21
and that at the time of death one pound of blood frequently contains a minimum of 2,358,629,000
hæmatozoa, and the natural habitat of this protozoon is water), here then is a ready source by which the
disease may have been transmitted ; and the astonishing point is that more animals did not succumb at
this chowki.
It will be seen on reference to Appendix No. III that the average total rainfall in the Mohand
Pass during 1893 was 95.88 inches, and from the commencement of the month of May until the first
death took place on July 30th, 46.39 inches. This latter average in 1893 is in excess to the extent of
28.27 inches over the average for 1890, 1891, and 1892.
5. History of outbreak of 1894.—The first death from Surra took place at Asarori on the 28th
July 1894, others following at Lundibara and Tunbara stations in the Pass. Six ponies belonging to
Messrs. Smith and Rodwell at Asarori were taken ill on the 15th July and died on the following
dates :—
1 died on August 1st, 1894, 17 days.
1
1
3
do.
do.
do.
5th
7th
31st
do.
do.
do.
21 do.
23 do.
47 do.
On September 24th, 30 ponies were reported to have died of Surra at Asarori, and the same
number (30) at Mohand ; whilst 6 others were found to be suffering from the disease at the latter
station, 2 also at Rajpur, 3 at Dehra Dun, 3 at Bhindal, 1 at Lundibara, 1 at Ganeshpur, and 1 at
Saharanpur, making a total of 77 ponies, of which 71 had been posted at stations in the Mohand
Pass.
Rainfall.—The average total rainfall in the Mohand Pass during the months January to end of
September 1894 was 107.95 inches, and from May to end of July, when the first death occurred (from
Surra), was 57.62 inches. This latter average for 1894 is in excess to the extent of (39.5 inches)
over the average for the years 1890, 1891 and 1892, and 11.23 inches in excess of the rainfall of 1893.
6. Water-supply.—Between
Saharanpur and Ganeshpur water is supplied to the animals from
pukka wells during the greater part of the year ; but during the hot season the animals are watered
wherever there is any to be found.
At Fattehpur there is a large tank, and the Bhistis take their supply from it. Between Mohand
and Lundibara animals are watered at the river side, as there are no wells. During the rains, the river
water is brown in colour and laden with mud ; sometimes it is so thick that it is necessary to collect
it in vessels (Baltis) and allow the mud to settle before giving it to the horses. Messrs. Smith and
Rodwell, at their chowkis in the Mohand Pass, filter and boil the water before giving it to their tonga
animals.
7. Grass.—Grass-cutters
are employed at each chowki. The grass is obtained from the jungle
in the immediate neighbourhood and from the banks of the river in the Pass. This coarse pahari
grass, which is that most commonly obtained for animals, grows in tufts about two feet high and is
circular in form. It is however grass which has been subjected to inundation, and to which a certain
amount of the mud suspended in the water has adhered. To the latter fact is due, no doubt, the
somewhat disagreeable odour which it gives off ; horses appear to like it, however, and some thrive
upon it.
It must be noted that up to the present neither the Surra protozoon nor its resting form has been
demonstrated on inundated grass, as Surra does not appear until 1, 2 or 3 months after commencement
of the rains; but since protozoa, as a class, have their natural habitat in water and mud, and as the
accumulated evidence bearing on this question from India and Burmah lays the onus on the grass, but
little room for doubt is left that grass so subjected, when eaten by susceptible animals, is one, if not
the most fruitful, cause of the disease.
8. Corn.—Gram and bran (chokar) is universally given to the Dâk animals.
The corn at the different chowkis is stored in wooden boxes and sacks.
The grain is bought at Saharanpur and is then stored in sacks. The natives in this part of the
country store their corn after the harvest in holes excavated beneath the floors of their buildings.
These have no pukka walls, and therefore offer no resistance to the incursions of rats or bandicoots
should they burrow into them.
9. Salt, &c.—Two parts of salt and one part of ajwan are mixed together, and half a chittak of
this mixture is given to each horse every third day.
10. Stables.—The stables at several stages in the Mohand Pass are literally situated on the ex-
treme edge of the low bank of the river, hills rising on either side. These chowkis are liable to inunda-
tion at any time during the rains.
Owing to the mortality from Glanders, Surra, &c., one Dâk contractor has moved his own animals
from the chowkis where the greatest mortality occurs and has put up other stables some distance apart.
A succession of horses have been kept for years in the same buildings ; and although during the above
B 2204—6