M. R. MAHAJAN 143
points and diagrammatic representation of life-history of the liver fluke to all
villages, with the result that the villager now knows the relationship between
the snails and the fluke disease and thus assists in the control operations.
For the control of fluke disease measures have to be adopted on an ex-
tensive scale to be effective and this was done in two selected villages on an
experimental basis with the following two objects in view :—
(i)'to kill flukes in the animal's body,
(ii) to destroy the intermediate hosts,
TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
Rais Jung [ 1932 ] advises carbon tetrachloride and extract of male fern.
Bhalerao [ 1933, 2 ] recommends extract of male fern. Danistol, a
proprietory preparation of male fern was tried by him on 34 animals in Almora
district, out of which thirty-one recovered but the cost was prohibitive.
Carbon tetrachloride which is comparatively cheaper, was used by him with
advantage on 120 animals in Almora district, but on account of its toxicity
and idiosyncrasy of milch cattle towards it he suggested that it should be
used with caution. This was, however, found quite safe for ovines.
Hall [ 1936 ] describes the war on parasites and gives the general outline
of campaign against liver fluke. He employs carbon tetrachloride in treat-
ing affected animals.
Khan [ 1938-39 ] in the Punjab treated 33 adult animals (15
buffaloes and 18 cows) experimentally with 13 animals as control.
He treated eight with extract of male fern, nine with Igitol pills and 16
with carbon tetrachloride. The results indicate 50 per cent cure in the case
of first two drugs, and 80 to 90 per cent in the case of carbon tetrachloride.
A beginning was made in the treatment of this disease in Nizamsagar canal
area using carbon tetrachloride in capsules in doses of 4-8 c.c. in the two selected
villages of Tirmalapur and Borlam, where infestation had been recorded as
heavy, using the drug obtained from Bengal Chemical Co. This was also
carried on as a routine in villages in Medak district. Improvement was
noted to follow, but since, reinfection could not be controlled, results were
not satisfactory at first.
Later, as the owners realized the relationship of fluke disease to snails,
they responded to the suggestion of keeping treated animals away from water-
logged and marshy areas. The sick animals were dosed 2-3 times in a year.
The results were encouraging. To reduce the cost of treatment, the mode of
administration of the drug was changed. It now consisted of giving the drug
in the form of a drench with a drenching bamboo mixed either with common
salt or magnesium sulphate. In regard to idiosyncrasy of animals towards
the drug, very few untoward symptoms were observed and death occurred
only rarely while using the drug obtained from the Bengal Chemical Co. on
a few thousands of cases including milch cattle. Only once in the village of
Borlam, 300 cattle including 110 cows were treated with Merck's carbon te-
trachloride which is accepted to be extra pure and very effective. Seventy
six cows showed symptoms of poisoning (hypo-calcsemia) and seven cows and A
bull-calf died. The symtoms lasted for 48 hours and first death occurred