THE VITAMINES IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 149 



diet, according to available data. Feeding of good grass, green 

 barley and green millet is supposed to be accompanied by beneficial 

 results. 



Lamziekte or gal-lamziekte. The history of lamziekte research is 

 particularly instructive since it shows us how easy it is to go from one 

 extreme to another. In times of great popularity of the vitamine 

 theory, one is tempted to classify every condition that bears some 

 analogy to the already known avitaminoses in the same group. 

 Lamziekte, according to the present stage of investigation at least, 

 is not an avitaminosis and would not have found a place in our 

 treatise if it were not for the possibility of explaining one of the 

 etiological factors through a lack of vitamine. 



This disease is prevalent in all breeds of cattle without regard to 

 species or sex. Young, pregnant or milking animals appear to be 

 specially susceptible. Lamziekte occurs particularly after long 

 periods of draught, and is manifested by paralysis and contractions 

 associated with the degeneration of the peripheral and central 

 nervous system, roughly resembling avian beriberi. We note here 

 paralysis of the legs, opisthotonos, dysphagia and paresis of the 

 tongue. Lack of appetite and pica (abnormal craving), excessive 

 salivation, loss of milk, constipation and also diarrhoea all these 

 constitute the earlier symptoms. The temperature appears to be 

 subnormal. The usual progress is sub-acute and lasts some weeks; 

 the animals sometimes show an apparent improvement, but fatal 

 results ensue when a second attack occurs. In spite of a cure, the 

 contractions may still persist for a long time. Acute forms last 

 from two to seven days, and yet sudden developments are noted, in 

 which apparently healthy animals fall into a comatose condition in 

 10 to 20 hours, which, accompanied by sub-normal temperature, 

 results in death. This condition has been frequently confused by 

 South African farmers with another called "poverty," and resembling 

 malnutrition. This condition, "poverty," may eventually prove to 

 be a concealed avitaminosis. 



Pathological anatomy of lamziekte. The findings have been spe- 

 cially described by Hedinger (440). They consist of hydrothorax, 

 and ecchymoses of the pleura, epicardium, endocardium and thymus; 

 hyperemia was observed in all the abdominal organs, in the mucosa 

 of the fourth stomach, intestines and lungs; a moderate hydroperi- 

 cardium was frequently noted; enteritis of the small intestine, 

 coupled with hemorrhages and ascites, with a dilatation of the heart, 



