44
Eighty animals succumbed to Surra in all, but these consisted entirely of the north-country animals,
the Manipur ponies remaining in perfect health.
Lieutenant Berkley took up with him to Manipur a ' Turkoman' gelding, 4 years of age. From the
time of its purchase in Calcutta at the beginning of June 1890, during its seven month's residence in
Manipur and eighteen months in Shillong (Assam) the animal was perfectly fit. Its rations consisted
of paddy and Muthi-Kalai, 3 pounds, Kala-Nammik (sulphur and salt ½ ounce of each) mixed with the
corn.
This animal stabled by itself and was never allowed to go near to the transport lines.
The syces in attendance on the transport animals during the time they resided at Mnipur suffered
more or less continuously from intermittent fever and occasionally dysentery.
Naga Hills.
Kay-Lees, in December 1881, was ordered to proceed to the Naga Hills, to investigate a disease
which had broken out amongst the transport animals. The Naga Bills are situated to the north-east
of Assam, and Kohima forms the furthermost post on the north-east frontier of India. Nichuguard, the
head transport office on the line of communication, lay some seven days' march through dense jungle.
The author states " the jungle was so dense and enclosed at some parts that, combined with the gases
given off from decaying vegetable matter, it interfered with free respiration." " The rains commenced
about the 15th March and continued until the middle of June, during which time extensive inundations
took place, converting large tracts into swamps. The climate was hot and moist, and at least 25 per cent.
of the establishment were down with fever, dysentery " &c. " The disease appears to have been most fatal
amongst the mules and ponies between March and June.†" There was no proof of what the actual
disease was, as all the animals at work the previous season were dead. Kay Lees found that " if a wound
or abrasion of the epidemic of any kind occurred after the 15th March, it was almost impossible to
cure it, owing to the part becoming fly-blown and afterwards filled with maggots, or ulceration setting in
of a malignant nature."
The main mortality however " was brought about by the attacks of the Tsetse fly. As this fly does
not appear to have been previously observed in India, I especially wish to bring it to notice, and will
endeavour to give a brief description of it. This insect is about the size of a common house-fly, but of
a dark-brown colour. The after-part of the body has always three, and very often four, yellow bars
across it.
These marks or bars are very characteristic. The proboscis is divided into three portions, the
middle one being the longest, and projects in a straight line from the head. When on the wing, the
fly gives a very peculiar buzz, which would cause most people instinctively to evade it. It is "remark-
ably alert.'' The author had the opportunity of seeing this fly several times in the jungle a few miles
from Nichuguard, and when he found that nearly all the ponies and mules had died of debility or a
gradual wasting away of the body, he naturally associated the fly with the disease. The symptoms
noted in equines were : " a gradual but persistent wasting of the animals affected ; in fact they became so
emaciated that one might be readily led to suppose that they were dying from starvation. They appear
to have been bitten by an insect, as on one or more places of the body there is itchiness, which is
followed by the formation of an ulcerating sore of a malignant character. But one peculiarity of the
ulcer is that it has but little tendency to spread or to heal. The ulcers are about one inch in diameter, and
occur on the fetlocks, knees, shoulders, hips, &c. Swellings occur between the fore arms and extend along
the floor of the abdomen, visible mucous membranes have the diagnostic paleness of anæmia. Occasionally
there is a muco-purulent discharge from the eyes and nose. Muscular atrophy is more or less rapid, but
one circumstance which I particularly noticed was that animals in a plethoric condition much more
rapidly succumbed than those in an opposite state of health. Comparing the above symptoms with
those described in Dr. Livingstone's work, and having personally seen the insect, I have not the slightest
hesitation in attributing the mortality amongst the transport animals on the Naga Hills to the
Tsetse fly."
It appears that mules and ponies which worked well in the plains and were in good condition, when
removed to Nichuguard, never did a day's work, but died of debility. The mortality was greatest during
and shortly after the rains, and the glossina morsitans was most prevalent at this period. The transport
animals were picketted in the open, therefore the fly had every advantage of being able to get at its
victims. " No cases, so far as I could learn after the fullest enquiry, had ever been known to recover ."‡
" Horses were found to be most susceptible to the poison of the fly ; this was so well known that
officers would take horses of no value to these hills when stationed there, as it was a well known fact
that they never lived more than two or three seasons."
* Kay-Lees, F. R. C. V. S., Army Veterinary Department :
" The Glossina morsitans or Tsetse fly."—The Veterinary Journal, 1888, page 79.
† The rains commence much earlier than in India.
‡ This is not in Italics in the original,