gallsickness, noun
- Origin:
- South African DutchShow more Translation of South African Dutch galziekte, see galsiekte.
1. Pathology. Any of several diseases of livestock, and particularly of cattle: a. Anaplasmosis, a disease caused by the parasites Anaplasma marginale and A. centrale and transmitted by ticks (especially the blue tick); galsiekte sense 1 a; also with defining word, true gallsickness. b. Any of several conditions of the digestive tract: see dry gallsickness, impaction gallsickness, wet gallsickness, all at sense 2 b below. In both senses also called gallsick (sense a). Also attributive.
- Note:
- In the past there existed some confusion as to the nature and causes of these disorders and diseases, but nowadays ‘(true) gallsickness’ is used only of anaplasmosis; ‘dry’, ‘impaction’ or ‘wet gallsickness’ is used only of digestive tract disorders in ruminants.
2. Pathology With distinguishing epithet, designating any of several disorders affecting the digestive tract of livestock:
black-gallsickness obsolete, any disorder or disease which leads to the discoloration of the bile of the affected animal, particularly the often fatal sickness caused by poisoning due to eating species of Homeria and Moraea (see tulp); gallsick sense b;
dry gallsickness (also called droë-geilsiekte, see geilsiekte sense 2), or impaction gallsickness, constipation or blockage in ruminants caused either by eating too much dry fodder, or by infectious diseases accompanied by fever which prevent digestion and may paralyze any of the stomachs;
1896 R. Wallace Farming Indust. of Cape Col. 288True or black gall-sickness or biliary hepatitis in grazing cattle is comparatively rare.
1976 Mönnig & Veldman Handbk on Stock Diseases 287The condition (sc. dry gallsickness) is sometimes accompanied by purging. Such cases are spoken of as wet gallsickness.
3. combination.
gallsickness veld/-felt/ [Afrikaans veld open, undeveloped countryside], uncultivated pasture infested with ticks capable of transmitting anaplasmosis.
1993 Natal Witness 31 Dec. 15 (advt)Livestock for Sale...Entire commercial Brangus type breeding herd...Cattle running on Heartwater/Redwater/Gallsickness veld.
Anaplasmosis, a disease caused by the parasites Anaplasma marginale and A. centrale and transmitted by ticks (especially the blue tick); galsiekte sense 1 a; also with defining word, true gallsickness.
Any of several conditions of the digestive tract: see dry gallsickness, impaction gallsickness, wet gallsickness, all at sense 2 b below. In both senses also called gallsick (sense a). Also attributive.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English.