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CARBON TETRACHLORIDE, ITS EFFECT ON THE
APPETITE OF SHEEP
BY
D. MURNANE, B.V.Sc.*
[Reprinted from the Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Common-
wealth of Australia, 7, 3, pp. 145—146.]
In 1933, Oxer† recorded results of experiments carried out in Tasmania which
indicated that the administration of therapeutic doses of carbon tetrachloride to
flock sheep was followed by toxic symptoms accompanied by loss of appetite.
The flock in question was being solely hand fed. The object of the test about to
be described was to observe closely the effect of carbon tetrachloride on appetite
and body weight of stall fed sheep.
An even line of six strong, well nourished, nine months' old crossbred weaners
was divided into two groups—
Group 1 (test) Nos. 194,195,196, and 197.
Group 2 (controls) Nos. 198, and 199.
The animals were placed in individual pens, so that the food consumption of each
could be ascertained. All were fed on freshly cut green barley for a period of one
week, until it was found that the animals had settled down on the diet and the daily
consumption was constant at an average of 8 lb. per head. (The intake did not vary
by more than a few ounces between individuals.)
On the 8th day, all were starved for 24 hours. On the 9th day, each animal
of the test group received 2 c.c. of carbon tetrachloride in 8 c.c. of liquid paraffin.
The two controls were similarly starved but not drenched. Food (green barley)
was then made available to all animals, and the daily consumption was as follows :—
—
Test Group
Controls
194 . .
195 . .
196 . .
197 . .
Average . .
198 . .
199 . .
Average .
First day.
lb.
8.5
9
9
8.5
8.75
8.5
8.5
8.5
Second day.
lb.
8.25
9
9
8.75
8.75
8.25
8.75
8.5
Third day.
lb.
8.25
9.25
8.75
8.5
8.5
8.25
8.5
8.37
Fourth day.
lb.
8.5
9
9
8.5
8.75
8.25
8.75
8.5
* An officer of the Council's Division of Animal Health accommodated at the Veteri-
nary Research Institute, Parkville.
†Published in the Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,
Commonwealth of Australia, 6 : 279, 1933.
( 108 )
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE, ITS EFFECT ON THE APPETITE OF SHEEP.
109
Therefore it will be seen that, if anything, the treated group consumed slightly more
than the control group on each of the four days following treatment.
It was then decided to try the effect on animals receiving a hard diet (i.e.,
oaten chaff).
The same animals were given a spell of two weeks, and were then placed on a sole
diet of oaten chaff. When they had settled down on this diet, the daily consump-
tion was found to be 1½ lb. per head. All were then starved for a period of 24 hours.
The test group received 2 c.c. of carbon tetrachloride in 8 c.c. of paraffin oil. The
controls were not drenched. The food consumption was then found to be as
follows:—
—
Test Group
Controls
194 .
195 .
196 .
197 .
Average .
l98 .
199 .
Average .
First day.
lb.
1
1
1
1
1
1
.5
.75
Second day.
lb.
1
1
1
1
1
1.5
.5
1
Third day.
lb.
1
1
1
1
1
1.5
1
1.25
Fourth day.
lb.
1
1
1
1
1
1.5
.75
1.12
Thus, strange as it may seem, the intake was lower in all cases following the
starvation, and again during the first day following treatment the drenched animal
oonsumed slightly more than the controls.
110
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
The weights of the animals under test were as follows :—
—
Test Group
Controls
Before drenching
on
first occasion.
194 . .
195 . .
196 . .
197 . .
Average . .
198 . .
199 . .
Average . .
lb.
67
82
64
71.5
71.1
81.5
57
69.2
Seven days
after
first drench.
lb.
69
82.5
65
70.5
71.7
82.5
55.5
69
Seven days
after
second drench.
lb.
70
84.5
65
70.5
72.5
84
56
70
There was obviously no check in weight brought about by administration of
carbon tetrachloride.
CONCLUSIONS.
In the above experiments, there was no indication that sheep on green feed
showed any loss of appetite following the administration of therapeutic doses of
carbon tetrachloride. If anything, the drenched sheep consumed slightly more
than the controls. We were unable to detect any dullness or drowsiness following
the drenching. Animals on dry feed showed a definite drop in intake following
the 24 hours' starvation and drenching, but to no greater extent than the controls
following 24 hours' starvation alone.
In neither case was there any evidence of a check in weights of treated sheep.
Although our groups were small, it would appear that animals on hard feed
are more liable to be upset by the administration of carbon tetrachloride than are
those on green feed.
SARCOPHAGIA IN HERBIVOROUS ANIMALS
BY
D. MURNANE, B.V.Sc.*
[Reprinted from the Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,
Commonwealth of Australia 7, 3, pp. 143-144.]
It is not uncommon in Victoria and other States of the Commonwealth to see
the habit of bone chewing exhibited by cattle grazing on phosphorus- and/or protein-
deficient pasture. On country where such deficiency is more pronounced, sheep
also have resorted to bone and " dead " wool chewing, while, in extreme cases, both
cattle and sheep have been observed to eat raw flesh evidently in the endeavour
to obtain the elements lacking.
Bennetts (this Journal 6: 137, 1933) has recorded this condition in Western
Australia, and associates it with the occurrence of botulism in sheep in that State.
In parts of South Australia, the writer has seen unskinned rabbits in traps being
consumed by cows, and sheep eating dead sheep and " goannas."
With the object of making observations on this condition, the following experi-
ments were carried out at the Veterinary Research Institute, Parkville, on the
instructions of the Chief of the Division of Animal Health :—
Six crossbred nine months' old weaners on natural pasture were purchased and
divided into three groups :
Group 1—
Sheep No. 200 . . . . . .
Sheep No. 201 . . . . . .
Group 2—
Sheep No. 202 . . . . . .
Sheep No. 203 . . . . . .
Group 3—
Sheep No. 204 . . . . . .
Sheep No. 205 . . . . . .
Weight 64 lb.
Weight 81 lb.
Weight 64 lb.
Weight 84 lb.
Weight 73 lb.
Weight 76 lb.
145 lb
148 lb
149 lb
All animals received a " basal ration " low in protein and consisting of 2½ lb.
wheaten straw chaff plus ½ pint molasses daily for seven days, after which—
Group 1 continued on this low protein basal ration ;
Group 2 received per head a daily ration of 1½ lb. wheaten straw chaff, plus
½ pint of molasses, plus 1 lb. Meggitt's nuts ; and
Group 3 received per head a daily ration of 1½ lb. wheaten straw chaff, plus
½ pint of molasses, plus 1 lb. meat meal.†
* An officer of the Council's Division of Animal Health, accommodated at the Veteri-
nary Research Institute, Parkville.
† The meat meal used in the experiments was kindly supplied by Mr. J. S. Penrose,
Superintendent of the City Abattoirs, Melborne, to whom our thanks are due.
( 111 )
112
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
After six weeks on the above diets, the aggregate group weights were :—
Group 1 . . . . . . .
Group 2 . . . . . . .
Group 3 . . . . . . .
119 lb.—a loss of 26 lb.
159 lb.—a gain of 11 lb.
163½ lb.—a gain of 14½ lb.
After nine weeks on these diets, the aggregate group wieghts were :—
Group 1 . . . . . . .
Group 2 . . . . . . .
Group 3 . . . . . . .
107 1b.—a loss of 38 lb.
1661b.—a gain of 18 lb.
178 1b.—a gain of 29 lb.
At this stage, raw rabbit flesh cut in 1-in. cubes was offered to all groups. The
flesh was readily eaten by both animals of Group 1 to the extent of ½ lb. per head
but was absolutely refused by the animals of Groups 2 and 3.
Group 1 continued on the wheaten straw chaff, plus molasses diet, for a further
two weeks, when No. 201 became so weak that it went down, was unable to rise,
and was killed. No. 200 was extremely weak and emaciated, and would have died
had it not been placed on a normal diet. The sheep in Groups 2 and 3 remained
perfectly healthy throughout.
A further test was then carried out, using—
Sheep No. 204 . . . . . . .
Sheep No. 205 . . . . . . .
95 lb.
82 lb.
177 lb.
The animals were placed on the " basal ration " mentioned above. After
eight weeks, their weights were—
Sheep No. 204 . . . . . . . .
Sheep No. 205 . . . . . . . .
74 lb.
63 lb.
a loss of 40 lb.
They were then given access to bone meal and raw rabbit flesh. Result: The
bone meal was greedily eaten by both animals to the extent of 1½ lb. per head,
while the flesh was not touched.
At this stage, it was noted that the wool of the two sheep pulled out very easily.
The animals were returned to a normal diet, and after three months this trouble
disappeared.
CONCLUSIONS.
1. Sheep kept on a diet low in protein will eventually resort to flesh eating to
correct the deficiency.
2. The protein in bone meal appears to be more palatable than that of raw
flesh.
3. As a protein supplement for sheep, meat meal appears to be quite satis-
factory.
4. The ease with which wool pulls out is a feature of protein deficiency, although
it is by no means confined to this cause. The condition is corrected by a return to
a balanced ration.
ABSTRACTS
The influence of starvation on anthelmintic efficacy. Ross, I. C., and GORDON,
H. Mch. (1934). Austr. Vet. J. 10,135-142.
The roll of starvation in enhancing the anthelmintic efficacy of a drug being doubtful,
the authors have devised experiments to determine this point in relation to the efficacy
of copper sulphate and carbon tetrachloride against Hæonchus contortus. Each of a
group of young merino lambs, free from any previous infection, was subjected
to the infection with 7,000 larvæ of Hæmonchus contortus . When all the lambs had
acquired infection they were divided into five comparable groups, which were treated
as follows:—
(i) Treated with copper sulphate, unstarved.
(ii) Treated with copper sulphate, starved 24 hours.
(iii) Treated with carbon tetrachloride, unstarved.
(iv) Treated with carbon tetrachloride, starved 24 hours.
(v) Untreated controls.
All the treated lambs were autopsied nine days after the treatment, but no appre-
ciable difference was noticed in the efficacy of either of the drugs between starved
and unstarved animals. In each case a slightly higher average efficacy was, however,
noticed in the case of the unstarved groups.
The females, as a rule, were observed to be more susceptible to the action of both the
drugs than were the males. [ G. D. B.]
The passage of fluids through the ruminant stomach, II. With observations
on the effect of long starvation on anthelmintic efficacy. Ross, I. C.
(1934). Austr. Vet. J. 10, 3—15.
Unstarved animals could be distinguished from those that are starved for 16 to 24
hours and 48 hours respectively by the contents of the rumen. The same could be said
in regard to the contents of the abomasum. No significant difference is, however, notice¬
able in the contents of these organs in animals starved for 16 to 24 hours and those starved
for a period of 48 hours.
The period of starvation does influence the passage of water to the abomasum. The
administration of copper sulphate solution has a marked influence in securing direct
passage of all, or a considerable part, of the fluid to the abomasum. It has been deter-
mined that there exists no difference in the quantity of copper sulphate solution passing
to the abomasum in animals starved for 48 hours. Therefore in so far as the anthelmintic
efficacy of copper sulphate is concerned no more benefit would be gained by prolonging
the period of starvation beyond 16 to 24 hours. This fact has been verified in case of
( 113 )
H
114 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
Hæmonchus contortus infection. There was, however, some indication that anthel-
mintic efficacy was slightly higher in starved than in unstarved animals.
It is considered that anthelmintic efficacy of copper sulphate may be due largely to
its ability to pass in solution direct to the abomasum and that the use of this solution as
a vehicle may make possible the direct passage of other drugs to the abomasum, with a
consequent increase in efficiency against such small or large bowel worms as Tricho-
strongylus spp., Œsophagostomum columbianum and Chabertia ovina. [ G. D. B.]
Preliminary note on the pathogenic importance of Chabertia ovina (Fabricus,
1788). Ross, I. C. and KAUZAL, G. (1933). Austr. Vet. J. 9, 215—218.
Lambs were experimentally infected with the larvæ of Chabertia ovina. One month
after infection diarrhœa accompanied with the passage of much blood and mucus was
produced. The diarrhœa lasted for from one to two months and during this period many
immature worms were passed. The lambs lost their condition markedly. It is note-
worthy that in three cases out of four the infection appeared to be largely or completely
thrown off in from three to three and half months after the first administration of the
larvæ.
What were suspected to be the fourth stage larvæ and immature adults were reco-
vered from the fæces, six to eight weeks after infection, while gravid females were
obtainable from the fæces only nine weeks after infection.
A. further series of detailed observations is undertaken by one of the authors. [ G.
D. B.]
Seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal parasites of fat sheep in New South
Wales. KAUZAL, G. (1933). Austr. Vet. J. 9, 3—10.
Hæmonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia and Nematodirus spp. are commonly
met with in sheep slaughtered for human consumption and considered as " fat " stock.
Over 14.6 per cent. of all sheep examined were infested with from 100 to 500 Hæmon-
chus contortus, 13 per cent. with over 2,000 Nematodirus spp., and 18 per cent. with over
2,000 Trichostrongylus spp.
Heavy infestation with Ostertagia spp., Oesophagostomum columbianum or Chabertia
ovina were seldom met with.
Infestation with Hæmonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp. showed considerable
seasonal variation : being at its maximum in summer and falling to minimum in winter.
On the other hand infestation with Ostertagia spp., Nematodirus spp., and Chabertia ovina
remained constant throughout the year.
The egg production in the case of Hæmonchus contortus was ten times and fifty to
one hundred times higher than in the case of Trichostrongylus or Ostertagia spp. and
Nematodirus spp. respectively. [G. D. B.]
ABSTRACTS.
115
Differential diagnosis of the larvae of Ostertagia spp. and Trichostrongylus
spp. of sheep. GORDON, H. (1933). Austr, Vet. J, 9, 223—227.
The infective larvæ of Hæmonchus contortus Oesophagostomum spp., Chabertia ovina,
Nematodirus spp. and Bunostomum trigonocephalum can be easily distinguished from each
other and from those of Ostertagia spp. and Trichistrongylus spp. The infective larvæ
of Ostertagia spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. may be differentiated readily and fairly
accurately by the consideration of their total lengths under the low power of a microscope.
The relative egg producing capacities of the various species of ovine strongylids must
be considered when making an ante mortem diagnosis based on egg counts and differential
larval counts. It is found that H. contortus produces almost one hundred times as many
eggs as Trichostrongylus spp. in mixed infection and that Ostertagia spp. is equally poor
or even poorer in egg production than Trichostrongylus spp. [G. D. B.]
Observations on the development of resistance to Dictyocaulus filaria.
KAUZAL, G. (1934). Austr, Vet. J. 10,100—111.
The author's observations are based on seven experiments devised on lambs of differ-
ent ages and under certain varying conditions. The conclusions drawn from these ex-
periments are summarised below :—
Lambs under two months old exposed either to a light infection with a single dose
of 200 larvæ, to repeated daily doses of 50 to 100 larvæ or to 5,000 larvæ administered
in a small number of consecutive daily doses, frequently develop resistance to the infec-
tion and eliminate it. Some lambs, however, under similar conditions, succumbed to
acute lung worm disease.
Young lambs exposed to infection for the first time may exhibit remarkable varia-
tion in individual susceptibility. Five and half to seven months old lambs exhibit a
much higher degree of resistance to first infection than the younger animals.
Resistance to infection is partly governed by the age of animals and partly by previous
infection.
Deficient diet retarding normal growth and causing loss of weight had no marked effect
on the resistance of the lambs.
Resistance in animals exposed to reinfection, either on deficient or normal diet, was
not affected by concurrent infection with Hæmonchus contortus.
The author concludes that conditions, other than those controlled in his experiments,
may affect resistance to infection in animals under field conditions. [G. D. B.]
H 2
THE MAYNARD-GANGA RAM PRIZE.
In 1925 the late Sir Ganga Ram, Kt., C.I.E., M.V.O., R.B., Lahore, with that
generosity for which he was so well known, handed over to the Punjab Government
a sum of Rs. 25,000 for the endowment of a prize of the value of Rs. 3,000 to be
called the Maynard-Ganga Ram Prize and to be awarded every three years, for a
discovery, or an invention, or a new practical method which will tend to increase
agricultural production in the Punjab on a paying basis. The competition is open
to all throughout the world. Government servants are also eligible to compete
for it.
Entries for the next award were invited by the 31st December, 1933. None
of the entries was considered to be of sufficient merit and it has been decided by
the Managing Committee of the prize that the award should be postponed for another
year and that further entries should reach the Director of Agriculture, Punjab,
Lahore, on or before the 31st December, 1935.
*
*
*
*
*
Applications are invited for "The Maynard-Ganga Ram Prize " of the value
of Rs. 3,000, which will be awarded for a discovery, or an invention, or a new prac-
tical method tending to increase agricultural production in the Punjab on a paying
basis. The prize is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed or nationality and
Government servants are also eligible for it. Essays and theses are not eigible for
competition and applicants should prove that some part of their discovery, inven-
tion, etc., is the result of work done after the prize was founded in 1925. The
Managing Committee reserves to itself the right of withholding or postponing the
prize, if no satisfactory achievement is reported to it. All entries in competition
for the next award should reach the Director of Agriculture, Punjab, Lahore, on
or before the 31st December, 1935.
( 116 )
CORRESPONDENCE
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF CHRONIC RINDERPEST WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
THE
CARRIER
PROBLEM IN THIS DISEASE.
To
THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE,
Indian Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry.
DEAR SIRS,
It seems that our article* in question has had the desired effect of stimulating
interest and focussing attention upon the comparatively neglected subject of chro-
nic carriers of rinderpest, and we are thankful to Mr. Purvis for giving us this
opportunity of elaborating our previous remarks in the light of the criticisms con-
tained in his letter.
1. At the outset it is noticed that most of the points raised by him relate to
details of work by other investigators, and that for some of those specific details
the workers concerned would be the best fitted to furnish such further informa-
tion as is required to remove the origin of doubt. We will therefore confine ourselves
to a few remarks based on recorded information. The specific points are dealt with
below in the order in which they have been raised by the correspondent.
2. It is true that (on pp. 365—368) we have produced recorded evidence to
show that the Indian cattle and certain others suffer from a symptomless form of
the disease and the relevancy of these cases in regard to the question of chronic
carriers becomes clear, if one considers what a carrier is. A carrier is an animal
which harbours and perhaps transmits the infective agent, although apparently
in good health and incubatory carriers such as the above symptomless cases, and
convalescent carriers such as our original case H. B. 288, are of importance from
epizootiological considerations, since both classes are inapparently infected and
because of the possibility of some of the former class developing into the latter.
To support the view that comparatively resistant animals undergoing the symp-
tomless disease may develop into convalescent or true carriers, the following re-
corded cases may be recalled. Gartner [1920] proved the infectivity of a goat 54
days after infection. From observations on the epizootiology of the disease, Pool
and Doyle [1921] believed that some convalescents developed into carriers. Bliss'
personal observation was that there were individuals not showing symptoms within
* An Unusual case of Chronic Rinderpest with special reference to the Carrier Problem
in this Disease, by Capt. S. C. A. Datta, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., and V. R. Rajagopalan,
G.M.V.C. (Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. and Anim. Husb., 2, 357-382 ; 3, 396-399).
( 117 )
122
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [ V, I
In conclusion, whatever construction may be put upon the investigations of
others, whose protocols were not published, it is necessary to point out that our
experimental work, the protocols of which were published, was so nearly completely
controlled, that it cannot seriously be called in question.
It is regretted that our letter has assumed much larger proportions than was
anticipated, but in view of the great practical importance of the subject, it is hoped
that space may kindly be allotted for it in your esteemed Journal.
Yours truly,
S. C. A. DATTA,
Temporary Veterinary Research Officer, in charge Pathology.
V. R. RAJAGOPALAN,
Offg. Assistant Veterinary Research Officer.
REFERENCES*.
Doyle, T. M. (1933), J. Comp. Path. 46, 94.
Gartner (1920), Berliner Tier. Woch. 36, 501.
Gibbs, C. S. (1933). J. Infec. Dis. 53, 169.
*The details of the other references quoted in this letter are contained in our original
article.