and to induce a different condition of the affected hairs. In calves, the
disease affects the eyes, ears, neck, withers and limbs.
Treatment.—These cases are usually treated with such remedies as Nitrate
of Mercury, Nitrate of Silver, or preferably Sulphurous Acid, but at the best
the disease is difficult to relieve. It would be well to further try the seeds of
Oroxylum indicum with several test cases. An early opportunity will be
taken to thoroughly test the efficacy of this seed which may prove a valuable
remedy for a very troublesome disease.
Jowar poison-
ing.
729. Owing to the scarcity of rain this year, the unirrigated crops suffered
greatly. The "sorghum," which is principally grown for cattle fodder, was
especially affected, and instead of being a fine upstanding crop, it seldom
reached a height of more than 15 or 20 inches; indeed in many places it
scarcely reached a foot in height. The conditions, therefore, in which the
plant becomes harmful, such as failure of the rains, was particularly noticeable
this year, and resulted in the plant becoming stunted and dried up. The
natives have a superstition that the plant at about this time is attacked by a
small insect, and the fatalities among the cattle are said to be due to the
animals swallowing the insect.
Veterinary Captain Pease, in his Annual Report for 1895-96, gives an
interesting account of this plant, and from his deductions it would seem that
the cause of poisoning is due to the extraordinary amount of Nitrate of Potash
which collects in the stalks of sorghum when it is of stunted growth. An
analysis of some jowar stalks proved that there was as much as 75 grains per
ounce weight of the plant. This referred to the bulk sample submitted to
Mr. Stephenson, Analytical Chemist, Bombay. He also remarked that the salt
was very unevenly distributed throughout the grass, being most abundant in
the stem at the nodes or junction of the leaves.
At Ballowana in the Ferozepur District the Zemindars lost no less than
75 animals from jowar poisoning. The ground in the neighbourhood is mostly
"Kallar," and only bears out statements made by Veterinary Captain Pease.
It was stated that sheep and goats eat the plant with impunity, and with
apparently no inconvenience. It was likewise stated that if the animals are
able to get to water immediately after eating the plant, no ill effect follows.
This was notably the case when the above-mentioned animals died. There
were nearly 200 in the herd, and it was noted that only those animals unable to
get to the water succumbed. This would tend to prove that the theory of
poisoning by the excessive eating of the plant containing Nitrate of Potash was
a correct one, because the salt, which is readily soluble in water, being
thoroughly diluted, can be quickly excreted through the kidneys with only
temporary inconvenience. This would seem to have been the case with those
animals which recovered. The Zemindars were therefore quite right in saying
that a plentiful supply of water would save animals affected in this manner,
and this they learnt from actual observation. It is a well known fact that