NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
ABSTRACTS
The diseases of small animals communicable to man. CUMMINGS SUMNER, K. (1952).
B. Vet. J. 108, 7, 246-256
T HE W.H.O's report [1951] on Zoonoses lists 80 diseases naturally transmitted
from vertebrate animals to man ; of these (excluding helminth diseases) about
13 are capable of transmission by dogs and about five by cats. The author has
detailed and discussed the role of small domestic animals in the transmission of
diseases to man and brought forth facts of interest and import from a public
health point in Britain.
Leptospira canicola infects dog and man and with 40 to 50 per cent of urban
dogs having been found to be carrying infection and the transmission being possible
through unbroken skin, a real danger has been pointed out. Tuberculosis, mostly
occurring in lungform in the dog, presents its risks. Texoplasmosis, which has
recently been suggested to be more prevalent in man than hitherto suspected, is
another malady to be looked into, specially when it is difficult to diagnose it clinically
and the methods of transmission as also the portals of entry into the body are still
not definite. Rabies, Hydatid disease, Leptospiral jaundice, Salmonella food
poisoning and Ringworm have also been described and the risk of infection to man
notified.
Inspite of the above, the number of occasions, as reviewed from the Medical
and Veterinary literature, in which transmission to man did occur, is thus relatively
small. [B.N.G.]
Epizootic Cerebro-spinal Nematodiasis or Setariasis, focal encephalomyelomalacia
in animals in the Orient caused by immature Setaria digitata : a disease which may
occur in animals in other parts of the world. INNES, J.R.M. CHUSABURO SHOHO,
AND PERUMAL PILLAI, C. (1952). B. Vet. J. 103,3, 71-88
T HE authors have traced the choronological developments in the investigation
of a new nervous disease identified by the Japanese workers—Niimi, Kimura,
and Emoto, etc. in Japan and Korea.
Sometimes an epizootic, the disease, usually, occurs as a regular seasonal enzootic
during late summer and autumn. It affects sheep, goats and horses in Japan, sheep
and goats in Korea, and goats in Ceylon, attacking mainly youngsters and adults.
Onset is dramatically sudden or subacute after an incubation period of about one
month, and there is no pyrexia or other constitutional signs except motor weakness,
ataxia in the hind limbs only or in all four, leading to swaying, tumbling and complete
paralysis. Neurological symptoms are related to the situation of the lesion in the
brain or spinal cord. The lesions (usually only one or a few) are a focal, descrete
necrotising encephalomyelitis (or malaria) with a diverse distribution corresponding
to the haphazard wanderings of the carnal worm, the mosquito-stage microfilariae
73
17
74
ABSTRACTS
[ Vol. XXIII, Part I,
of Setaria digitata. These immature worms do not appear in the blood stream when
transferred into 'an unnatural host' but invade the nervous system which has been
proved to be a seat of predilection for worms attacking an unnatural host. Experi-
mental evidence proves the lesions to be due to traumatic damage to the nerve tissue
caused by the wandering worm.
The meticulous study of the pathological material that led towards the dis-
covery of the malady by the Japanese research workers is a great pointer for others
to follow. A reference is made to not yet fully investigated paralytic conditions in
different parts of the globe in which the existing data suggest a possible, nematudal
cause (e.g. Equine parapalagia (kumri) and goat paralysis in India and Wobblers in
horses in the U.S.A.).
Skin tests using setaria antigen and complement fixation tests have been
suggested for diagnosis. [H.K.L.]
The intradermal inoculation of lapinised rinderpest vaccine, SCOTT, G. R. (1952).
Vet. Rec. 64 .(10), 137-39
T HE author used Kabete passaged nakamura III strain of lapinised rinderpest
virus. Subcutaneous inoculation of two c.c. 10-4 dilution or 0.0002 gm. of freeze
dried tissue (blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph gland) virus titrated in cattle was
regarded as one m.i.d. Twenty m.i.ds, i.e. 0.004 gm. in two c.c. are used as one sub-
cutaneous vaccinating dose in routine field immunization in Kenya. For immunity
test vaccinated cattle are challenged between 9 to 14 days with Kabete ' O ' bovine
spleen virulent virus. Most of the animals use were high grade and fully susceptible
European cattle.
Under laboratory conditions, the minimal intradermal immunizing dose that
protected cattle regularly was 0.00001 gm. in 0.2 c.c. saline but in field trials, 40
times intradermal m.i.d., (i.e. 0.0004 gm.) in 0.2 c.c. was inoculated. Thus, in field
vaccination by intradermal route, there is tenfold saving of the vaccine over the
subcutaneous route while at the same time the number of immunizing doses is
doubled. Therefore, there is twentyfold reduction in the amount of virus by
intradermal route of immunization. During shortage of supply of vaccine the
intradermal route should be resorted to. Each of 1022 animals were successfully
immunized intradermally without any thermal reaction with 0.2 c.c. of 1/500 dilution,
i.e. 0.0004 gm. of lapinized vaccine. Eighteen vaccinates were picked out at random
and challenged at intervals between 24 and 85 days after vaccination and only one
proved susceptible. Due to peculiar pattern of cattle crushes in Kenya, the area
over ribs was found to be a more convenient site than the ventral aspect of the root
of the tail during field immunization.
Suggestion for use of McLintock automatic syringe in preference to ordinary
dental syringe in field trials of intradermal inoculation is made. [P.C.G.]
76
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXIII, Part I,
factor present or absent in the pastures which seriously interferes with the metabo-
lism of copper in the calves, particularly of certain beef breeds at a critical time in
their development from 2 to 6 months of age. [K.S.]
Effect of dried cow manure on growing pullets. ROSENBERG, M. M. AND PALAFOX
L. A. (1951). World Poult. Sci. J. 7 (4), 272-279
W ITH sixty-seven week old New Hampshire pullets randomised into one control
and three experimental groups, this experiment was carried out to study
growth rate, feed consumption from 7 to 25 weeks of age, age of maturity, daily egg
production and physical characteristics of eggs as judged by number, weight,
incidence of double-Tolks, body check or cracked eggs, meat and blood spots.
The control ration (Gr. I) was a grower ration which was replaced to the extent
of 5 (Gr.II), 10 (Gr. III) and 15 (Gr. IV) per cent by oven dried (not above 158°F.)
cow manure from lactating cow, maintaining the same protein level of approxi-
mately 16.5 per cent with additional herring meal.
The results indicate that the growth rates in Gr. II and III were as good as
in the control group I. Group III showed slower rate of growth all through the
experiment but the difference was not found statistically significant. This difference
would probably have been significant with larger number of birds. Less total
feed consumption was noted in Gr. II, III and IV but on the basis of the feed per
pound gain, they consumed more. The age of maturity and the rate of production
of eggs in Gr. II and III was similar to controls Gr. I, whereas sexual maturity was
delayed and egg production during the first five weeks after onset of production
was definitely less in Gr. IV than in control Gr. I. Concentrations above 10 per
cent of cow manure seemed to retard sex maturity and diminish the intensity of
ovulation. A conclusion, similar to Turner's that the Androgenic hormone in
rations containing 5 and 10 per cent of oven-dried cow manure was sublethal to
suppress the gonadotrophic effect of the anterior pituitory and hence to retard the
growth rate or delay the age of sexual maturity and later, egg-production to 25
weeks of age, was drawn.
A definite inverse relationship between concentration of cow-manure and fre-
quency of double-yolked eggs existed. A statistically significant difference was.
also observed on the incidence of broken eggs but could not be interpreted in absence
of data on blood-calcium.
The experiment indicates that the oven-dried cow manure can be fed to poultry
with good advantage when included up to 10 per cent in the grower ration.
[A. K. P.]
The effect of the dietary plane upon the reactions of two breeds of sheep during short
exposures to hot environments. RIEK, R. F., MARGARET, H., HARDY, D. H., LEE,
K. AND CARTER, H.B. (1950). Austr. J. agric. Res. 1, 217
FIVE Camden Park Merino and six Corriedale ewes were taken for this investi-
gation. Each breed was divided into three groups based on low, medium and
high dietary planes respectively. The animals were exposed for seven hours a
78
ABSTRACTS
[
Vol. XXIII, Part 1,
The viability and potency of freeze-dried lapinised rinderpest vaccine. SCOTT, G. R.,
and BROTHERSTON, J. G. (1952). J. Comp. Path. 62, 108-115
F REEZE dried lapinised rinderpest, vaccine, stored under vacuum at 37° C
and at room temperature (18°C. to 25°C.) out of direct sunlight, remained in-
fective to rabbits for at least 168 hours and 120 days respectively; when reconsti-
tuted in normal saline in 1 : 20 dilution and maintained at 37°C., the dried vaccine
evoked typical reactions in rabbits up to seven hours, but became completely inac-
tive after 15 hours, when maintained at room temperature out of direct sunlight,
it was viable till 42 hours and was completely inactive after 48 hours.
Freeze-dried vaccine, stored under vaccum at 36.8°C. to 37.8°C. for 48 hours
conferred immunity to grade cattle ; but storage at room temperature out of direct
sunlight preserved the immunising potency till 40 days. Reconstituted vaccine
stored at 37°C. to 38°C. lost its protective value in one hour ; when, however, it
was stored at room temperature (20°C. to 22°C.) out of direct sunlight the corres-
ponding period was six hours.
Great care has been advocated in the despatch and use of freeze-dried lapinised
rinderpest vaccine. The upper safety limit for use of reconstituted vaccine has
been suggested as 30 minutes. [T.P.B.]
The pH change in bull Semen and fertility. ANDERSON, J. (1952). J. agric. Sci. 42
(1+2), 172-174
I N this experiment the author incubated 0.5 ml. of neat, or diluted bull semen
samples for one hour at 37°C. Before and after incubation the pH of the samples
was determined by means of a Beckmann pH meter. The remaining portions of
the samples were used for inseminations. It has been observed that in general,
samples showing high pH changes due to incubation were associated with good
conception rates and vice versa. There was, however, exception to this general
correlation and it is believed that pH changes give an indirect measure of sperm
metabolism. The study of sperm metabolism alone, however, does not solve the
problems of fertilizations. [D.P.M.]
The toxicity of D.D.T. and B.H.C. for domestic animals. JOLLY, D. W. (1952). Vet.
Rec. 64, 76-81
T HE author reviews the toxicity hazards of D.D.T. and B. H.C. for domestic
animals with special reference to the symptoms, prognosis and treatment
of poisoning by these insecticides. For fuller information the reader should consult
the original article.
D.D.T., after its absorbtion into the animal body permeates all tissues, con-
centrating in the fact where it is stored as chemically unchanged D.D.T. Prolonged
administration of D.D.T. results in the building-up of the insecticide to produce a
toxic reaction. Chronic poisoning by D. D. T. causes liver damage.
80
ABSTRACTS
[ Vol. XXIII, Part I,
The most important factor influencing the physiological well-being of cattle,
appeared to be the environmental temperature, relative humidity being of secondary
importance. The lower body reactions and higher. haemoglobin concentration
of the Native and Brahman cattle, as compared to the Hereford cattle, indicate
that they acclimate better than the Hereford to the tropical climate of Puterico.
Thus the differences in the body reactions and physiological well-being between
cattle of the different breeds, indicate breed differences which are important from
the point of acclimatization and milk production. In view of the above observa-
tions the selection of cattle with high heat tolerance to climatic stress is of great
significance for the development of cattle industry in the tropics. [V.N.M.]
BOOK RECEIVED
The British Journal of Animals Behaviour.
MGIPC—M—43 AR/52—9-9-53—830.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
INDIAN WOOL
II. ASSESSMENT OF WOOL QUALITY*
By B. M. Patel, G. K. WAGLE and M. R. PADHYE, Department of Chemical
Technology, University of Bombay and B. K. VAIDYA, Assistant Director,
The Ahmedabad Textile Research Association, Ahmedabad
(Received for publication on 12 September 1952)
(With three text-figures)
T HE quality of wool is closely related to the principal physical attributes of its
fibres. The main characteristics that have a decisive influence on the quality
of wool re the length, shape, fineness, coefficient of variation crimps, strength,
resilience colour and lusture of the fibres. Vaidya and Bhatt in their paper on
Indian Wool have stressed the importance and relation of these physical attributes to
the assessment of wool which is generally done by its spinning quality. But it is
clearly stated therein that there are two factors of primary importance in assessing
Indian wools, namely the coefficient of variation as a measure of heterogeneity
and medullation or hairy portion in wool. As far as Indian wool is concerned,
however, a systematic quantitative study of these attributes has not been made
before. No definite standards, therefore, exist to judge the quality of the various
types of Indian wool, which is known in the world market as being of a very coarse
variety producing yarns of 36's and lower counts (corresponding to fibre diameters
above 40 microns) as compared with the Australian Merino wools which easily yield
yarns of 80's, 70's and 64's (corresponding to fibre diameters 19-22 microns). The
Indian wool is, therefore, mostly used for heavy woollen goods and carpet industry.
A factor of considerable importance which has been responsible for lowering the
economic value of Indian wool, is its highly heterogeneous nature as regards fineness
distribution of fibres, for it is not unusual to find in a single wool sample ready for
market high proportions of fibres, varying in thickness from 20 microns to 100
microns. (In a semi-quantitative estimate of the tolerance of C. V. for clothing
material Barker sets a limit of 25 per cent C. B.) This is the result of the almost
total absence of the proper grading of fleece, which, if carried out at all, is done in a
very primitive fashion. Further, if the grading is carried out according to the
fineness of wool on different parts of sheep-skin, as is the practice in other wool
growing countries, the task of the Indian graders would be difficult on account of
the fact that the majority of Indian sheep grow wool in which wide variations occur
in the diameter of the fibres even on a small part of the body of the sheep. With
coarseness the heterogeneity or disuniformity in fibre fineness also increases, parti-
cularly in the non-domesticated types of sheep breeds. Another serious defect
with the coarse wool is the generally increasing amount of medullation with increase
in diameter: The coarser fibres having diameter above 40 microns are generally
* Part I of the Series by Vaidya and Bhatt, Current Science, July 1947.
81
3 AR/53.
82
INDIAN WOOL II. ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY
[Vol. XXIII, Part II,
medullated, i.e. more like hair than wool. Ordinarily, a medullated fibre may be
distinguished from a wool fibre by its dead white appearance and non-resilient nature.
A non-medullated fibre on the other hand is semi-transparent or translucent and
possesses a certain amount of elasticity. When viewed under microscope non-
medullated (wool) fibres will appear to have the outer covering of scales while
medullated (hair) fibres will present an appearance of a hollow portion with dark
channels running along the length of the fibres, either continuously, broken or
interrupted and this is known as medulla. These two defects of most of the Indian
wools, namely their complete heterogeneous nature as regards fineness and their
high contamination with hair, greatly enhance the difficulties of the task of wool
grading. The comparison of the characteristics of Indian wool with foreign wools
show that these are particularly drawbacks in Indian wool.
METHODS OF ASSESSING THE FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS
The samples were scoured in 04 per cent neutral soap and then alcohol extracted
thrice, before actual examination of their fibre characteristics.
Measurement of length
The crimpy and elastic nature of wool makes the length measurement uncertain
unless carried out under specified conditions. The methods of measurement of length
may be divided into two main groups, direct and indirect.
The simplest direct method as given by Burns consists in lightly stretching a
fibre on a steel scale over black velvet box between a thumb and a forceps. This
method was followed in the present work and is described by Vaidya and Bhatt.
The other direct method of Kronacher is by threading fibres through a needle eye and
using a glass scale, is a simple modification of this.
Amongst the indirect methods the gravimetric method is quite important. It
consists in weighing a fixed number of fibres and also certain length of the fibre on a
micro-balance. B. A. S. T. M. method consists in using Suter stapler in combination
with good balance. But these methods have two principles drawbacks. Firstly
the amount of moisture in wool varies with temperature and humidity which have
hence to be strictly maintained constant and secondly these give no idea of the
statistical constants of this attribute.
Measurement of diameter
Fibre fineness is the principal characteristic which determines the quality of
wool. In the laboratory of the Wool Research Association three methods have been
adopted for fibre examination :
1. Gravimetric methods.
2. Photomicrographs of cross-sections.
3. Projection at high and low magnification.
Gravimetric method. It is well known that provided the density or specific
gravity of the material is known then the product of the length, area of cross-
section and density of a rod of given material is equal to its weight.
June, 1953] B. M. PATEL, G. K. WAGLE, M. R. PADHYE AND B. K. VAIDYA 83
W=L. A. D.,
where W is weight,
L is length,
A is area of cross-section and
d is density.
For the determination of the weight of a wool fibre two methods are available:
1. Weighing the fibres individually on a micro-balance.
2. Weighing a known number of fibres together which are of equal length and
calculating the mean weight per fibre from the result. This weighing can be done on
a precision Chemical balance or special micro-balance.
Cross-section method. The cross-section of the fibres were taken by Hardy's
microtome and the diameter of the fibres were measured under a measuring
micrometer, correct to a micron.
Microprojection method. Wool samples for the diameter measurements were made
up in the form of master samples, which were prepared from several sub-samples,
of each type according to the statistical requirements. Thus, depending on the
limits of the percentage error derived and the average fineness of the fibre the
master samples were required to have 500 to 1000 fibres. The probable error in
the mean was fixed ±2.5 per cent, which is the one generally employed in the
limits of measurements. The prepared sample was then cut up in very small
lengths of about 0.3—0.5 mm. in a special type of microtome and a suspension of
these is made up in thickened cedar-wood oil. A drop of this suspension is placed
on a microscope slide and covered with a cover slip. A Watson Patna microscope
provided with a ½" objective and a x 5 Ocular used in conjunction with a Reichert
illuminating system gave a clean image of the object, magnified five hundred times
on to the screen about six feet away. The magnification was always checked
before an examination by means of a stage micrometer. The image of the fibres
on the prepared slide are projected on the screen and the width of each is measured
with a transparent scale to the nearest millimeter, at least at two different points.
The mean of these" values gives the average width of a single fibre in the view.
Several fields have to be examined in order to make up the required number of
measurements. As the magnification is always maintained at 500 diameters of
1.0 cm. width of the projected fibre corresponds to a fibre diameter of 20 microns
(20µ=20 x 10mm.). The diameter readings which are correct to the nearest micron
are plotted, on a sectional paper so as to obtain frequency distribution curve as
shown in Fig. 1. In all cases about 350 readings were taken to calculate the statistical
errors.
From the measurements thus carried out, the mean diameter, its standard
deviation and coefficient of variation are calculated from the following relation as
necessary.
84
INDIAN WOOL II. ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY [Vol. XXIII, Part II,
Fig. 1. Frequency distribution curve
June, 1953] B. M. PATEL, G. K. WAGLE, M. R. PADHYE AND B. K. VAIDYA
86
Mean
M=Arbitrary origin ± mv/n × Group value
where m=class frequency
v=the class value and
n=number of fibres
Standard deviation
mv 2 — (mv) 2 /n
σ = n/n—1 × Group value
Coefficient of variations
C. V. = σ/M× 100
where σ=Standard deviation
M=the Mean
Measurement of medullation
Wool fibre is not a homogeneous structure but consists of two or sometimes three
layers. An outer layer of scales constituting cuticle of epidermis encloses long
spindle shaped cells called cortex.
Cuticle has a negligible thickness but is important for the felting property of
wool and the cortex as will be shown presently is always of a definite thickness of 10
to 12 microns. Fibres with thickness over about 30 microns have a third central
aerial layer of cells called medullary cells. In a good quality wool the layer of cells
is closely packed from end to end whereas in a low quality wool, it has a hollow
character continuous as in hair or discontinuous showing isolated black islands in the
third layer.
Most of the Indian breeds of sheep produce a coarse variety of wool which is
heterogeneous in the distribution of fineness and highly medullated. This is a very
undesirable feature in the Indian wool. One of the tasks of the Indian breeder,
therefore, consists of producing wool free from medullation. A determination of
degree of medullation in a wool sample is thus important from the point of view of
assessing the quality of Indian wool. It is, therefore, obvious that besides the
diameter of the fibre, medullation has also to be estimated carefully.
Various methods of estimating medullation have been used so far. Medullation
in a sample was assessed by various workers by finding the total number of different