9
plague. The innumerable quantity of those insects in the air indicated some-
thing unusual in the climatic conditions, or in the condition of the marshes
which skirt Bombay. The weather commenced to get cooler in November, and
in the middle of December cold north-east and north-west winds set in, and*
have since continued, the former blowing during the night, and the latter during
the day.
Breed of the Horses attacked.—The Company had last October a stud of
739 horses; of these 570 were Australians, and 169 horses of Asiatic breeds. Of
the 14 horses attacked with "Surra" in November and December, 18 were
Australians, and one was a Persian. The majority were young horses, well-bred,
and in excellent condition.
Preventive measures adopted.—As soon as we were satisfied that " Surra "
had appeared amongst our horses, and that the causes producing it seemed in
especial force at our Parel stables, we carried out a most careful and thorough
examination of the watering and drainage arrangements at that stable. The
results of the examination of the water have been given above. The stable drain-
age was found in good order, no stoppage anywhere ; all drains clean and free from
smell. A drain in the neighbouring property to the north was, we found, not
working well, and we had it attended to. We disinfected the stables through-
out on more than one occasion with phenyle and water, 1 part to 50, sending
showers of it through the air in every direction from a manual fire engine, and
thoroughly drenching the roof and stable fittings. Carbolic powder was also
sprinkled in all the stalls, and sulphur and tar burnt in braziers in the passage
ways. We noticed that the majority of the horses attacked had been standing
in portions of the stable most exposed to the north-west and north-east winds,
and that it was since those winds had turned cold in the evening and at night,
that the outbreak of " Surra " had occurred. "With a view to obtaining thorough
ventilation in the hot weather, our stables at Parel are very open in their
construction, and although the Venetians, with which the sides are fitted, are
closed at night, it occurred to us that at certain places the horses were more
exposed than they should be to the night winds. To provide against this, we
effectually protected the horses from all apertures whence these winds could
enter and blow upon them, and considerably increased the warmth of the stables
at night by the erection of bamboo and matting screens across the principal
entrances. We also gave all the horses standing at Parel a light course of
antiseptic medicine. For three clays each horse had daily two drachms Hypo-
sulphite of Soda and one drachm Nitrate of Potash mixed with his evening grain
feed. These preventive measures were carried out the latter part of December.
It was during the last week of that month that we set up the screens, &c., which
effectually protected the horses at Parel from cold winds. Simultaneously we
introduced stringent regulations at Colába for the complete protection of the
horses there, and maintenance of a more even temperature in the stables at night.
Since the 1st January we have so far had no fresh case of Surra.
Possible causes of the outbreak.—The professional opinion as to the source
of "Surra" expressed by the Government Veterinary Officers, Mr. Burke, Mr.
Evans, and Mr. Steele, in their Treatises on this disease, is that the parasites
which give rise to it enter the horse's system either with his food or his water.
In the Company's stables, the water-supply, pronounced a pure and wholesome
one by the Government Analyst, is the same as has been in use for several years
past, and no alteration has been introduced into the character of the grain and
hay feed. The drainage of the Parel stable, where two-thirds of the " Surra "
cases occurred, is exceptionally good, much better than the drainage at Colába
stable. Immediately to the rear of the stables at Parel, there is a depot for
manure. The dung both from Colába and Parel is transported there. Thence
it is daily removed by carts. A portion of it remains there throughout the night,
but none of it remains there longer than the morning subsequent to the day of
its receipt. At our old stables at Byculla a similar depôt existed, but the manure
remained there for three days before removal. At neither stable has the exist-
ence of this dep6t heretofore been a cause of unhealthiness. The fever record of
the Parel stables for the two years of their existence prior to last autumn has
been an extremely satisfactory one, very much more favourable than the record at
Colába. We cannot, therefore, find anything in the feeding of the horses, their
B 1036-3