35
to the 15th October 1894, 332 camels are reported to have died from it, and 99 were said to be still
suffering.
The following table shows the number of camels which have died of Surra in the Bikánir Camel
Corps from its formation in 1889 to October 15th, 1894 :—
TABLE X.
Showing the number of animals which have died of Surra in the Bikánir Camel Corps,
made out to 15th October 1894.
Year.
1889
1890 .....
1891
1892
1893
1894
Total ..
Number of Camels died from Tei-barsa,
January.
...
...
...
3
20
5
28
Febru-
ary.
...
...
...
2
5
4
11
March.
...
...
4
2
6
10
22
April.
...
...
1
4
11
8
24
May.
...
...
6
2
18
13
39
June.
...
...
2
2
19
5
28
July.
...
...
6
3
17
10
36
August.
...
...
3
10
7
8
28
Septem-
ber.
...
...
8
14
3
7
32
October.
....
...
2
16
2
4
24
Novem-
ber.
...
...
1
30
8
...
39
Decem-
ber.
...
...
9
8
4
...
21
Total.
...
...
42
96
120
74
332
(Signed) E. A. KETTLEWELL, Captain.
"The most prominent symptoms in the camel, in addition to the fever, are swellings which appear on the sides of
the chest near the pad and in the sheath and scrotum of males, and in the udder of females. These swellings form into
large abscesses containing an enormous quantity of thick cream-coloured pus.' From the first to last there is progressive
anæmia and, although the appetite generally remains good, the animal rapidly wastes away, until it becomes a mere
living skeleton. The parasite is not present in the blood continuously during the whole course of the disease. The
periods during which it is present are marked by elevation of the body temperature (fever), which rises in some cases
to 106° F. and sinks to the normal during the intermission, when the parasites are absent. The disease is invariably
fatal in the horse, but camelmen aver that a small percentage of camels, who can tolerate it for three years, recover."
(W. R. HAGGER).
BURMAH.
TRANSPORT ANIMALS.
Meiktila.—Mortality 76. This is a very healthy station, one of the best in the province ; dry
climate and animals do well there. It is the head-quarters of the Commissariat Department for the
Southern Shan States and Keng-Tung. The animals employed on such duty carrying rations, both
going and returning, have to pass through many miles of Terai and unhealthy valleys ; in due course they
contract Surra and return to Meiktila where they succumb.
Fort Stedman.—Elevation 3,000 feet. The animals contract the disease on the way to and from
Bampon, and no doubt parts of the Hebo and Nyaungywe valleys are dangerous.
Mandalay is the head-quarters for many animals in the rainy season ; most of the animals are
employed in the open season carrying rations up the Chin Hills, &c. They start from Kalewa on the
Chindwin and march for about 32 miles up the Kali valley (most unhealthy) to Kaleinyo, a regular
death trap ; from there they go to No. II stockade, 11 miles further on at the foot of the hills. From
No. II stockade it is uphill. The Commissariat Department now keep up a large Transport Camp
there during the open season. The camp is on an old clearing and a fine hill stream runs through it.
There is little doubt, however, the Surra is enzootic in and around Mandalay.
Haka and Falam—Are situated at an elevation of 6,000 feet, and are very unhealthy
The
animals which succumbed to Surra at the above stations contracted the disease in the deadly Kali valley
round Kaleinyo and Natchigon.
Shwebo is a very healthy place. Surra contracted by animals on the road between that station and
Kyankmyaung on the Irrawaddy.
Phabeikkyin. situated on the left bank of the Irrawady about the middle of the 3rd defile, and is
the starting point for the ruby mines and Bernardmyo. The latter is a small ruby station 6,000 feet
elevation, some few miles from Mogok. All animals to get to their stations have to pass through a deadly
piece of Terai, some 60 or 80 miles in length.
PONIES OF THE MILITARY POLICE.
So many deaths occurred in the Battalions stationed in unhealthy districts that it was deemed
advisable to bring them down to the dry zone for the rainy season ; however they started too late with the
result that many animals died. The ponies are often at outlying stations in small detachments. Places
like Bahmouk, Pyinlebu and Mause in the Katha District are dreadfully
unhealthy.