NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
September 1955] M. R. DHANDA, J. M. LALL AND M. M. SINGH 255
SUMMARY
As a result of extensive investigation, it became possible to replace the heat-
killed phenolized Salmonella abortus equi vaccine, which was being issued from this
Institute for the last many years and had the disadvantage of producing, at times,
toxaemic symptoms in equines, with a much more safe vaccine. The newly evolved
vaccine is prepared by treating the suspension of S. abortus equi strains with formalin
and precipitating the toxins by the addition of potash alum.
Pathogenicity of S. abortus equi towards mice has been studied, and a potency
test in mice developed to judge the antigenic value of this vaccine.
It has been shown that the heat-killed phenolized S. abortus equi vaccine as well
as the newly-evolved formalin-treated and alum-precipitated vaccine, afford protec-
tion to mice to the extent of 50 per cent and 86 per cent respectively against a certain
lethal dose of Salmonella organisms, which killed 100 per cent of the unvaccinated
mice.
The formalin-killed alum-precipitated vaccine has been found definitely superior
to the heat-killed phenolized vaccine in affording protection to white mice against
a lethal dose of the Salmonella cultures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks are due to Messrs. Jayaraman, R. N. Seth, P. C. Gangulee and K. P.
Balakrishnan for assistance in the preparation of the vaccines and observing the
symptoms in the experimental ponies.
REFERENCES
Good, E. S. and Smith, W. V. (1916). Further investigations of the etiology and control of infectious
abortion in mares. Ky. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 204
Hutyra, H. and Marek, J. (1938). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases of Domestic
Animals. 1, 187-191
Kasai, K. and Hirato, K. (1940). Experimental studies on the infectious abortion in mares. VII.
The vaccination with live cultures of Salmonella abortivo-equina for the prevention of abortion.
Jap. J. vet. Sci, 2, 20-22
Kelser, R. A. (1921). Equine infectious abortion. J. Amer. vet. Med. Ass., 59; 284-294
Verge, J. (1938). La prophylaxie de l' avortement infectious des juments provoque' par Salmonella
abortus equi. XIII int. vet. Congr. Zurich., 1, 507-518
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ABSTRACTS
Viability and immunizing potency of freeze-dried bovine contagious pleuro-pneu-
monia culture vaccine. GREY, D. F. and TURNER, A. W. (1954). J. Comp. Path.,
64, 116-125.
I N order to meet the emergent demands of mass scale vaccination in Ethiopia,
and to offer the most hopeful solution for storage and transhipment without
any appreciable loss of potency, an attempt made by the authors at lyophilization
of living attenuated culture vaccine of bovine contagious pleuro-pneumonia by
freeze-drying, met with encouraging results. Contrary to the earlier concept of
Priestly et al., there was no suggestion in these experiments of exaltation of virulence
of the surviving population of such a freeze-dried attenuated culture.
The authors enunciate in detail the techniques employed by them for lyophi-
lization of living cultures of A. mycoides in BVS-OS medium by freeze-drying, and
evaluate the viability and immunizing property of the resultant product which was
stored both at 4°C and at room temperature.
In the initial phase of freeze-drying, coincident with the water loss, the orga-
nisms suffered a high mortality, the viable count being reduced to 1 per cent of the
original. However, once lyophilized, the vaccine was relatively stable, the viability
being maintained at a virtually constant level for at least 41 months at room tempe-
rature and was found improved on refrigeration.
After 27 months of storage at room temperature, the vaccine was reconstituted
with distilled water, and 30 head of cattle were vaccinated intracaudally. Fifteen
unvaccinated animals of similar origin and age were kept as controls. The recons-
tituted vaccine which contained in the standard dose about 10 viable organisms
gave rise to tail reactions and CF responses that were more delayed, less frequent
and less extensive than in usual after the use of fresh liquid vaccine, in which the
number of organisms is about 400 times greater. Excepting a solitary individual
in a lot of 15, all the unvaccinated animals were susceptible on challenge, whereas
of the 30 vaccinated with the reconstituted freeze-dried product, only 6 were inter-
preted susceptible on the basis of macroscopic lesions with recovery of organism,
from the thoracic and mediastinal lymph glands. As compared to about 97 per cent
of animals immunized when fresh liquid vaccine is used, this gives a percentage
value of 80. The authors opine that if the number of surviving viable organisms in
the inoculating dose could be increased a greater percentage of immunity might
result. For achieving this it is suggested that baches of vaccine with the highest
possible initial count may be selected for lyophilization, and the lyophilization
process itself be improved by utilisation of better vehicles or protective adjuvants
like glucose, lactose or by reducing the degree of desiccation in the absence of glucose
and subsequent low temperature storage. (N.A.)
255
27 AR/55
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256
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
A herd outbreak of mastitis caused by pasteurella multocida.
BARNUM, D. A.
(1954.) Canad. J. Comp. Med. 18, 113-119
T HE article presents a detailed study of a severe clinical outbreak of mastitis
due to Pasteurella multocida in an ill-kept dairy herd involving 30 quarters
in 14 animals.
The clinical manifestations started with the failure of milk to filter promptly
followed in 24 hours with slight swelling of the quarter, a drop in milk yield and the
presence of the yellowish viscid stringy clots in the fore-milk only. Within a few
days all the milk from affected quarters consisted of thick, viscid, yellowish clots and
the secretion decreased rapidly leading to loss of function, atrophy and fibrosis of
the quarter. None of the affected animals showed any increase in temperature or
other symptoms of generalized infection.
The milk samples were plated on 5 per cent sheep blood agar and after incubation
for 18 hours, large greyish white, very mucoid colonies developed which were described
as a "mucoid" variant. The biochemical reactions produced by the organisms
were those of P. multocida.
In order to assess the value of therapy the antibiotics, aureomycin, terramycin
and streptomycin were tried. Though none was very successful, the streptomycin
showed promising resutls. (R.L.)
Effects of inbreeding on a flock of Ossimi sheep. M. T. RAGAB and A. A. ASKER
(1954). J. Hered., 45, 2, 89-81
T HE Ossimi sheep flock with the Animal Breeding Department of Cairo Univer-
sity since 1934, had no outside blood after 1939. A study of the 1940 to 1950
records pertaining to birth weights weaning weight at four months age and marketing
weight at six months revealed that inbreeding had resulted in a decrease of the
weights in single born lambs of both sexes, specially the males. Marketing weight
was the one most markedly affected. The twin born however showed no definite
effect.
Sires were selected on personal merit in birth weight and growth, but did not
offset the adverse effect of inbreeding. Inbred dams did not have any significant
effect on the weight of their offspring.
By 1950, however, 15 blind lambs were born which traced back to a purchased
sire. These died soon thus minimising the increase of gene frequency for this blind-
ness. It was estimated that by eliminating defective animals it would take 80
years to reduce the frequency of gene 'b' from 0.07 to 0.061. For quicker progress
the heterozygotes would need sorting out by testing with the double recessives.
(S.V.C.)
September 1955]
ABSTRACTS
257
The control of leucosis in the fowl. F. B. HUTT. World's Poult. Sci. J. 7, 1, 16-25
L OSSES from this disease can be reduced to an insignificant figure by strict
isolation of growers from older birds. Where complete isolation cannot be
practised, losses can be reduced by brooding chicks as far away as possible from the
old birds. Breeding for resistance is by far the most promising. Two procedures
can be followed for this purpose: (1) Mass selection which consists in breeding
from yearling hens for even older, which are obviously the resistant survivors, the
most susceptible ones having been eliminated by natural selection, (2) Progeny
testing consists in breeding from sires and dams proven to produce offspring that
are comparatively resistant to the disease and otherwise desirable, the testing period
being from 43 to 599 days. In breeding for resistance to this disease, selection for
other economic characters like egg size, body size, ability to lay and reproduce, can
also be made as none of these characters is incompatible with resistance to this
disease.
To carry out the susceptibility test a randomised sample—three hatches out of
ten—may be used to show up the best and worst families. The necessary exposure
can usually be ensured by brooding the chicks close to older hens using the same
attendant for both. Breeding for resistance should always be combined with
brooding in isolation:
Just like laying tests to reveal the superiority of laying ability of flocks, a test
to compare the viability of different strains, particularly their resistance to leucosis,
has been started in the U.S.A. with encouraging results. The author rightly states
that "We have to live with this disease instead of eradicating it ". Natural selec-
tion should be supplemented by careful breeding to eliminate susceptible families.
(H. P. T.)
The utilization of molasses and urea in the rations of growing dairy cattle.
V. R. BOHMAN, G. W. TOIMBORGER, K. LEESLI AND TURTK. (1954) J. Dairy Sci.
37, 3, 284-293
A N investigation was undertaken to study the utilization of molasses at high
levels of supplementation and also to study the utilization of urea with molasses
as carbohydrate supplement when fed with low quality hay on 80 growing dairy
heifers for a period of two years. Nitrogen balance and digestibility studies on eight
bull calves were also conducted using two replicates of a 4x4 latin square design.
In these experiments mixed poor quality hay was supplemented as follows:
Ration I, cane molasses and urea; Ration II, corn and soybean oil meal; Ration III,
cane molasses and soybean oil meal; and Ration IV, cane molasses, corn and urea.
All the concentrates were isocaloric and contained equal amount of digestible crude
protein. The animals had free access to dicalcium phosphate, salt and water.
258
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
The results of these trials indicate that the rations containing urea and molasses
were not as adequate for growth as those containing soybean oil meal. Molasses
could not be considered a suitable carbohydrate for utilization of urea by the mi-
croflora when fed without or with little starchy carbohydrate. Incorporation of
1.2 lb. of corn to the ration containing molasses and urea reflected in an increase in
daily gain but the increase was not statistically significant. The nitrogen balance
studies indicated that adequate synthesis of protein from urea did not occur.
Molasses depressed the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein,
crude fibre and ether extract. Corn and soybean oil meal ration was found to produce
more rapid gains than the molasses and soybean oil meal ration.
Excellent growth rate was, however, obtained when good quality leguminous
hay replaced poor quality hay in the molasses urea ration, thus showing that high
levels of molasses can produce satisfactory gains when the fodder is rich in protein.
(P. N. J.)
Results of experimental trials with antibiotics. K. J. CARPENTER, World's Poult. Sci.
9, 1, 16-20
T HE possible benefit in poultry husbandry to be obtained by the use of anti-
biotics such as aureomycin, bactiracin, terramycin, procaine penicillin, etc. as
dietary supplements for healthy chickens, is an increased body weight at four weeks
of age, which according to the author is of no direct value to the average poultry-
keeper. In Great Britain the production of table eggs is by far the most important
section of the industry while feed cost is the major item.
Results of experiments carried out by workers in America and Scotland, have
shown that antibiotics in general are of no benefit for laying birds. For breeding
stocks, the antibiotics have failed to increase fertility or hatchability when added
to good rations.
In respect of table bird production and the use of antibiotics to stimulate live-
weight increase, 11 per cent weight gain was obtained at 12 weeks of age while no
significnat difference in quality of the meat was detected. When fed at a general
level of 20 grams per ton of feed, aureomycin, bactiracin, terramycin and procaine
penicillin were equally active, the last preparation, however, was active even at
low levels such as 2 grams per ton. Crude fermentation residues containing vitamin
B 12 were the first poultry supplements used in the past, but it has now become
economic to add pure antibiotics for livestock feeding. The author cautions that
the use of antibiotics only will not improve the poor quality rations.
Results of feeding trials with Turkeys using the antibiotics, have also shown sti-
mulation of growth during the early stages as in chickens. (S. G. I.)
September 1955]
ABSTRACTS
259
Studies on Trichostrongylus
axei. II The pathogenesis of T. axei in sheep
maintained on a high plane of nutrition. GIBSOH, T. E. (1954). Comp. Path. Thera.,
64, 4, 360-370
T HE author has described investigations on the pathogenicity of Trichostrongylus
axei in sheep maintained at a high plane of nutrition. He used six two-month
Dorset Horn lambs maintained under worm-free conditions, out of which three were
infected with this parasite and the others kept as worm-free controls. Each of the
three lambs received a dose of 4,000 infective larvae, repeated daily until a total dose
of 120,000 larvae had been given. All the lambs were maintained at a high plane of
nutrition, the diet consisting of hay and concentrates including bran, flaked maize,
crushed oats and linseed cake fed adlibitum.
The three control lambs gained in weight steadily throughout the experimental
period. In one of the infected lambs, the rate of weight gain was arrested when the
infestation became patent. It subsequently lost weight and at the time of death it
was 16 pounds lighter than at the beginning of the experiment. The second infected
lamb gained in weight very slowly, for the first nine weeks by eight pounds. Sub-
sequently it lost weight and was 11½ pounds lighter at death than at the beginning
of the experiment. The third infected lamb suffered check in weight gain at the
time when the infestation became patent, but later on it gained in weight and
at the end of the experiment it was 50 pounds heavier than at the beginning.
The blood picture in all the control lambs was normal. There was no signi-
ficant change in the blood picture of the infected lambs. On post-mortem examina-
tion, two lambs showed acute inflammation of the abomasum. One of them showed
hydropericardium and fatty degeneration of the liver. Both the lambs were heavily
infested with this parasite, one of them having 22,200 worms while the other having
30,000 worms in the abomasum. The worm burden in the third was low, only
1,800 worms being present in the abomasum. This lamb showed ring-worm-like
healed ulcers formed in the mucous membrane of the abomasum.
He concluded that lambs maintained at a high plane of nutrition developed
severe parasitic gastritis due to T. axei. Lambs which recovered, suffered a check
in weight gain from the time the infestation became patent till the resistance was
developed. Acute inflammation of the abomasum resulted in lambs which suc-
cumbed, while ring-work-like ulcers scattered over the mucuous membrane of the
abomasum developed in the lambs which survived the infestation.
The author has drawn interesting comparisons with his previous observations
in which infected lambs kept at a low plane of nutrition developed anaemia. It
was postulated that this anaemia might have been caused by worm abosrbing large
amounts of trace-elements or vitamins from the gut contents of the infested sheep.
(P.G.D.)
260
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXV, Part III,
Play in domestic cattle in Britain: An analysis of its nature.
BROWNLEE A. (1954), Brit. Vet. J. 110, 2
(1) The manifestations of play in domestic cattle and the conditions of its occur-
rence have been described.
(2) The theory is proposed that play in cattle, instead of being, as Groos thought,
manifestations of a number of instincts before they were actually required for serious
purposes, is in fact one instinct with its own drive, releasers, emotion, consummatory
phase and goal.
(3) The goal of play is not to be found in the animal's environment but is tissue-
trophic and serves to exercise and thereby maintain tone and adequate vascularisa-
tion of the play muscles and the other structures involved in play behaviour.
(4) A drived survival value of play is the familiarising to the animal of certain
items in its environment in relation to its play movements: play continues in an
environment long after this familiarity has been established.
(5) There is variation in the type of releaser to which individual cattle respond.
(6) Sex and age modify the manifestations of play.
(7) Rivalry, if it operates at all in play in cattle, is only a minor motive.
(8) Whether the tendency during play for the behaviour pattern to switch in
succession from one type to another should be interpreted as being due to diffusion
of stimuli from one centre to another within the central nervous system or whether
the releaser of play is a gestalt and all the play items in that gestalt become valent
together is discussed.
(9) The tendency for a bovine animal to play is influenced by its state of nutri-
tion.
(10) The classification of mounting by bullocks and by dioestrous and pregnant
females is discussed and reasons for putting this behaviour under the rubric of play
are given.
(11) The term para-activity is suggested for play to indicate that, although play
resembles in its behaviour the patterns of combat, self-defence, flight, and sex
mounting, it is in fact an entirely separate phenomenon. (H. K. L.)
(Author's own summary)
REVIEWS
INDEX OF TREATMENT
BY W. HAMILTON KIRK
(Published by Bailliere, Tindall & Cox, London, 1954, pp. 888, price 45s.)
I N bringing out the third edition of this book, the author has greatly succeeded
in making available the latest information on the subject to the benefit of animal
practitioners. The chapters on sera and vaccine therapy, vitamins and hormones
therapy are few of the well-written chapters. The chapter on electro and actino
therapy is written in a simple way. The latest treatment for distemper described in
the book is well worth a trial in this country. The list of numerous proprietary
drugs used in practice will, no doubt, help the practitioner a great deal, but additional
information on their dosage and therapeutic uses would have added to its usefulness.
Special mention should be made of the chapter on Hormone Therapy in which the
author has attempted to furnish exhaustive information on this modern method of
treatment.
The book should serve as a good reference book on canine and feline therapeutics.
Moreover, the fact that within a period of six years the third edition of the book
has been printed clearly indicates its popularity among general practitioners and
senior veterinary college students to whom the publication is invaluable. The
book is very well bound and illustrated and contains full posological table, list of
proprietary preparations and index.
Coming as it is from the hands of an experienced practitioner, the book should
prove a useful aid to animal practitioners. (M. R. M.)
GENETIC HOMEOSTASIS
BY I. MICHAEL LERNER
(Published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1954, pp. 143)
H OMEOSTASIS is the totality of the interactions in the living system with
the internal and external environments, and is extremely useful in biology. In
various physiological fields, this biological aspect has been fairly widely recognised.
It is, therefore, heartening to find that the author has very diligently woven together
the widely scattered facts of genetic homeostasis into a sound whole. Undoubtedly,
this theme centres round the Mendalian conception of heredity. The general
hypothesis stresses its specific applicability on cross-fertilized genetic systems of
population; the response of population to selection for metric traits; the role of
heterozygosity in population of the domestic animals; the adverse effects of inbreed-
ing; heterozygosity in drosophila, etc. The author stresses on the fact that natural
selection in animals encourages organisms to possess better homeostatic system.
261
262
REVIEWS
[Vol XXV, Part III,
The author's hypothesis is based on the principle of additive inheritance of quan-
titative traits and may be applicable to unimproved population for any desired
traits, but they may not produce immediate results.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the meaning of
homeostasis and general hypothesis connected with it. The second part is dedicated
to specific evidences of the subject matter while the third part deals with the inter-
pretations of various findings. The book is suitably illustrated and contains a
comprehensive bibliography.
This book should prove very useful for students of genetics. (P. B.)
FERTILITY AND INFERTILITY IN THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS
BY J. A. LAING
(Published by Bailliere, Tindall and Cox Ltd., London, 1955, pp. 256, price 35s.)
F ULL reproductive efficiency in animals is one of the fundamental requisites
for economical production of animals and, consequently, of food. In recent years
particularly, considerable attention has been paid to the different aspects of fertility
and infertility in domestic livestock. The subject is so vast, and it treads into so
many different fields, that the presentation in the form of a text-book of up-to-date
knowledge of the subject, derived from extensive personal experience of the author
as well as reports and observations scattered widely in literature, must indeed
have been a difficult task. There is also likely to be much difference of opinion
about what should, and what should not, be included in a text-book meant for
the use of not only veterinary sugreons but also veterinary and agriculture students.
Nevertheless, Dr Laing has given an excellent book which contains practically
all that the student and the field worker should know about the subject. It is
a welcome addition to veterinary literature, and is expected to serve a very useful
purpose. Those engaged in animal production or in teaching should find much
valuable material in this book.
The subject matter is divided into 17 chapters and covers reproductive physio-
logy of male and female animals of different species, methods of clinical examina-
tion, technique of artificial insemination, diagnosis of pregnancy, and infectious
and non-infectious diseases affecting fertility. Good space is devoted to the
important role of infection in the aetiology of infertility, but the chapter dealing
with nutritional disorders and infertility might also have been allotted a little more
space.
The general get-up of the book is good and it is well illustrated with 27 highly
instructive plates and about as many figures. It is hoped due care will be taken
to ensure that future editions are completely free from proof-correction lapses
and minor flaws in language. It might have been advisable to omit the sub-title.
since it does not read well with the title. (R.N.M.)
MGIPC—M—27 AR/55—16-9-55—770.