NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1933.
15
recorded. Correspondence was carried on with the Military autho-
rities in Jubbulpore, concerning a large-scale field trial of the drug
Antimosan in this disease, but for various reasons the results were not
available till the close of the year.
At the request of Prof. J. H. Ashworth of Edinburgh, Dr. M. Khalil
of Cairo, and the U. S. A. Bureau of Animal Industry, samples of
preserved growths and stained sections of this disease were forwarded
to them. From the last mentioned source, the interesting information
that a " Snoring disease ", resembling the Indian condition in its
clinical features, has been reported in dairy animals belonging to the
Bureau at Jeanerette, Louisiana, was obtained.
Through the courtesy of the Imperial Bureau of Animal Health,
Weybridge, England, a précis of the only available report of a human
case of Nasal Schistosomiasis by E. Moras (1921), in a Brazilian
publication, inaccessible in India, was obtained.
V.—BOVINE ENZOOTIC HAEMATURIA.
Several clinical cases of the disease were destroyed and the portal
and vesical veins were searched for the presence of Schistosomes but
the hopes raised last year were not realised. Intensive work in other
directions prevented any further progress; but sections from some
more cases of the disease were examined and the picture of villous
papillomata with varying degrees of tendency to malignancy was a
prominent feature in all cases. In sections prepared from a few
haematuria-bladders, however, certain peculiar macrophage-like cells
with a definite host-reaction against them were detected. As their exact
nature was not clear, the possibility of some relationship existing being
entamoeba infection and haematuria was studied by Mr. Mobbs by
attempting to culture this organism from the urine of affected animals
in Boeck and Drbohlav's medium, but with negative results.
Information upon this condition, as far as available in this country,
was supplied to workers in Australia.
VI.—SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN HORSES.
The occurrence of a form of persistent debility amongst equines
in India, associated with nodulated lesions in enlarged livers has been
known for a very long time. The earliest description deserving consi¬
deration is by F. Smith in 1885 under the designation of " Calcareous
degenerations in the horse". The condition is of some economic
importance, since it is known to be prevalent amongst army animals
in India and there is reason to believe that heavy losses are incurred
also by the civil population. Preserved tissue for histological examina-
tion was available from about 80 cases, which had either naturally
succumbed to this disease or which were in such a "worn out" and
incurable condition that they had to be destroyed. Intensive work
carried out during the year has shown that this peculiar affection of
equines in India is a form of intestinal schistosomiasis due to S. indicum,
a parasite which has been also recorded from goats, sheep, bulls and
16
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPL. INST. OF VETY. RESEARCH,
camels. The whole composite picture of the disease and its micros-
copic lesions in the various organs have been described in a detailed
article, which is being published in the Indian Journal of Veterinary
Science and Animal Husbandry.
Some snails were collected from enzootic areas of the disease from
time to time during the year, and Dr. B. Prashad, Superintendent,
Zoological Survey of India, was kind enough to identify them, but
further work is necessary before the natural intermediate host of
S. indicum is determined.
VII.- NON-SWEATING IN HORSES.
Pieces of skin from half a dozen horses affected with non-sweating,
on histological examination, revealed varying degrees of atrophy of
the sweat glands and fibrosis of the blood vessels supplying these glands.
Of these cases, the thyroid gland from one case only showed an abnor-
mality, consisting of a distinct congestion and increase of fibrous
connective tissue. An attempt was made to confirm the work on " Dry
Coat", as it is called in Malaya, recorded by Tull and Wright in the
Veterinary Journal of 1925, but contrary to their findings, no micro-
organism could be isolated by cultural methods from samples of blood
collected from two clinical cases at Muttra.
VIII.—LICHEN TROPICUS.
Skin sections from clinical cases were studied, and intense eosino¬
philia in and around the blood vessels of the 3ubcutis was consistently
seen, indicating a possible helminthic origin for this disease.
IX.—EQUINE PARAPLEGIA.
An outbreak of paraplegia was reported amongst some fillies at the
Army Remount Depôt at Sargodha in the Punjab and this provided
another opportunity for investigating this interesting condition at this
Institute. The disease was restricted to one set of paddocks, situated in
the centre of the depot, notwithstanding the fact that movement of
animals from this to other paddocks had been taking place previously and
the source of the forage and water supply was the same for the whole
depot. There were 357 mules and 166 fillies in these paddocks The
ages of the animals varied from 2½ to 4 years and most of them had
been in the depot for periods varying from 1 to 2½ years. It is not
clear why no cases occurred among fillies of the same ages in other
parts of the depot.
Nineteen cases occurred during the outbreak and they ranged from
mild to severe, the only clinical symptoms discernible in a number of
cases being varying degrees of incoordination of the hind quarters. In
both the acute and mild cases, the temperature usually remained normal,
hyperpyrexia setting in rapidly in acute cases a few hours prior to
death. In the earlier stages, the affected animals look bright and feed
well but some dribbling of urine is seen in all cases. The late rise of
temperature before death probably indicates complications. Of the 19
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1933.
17
animals concerned, 12 were of the mild type, and 7 of the severe type.
One of the acute cases was kept up on its legs by improvised slings and
it is noteworthy that this animal continued in this state for about 70
days without any further developments until it was destroyed. The
beneficial results of slings in this condition were recorded by Poyser in
1885. Although in the earlier stages, the disease appeared to be purely
a spinal affection, there is little doubt that in at least the acute cases the
brain is also affected, for varying periods of excitement and coma
were seen.
Judging from the records, the occurrence of this condition has been
noted on many occasions since about 1872 in several places in India,
and sometimes at least it seems to have been confused with Kumri.
Actual enzootics of Kumri have also been described from time to time,
and in future it will be necessary to distinguish carefully between the
two conditions, if this is possible, but there is, of course, the possibility
that these conditions are merely different manifestations of one and the
same infection.
At present however the evidence is that they are different, the most
striking difference being the more sudden onset and the septicaemic con-
dition of the carcase, as has been observed in the course of two autopsies,
resembling cases of Enzootic Encephalomyelitis or Borna disease, de-
scribed in France by Moussu and Marchand in 1924.
As on previous occasions, laboratory examination of various material
from these cases, as also attempts at experimental transmission by feed-
ing, and inoculation through different routes into both small animals
and horses failed to produce any significant results. There was no
evidence of any anaerobic infection in any of the material examined.
X.—STERILITY.
Some preliminary work on the application of the Aschheim-Zondek
test in the domestic animals was carried out. The results with pregnant
mare's urine, apart from keratinisation of the vaginal epithelium of ex-
perimental mice and rabbits, were inconclusive.
XI.—PNEUMONIA.
The laboratory studies upon the Muktesar series of Pasteurella cul-
tures, recovered from the lungs of animals suffering from pneumonia,
was completed by Mr. Mobbs. In respect of virulence for the rabbit
and serological reactions, the cultures were divisible into two distinct
groups, confirming the grouping arranged on the basis of biochemical
tests, already mentioned in last year's report. The virulence of the
of the Group I cultures for the goat is still under examination.
XII.—PERITONITIS IN GOATS.
Corynebacterium pyogenes, sometimes accompanied by Streptococcus
anginosus, was invariably found during cultural studies upon material
from an outbreak of purulent peritonitis amongst the local herd of goats.
18
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPL. INST. OF VETY. RESEARCH,
XIII.—PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS IN EQUINES.
It was mentioned in last year's report that a strain of P. pseudotuber-
culosis rodentium was isolated from one type of the lung lesions found
in a specimen of glanderous lung. Experiments were carried out with
a view to determine whether any connection existed between an infection
with this organism and the production of false mallein reactions. The
experiment failed to demonstrate any virulence of the culture for
equines, or the possibility of its interfering with mallein tests.
A similar case was encountered during the year under report, in the
course of cultural examination of material received from a mare, reacting
positively to mallein and believed to be glandered. No evidence of
B. mallei infection was obtained either by cultural examination or
guinea-pig inoculation, but P. pseudotuberculosis rodentium was isolated
from a skin lesion and a lymph gland. From the ulcerated septum nasi,
however, a strain of Streptococcus equi was recovered.
XIV.—NEOPLASMS.
The study of the incidence of various types of neoplasms in animals
in India, commenced last year, was continued by Mr. Krishna Iyer and
further interesting information upon the macroscopic and microscopic
features of these was collected.
XV.—FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER IN PREGNANT DONKE
Sections from two cases at the Army Remount Depot, Mona were
studied. This condition appears to be very similar to the condition
known as " Pregnancy disease in ewes ".
XVI.—CASEOUS LYMPHADENITIS IN SHEEP.
A case was detected in the Hyderabad State. This would appear
to be only the second case of the disease to be discovered in this
country.
XVII.—HELMINTHOLOGICAL STUDIES.
(1) The determination of Limnaea acuminata, as the intermediate
host of the cattle fluke, Fasciola gigantica, was referred to last year.
The complete life-history of this fluke was worked out by Mr. Bhalerao
during the year under report. The incriminated molluscs, infected with
larval forms of this fluke, were collected from streams near Almora,
and two cattle and two goats were experimentally infected with the
cercariae emerging from the snails. The larvae developed into adult
flukes in all the four animals in about three months, causing extensive
liver lesions and other symptoms of the disease.
(2) The completion of systematic work upon the identity of the
schistosome of Bovine Nasal Granuloma has already been referred to.
The species has been identified as S. spindalis, Montgomery, and while
recording this information, the opportunity was taken to revise the
description of some other memuers of the Schistosomidae, viz., S.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1933.
19
indicum and Ornithobilharzia turkestanicum. It has also been suggested
that S. mattheei, Veglia and Le Roux, and S. curassoni, Brumpt, should
be considered as synonyms of S. bovis. Sonsino.
(3) Through the courtesy of Dr. P. A. Maplestone of the Tropical
School of Medicine, Calcutta, an opportunity was also afforded to
study some specimens of S. japonicum collected from a pig in Calcutta.
As there has been no previous record of the occurrence of S. japonicum
in this country, these specimens have an unusual interest.
(4) Many Nematodes obtained from domestic animals and poultry
were studied in detail, and, as a result of this, several forms new to
science have been described and others recorded for the first time in
this country.
XVIII.—ROUTINE EXAMINATIONS.
(1) Post-mortem examinations.—A total of 1,381 autopsies were
carried out during the year, against 1,459 during the preceding year.
The actual Lumber of each species of animals examined was as
follows: —
Cattle
Buffaloes
Equines
Goats
Sheep
Dogs
Cat
Rabbits
Guinea-pigs
Poultry
Rats
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
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.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
500
7
9
450
19
23
1
175
117
42
38
The etiological diagnosis arrived included rinderpest in 537 out
of 976 cases of cattle, goats and sheep i.e. nearly 54.6 per cent. of the
total number; redwater (due to B. bigeminum) in 54 cases or nearly
10 per cent. of cattle, and bovine coccidiosis in 78 cases or 15 per cent.
of cattle. As in previous years, both these diseases occurred almost
entirely as complicating affections resuscitated by rinderpest. Pneu-
monia caused 319 deaths or about 32 per cent. of the total mortality
amongst large animals. Of these pneumonic cases, 94.5 per cent. were
in goats, and 83 per cent. of these again were animals which had been
inoculated with the rinderpest virus.
(2) Routine Pathology —
Outside specimens
.
.
.
Tubes of worms collected at Muktesar
Tubes of worms received from outside
Samples of faeces
Skin scrapings
.
.
.
.
Rectal smears and bowel washings
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
143
1,006
65
565
21
96
1,896
20
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPL. INST. OF VETY. RESEARCH,
REPORT OF THE SEROLOGY SECTION.
(MR. J. R. HADDOW, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M.,
Officiating 1st Veterinary Research Officer.)
I.—RINDERPEST.
1. Duration of immunity following goat virus inoculation.—The
immunisation of the young cross-bred stock in the Muktesar Dairy
Herd has been confined in previous years to the serum-simultaneous
method using either bull or goat virus. The results of these inocula-
tions which have been briefly noted in earlier reports have now been
submitted for publication. During this year it was decided to carry
out the immunisation of the young stock by vaccination with goat
virus alone. Thirty seven calves ranging from 1 to 20 months old
were immunised by this method and although the reactions in some
cases gave cause for anxiety, only two fatalities occurred, one of which
was a calf heavily infected with Johne's disease. The other died
suddenly on the fifth evening after inoculation. The cause of death
was undiagnosed and sub-inoculation of blood and spleen tissue taken
post-mortem failed to produce rinderpest.
The vaccination of calves with goat virus has since been extended
to the Imperial Dairy Farm, Karnal, and the Military Dairy Farm,
Jullundur. At the former farm 63 calves including four buffalo calves
ranging from 5 to 17 months old were inoculated. Most of the animals
exhibited well-marked reactions with rapid and complete recovery in
every case.
The details of the Jullundur inoculations are not at present avail-
able, but it has been reported that no fatalities occurred.
As in the serum-simultaneous method a number of calves, most
frequently the youngest, failed to react and in order to study the
sequence of events in these animals sub-inoculations were carried out
and in certain cases it was observed that the blood was infective while
in others, even where comparatively large quantities were used, no
infection could be transmitted. The results of serum-simultaneous
inoculations of calves using both bull and goat virus have indicated
that, provided a reaction occurs, no matter how mild the reaction may
be, a durable immunity (at least four years) will be developed, but that
in those cases where no reaction occurs a certain proportion develop no
immunity, or a low immunity of comparatively short duration. The
younger the animals are at the time of inoculation the greater the pro-
portion of failures.
As the immunisation of young stock in Dairy Herds is much more
convenient than the immunisation of mature animals an attempt is
being made to overcome this difficulty by re-vaccinating the calves with
bull virus alone at varying periods after the original inoculation with
goat virus, in the hope that this will reinforce any immunity already
given and " catch" those animals which proved refractory to the first
inoculation. The first series of re-inoculations on 13 calves was carried
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1933.
23
satisfactory separation was obtained at 0° C. with concentration of
alcohol ranging from 15 to 30 per cent. The antibody content of the
precipitated fraction increased with the concentration of alcohol used
for precipitation. The alcohol precipitates were found to be more
readily soluble and stable than the ammonium sulphate precipitates,
and, as they can be dissolved in considerably less (usually about 1-5th)
bulk than that of the original serum, concentration could be readily
achieved. A series of experiments with sera concentrated in this
manner have been commenced.
II.—ANTHRAX.
In continuation of the work reported last year some " Carbozoo"
vaccine, made in accordance with the recommendations of Mazzucchi,
for the efficacy of which excellent results are reported from Europe,
has been tested. The results appeared to be excellent, but it was felt
that the size of the swellings following upon inoculation were so
great that the application of the vaccine would not be acceptable to the
average Indian stock-owner. Attempts to reduce the swellings by
varying the ratio of the components were unsuccessful. A trial of the
vaccine under field conditions will be attempted when opportunity
occurs. Experiments with aggression were also undertaken but were
not completed.
III—BLACKQUARTER.
The routine preparation of Blackquarter Aggressin continued to give
trouble this year and a large amount of time was devoted to the
improvement of this product. In view of the good results reported
from other countries upon the efficacy of formalinised whole cultures,
experiments were directed towards the preparation of a vaccine as
used by Leclainche and Vallée in France and by other workers. The
result of the first experiment indicated that such a vaccine is more
economical to prepare and produces a higher grade of immunity than
natural aggressin. Further work upon the manufacture of the vaccine
on a commercial basis will be undertaken with a view to replacing the
natural aggressin now being used.
IV.—HÆMORRHAGIC SEPTICÆMIA.
The detailed results of the vaccination against Haemorrhagic
Septicaemia of the young stock at the Goverument Cattle Breeding
Farm, Dacca, have not yet been received, but so far no further deaths
from this cause have been reported.
V.—BOVINE CONTAGIOUS ABORTION.
Agglutination tests and cultural examinations were continued as
in former years. Reports from selected dairies indicate that the
incidence of actual abortions in known infected herds has been com-
paratively low during the last four years.
VI.—BOVINE LYMPHANGITIS.
The examination of material from animals at the Government Cattle
Farm, Rangpur, Bengal, was continued and in four out of seven cases
B. pseudotuberculosis rodentium was isolated. A vaccine manufactured
24
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPL. INST. OF VETY. RESEARCH,
on the lines of that used by Mr. V. Krishnamurti Ayyer in Madras
has been issued and the preliminary report suggests that its application
has been attended with a certain measure of success in early cases.
Further work upon this condition is contemplated.
VII.—AMAUROSIS IN CALVES.
The investigation of the abortions of non-specific origin occurring
at the Military Dairy, Quetta, last year indicated that the Vitamin
A content of the diets of these animals was deficient and that the
mineral content was either deficient or unbalanced Accordingly the
further examination of this condition was combined with the investi-
gation of blindness in calves. Investigations at Karachi and Quetta
revealed the fact that this condition is not confined to Quetta, but is
widespread throughout the Indus valley and may possibly occur in
other parts of India. Although previous records suggested the pos-
sibility of a specific infective agent, no evidence of such a cause could
be collected this year On the other hand blood analyses carried out
upon animals of the Quetta herd, in which the condition most com-
monly occurs. indicated that the blood calcium is low in many of these
animals, and that the metabolism of both calcium and phosphorus is
defective. It was noted that the addition of cod liver oil to the diet
increased the assimilation and retention of these minerals. A con-
trolled experiment under the direction of the Military Dairy Farm
authorities is now in progress with a view to ascertaining the effect of
the addition of cod liver oil and bone meal to the usual diet.
Although, as already stated, the disease is wide-spread the incidence
in ordinary village cattle is insignificant, but where intensive methods
of milk production are practised the incidence increases, and in those
parts where green fodder cannot be fed for prolonged periods it may
encrease to such an extent that 30 per cent. or more of the calves may
be born blind. The investigation is still in progress and attempts at
experimental production of the condition are being made.
VIII.—OTHER BOVINE DISEASES.
(a) The exanthematous infection in the Muktesar Dairy Herd
described last year died out on account of the lack of " clean " animals.
The disease passed rapidly through the herd but, whereas in the first
cases udder lesions were a constant finding, these lesions became less
severe in animals later infected and finally the lesions were confined to
the vulva and vagina. The disease resembled that described as Infec-
tious Vaginal Catarrh.
(b) Further material from cases of septic pneumonia in calves was
examined with results similar to those reported last year. As a hæ¬
morrhagic diarrhœa is also almost constantly associated with the early
symptoms of pneumonia in these cases it was thought that the cause
might be an organism of the coli type similar to that found in calf
dysentery. Although a coliform organism was isolated from the heart
blood in one or two cases no relation between these organisms and the
condition in the calves was established.