SOME OBSERVATIONS ON "CIRCLING" DISEASE OF
                    SHEEP IN HYDERABAD STATE.

                                                BY

                            M. R. MAHAJAN, M.R.C.V.S.,

   Veterinary Investigation Officer, H. E. H. the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad.

                           (With plates XXXII and XXXIII.)

                    (Received for publication on 6th July 1935.)

The disease occurs in the Mahbubnagar district and the local name of the
disease is ' Tirgudu Potrogam' but ' Potrogam' is more commonly employed.
The word ' Tirgudu Potrogam ' signifies ' circling ' disease and I think this name
is appropriate until a definite diagnosis is arrived at, although it has been pre-
viously referred to as a ' Gid-like ' disease. The losses from this disease are sea-
sonal and shepherds definitely state the period between Aridra karthi (about
21st June) and Mogha karthi (16th August) as the time when losses occur. Cases
are rare before or after this period. Some shepherds blame the new shoots of
grass that come up with the onset of rains, while others, the dried up shoots of
grass found in the interval between two successive rains. Goats that graze with
the sheep and other animals are not reported to suffer. This disease is said to
occur every year in some places and in others every two or three years. Some
villages were reported to be free altogether from the disease.

In the year 1933, while on tour at Devarkadra three sheep which died from
this disease were available for post-mortem examination. No lesions were
detected except for the presence of numerous helminthic nodules in the mesen-
teric lymph glands, and portal and interlobular cirrhosis of the liver.

The present investigation was undertaken in July and August 1934. The
flocks of thirty-five villages were inspected and the disease was reported to have
occurred in thirty-three of them. The mortality was about 500 sheep and it was
said that the disease was widespread this year.

Twenty cases were kept under close observations mostly at Makhtal, Narayan.
pet, Tilkapalli and Puljal villages and morbid materials from these were collected
and forwarded for laboratory examination.

Usually hoggets are attacked, but as male ones are sold off to the butcher
the ewe-hoggets are the usual victims. It is said that all sheep aged four months
and above are susceptible.

                                            SYMPTOMS

The shepherd is quick in recognising the affected sheep, and knowing that the
disease is fatal, slaughters them without delay to make the carcass pay.

                                                (350)