65
"It has been found in the Laboratory Hospital that by giving kaunji* to the animal, morning
and evening, directly after the arsenic, the abovementioned symptoms have not made their
appearance. Consequently it would be advisable to give kaunji to all animals under treatment
for surra, from the commencement of the administration of arsenic."
" * Linseed and rice, of each ½ lb. boil in water ¾ of an hour, and add water to make up 10
pints.
" Daily microscopic observations of the blood should be made, and the number of organisms
recorded on a chart, for ready reference, together with the temperature, pulse, and respiration of
the animal, three times in the day, viz., at 8 A.M., 1 P.M., and 5 P.M."
" Most animals will take the medicine in a pint to two pints of water from a bucket without
any trouble. If this be found occasionally impracticable, the arsenic can be mixed with the corn
and bran in the form of liquor arsenicalis, but in obstinate cases the medicine will have to be
administered to the animals in the form of a bolus or in a draught.
" Acute desquammative nephritis is a common complication of surra, but it must not
contra-indicate the administration of arsenic, although the maximum doses cannot be maintained,
otherwise the animal will have a relapse and ultimately succumb to the disease."
" Animals suffering from surra usually have voracious appetites, and this condition can easily
be accounted for when we consider that the nourishment is sapped from the blood by the millions
of hæmatozoa which are present in the circulation during the presence of each paroxysm of fever.
All these organisms have partially to be sustained before the host is able to utilize any of the
nourishment present in the body fluids for the preservation of its own system. The rapidity
with which animals suffering from surra do lose weight and condition, -testifies to the terribly
unequal conflict which is being fought between host and parasites, and which may be described
as a 'stampede for existence.' It has been found by practical experience that the following
quantities of hay, corn, &c., are necessary for an Australian horse weighing 1,000 lbs. and
upwards, when suffering or recovering from surra, for on this diet the animals keep in fair condi-
tion and during convalescence put on flesh rapidly :—
"Hay
" Lucerne
" Barley
" Gram
" Bran
" Salt
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
or
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
20 lbs.
10 lbs.
8 to 14 lbs.
6 to 10 lbs.
1½ to 3 lbs.
1½ ounces.
Daily.
" Boil half the daily quantity of the barley given to the animal, morning and evening, with
half the salt for 1½ hours and mix in the bran. Give when nearly cold.
" When once the hæmatozoon of surra has been banished from the circulation of the animal
under treatment, gentle exercise commencing with 500 yards and gradually increasing to one
mile, morning and evening, may be allowed. If the animal's temperature becomes elevated, all
exercise should be stopped until the former again registers within normal limits.
" The exudation of semi-solid material (œdema) into the subcutaneous tissues—notably that
of the lower extremities, sheath, and under-surface of the abdomen—generally become absorbed
after a time under the influence of arsenic and exercise; but this may be accelerated by daily
massage of the body and limbs.
" Question of the administration of Arsenic as a preventative to animals during the Rains, in
districts in which surra is epizootic."
" The question with regard to the administation of arsenic to animals at the commencement of
the rains, as a preventive in districts where surra is epizootic, is one worthy of trial. A dose of five
grains of arsenic in the form of liquor arsenicalis (ten drachms) given once a day in the drinking
water to each animal could not fail to produce a beneficial effect, and could with safety be continu-
ed for a month at a time. The dose of arsenic should then be gradually reduced every three
days by half a grain at a time after the period of four weeks has passed, until it is discontinued
altogether. An interval of a few days (3 or 4) should then be allowed to elapse and the same
process again commenced one grain being first given with gradually increasing doses of half a grain
till 5 is reached. This treatment could be carried on until the end of October."
254. Doctor Lingard, during the year under review, has also continued his
experimental investigations re hæmatozoon in rats and bandicoots ; the results
of such investigations will be found in the subsequent volumes on surra,
Volume II of which will shortly be published.
255. The moving of the Laboratory fittings, &c., from Poona to Muktesar
was commenced at the end of the year, but it will take some time before the
new building is in fit state to enable the Imperial Bacteriologist to commence
his work.