NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
September, 1954]
ABSTRACTS
183
1. The provision of expert technical advice and the promotion of activities
in the control and eradication of zoonoses.
2. The development and supervision of food hygiene practices, with particular
reference to diseases transmissible from animal to man.
3. The co-ordination of work and resources of groups or agencies, private
or official, dealing with coinciding interests of human and animal
health.
4. The education and training of professional and auxiliary workers in veteri-
nary aspect of public health.
Zoonoses control. The term Zoonoses has gained wide acceptance as denoting
that group of animal diseases transmissible to human beings. Over 80 diseases
naturally transmissible between animals and man have been listed. Zoonoses
of importance in large areas of the world include bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis,
anthrax, rabies, leptospisosis, the arthroped-borne virus encephalitides, hydatidosis,
Salmonellosis and Psittacosis. Other zoonoses, such as trichinosis, taeniasis, leish-
maniasis, erysipeloid (swine erysipelas), and endemic typhus are troublesome but
more localised. Diseases such as vesicular stomatitis, foot and mouth disease,
New Castle disease and certain ancylostomiases although widespread in animals,
cause only minor illness in man. The prevention and elimination of zoonoses
in human beings depend in large part on the control of these diseases in animals.
The veterinarian assists in this task by providing expert technical advice on these
diseases and by promoting activities for their control and eradication.
Food hygiene. Food hygiene, particularly in regard to milk and meat is another
major aspect of veterinary public-health.
The primary purpose being to prevent transmission of disease to man through
these food products, the public health veterinarian, because of his training, is best
suited to supervise food hygiene practices affecting such transmission. Supervision
in milk hygiene begins with the cow on the farm while meat hygiene begins when
animal enters the slaughter house ; such duties terminate when these food products
are ready for delivery to consumers.
By co-ordination of human and animal health interests, economy can be achieved
by avoiding overlapping responsibilities. In carrying out animal disease control
programme, financial assistance given in bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis control
programme, Q fever and leptospirosis, rabies and hydatidosis, has specially yielded
results in the control activities. (M.R.M.)
REVIEWS
ISOTOPIC TRACERS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
BY JACOB SACKS
(Published by McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1953, pp. 383, Price $ 8.50)
T HE use of isotopes of elements, either the less abundant naturally occurring
stable ones such as heavy hydrogen or nitrogen, or radioactive isotopes obtained
from nuclear reactions, represents a contribution of modern physics to biology,
which has become an important tool in biochemical and physiological studies.
From the pioneer investigations of George Hevesy, the isotopic tracer technique
is now being increasingly applied by numerous workers in elucidating the mechanism
of a large number of biological reactions, particularly in the field of intermediate
metabolism. It is no mean task to select from this vast and rapidly growing subject
and to collect the major accomplishments in a handy book form. The author must
be congratulated in having been able to do this in an excellent way.
With the exception of the first six chapters which deal with the elements of
nuclear physics and radioactivity and of the principles of measurement of isotopes,
each of the other ten chapters amounts to a review in itself. Available information
on the use of isotopic tracer in carbohydrate, protein, fat and mineral metabolism,
blood studies, etc. has been collected for the first time in a handy volume so that the
book forms a valuable reference book for those who are interested in biochemical
and physiological problem. The different methods used in isotope technique as
well as the procedures for separating and identifying different products obtained in
intermediary metabolism have been described in broad outline and each chapter
has been provided with a list of 'General reference' in order to help those who are
interested in studying the detailed account of any particular isotope or mechanism.
The discussions are in general very informative and excellent. In particular, the
reviewer would like to draw the attention of the readers to the part where the limita-
tions of the tracer technique are discussed. The author stresses that 'the most
rigorous logical analysis is necessary both in the design of the experiment and in the
interpretation of the data obtained'. This cautionary remark is all the more welcome
as there is a growing tendency by some workers who have not specialised in this
new technique and type of investigation, to use in a haphazard way, isotopic tracers
in the study of physiological and pathological problems.
This is a well considered, definitive and valuable treatise and it is hoped that
the author will be able to bring forward new editions as and when required, so that
up-to-date information in this rapidly developing science is available to all those
who are interested but have not the time to look up the relevant data from the
current literature. (S.D.)
185
57 AR/54.
10
186
REVIEWS
[Vol. XXIV, Part II I
BREEDING BETTER LIVESTOCK
BY V. A. RICE, F. N. ANDREWS AND E. J. WARWICK
(Published by McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1953, pp. 465, Price $ 4.75)
T HIS treatise, which presents in a simple language the science and art of live-
stock breeding, is an outcome of the distinguished authors' experiences in
teaching for the past thirty years in this line. It deals with all the different aspects
of the science and art of breeding including reproduction and inheritance. It also
incorporates the recent developments in livestock breeding. The book is divided
into four sections. Section 1 gives the background for animal breeding. Section
2 explains in a very simple manner the mechanism of reproduction. Sections
3 and 4 give a clear understanding on the subject of 'heredity' which is very essential
for the art of breeding. These two sections deal in detail the methods of section
and the various systems of breeding. The chapter on 'Fertility and Sterility' in
section 2 has been given very few pages. Some more detailed information with
suitable illustrations would certainly have proved of great assistance to the reader
in understanding the problems associated with the failure in reproduction.
There are about 145 illustrations. The summary and questions given at the
end of each chapter will be found very helpful.
This book will no doubt serve as a very useful guide to practical livestock breeders
and others though interested in the subject might not have had the opportunity
for undertaking a comprehensive study in physiology of reproduction and genetics.
(P.B.)
FARMERS & STOCK-BREEDER YEAR BOOK, 1954
(Published by Farmer & Stock-Breeder Publications Ltd., London, 78th Edition,
pp. 396 (Over 130 illustrations), Price $ 10.6)
T HE new year's 'Farmer & Stock Breeder' brings to its readers, the latest in-
formation as a reference guide of the latest developments in the stockbreeding
and farming spheres. Apart from the usual features of breeders' tables, photographs
of the selected pedigreed livestock and a complete reference section, this year's
special articles deal with subjects of great topical interest. The features section
contains up-to-date information of great interest on subjects like the deep freezing of
semen which will enable the maximum utilisation of the best sires of to-day for
posterity. Another article of topical interest deals with the feeding of anti-biotics
to non-ruminants, in order that they grow quickly to bring more profits to the
breeders. The great potentiality of grasses and silage feeding in the economy
of stock raising and fattening has been clearly brought out. Those interested in
sheep raising have also been catered for. Being next in importance to tuberculosis,
an article on Johne's disease and its control through a vaccine has also been dealt
with. The reference section and the poultry section are as usual of great interest
and on the whole the book is of inestimable value to anyone connected with farming
and livestock, and can be highly recommended. (M.R.M.)
September, 1954]
REVIEWS
187
CALL THE VET
BY MARTIN NANCY
(Published by MacMillan & Co., Ltd., London, 1953, pp. 146, Price £ 6-6s.)
T he book is divided into 18 chapters and is written in the form of a story of a
city youth on a country farm. It is of interest to young school and college boys
wishing to take up the veterinary profession. By carefully arranging the chapters
the author has introduced the subject in such a manner as to systematically interest
the young mind in the various kinds of interesting and useful things a veterinary
practitioner comes across in his everyday practice. The book is, however, written
from the point of view of conditions in countries in the West. All the same, this
would also interest the present educated youngmen and women wishing to take up
veterinary as a profession in this country. (M.R.M.)
188
ANNOUNCEMENT
[Vol. XXIV, Part III
AN ANNOUNCEMENT
COLONEL AMIR CHAND TRUST PRIZES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
LIEUT-COLONEL AMIR CHAND, ex-Principal, Lady Hardinge Medical College,
New Delhi, has made a munificient donation of Rs. 50,000 to the Indian Council
of Medical Research for the purpose of awarding prizes for the best published
research work in the field of medical sciences. The Governing Body of the
Council has constituted a Trust called the, 'Colonel Amir Chand Trust' for the
administration and management of the Fund.
SIX PRIZES, of almost equal value, of which some may be in the form of
medals, shall be awarded annually on an All-India basis for the best published
research work in any subject pertaining to all fields of medical sciences in general
including clinical research. The term 'Clinical Research' will imply research into
the mechanism and causation of disease, including its prevention and cure. It
covers not simply work in patients in hospitals, but also field studies in epidemio-
logy and social medicine and observations in general practice.
THREE of the prizes will be known as, 'BASANTI DEVI AMIR CH
and the other THREE, 'SHAKUNTALA AMIR CHAND PRIZE'.
OUT OF THE SIX PRIZES, two shall be awarded to graduates of not more than
ten years standing, counting from the date of graduation, provided that the
work for which the prizes are to be awarded is of approved merit.
THE COMPETITORS for the prizes may be medical or non-medical graduates.
THE SELECTION of candidates for the award of the prizes will be made by a
Selection Board appointed for the purpose.
IN THE JOINT PUBLICATION the prize shall be divided between the joint workers
in such proportion as the Selection Board may recommend.
IN 1954, it has been decided to make a beginning by the award of Two
PRIZES of the approximate VALUE OF Rs. 300 each for the best research papers
in medical science published by workers during the academic year 1953.
THE AWARD of the prizes will be announced at the annual meetings of the
Scientific Advisory Board and the Advisory Committees of the Indian Council of
Medical Research to be held in Baroda in November/December, 1954.
THE WORKERS are required to submit 15 reprints of their papers published
during 1953 and these should be sent to the SECRETARY, INDIAN COUNCIL OF
MEDICAL RESEARCH, 'P' BLOCK, RAISINA ROAD, NEW DELHI, so as to reach
him NOT LATER THAN THE 15TH OCTOBER, 1954.
THE PAPERS should be accompanied by a short biographical sketch and two
copies of PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPHS of the worker or workers concerned.
MGIPC—M—57AR/54—10-9-54—750.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
EFFECT OF FEEDING ALKALI-TREATED CEREAL STRAWS
ON THE GROWTH OF YOUNG CATTLE*
By N. D. KEHAR, Head of the Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 29 February 1954)
(With five text-figures)
C EREAL straws are characterised by low percentage of protein, poor digest-
ibility and a high percentage of fibre. As such they represent a fodder of rela-
tively low nutritive value. In agriculturally advanced countries cereal straws
do not ordinarily constitute more than a portion of the roughage for livestock. In
India, however, cereal straws assume special significance inasmuch as they constitute
by far the largest proportion of roughage, and most of the farm animals subsist on
fodder alone. Any attempt, therefore, to improve the nutritive value of straws
would be of great economic value in developing the livestock industry.
With the ripening of the plant the cellulose of the cell walls, which is empirical-
ly estimated as crude fibre, undergoes a process of lignification rendering it woody
and indigestible. Since the beginning of this century, numerous attempts have
been made to make a better use of the coarse feeding stuffs by different methods.
Taking advantage of the susceptibility of lignin to the action of dilute alkalies,
Lehmann [1900] found that by boiling with caustic soda solution under pressure,
the digestibility of straw was increased by about 50 per cent. But since commercial
utilization of such a method proved expensive, Beckmann [1919] introduced a
technique in which no heat treatment was required. Godden [1920] simplified the
process by dipping the chopped straw overnight in a 1.5 per cent caustic soda solu-
tion, removing the straw so as to drain the alkali and then heating in a current of
steam for about an hour. By such treatment, the digestibility of crude fibre and
nitrogen-free-extract in oat straw was increased from 60.1 to 87.4 and 39.6 to 62.9
per cent respectively. Further simplification in the process was introduced by
Slade, Watson, and Ferguson [1939] who showed that there was a marked rise in
the starch-equivalent content of wheat or oat straw by soaking it for 24 hours at
ordinary temperature in eight times its weight of 1.25 per cent caustic soda solution.
Following the line of work of these overseas workers, Sen, Ray and Talapatra
[1942] carried out observations on the treatment of wheat and paddy straws by
dilute caustic soda solution. The results of their study have shown that the alkali
treatment increases the digestibility coefficient of total carbohydrates from 51 to
72 and from 57 to 76 of wheat and paddy straws respectively. This increased
* This investigation was carried out under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research.
104 AR/54
189
190
ALKALI-TREATED CEREAL STRAWS
[ Vol. XXIV, Part IV,
digestibility enhanced the total digestible nutrients in the straws to the extent of
about 45 per cent. The alkali treatment has also been shown to have special signi-
ficance in the case of paddy straw as it removes 70 to 80 per cent of the deleterious
potassium oxalate in the straw as a result of which assimilation of calcium from a
ration containing treated rice straw is materially improved. The feeding of treated
straw, moreover, effects greater utilization of protein which allows the require-
ment of this nutrient to be met at a lower level of concentrate intake, than what is
recommended in the prescribed standard.
In view of the findings both in India and abroad it was considered desirable
to undertake a developmental project, the object of which was to study by simple
feeding experiments, the practicability of using extensively alkali-treated wheat
and paddy straws in the ration of cattle.
Feeding experiments were thus carried out in gowshalas, pinjrapoles and private
farms. It was decided that during the course of experimentation, except introduc-
ing the particular straw, untreated and treated, for the control and experimental
groups respectively, the routine practice in these places in regard to feeding and
management of animals should remain undisturbed. The investigation was con-
ducted in several centres representing wheat and paddy zones and the feeding trials
were carried out both with young stock and milch animals. In this communica-
tion the results obtained on the growth of young animals along with the economics
of large-scale feeding of alkali-treated straw are presented.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Selection of animals
Twelve young calves of six to eight months of age were selected, of which half
the number formed the control and the other half the experimental group. The
animals of one group were more or less identical with those of the other in regard to
age, sex, breed, live-weight and general condition. The animals in the control group
were fed untreated straw and other items of food as available in the farm. The same
dietetic prescription was followed for the experimental group except that alkali-
treated straw was fed in place of the untreated straw. During the course of the
experiment records were maintained for a comparative study of food consumption
and change in weekly live-weight of animals. Any untoward symptoms exhibited
by the animals were also recorded.
Selection of centres
The choice of the centres depended on the nature of the staple roughage avail-
able for the stock of a particular zonal area and on the willing co-operation of the
management. The following four centres, two in paddy straw area and the other
two in wheat straw area were selected.
Paddy straw area
1. Pinjrapole at Sodepur (Bengal)
2. Gowshala at Puri (Orissa)
December, 1954 ]
N.
D.
KEHAR
191
Wheat straw area
1. Sir Datar Singh's Dairy Farm at Montgomery (Punjab)
2. Govin Brothers' Dairy Farm at Rampur (Uttar Pradesh)
The particulars of the selected animals and their ration in the respective centres
are given in Tables I, II, III and IV. A perusal of the tables would show that owing
to the limited number of available animals the stipulations in the plan in regard
to the number and age could not be strictly adhered to. The ration fed to the
animals in different centres when scrutinised for their available nutrient content
showed that only at Montgomery, the diet conformed with the Morrisons Standard ;
in other places the proximate principles available are well below the requirement
prescribed for growth.
TABLE I
Particulars of animals selected at Sodepur centre
Animal
No.
1
2
3
4a
4b
5
6
la
1b
2
3
4
5
6
Sex
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Average
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Average
Age
(Months)
7
6
7
8
..
6
6
6.7
7
..
6
6
8
6
6
6.6
Live
weight
lb.
184
142
184
184
..
142
132
161
184
..
132
174
214
142
102
158
Ration
Control Group
Untreated rice straw
Concentrate mixture :
1st to 24th week
25th to 39th week
ad lib.
1.75 lb.
2.50 lb.
Concentrate mixture :
Wheat bran
Mung chnunni
Linseed cake
1 part
½ part
1 part
Experimental Group
Alkali-treated straw
Concentrate mixture
ad lib.
same as
for the
control
group.
Remarks
(1) Animal No. 4a
(Control) died in
the 15th week.
(2) Animal No. la
(experimental)
died in the 2nd
week.
(3) The substituted
animals were of
the same age and
almost of the same
body weight as
the
original
animals just prior
to their death.
192
ALKALI-TREATED CEREAL STRAWS
[ Vol. XXIV, Part IV,
TABLE II
Particulars of animals selected at Puri centre
Animal
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sex
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Average
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Average
Age
(Months)
9.5
17.0
16.0
18.0
19.0
9.0
14.75
9.0
17.0
16.0
18.0
19.0
9.0
14.67
Live
weight
lb.
110
213
224
229
206
93
179
104
198
227
235
209
99
179
Ration
Control Group
Untreated straw
Green Elephant grass
Concentrate mixture
Common salt
Concentrate mixture :
Kulthi
Oil cake
Wheat bran
ad lib.
1 lb.
1.5 lb.
1.5 oz.
2 parts
1 part
5 parts
Experimental Group
Treated straw
The rest of the ration
same as for the con-
trol group
ad lib.
Remarks
TABLE III
Particulars of animals selected at Montgomery centre
Animal
No.
1
2
3
4
5
Sex
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Average
Age
(days)
317
228
292
289
237
272
Live
weight
lb.
184
170
162
144
148
162
Ration
Control Group
Concentrate mixture
Green fodder
Grazing
Untreated straw
2 lb.
3 lb.
ad lib.
Concentrate mixture :
Wheat crushed
Gram
Gram husk
37.5 parts
37.5 parts
25.0 parts
Remarks
Grazing for the two
groups of animals
was
confined
mainly to green
maize and ber¬
seem fields.
December, 1954 ]
N.
D.
KEHAR
193
TABLE III—(contd.)
Particulars of animals selected at Montgomery centre—(contd.)
Animal
No.
1
2
3
4
5
Sex
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Average
Age
(days)
313
243
296
279
214
269
Live
weight
lb.
186
181
161
147
142
163
Ration
Experimental Group
Same as control group except
that alkali-treated straw was
substituted for untreated
straw.
Remarks
TABLE IV
Particulars of animals selected at Rampur centre
Animal
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sex
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Average
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Average
Age
(days)
308
296
172
165
315
190
241
225
311
162
158
297
186
223
Live
weight
lb.
158
196
134
115
187
132
154
160
208
132
96
212
152
160
Ration
Control Group
Maize husk
3 lb.
Untreated straw
ad lib.
Grazing
When the grazing was very poor,
the animals received 2 lb. of
green fodder.
Experimental Group
Same as the control group except
alkali-treated straw was sub-
stituted for the untreated
straw.
Remarks
Grazing for the two
groups of animals
was not received
from any properly
managed pasture.
It was confined to
grasses growing
in waste lands and
afterwards in crop
fields. The dura-
tion of grazing
was also short.
194
ALKALI-TREATED CEREAL STRAWS
[Vol. XXIV, Part IV,
Fig. 1. Sketch showing a pair of tanks