72
ABSTRACTS
The smaller doses, judging from the egg counts,
appeared to be just as effective as larger ones, but
as we were only dealing with comparatively
light infestations the same rule may not apply to
heavy invasions.
No ill effects were noticed after administration,
there was no softening of the faeces, no rise in
temperature and the appetite was unaffected.
In each case three worm egg counts were carried
out on separate days before administration.
Red-tinged urine was observed in each horse
on the day after the administration of the drug.
This pigmentation disappeared in about 48 hours.
The red coloration is due, not to the presence of
blood, but to a colour reaction derived from the
drug.
The horses were prepared by fasting for 24
hours before administration, after which they
received only warm bran mashes for a further 24
hours, and then reverted to ordinary diet.
A naked-eye search for parasites was carried out
on all dung passed after the drug was given. No
special apparatus was employed for this purpose
the pellets merely being broken down and care-
fully examined. A few parasites were observed
in all three cases, these appearing upon the second-
or third day after administration and persisting
until the fifth day.
Specimens were despatched for classification to
Dr. Taylor, who identified them as Strongyles
edentatus, Strongylus vulgaris and Trichonema.
In two of the horses two species of Strongyles were
observed only, in the third horse all three species
were present.
Egg counts were taken and observations were
recorded for a period of 21 days after administra-
tion.
It will be seen from the tabulated record that in
addition to the expulsion of adult worms the drug
was completely effective in removing ova of
Strongylidae from the faeces, as in the counts
taken prior to administration eggs were present in,
at any rate, appreciable numbers. It must be
noted that in our previous experiences with the
use of anthelmintic drugs for the treatment of
strongylosis of horses, although a reduction in the
number of ova in the faeces was brought about after
a time the number again increased. It will, there-
fore, be necessary to make observations over a
longer period than has been done in these experi-
ments and to consider the advisability of giving a
second or even a third dose of the drug.
As an anthelmintic for strongylidae in horses the
results appear to be very encouraging and would
justify the carrying out of trials upon a more
extensive scale. In comparison with other an-
thelmintics used for the treatment of strongylosis
in horses phenothiazine appears up to the
present to have a decided advantage in being
harmless to the patient.
The question as to whether or not a purgative
could be usefully employed in combination with
this drug is a matter for further consideration.
ABSTRACTS
Artificial insemination and the veterinary surgeon
with special reference to cattle. N. J. SCORGIE
(1943). Veterinary Record 55, 56
THE basic research leading to the modern development
of artificial insemination was first initiated by Elick
Ivenoff, a Russian physiologist in 1899, as a result of
which active work on this branch of science in the field,
which began in 1923, made it possible for breeding of
millions of cattle, horses, goats and pigs in the U.S.S.R.
Organized artificial breeding on large scale collective
farms in the U.S.S.R. was largely facilitated by conditions
peculiar to the Russian stock-raising system. As a
result thereof in 1938, 50 million farm animals were
inseminated which greatly speeded up livestock improve-
ment and the introduction of new types. Similarly in
Denmark, where the first co-operative breeding society was
formed, progress was recorded and in Itlay two institu-
tions were set up by Government to study the technique
of the operations and associated problems. In Kenya
a rapid extension of this method of breeding took place
in 1938-39 mainly with a view to lowering the pre-
valence of genital diseases transmitted by coitus. At
the end of 1941, 36 farms, with a total number of 15,003
breeding females and 158 bulls, were practising artificial
breeding. These figures represented 23 per cent and 6.9
per cent of the total cow and bull population. The prompt
and widespread adoption of insemination had saved the
dairy industry serious loss from genital diseases. Out of
these 36 farms, 24 farms involving 11,910 cows had
adopted this practice because of the existence of infection
in these herds, and the rest involving 3,093 cows, i.e.,
20.6 per cent of the total, and 40 bulls representing 25.3
per cent for reasons of economy of bulls. On an average
1.88 inseminations were required per conception.
In the United States of America dairy cattle breeders
have clearly recognized the economic enefits and other
advantages of artificial breeding, and almost without
exception the American Associations, which are 54 in
number spread over 22 States, have arisen as a result of
real demand for this service by breeders themselves.
The principal objects of artificial insemination are
classed under (a) livestock improvement, (b) disease con-
trol and (c) breeding efficiency. Livestock improvement
can be effected by the use of a limited number of first-
class bulls available for mating with many more times
the number of females than would be possible under
natural conditions. For example, in Russia as many as
1,538 cows were inseminated from the semen of one bull
in one year producing 1,490 calves, and 15,016 ewes were