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as there are defects in the feeding, watering and general care of transport, so long will the animals suffer
severely from enzootic diseases. While at head-quarters the greatest care is taken to see that the
animals get good dry grass, excellent water, that they are properly and regularly groomed, and that the
stables, standings and vicinity are kept in a sanitary condition, yet when these same animals are called
ùpon to perform severe work, and require, if possible, even more care than when in cantonments, they
are handed over practically to the tender mercies of transport jemadars and muleteers. These men
are very willing, and, when looked after, excellent men for the work which should be required of them.
Two points which I wish to bring particularly to your notice are :-
(a) the urgent necessity of providing ample European supervision with Government transport ;
and
(b) the desirability of getting the rationing over as early as possible, even if extra animals
have to be employed.
Hired Transport.—In this province bullock and mule transport can both be obtained. Pack
bullocks are slow, easily stampeded, and as baskets are employed for carrying purposes, it is necessary
that Government packages be undone. The bullocks carry from 140 to 160 lbs. The risks are of con-
tracts not being fulfilled if foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest should attack the animals. The advan-
tage is that it is inexpensive.
Panthe and Yunnanese mule transport, if obtained at moderate rates, must prove a saving to Gov-
ernment. Government has no risks, with mules all work is pretty sure to be carried out. Govern-
ment could considerably reduce their permanent transport, thus saving keep and establishment.
All work must be pushed through as quickly as possible, as the Panthes are well aware what the
results will be if they are kept out too long. These muleteers are willing, cheery and hard-working, if
treated well. The mules being small, they can only carry from 120 to 130 lbs., and the men naturally
resent any attempts at over-loading. I have little doubt that if due notice be given ample transport will
be obtained.
When prevalent.—April is the only month in which I have up to the present not met with a case
of Surra. The heaviest mortality usually occurs between June and October. June, July and September
may, I think, be taken as particularly bad months, though outbreaks severe enough occur in August and
November.
As in India we meet with this disease in two different climates, viz., in places where there is a
moderately high temperature, an atmosphere charged with moisture, heavy rainfall and considerable in-
undation of country ; also where the climate is dry, the temperature very high, and the rainfall moderate
or slight ; it must, however, not be overlooked that in such places, though the register may show only a
moderate amount for the year, the rain at times comes down so hard and fast that tanks are quickly
filled and low-lying tracts inundated.
Surra prevails at certain seasons throughout Upper Burma, also in the Shan States, and the
Chinese say that at times it is very bad in Yunnan. In some years the Chinese suffer heavy losses along
the trade routes from Bhamo. In Lower Burma one does not hear so much about Surra, for the simple
reason that columns do not go out, and most of the animals are in the hands of private individuals who
look after them. In 1890, I witnessed one bad outbreak in theThayetmyo District. Mr. Steel saw it in
Toungoo and Rangoon. I have to note an outbreak amongst some private animals in Rangoon. The
first case brought to my notice was on the 17th of September of this year, and is the first case I
have met with in an animal that had not been out of the station. I will let you have some notes on
it later on.
It is surprising that Burmans, owing to their system of feeding ponies, do not suffer heavier losses.
The grass is chopped up and mixed with water ; grain is frequently given in the same way. The reasons
given me are:—1. That their forefathers always fed animals in this way and found it answer well.
2. That ponies must digest their food as they cannot bolt it. 3. That owners are too lazy to clean
the grass and grain, so mix it with water. This is probably the correct reason, A great many cases
must arise from eating bad grass. We all know the customs of ordinary grass-cutters, so we can hardly
blame the tired muleteers for obtaining grass with the least possible labour from swamps, ponds, or the
beds of recently dried tanks or nallas. The state of these latter places, just as the evaporating pro-
cess approaches completion, is horrible; simply a mass of foul-smelling putrid green slime, containing
myriads of low organisms. Stacking grass would at least, to a great extent, protect animals against
this source of infection.
Period of incubation.—I regret I cannot afford any accurate information ; I should think from
twenty-five to seventy days or even longer. Mules and ponies, old and young, male and female, of all
sizes and colours, are attacked and die of the disease. I do not believe that sex, age, colour, or breed
exercise any influence in the matter. Animals in the " Pink " of condition succumb, as or even more
rapidly than those that are weak and in a debilitated state. Burman ponies and Panthe mules contract
the disease as readily as imported animals. We will no doubt hear a good deal about flies serving as
transmissive agents, now that Dr. Bruce has established the fact in connection with the " Nagana"
or " Tsetse fly " disease. As in South Africa I am certain the flies possess no specific venom ; though
I have never served in Africa, I venture to state that certain tracts in this province could compete very