March, 1953]
ABSTRACTS
79
Cats are most susceptible of all the domestic animals to D. D. T. poisoning.
The symptoms usually appear four to five hours after the application of the insecti-
cide and is characterised by nervous tremors persisting for several days and hyper-
' sensitivity. A reasonable treatment recommended is to narcotize or anaesthetise
the animal and to inject glucose saline or calcium borogluconate solution. A non-
oily purgative may assist in the removal of the insecticide from the intestines.
In dogs the toxic symptoms are manifested in about four to six hours after
the administration of D. D. T. The symptoms and method of treatment are the
same as mentioned for the cat. Prognosis must be guarded in this species of animal
if ventricular fibrillation is noted. Cattle sheep and goat are comparatively more
resistant to D. D. T. poisoning while the pig is most resistant to its toxic effects.
In poultry the toxic symptoms of chronic D. D. T. poisoning are anorexia and
emaciation, culminating in tremors, in coordination, collapse and death. Ad-
ministration of calcium is reported to be of some use in such cases of poisoning.
Toxicity of B.H.C. is generally considered to be less acute than that of D.D.T.
The advantage with B. H. C. is that it is insecticidal at concentrations well below
those likely to produce a toxic reaction. Cats are susceptible to B. H. C. poison-
ing also. The toxic symptoms appear about five hours after the use of B. H. C.
and last for only an hour. The suggested treatment is to narcotize or completely
anaesthetise the animal. The use of glucose saline or calcium boro-gluconate in
cases of B. H. C. poisoning has not been thoroughly investigated though this line
of treatment can be assumed to be therapeutically sound. A non-oily purgative
would also assist the removal of B. H. C. from the intestines. In dogs the toxic
symptoms are manifested by vomition, polyuria, nervous spasms and mild convul-
tions which appear from five to twelve hours after the administration of B. H. C.
Treatment is same as that recommended for the cat. In cattle, sheep and goats
the toxic symptoms are characterised by dullness, anorexia, hyper-sensitivity and
convulsions. Treatment would be symptomatic. There is no available detailed
information on the toxic hazards of B. H. C. to horses or pigs. B. H. C. is considered
to be a safe insecticide for poultry. [K. S.]
The effect of environmental temperature and relative humidity on the acclimation
of cattle to the tropics. GAZTAMBIDE ARRILLAGA, C., HENNING W. L. and MILLER,
R. C. (1952). J. Anim. Sci. 11, 50-60
T HE climatic factors such as air temperature, humidity, air movement, solar
radiation, and barometric pressure, acting singly or in combination, are res-
ponsible for the thermal stress in animals, by affecting one or more of the physiological
systems.
The authors investigated the behaviour and adaptability of five dairy breeds
—Holstein, Guernsey, Brown swiss, Jersey, and Ayrshire,—and three beef breeds—
Native, Brahman, and Hereford—of cattle, to the climatic conditions of Puterico
farms, where the air temperature ranged from 75° to 94°F., and the relative humi-
dity from 54 to 74 per cent. The influence of two of the most important factors,
viz. the air temperature and relative humidity, on body temperature, respiration
rate, pulse rate, haemoglobin and milk production, have been studied.