LA31ZIEKTE IN CATTLE 181 



to lainziekte, but is duo to ditferent causes. Tn one form 

 of stijfziekte caused by tlie stijfziekte l)oscli {('rotitJaria 

 Burkeana) the hoofs of the animal are abnormally 

 elongated; in another form the joints become thickened. 



A microscopic examination of animals atfected with 

 lumziekte shows that the muscles undergo certain alte- 

 rati(ms. The muscle tissues degenerate, producing fat, 

 and the fibres later on break up into small portions. 



Investigations into Lamzieke were begun nearly 40 

 years ago by the late Ur. Hutcheon, the former Chief Vete- 

 rinary Officer of the Cape Colony. His views on the cause 

 of the disease were correct in many respects, he con- 

 sidered Lamziekte and Stijfziekte as two forms of the 

 same disease, which he maintained was caused by a lack 

 of phosphorus in the pasture. It will be seen later on 

 liow far he was correct. 



The first point to be ascertained in the experimental 

 investigation of lamziekte was how the cause of the 

 disease entered the susceptible cattle; whether it found 

 its way through the mouth of the animal, or possibly 

 through the skin. An experiment was made with 100 

 cattle, of which 50 were muzzled and the other 50 

 were left to graze unmuzzled. After a year nearly one 

 third of the second lot had died of Lamziekte whereas 

 none of those that had been muzzled had contracted the 

 disease. The experiment eliminated the possibility of 

 transmission by biting or sucking insects, and it was con- 

 cluded that the cause of Lamziekte was taken in with the 

 food of the animal. Suspicion was naturally directed to 

 the veld as the cause of the trouble — the typical lam- 

 ziekte pasture is grass veld with rosyntje and vaalbosch, — 

 but it could not be traced to the presence of any 

 particular plant in the pasturage. It was tliought that 

 possibly a toxin was contained in the grass which could 

 cause the sickness. Grass was cut and fed to animals 

 which were kept in the stable, hut they did not contract 

 the disease. MeauAvhile animals which were left grazing 



