ORIGINAL ARTICLES
PATHOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF EXPERIMENTAL FLUOROSIS
IN CATTLE
I. BONE LESIONS IN CATTLE FED A DIET ADEQUATE IN CALCIUM AND LOW IN
PHOSPHORUS
By P. G. PANDE, M.Sc., M.R.C.V S., Research Officer (Pathology), Animal Nutrition Section
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 25 July 1944)
(With Plates XVI-XIX)
FROM biochemical studies on materials from
cases of 'osteomalacia' in Hyderabad [Mahajan,
1934-35], it can now be suggested that fluorine
is mainly concerned in producing the affection
[Majumdar, Ray and Sen 1943]. Clinical and
epizootiological findings of
Vishwanathan
[1934-35] and Ramiah [1939-40] point to
the same aetiology in 'rheumatic arthritis' of
cattle in Madras.
As regards the pathology of these affections,
little information is available, except that clini-
cally and in gross osseous changes, the condi-
tion resembles osteomalacia.
It was neces-
sary, therefore, to investigate these cases from
a pathological standpoint. As regards osseous
changes, it is generally agreed [Rohoim, 1937;
Cohrs, 1941] that these are greatly influenced
by such factors as age, dosage and nature of
fluorine compounds, the duration of ingestion,
and the animal's prevailing dietetic condition.
Before studying materials from spontaneous
cases, it was, therefore, decided to examine
materials from experimentally-induced cases in
which the factors concerned could be adequately
controlled.
In this paper the pathological
findings are described of bones from fully
mature hill bulls which had been fed with
3-4 mg. fluorine per kgm. body weight. The
animals examined belonged to the 'high
fluorine' group of bulls fed by Majumdar et al
[1934] and an account of feeding of these ani-
mals and the dose of fluorine administered can
be consulted from a recent publication by these
authors.
The following is the clinical protocol of
animals of the group.
Hill bull No. 167
Four years and six months, NaF ingestion for
about nine months.
Clinical. Gradual loss of weight, general
emaciation, hide-bound appearance, skin denu-
ded of hair in patches, bowels irregular, belly
tucked up, haemorrhage from nose, conjuncti-
val membranes anaemic, prolonged decubitus
and difficulty in rising, exostoses present on the
left matacarpus and left metatartus.
Blood picture. Rbc.2.6, Wbc.12.5, Hb.
3.6; Lymph 72 per cent, Neutro. 28 per cent,
Eosino. Baso. and Mono. 0 per cent.
Hill bull No. 180
Four years and six months, NaF ingestion for
about 10 months.
Clinical. Extreme emaciation, scurfy coat,
bed sores on the skin, eyes sunken, lachryma-
tion and excoriation of skin below the inner
canthi of eyes, upward curvature of columna,
appetite impaired, periodic diarrhoea, hoofs
cracked and elongated, and the left hind leg
often kept raised from the ground due to frac-
ture of the thigh bone. Right matacarpus
showed several nodular growths, left metacar-
pus showed a flattened exostosis, left metatarsus
stouter than the right one.
Blood picture. Rbc. 8.5, Wbc. 12.5, Hb. 8.2,
Lympho. 59 per cent, Neutro. 38.5 and Mono.
Eosino, and Baso. 0 per cent, and Mono.
2.5 per cent.
Hill bull No. 402
Seven years, NaF ingestion for about 10
months.
Clinical. General loss of condition and
weight, hidebound appearance, loss of appetite,
occasional diarrhoea, stiffness of gait, eyes
sunken, visible mucosae anaemic, hoofs elong-
ated and cracked. Both the metacarpal bones
appeared thicker than normal due to the pre-
sence of extensive exostoses occupying more or
less the entire anterior surfaces of the bones;
right metatarsus had a nodular exostosis about
the middle of the shaft and palpable periosteal
thickenings on the anterior surface of both ends
of the bone.
Blood picture. Rbc. 6.1, Wbc. 5.0, Hb. 9.2,
Lympho, 57.5 per cent., Neutro, 42.0 per cent
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