11
is, in this way, introduced. In other words, the train produces a sort of arti-
ficial wind. The track of the G. I. P. Railway passes immediately behind our
Parel premises, distant only 75 feet from the stables. About 2,000 feet further
to the north the flats commence and are crossed by the trains. In this memo-
randum we are anxious to enumerate all possible influences which may have
served in the production of the recent outbreak of Surra. It is perhaps worthy
of consideration whether the G. I. P.. Railway track, which very shortly after
leaving the marshy land of the flats passes our Parel stables on their north-
western side, does not act as an air-channel from the one to the other. The line
of horses standing next to the railway was the line in which the "Surra" was
by far the most prevalent.
A conjecture has been put forward by some veterinary authorities in India
that there is a connection between "Surra" and rats. A parasite has been
found in the intestines of rats, which is similar to the parasite noticed in the
blood of horses suffering from Surra. It is suggested that where rats have
access to grain, it becomes contaminated with their excreta, and that when used
for horses' feed, the parasite may in that way be conveyed into the horses'
stomachs. In view of this theory we think it right to mention that although
the greater portion of our grain is. kept in paved godowns, and we do our best
to. exclude rats, yet, we know that both before and after the grain is received
by us rats do frequently get at it. But before our grain is used for horses' feed,
it is carefully cleaned both by hand and through a machine. We ourselves
cannot, from our own observation, favour the rat infection theory. If the
source of the disease is due to grain getting mixed with the excreta of rats, why
is the appearance of the fever limited to certain seasons and why should it
appear only in certain years. For the past 14 years it has been unknown in our
stables and during those years our stocks of grain and hay have been less well-
protected from the incursions of rats than they have been the past 12 months.
We have now. we think, exhausted all we are in a position to state with
regard to our own experience of " Surra " fever. We submit these few remarks
on a veterinary subject as proceeding of course from a non-professional pen, and
while we trust to be pardoned any mistakes into which we may in consequence
have fallen, we hope that our experience may be of value to those who are
making this disease a subject of special study. As a large owner of horses this
Company is deeply interested in researches which have for their object the
discovery of a remedy for this most fatal form of equine fever.
The following charts give full details regarding the animals attacked in the Bombay
Tramway Company's Stables during the years 1888-1892 inclusive, and from them the
charts have been drawn up :—
1888.
No.
366
472
496
182
604
511
356
230
93
403
196
373
480
323
Breed.
Australian ...
Do
Do
Do.
Do
Do
Persian
Australian
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Sex.
Gelding
Mare
Gelding
Do.
Do.
Mare
Gelding
...
Do.
Do.
Mare
Do
Gelding
Mare
Gelding
Age.
16
11
8
11
8
11
11
11
11
9
6
16
12
8
Date of
purchase.
D.
1
28
23
21
1
14
30
28
14
22
13
15
28
29
m.
5
1
11
2
1
1
10
1
1
11
2
5
1
12
y.
79
83
86
83
86
84
84
83
84
86
88
79
83
84
Date of
attack.
D.
18
21
31
6
12
18
19
11
16
16
17
17
23
29
m.
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
12
12
11
12
12
12
12
y.
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
Date of
death.
D.
3
4
26
2
25
21
10
15
14
4
16
22
13
16
m.
11
12
11
12
11
11
1
12
1
12
1
12
1
1
y.
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
88
89
88
89
88
89
89
Time
elapsing
between
purchase
and attack.
Yrs.
9
5
1
5
2
4
4
5
4
2
0
9
5
4
days.
170
267
343
259
316
309
20
318
337
24
308
217
330
0
Time
elapsing
between
attack and
death.
16 days.
44 „
26 „
26 „
13 „
3 „
52 „
4 „
29 „
18 „
30 „
5 „
21 „
18 „
REMARK.
Destroyed.
Destroyed.
Do.