29
village in the affected district largely contributing to the mortality. The outbreak made its appearance
about the beginning of October, and in six to eight weeks the affected animals were reduced to skeletons,
and were in the last stages of the disease.
From Patan in Northern Gùjarát all the villages or the route to Kharaghoda were visited, and in
nearly all the disease had destroyed a large number of the horses, donkeys and camels.
In the Varavali Táluka of the Gaikwar Territory, which comprises about one hundred and fifty (150)
villages, some fifty (50) were more or less affected centres, losing the majority of their animals from
Surra. As a rule, wherever donkeys died in their wanderings the carcasses were allowed to remain and
decompose, and to be the possible means of contamination of other places.
In the Viramgám District the disease was reported at Sinaj, Anandpur, Chanear and in the Cheemul
Táluka.
As affecting the movement of the Battery from Ahmedabad, outbreaks were reported at Sánand,
Goria, Patri and Kharaghoda. Further, disease was known to exist south of Viramgám, between Dholka
and Dhandhuka Táluka.
Throughout the whole district under observation the rainfall for the year was very excessive, and
a good deal of the country of Viramgám and Kharaghoda had been under water, conditions especially
favourable for the development of this disease.
The rainfall for the year is shown in the following statement, the outbreak being favoured pro-
bably by the very heavy rainfall in the month of July :—
TABLE VI.
Showing the total rainfall in six Districts affected with Surra, for the months of June
to October, inclusive, in 1894.
Districts.
Ahmedabad
Viramgám
Dhandhuka
Dholka
Baroda
Deesa...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
June.
Inches.
7.15
6.11
11.45
8.30
12.33
4.48
July.
Inches.
32.78
26.69
29.99
25.27
29.60
11.48
. August.
Inches.
3.73
2.92
1.58
2.89
3.44
1.87
September.
Inches.
6.28
3.35
8.28
7.18
11.96
3.83
October.
Inches.
1.39
0.56
6.58
2.10
6.68
0.00
Total.
Inches.
51.33
39.63
57.88
45.74
64.01
21.66
The symptoms noted were paroxysms and intermissions of fever, the presence of the infusorian in
the blood, progressive emaciation and weakness, blood spots on the mucous membranes, slight mucous
discharge from the nostrils and eyes, extensive swelling of the limbs, sheath, under-surface of abdomen,
and chest, progressive anæmia, marked prostration, exhaustion and death.
Hyderabad-Deccan.
In 1893, the 1st Madras Lancers stationed at Secunderabad, lost some 49 country-bred horses
from Surra.
Bombay Mounted Police Horses.
An outbreak of disease occurred amongst the horses of the Mounted Police stabled in and around
Bombay during the rains of 1894. In all eleven animals came under our notice ; out of these two had
been for several years in use previous to their contracting the disease. The other nine were purchased
in June, July 1894. During the period which elapsed between the purchase of the animals and the
appearance of Surra they were stabled in and around Bombay ; their rations consisted of gram, bran
and green grass.
The first horse to show symptoms of fever on 7th October 1894 was one used by the Inspector of
the G Division, situated out at Máhim ; two more in Bombay followed on the 17th October,
during the month of November 7, and in December 1. Several. of these animals were taken to the
Bombay Veterinary Hospital at Parel, when the Surra hæmatozoon was discovered in their blood, and
small doses of Arsenic were administered. At a later date the horses were sent to the Bacteriological
Laboratory Stables and were submitted twice daily to increasing doses of Arsenic varying from v to xii
grains in the form of Liquor Arsenicalis. One animal No. 115 was cured and is still in good health
and condition.
B 2204-8