22
period different forms of disease have prevailed, in many instances little has been done to eradicate
their spores. When death overtakes these animals either in the stables or working on the road, the
same thing practically happens. The carcass is simply dragged a few yards from the line of route or
perhaps into the immediate jungle, and there becomes a prey of wild beasts and birds. The ground,
which has been soiled with the blood and some fluids of the body, probably becomes the seat of the
resting form or spores of the disease, which during the next rains again light up and become, if oppor-
tunity offers, the means by which other animals eating the grass therefrom receive the contagium into
their system. Wild animals, viz., hyenas, jackals, &c., may also be the means of disseminating the
virus. On 24th September 1894, I saw a horse lying dead within 5 yards of the road between Mohand
and Ganeshpur. In 1893, Smith and Rodwell's Manager shot two hyenas and several jackals which
were feeding on the carcass of a horse just dead of Surra.
11. Mode of communication of disease.—Several instances presented themselves where both heal-
thy and diseased horses were standing side by side, both classes of animals presented open sores (galls)
on their bodies, generally on either side of the spinal column. Crows were perched on their backs,
pecking and scratching the sores, and in several instances drawing blood. The birds moved freely from
the back of one animal to the other ; and no doubt this is one source by which the disease is spread.
This would occur with the greatest ease either with their blood-stained beaks or with their soiled feet
coming in contact with a raw surface ; for I have proved that a minute fraction of a drop of blood con-
taining the Surra hæmatozoon is capable of conveying the disease to the horse if spread over a scratch
in the skin of the animal.
Flies.—On the 24th September, at Mohand, I demonstrated microscopically the Surra
hæmatozoon in the blood of flies taken from the bodies of horses suffering from the disease, in the
blood of which the protozoon was present at the time.
12. Bovines.—Although it was definitely stated that cows, buffaloes and bullocks do not suffer
from Surra or fever on this route, I took the temperature and examined the blood of one large bullock
at Mohand, and found the temperature to be 105° F., and the animal in very poor condition : no hæ-
rnatozoa were present, but it might have been during a period of intermission. On enquiry it was
ascertained that nine bullocks were attacked and succumbed during August 1894.
TABLE II.
Showing the name of the owner, the stage, and the number of horses, which succumbed to Surra during the year 1893
(rainy season) on the Dák Line between Saharanpur and Rájpur.
Stages.
Saharanpur
Kailaspur
Haraura
Fattehpur
Nuddi
Ganeshpore
Mohand
Tunbara
Lundibara
Asarori
Bhindal
Dehra Dun
Body Guard
Rajpur...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
....
...
...
...
...
...
....
...
...
...
Total ...
Smith and
Rodwell.
Number of
Horses.
....
....
....
5*
3
....
10
5
........
....
....
....
....
....
23
Rukunuddin.
Number of
Horses.
....
....
....
....
....
8
1
....
7
....
....
....
....
16
Asgharali.
Number of
Horses.
....
....
....
....
....
....
6
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
6
Shk, Nobi Bux.
Number of
Horses.
....
....
....
....
....
....
4
6
....
....
....
....
....
....
10
Lalta Pershad.
Number of
Horses.
....
....
....
6
....
....
11
10
....
....
....
....
....
....
27
Total number
of Horses.
....
....
....
11
3
....
39
22
....
7
....
....
....
....
82
* First pony to show the disease in August 1893. 23 died in August and September. Smith Rodwell lost in 1893, 36 ponies, 23 of Surra. Rukunuddin
lost 16 of Surra and several others.