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This article was published in 1948
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning of Sheep
A SUGGESTED TREATMENT
R. E. FAIRFAX, B.V.Sc., Inspector of Stock, Braidwood.
Carbon tetrachloride poisoning, which occurred in a flock of sheep in this District during September, 1947, resulted in two contentions being supported:-
(1) That of Walker (1947): namely, that a short, sudden change on to improved grazing immediately prior to drenching may render sheep liable to the ill-effects of CCl4; and
(2) That Calcium borogluconate as an antidote is of value in at least some cases.
The history leading up to the poisoning worked out almost in the manner of a planned field trial. Six hundred ewes and wethers had been grazing for several weeks on 700 acres of natural grass, which was short owing to the bad season. However, the sheep were in fair to good condition. Prior to drenching the flock was driven about half a mile to yards and drafted into two lots.
Lot 1 comprised 500 ewes and wethers in which the ewes were two months off lambing. After drafting they were held for about twenty hours in a small paddock, adjacent to the yards, containing natural grass at about the same stage of growth as the paddock from which they were mustered. Following drenching, they were taken back to the original paddock. All remained apparently normal throughout the proceedings.
Lot 2 comprised 100 ewes of all ages, three weeks off lambing. They were placed in a small house paddock and left there for about twenty hours also. It contained a pick of trefoil, some rye grass and short, sparse oats. They were drenched within one hour of Lot 1, and then were moved quietly about half a mile to natural grass a little better and greener than their original paddock.
Twenty hours later, 15 were found dead. Others were sick, showing varying degrees of ataxia—mostly posterior—and falling on any attempt at droving being made. Twelve obviously sick ewes were injected with 50 mls. of 20 per cent. Calcium borogluconate. This caused such a favourable response that the remainder were treated similarly. Only one further death occurred, and this within a few minutes of the injection.
It is important to note that three of the ewes which died were not in lamb, indicating that the approaching parturition of the others was not a factor. The owner found that the older and poorer ewes were less affected by the drench.
Unfortunate, other factors—about which little is known—may be operating in other circumstances to render Calcium administration ineffective, but it is suggested that Calcium borogluconate is worthy of trial in Carbon tetrachloride poisoning.
Reference:
Walker, D. J. (1947); Year Book, Institute of Inspectors of Stock, N.S.W., 1947, p, 57.