90
The most important portion to my mind is the extension of the Act to the
whole of India which, as already stated, will enable the Local Government to
deal at once with cases when they occur.
"SURRA."
459. The following is a resume of the outbreaks of " Surra" reported
during the year, prepared by Dr. Lingard, the Imperial Bacteriologist, chiefly
from reports submitted by the Assistant to the Inspector General, Civil Veteri-
nary Department.From this it will be evident that great strides have been
made in our knowledge of the distribution of this disease. The fact of the
occurrence of such a fatal malady passing unreported and its diagnosis not being
made although well known to the people under the names of " Pheta"
" Purana," " Zahrbad," etc., indicate the necessity of prosecuting the enquiries
connected with the Bacteriological Survey and the record of vernacular names
of disease. With regard to the submission of reports, Dr. Lingard remarks:—
" I wish to draw special attention to the reports forwarded to this Office by Veterinary Captain H. T. Pease
on the prevalence of Surra in the Punjab and North-Western Provinces during the last season, for it is only by
such careful and painstaking work that we can hope to gain further knowledge with regard to the true nature of
the prevailing diseases and the geographical distribution of the same in India and Burma."
OUTBREAKS OF SURRA REPORTED DURING 1895-96.
Punjab.
Sialkote District.—Surra occurred in the following villages of the Sialkote
District in November 1895.
Tehsil Sialkote, village Salimpur.
Tehsil Zafarwal, village Chouda.
Tehsil Pasrur, village Jhalki.
Amritsar District.—During the rains of 1895 Surra occurred in the fol-
lowing villages of the Ajnala Tehsil, viz.:—
Jastarwal, 15 horses died, Muhallawala and Warengi. These villages are
said to be lowlying and subject to inundation. The people of the district
appear to have an idea that the disease is new, it is not widely known, but is
often named " Gum-Zahrbad."
Gurdaspur District.—Surra appeared in this district during the rains of
1895, but the names of the villages in which the disease was present has not
yet been received.
Ludhiana District.—In 1894, Surra occurred in four villages in the above
district, viz.:— Bahaival, Baram Kalan, Bhawan Khura and Staria. These
villages are situated in the 'Bet' a very unhealthy portion of the district, low
lying and alluvial, subject to inundation from the river Sutlej and the Badha
Nala.
Patiala State.—The disease also appeared in Rakh, which is situated in
that northern portion of the Patiala Territory which juts into the Ludhiana
District.
Hoshiarpur and Jallunder Districts.—In 1895-96, Surra the vernacular
names for which appear to be 'Tap,' 'Sokhra,' 'Zahrbad,' 'Tapdik,' is said to
have been very severe in these districts. The people say that the disease spread
from them to the 'Bet' villages.
Jallunder Tehsil.—In 1894-95, the names of ten villages are specified,
and Surra broke out in three other villages at the commencement of 1896.
Dasaya Tehsil.—In 1894-95, twenty villages are specified as having lost
the majority of their animals, and in one Sosyan, 36 horses succumbed to
Surra. It is said however that the disease appeared in nearly every village in
the tehsil.