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worked hard in the sun between April 26th and May 17th, and during the whole of this period
A was unwell, stumbling in action, feverish and losing condition ; she was therefore not
worked so hard as the others. On May 17th they were returned to Pali Hill ; A was then
feverish and unwell; she was driven a short distance and on her return appeared to be very
bad and refused food ; she received some febrifuge medicine. On the 23rd of May B refused
his food and an eruption broke out over the whole body accompanied by fever, which continued
until the 30th of the month. Between the 4th and 8th of June A and B showed symptoms
of " Surra" and on the 9th the Surra hæmatozoon was detected in B's blood, but that of A
was free. A's condition continued to get worse and on June 14th she was shot and buried.
None of the other horses C, D or the sowárs' animals have shown any symptoms of illness ;
this points to the fact that the disease was contracted from the water of the Pali Hill wells
between March 17th and April 14th. But unfortunately, owing to the fact of heavy rains
having fallen and the wells becoming full, I was unable to find the hæmatozoon and so
definitely prove that this was the case, as the previously concentrated water had become so
very highly diluted. There can be no doubt that A's illness commenced on April 15th
and that the first symptom noticed in B's case was the eruption of the skin. The question
of the skin-eruption as a primary symptom in some cases is dealt with specially elsewhere.
B was sent to the Laboratory on June 12th and it was decided to attempt curative treat-
ment, although it was recognized that the animal had already been suffering from the
disease for a period of at least twenty-three days. It was thought advisable to commence
the treatment when the number of ha3matozoa in the blood should be on the decline and
accordingly on the 14th June the ha3matozoa being few, treatment with Cinchona Alkaloids
and Arsenic in large doses was commenced. On the 20bh the hæmatozoa disappeared from
the blood, but the temperature and respirations remained above normal. The general
symptoms of Surra increased up to the 24th, œdema and swelling of the limbs, sheath and
that under the abdomen increased in extent, the animal steadily losing condition, the muscles
wasting and the gait staggering and uncertain. On the 25th the animal had decidedly
improved and it was noticed that the œdema of the sheath and abdomen was distinctly less
in amount ; the animal seemed brighter and moved freely about the loose box. This
amelioration of the symptoms was gradually progressive, and on the 2nd July the œdema
under the belly had completely disappeared, whilst that on the legs was scarcely perceptible
and had on the 4th completely disappeared. On the 3rd July, however, the temperature
began to rise steadily and it continued high until the 9th, notwithstanding the fact that no
hærnatozoa were present in the blood. During this time the animal presented symptoms
which might be accounted for by the continued high temperature, although on the 6th
symptoms of kidney-disorder presented themselves, followed by epithelial casts and a small
number of blood corpuscles in the urine. On the 9th, there were symptoms of gastro-
intestinal catarrh, and taking these complications into consideration as well as the fact
that the hæmatozoa had been absent from the blood for a period of twenty days, it was
decided to discontinue the Arsenic and Alkaloids entirely and a laxative and simple febri-
fuge was substituted. From the 10th to the 14th all went well and the animal seemed to
improve, the temperature remaining low and the animal much brighter and feeding well.
On the 15th, however, he was dull and the respiration and pulse had increased in frequency,
the visible mucous membranes becoming of a dirty yellow colour and petechiated.
On the 16th although his appearance was brighter the respirations had risen very high,
and the heart's action was irritable ; the symptoms of gastro-intestinal catarrh and the
kidney-disorder had entirely disappeared. On the 17th the animal appeared in much the
same condition, but the respirations were less although the temperature was a little higher.
On this date one " Surra" hæmatozoon was discovered in two coverglass specimens of blood,
and this was the first organism observed during a period of twenty-eight days. The pre-
vious treatment of Arsenic and Cinchona Alkaloids was at once resumed. On the 18th the
animal had not altered much in appearance, the respirations were greatly improved in
character and the pulse in frequency, but the temperature had risen. The blood contained
a few hæmatozoa, but not so active in their movements as the one noticed the day before.
On the 19th the condition was worse, the hæmatozoa very numerous in the blood, and the
temperature much elevated, viz. 41°C. On the 20th, the appetite was normal, but other-
wise the animal did not manifest any improvement ; only two hæmatozoa were observed in.
two coverglass specimens of the blood and these were exceedingly torpid. On the 21st the
hæmatozoa were entirely absent and from this date the animal appeared to be unable to
throw off the effect which the return of the hæmatozoon had given rise to, and he gradually
became weaker and died on the 29th of July, although the hæmatozoa were absent during
the last nine days.
The points of interest in this case are :—
(i). The evidence as to the well-water being the vehicle by which the particulate
contagium entered the system.
(ii). The evidence of the effect of the drugs upon the hæmatozoon, and the gradual
disappearance of the œdema, &c., which resulted from their use.
(iii). The fact of the very long interval between the disappearance of the hæmato-
zoon from the blood and its reappearance therein is a point of the greatest
importance clinically.
(iv). The almost absolute absence of pathological changes which were found Post-
mortem.