NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
Treatment was carried out by the farmer. The routine was as follows:
In the first instance, all the cattle were inspected and the findings recorded.
All the cattle were then treated by douching with the selected solution on
alternate days for three weeks. This treatment was carried out irrespective of
pregnancy or state of gestation.
In addition, as each cow calved it was subjected to the treatment again. No
cow went to the bull until it had been examined and declared free from clinical
evidence of vaginitis.
The results of this treatment are shown in Table I.
TABLE I.
Herd No.
1
2
3
4
5
Veginal lesions.
Before
treatment.
Per cent.
78
65
65
80
61
After
treatment.
Per cent.
9.7
29
47
60
35
Percentage con-
ceived to one
service.
Before
treatment.
Per cent.
56
66
55
32
50
After
treatment.
Per cent.
88
83
82
60
63
In view of these results it was decided to continue the treatment for a further
year, during which every cow would be treated immediately following calving.
After this second year of treatment the animals showed further improvement
in the breeding record, and a still lower incidence of vaginal lesions.
Another method of estimating the breeding efficiency of a herd is to compare
the breeding index. This represents the average number of services required for
STERILITY IN DAIRY COWS.
97
the production of each calf. Taking these herds again the breeding indices in suc-
cessive years are shown in Table II.
TABLE II.
Herd No.
1
2
3
4
5
Breeding
index
before
treatment.
1.6
1.5
1.7
2.0
4.4
Breeding
index
after
one year's
treatment.
1.15
1.3
1.2
1.6
2.65
Breeding
index
after
two years'
treatment.
1.14
1.31
1.26
(1.56)
?
1.5
From these figures it is evident that not only is the breeding of the cattle generally
improved, but there is a definite saving of male effort.
It will be noted that there is a lack of parallelism in these figures, as is illustrated
by comparing Herds 1 and 5. In Herd 1,78 per cent. of the cattle showed vaginal
lesions before treatment, and the Breeding Index was 1.6, whilst in Herd 5,61 per
cent. exhibited vaginal lesions with a Breeding Index of 4.4.
This is explained by the fact that, whereas in Herd 1 the vaginal lesions were
mainly granular venereal disease, in Herd 5 these consisted largely of a purulent
vaginal infection which was somewhat resistant to treatment.
It might here be noted that no reference has been made so far to cervicitis
and metritis in these herds. Cases did occur and were treated before the cattle
were permitted to go for service, but these figures are intended to illustrate the fact
that with cattle having no clinical evidence of cervical or uterine disease, and in
which temporary sterility was occurring, and in which the only detectable lesions
were in the vagina, considerable benefit resulted from the practice of regular
douching.
In order that the douching should be carried out satisfactorily, the following
instructions were issued :
As each cow calves the vagina to be douched with one gallon of the solution
prepared as directed. The solution to be introduced into the vagina with rubber
G
98
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
tubing and funnel. Immediately after douching of each cow the tubing to be
sterilized by immersion in boiling water. The douching to be carried out each
alternate day for three weeks. The following records to be kept:
(a) Dates of service.
(b) Date of parturition.
(c) Any abnormality of parturition.
No cow was permitted to go for service until inspected by the veterinarian.
In New Zealand, Webster 4 has reported that temporary sterility in that Domi-
nion may be due to cervicitis of streptococcal origin. This disease was proved by
him to be transmitted by the bull. This finding is of interest since, as will be seen
later, we have found streptococci to be associated with cervicitis and metritis in
dairy cattle.
Cervicitis and Metritis.
A considerable amount of sterility in cattle is due to infections of the cervix
and uterus. Whilst in many herds cases of inflammation of the cervix and uterus
are comparatively few, in some herds the extent of uterine disease is alarming,
especially since the resulting sterility is much more obstinate to treatment than
that due to disease of the posterior genital passage. Thus in one herd (Herd 6)
of 93 cattle, 54 cattle showed lesions of cervicitis and metritis, and 12 additional
cattle calved later showing similar lesions. In other words, 70 per cent. of the
milking herd were affected with cervical and uterine infections. Of the 66 affected
animals, 43 responded to treatment and bred satisfactorily, but 23 were refractory
to treatment, and were finally disposed of by the owner at butchers' prices. Of
the 23 animals so disposed of the original prognosis was very grave in the case of
16, but hope of successful treatment had been held out in the case of 7. It might be
mentioned that of the animals of which the prognosis was grave the majority had
been sterile for periods of from one to two years before treatment was adopted.
Extensive incidence of metritis and cervicitis had been noted in other herds. In
another herd where 60 cattle were regularly in lactation, 10 cases of chronic metriti s
were brought in for inspection, and 12 other cows were fattening in another part
of the farm, being regarded as incurably sterile.
The toll taken from the dairying industry by the incidence of incurable sterility
due to ute ine infection would probably surprise us if we were able to accurately
estimate it.
Williams pays much attention in his work to a condition which he describes
as cervical endometritis. He defines the disease as an ascending infection, advancing
from the cervical to the ovarian end of the uterus. In many, probably in most
cases, he states that cervical endometritis is the result of an extension of infection
from the cervical mucosa forward.
STERILITY IN DAIRY COWS.
99
Clinical experience in this State has shown that this conception of the progress
of invasion of the uterus is in many cases justified. This is illustrated by the
history not uncommonly given by stockowners, as the following examples show:
1. The cow bore a normal calf with apparently normal parturition. The animal
required a number of services before next conception took place. After a normal
gestation period another calf was born, but the placenta was retained, coming away
spontaneously two days later. There was considerable discharge from the uterus,
but recovery appeared to take place. After several visits to the bull the cow
bred again, but the calf was not carried full time, abortion taking place at about
seven and a half months. The after-birth was retained. Examination showed
that the placenta was firmly adherent, and manipulation to remove it caused the
maternal cotyledons to come away, with hæmorrhage as a sequela. What appeared
to be the last of the placenta was not removed until seven days after the abortion,
The cow did not breed again.
2. The first partuition was reported to have been normal. Following the
birth of the second calf, service by the bull on four occasions did not result in con-
ception. Examination showed that the cervix was congested. Treatment was
adopted and the cow bred. The third calf was carried full time, but the placenta
was retained, being expelled about twenty-fours after the birth of the calf. Treat-
ment for metritis was adopted. The cow was bred again and the gestation period
was normal. The placenta was retained and was removed manually three days
after the calf was born. Treatment of the uterus was again carried out, and the
symptoms of metritis subsided. The cow was put to the bull and bred. A prema-
ture calf was born at about 260 days. It was weak and sickly, and died when
about seven days old. The cow bred again after treatment for metritis, and once
more the calf was delivered before full term. The after-birth was retained. Treat-
ment failed to have any curative effect upon the metritis, and the animal was even-
tually sold to the butcher.
Taking Williams' hypothesis that the condition originated in the cervix and
that the infection was slowly creeping forward, the cause of the infection would
be : (a) infection of cervix, (b) infection of internal os, invading the uterine body,
(c) invasion of uterus spreading forward.
If this represents the sequence of the spread of infection in certain cases, and
in my opinion this is the sequence, we have brought before us the fact that in some
herds where a number of abortions occur from time to time, the cause is not neces-
sarily Brucella abortus of Bang. In one herd where eight abortions occurred in a
period of twelve months, none of the animals gave a positive reaction to the aggluti-
nation test. This result surprised us, since we knew that abortus infection was
present to some extent in the herd. The previous history, however, suggested that
the uterine infection had been slowly advancing, and that the abortions were due
to cervical endometritis.
STERILITY IN DAIRY COWS.
101
gentle manipulation from the cotyledons. No force is used, since it is desired to
prevent bleeding and the exposure of a raw surface. On the following day the
procedure is repeated.
Rarely is it necessary to continue treatment after the fourth day. By this
time the uterus has contracted to a considerable extent, and the passage of the hand
through the cervix is not possible. Frequently on the third day the cervical canal
has so lessened in diameter that the hand cannot enter.
Should there be still marked evidence of infection as shown by delayed resolu-
tion of the uterus and muco-purulent or purulent discharge, or if shreds of placenta
are still being voided, the inter-uterine injection of such a preparation as a saturated
solution of magnesium sulphate in glycerine will frequently be followed by good
results. The injection of this solution is followed by a marked out-pouring of fluid
from the uterine walls, and as this is evacuated much of the debris is removed.
The more chronic cases of metritis and cervicitis are best treated with iodine
solutions. Lugol's solution has long been the standby of the veterinarian for such
treatment. We, however, have had our best results with the injection of a solution
of 1 per cent. iodine in liquid paraffin. This is injected as required at intervals of
about four to seven days. The progress of recovery can be noted by the character
and amount of discharge. It is of great importance that treatment be continued
until no clinical evidence of disease is discernible.
Although treatment as outlined above usually results in the recovery of the
cow in so far as to permit breeding again, it does not always result in the eradication
of the infections, since some cattle will come in at next calving with retained placenta
and in odd cases the pregnancy has been terminated by abortion.
Renewed treatment of these latter cases on the lines already indicated has
resulted in successful breeding on many occasions, but some, of course, become
incurably sterile.
ENDOMETRITIS AND HORMONAL DYSFUNCTION.
Referring again to the opinion expressed by Williams and others that endo.
metritis may result not as a consequence of introduced infection but as a result
of hormonal unbalance, there is an interesting statement by Cuillé and Chelle (5)
of France. These authors state :
" Many cases of sterility attributed to endometritis, and in particular to slight
endometritis, are not in reality due to inflammation of the uterus. One confounds
too often endometritis and leucorrhœa, pyometra and hydrometra. The error comes
from considering that all uterine discharges are symptoms of metritis. Now, if it
is true that certain uterine discharges are of inflammatory origin, it is also true that
others are independent of local lesions of the uterus. These facts are well known
in human gynecology, where inflammatory and functional leucorrheas are distin-
guished. These latter exist equally in animals, and in the cow in particular.
They result from a hypersecretion of the glands of the uterus and the cervix. To
102
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, I
this secretion is often added the product of serous transudation of vaginal origin.
The hypersecretion of the uterine and cervical glands appears to be the consequence
of a faulty vago-sympathetic balance of ovarian origin. It is due most often to
abnormal persistence of the C. L., and it is only necessary, as we will see later, to
practise its enucleation to cause the uterine symptoms to disappear and to render
breeding possible.
" It is relatively easy by simple examination of the uterine discharge to differen-
tiate leucorrhea and metritis. Whilst in uterine infections the discharge is always
purulent or mucopurulent, opaque, thick and yellow, in simple leucorrhea the
exudate is seromucoid, grayish, translucent like white of egg."
This statement, of course, supports a commonly-held European opinion that
many cases of sterility in cows can be cured by the mere expression of a so-called
retained corpus luteum.
In my opinion a corpus luteum which is readily expressed by manual manipu-
lation per rectum is rarely pathologic, but there is some evidence to indicate that
disturbance of the hormonal balance may interfere considerably with the œstral
cycle. Whether the mere expression of the corpus will restore that balance is open
to question, and one should look for the factors which have caused hypo-or hyper-
secretion of the internal secretions rather than remove the result of the such abnormal
functioning of glands involved. Some of the good results claimed for this treatment
may be due to the fact that certain investigators have found that removal of the
corpus luteum led to rhythmic contraction of the uterus with the result of expression
of all or part of the abnormal uterine content.
How far metritis and sterility are due to hypo- or hypersecretion of the various
hormones which affect the genital functions is still an open question, and the value
of various endocrine preparations for the treatment of sterility remains to be
proved. Our experience with certain proprietary preparations is limited, but their
use was not productive of benefit.
SUMMARY.
Briefly, the position as regards sterility as viewed by us after investigation
into the condition as it occurs in many herds in this State is as follows :
1. Domestication and the breeding for high milk production appears to have
a definite relation to the incidence of sterility in cows.
2. This relationship is probably connected with the hormonic control of the
genital functions.
3. Diet dificiency may lead to hypo-function of the ovaries, and is thus a poten-
tial cause of sterility.
4. Much temporary sterility is due to vaginal infections, and these can be
controlled by suitable therapeutic measures and hygienic management.
5. A considerable amount of sterility is due to cerivical and uterine infection.
STERILITY IN DAIRY COWS.
103
6. Infection of the cervix tends to progress to invade the uterus, and eventually
may lead to permanent sterility.
7. There is considerable clinical evidence to indicate that such infection may
be transmitted by the bull in service.
8. Ovarian disease has not been commonly encountered, and when it does
occur is usually associated with metritis.
9. The treatment of sterility depends upon the diagnosis of the condition
present after skilled examination. As this can be carried out only by a veterinarian
there should be a wide field for veterinary practice in dairy districts when the stock
breeder has learned to appreciate the value of such service.
REFERENCES.
1 Orr, W., and Darling, F. F.: " The Physiological and Genetical Aspects of
Sterility in Domesticated Animals," Imperial Bureau of Animal Genetics, 1932.
2 Williams, W. W. : " The Diseases of the Genital Organs of Domestic Animals."
3 Quinlan, J.: " Researches on Sterility in Cows in South Africa, " Annual Report
Director of Veterinary Services, Union of South Africa, 1929.
4 Webster, W.: Aust, Vet. Journ., 3, 1927, p. 14.
5 Cuillé and Chelle : Rêv. Gên. de Mêd. Vêt., 41, 1932, p. 525.
IMPROVED PASTURES AND PARASITIC INFESTATION OF
SHEEP.
BY
1. CLUNIES ROSS, D.V.Sc. *
Reprinted from the Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,
Commonwealth of Australia, 7, 3, pp. 131—133.
The conclusions outlined in the article that follows are based very largely on
experiments that have been carried out by Dr. Ross and others attached to the
McMaster Laboratory. A proportion of these experiments was financed under the
Australian Pastoral Research Trust—Empire Marketing Board scheme, details of
which have been published previously (this Journal 4 : 133, 1931). Ed.
During the past few years, experimental evidence, both in this country and
abroad, has been accumulating in regard to the influence of nutritional factors on
the degree and effects of parasitism in sheep. Thus, Fraser and Robertson (1933)
in England, and Ross and Graham (1932-1933) and Ross and Gordon (1933) in this
country, have all emphasized the importance of the plane of nutrition in controlling
the degree of parasitic infestation with gastro-intestinal worms of sheep.
Ross and Graham have specifically investigated the effects of improved pastures
in (a) increasing the degree of parasitism owing to the heavier stocking carried, or
(b) so improving the nutritional state of the sheep that the animals are able to resist
infestation or at least the effects of infestation. They found that, under the condi-
tions existing in their experiment, a carrying capacity on improved pastures of two
and a half sheep per acre when no rotation was practised and three sheep per acre
when it was, resulted in greatly increased wool production per sheep when compared
with similar animals on unimproved pastures at the rate of one sheep per acre ;
further, in addition to the sheep showing no ill effects, the actual degree of parasi-
tism was less than in the animals on the unimproved pastures. They concluded,
therefore, that, under these conditions, the increased risk of parasitism anticipated
on theoretical grounds owing to the heavier stocking on improved pastures is, if
it occurs at all, more than compensated for by the improved nutrition of the
animals.
It is possible that the results obtained in this experiment may have led to some
misconception on the part of graziers, and there appears to have been some ten-
dency for pastoralists to conclude that when sheep are run on improved pastures
the danger from parasitism is always so reduced as to be negligible. Such a con-
clusion is, of course, entirely fallacious, and it is necessary to appreciate the fact that
*Officer incharge of the Council's F. D. McMaster Animal Health Laboratory, University
of Sydney.
( 104 )
IMPROVED PASTURES AND PARASITIC INFESTATION OF SHEEP.
105
whether parasitism becomes of greater or of less importance on such pastures is
largely a question of balance between the adequacy and degree of improvement of
the pastures on the one hand, and on the intensity and duration of stocking practised,
together with the predisposition to heavy parasitism owing to seasonal conditions
or special topographical features, on the other.
INFLUENCE OF OVER-STOCKING ON IMPROVED PASTURES.
On improved pastures, overstocking is no less liable to occur than on natural
pastures. At times, pastures, merely because they have been improved, are
subjected to such stocking that they are completely eaten out, yet owners some
times appear resentful if it is suggested that sheep carried on such pastures are
definitely under-nourished. Given unfavourable seasonal conditions, grave over
stocking may develop even more rapidly than on lightly stocked natural areas
At such times, owing to the attempt to carry excessive numbers, the plane of
nutrition of the sheep is markedly reduced below that which the pastures could
maintain if more judiciously managed, and the risk of parasitism is augmented
owing to the increased contamination of the pastures with eggs and larvae
expelled by the excessive number of sheep. There is no reason, under such
conditions, why sheep on improved pasture should be expected to be any
more resistant to the effects of parasitism than those on natural pasture provided
the nutritive qualities are adequate, but naturally the risk of infestation will be
very much greater.
RISK OF PARASITIC INFESTATION MAY BE INCREASED.
Another aspect of this problem which requires attention is the danger in the
resort to improved pastures or lucerne in the hope of overcoming the effects of
parasitism in grossly infested sheep. Thus, it is not infrequently reported that an
owner, finding his young sheep heavily infested with the small intestinal worms
which are very resistant to medicinal treatment, had placed them on a small
area of improved pasture or on lucerne. On the latter, the rate of stocking may
for a short period be as high as 20 or 30 sheep per acre. In view of the heavy
parasitic infestation already carried by these lambs, tremendous contamination
of the area with egg and subsesquently with larvae rapidly occurs under such
suitable climatic conditions as are provided by occasional showers, heavy dews,
and warm days in the spring and autumn. In such circumstances, so far from
the lambs benefiting from the change of pasture, they may be rapidly exposed
to such a high degree of repeated infestation that any benefit from the improved
diet available is more than counterbalanced and heavy mortality results. On the
other hand, if the transfer to such a pasture were made in dry weather or at a time
when temperatures were unfavourable to eggs and to the development of larvae
of the worms, it would be beneficial.
There is a tendency also for sheep-owners to overlook other factors which may
seriously interfere with the carrying capacity of an improved area. For example,
IMPROVED PASTURES AND PARASITIC INFESTATION OF SHEEP.
107
increased laying down of areas of lucerne for grazing appears destined to play an
important part in ensuring maximum productivity in the sheep and wool indus-
tries.
It is hoped the foregoing discussion makes clear, however, how necessary it is
for pastoralists who see in these new methods the solution of many of their present
difficulties to realize that such measures call for a far greater study of every aspect
of pasture and stock management than was required by the old methods of sparse
grazing on natural country.