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Jhagghar, Jahangerpur, Malerna, Kakur. These villages used to be full of
camels, but few remain at present and many of the people have been ruined
from the losses caused by this disease. The country is reported to be waterlog-
ged and subject to 'reh.'
1893.
Fyzabad District.—Surra occurred in the 3rd Bengal Cavalry, stationed
at the Fyzabad cantonments in October, Novem-
ber, December 1893. Fyzabad is lowlying on the
banks of the Surjoo river which inundates the country up to the cavalry
lines in the rains. The disease is said to have first appeared in a Squadron
of horses which were out during the rainy season on duty in the Azamgarh
district at Jhaj-man. Many of these died and the disease also appeared in the
horses of the remainder of the regiment. One hundred and fifty horses
succumbed to the disease.
1894.
Surra is said to have also caused considerable loss in this Regiment in
1894. The probable reason the horses which had
been out on duty in 1893 were first attacked, is
that they were weakened by exposure to the climate, in the rains, and so fell
victims to the disease earlier than the others.
1895.
Naini Tal District.—At Kathgodam, the Rohilkhand and Kumaun Rail-
way, Tonga Service lost eight horses in the rains ;
private owners of riding and Ekka ponies losing
sixteen (Lingard).
Bombay Presidency.
1895.—Bombay Tramway Company.—The last case to occur during the seasons of
1894-95, was on January 21st. No further animals were attacked until the
rains were well advanced, viz., September, when 6 horses were destroyed, 2
in October, 3 in November, 3 in December and two in January 1896. After
this the disease stopped. Of the total of 16 horses which succumbed to 'Surra'
12 were Australians varying in age from 6 to 21 years average 9.7 years and
the remaining 4 were country-breds, varying in age between 6 and 10 years
average 7.75 (Rimington).
1895.— Bombay City.—Over a dozen animals suffering from Surra were taken for
treatment to the Bai Sakarbai Hospital for animals (Pease).
1895.—Broach District.—Hunsot Mahal. At the village of Digas, Surra locally term-
ed 'Berbag' appeared on the 22nd October 1895. The native treatment adopt-
ed, was to administer chillies and the juice of Pindoli to the sick horses. Four
animals had succumbed and one was under treatment at the time that the
report was furnished, (Pease).
460. It will he observed on reference to the map in the pocket of the cover
of this report, that Surra has been found to be prevalent in different degrees
of severity, in ten districts of the Punjab, and the five bordering districts of
the North-Western Provinces, viz.: those in which enquiries have been made by
Veterinary Captain Pease up to the present date.
No information has been recorded of an earlier period than 1892, in most
instances the reports dealing, with outbreaks, which occurred between the
years 1894-96; consequently the data are reliable. During the past season
the above named officer, has been able to examine microscopically on the spot
the blood of diseased animals ; and having observed the Trypanosoma Evansi in
numerous cases, has thus settled the question as to diagnosis once and for all.
Surra is undoubtedly very wide spread in this part of the continent of
India, and if we are to judge the total losses in these provinces during 1895, by
the returns of a number of villages where statistics have been forthcoming,
the ravages of this disease in horses, mules and asses have been truly appalling.
The only recorded outbreak of such magnitude, which can be compared to the
above, was a wide spread one which occurred during the rains of 1893 and 1894
in the Guzerat, Ahmedabad and Baroda districts, involving an area of over
400 square miles and occasioning the loss of thousands of horses, camels,
ponies and asses.
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