64
4 to 5 weeks previous to being received into the Laboratory Hospital, consequently the success of
our treatment was not so marked as it otherwise might have been, had we been able to treat the
animals within a few days of the disease making itself manifest. Nevertheless, the undermen-
tioned cases are the only successful ones recorded up to the present date.
" The horse—No. 89—whose case was detailed in my last report of July 1894, continued to
thrive and gain in body weight, the difference during the period of disease and after a cure had
been affected being nearly three maunds or 240 lbs. The blood of this animal was daily sub-
mitted to microscopical examination from November 1893 to February 23rd, 1895, a period of over
15 months.
"An entire country-bred horse (No. 115) aged 4 years, belonging to the Bombay Mounted
Police, was noticed to be suffering from fever, temperature 105° F., about the 20th October 1894.
The animal was admitted into the Poona Laboratory Hospital on October 29th, and the same
evening the arsenical treatment was commenced, the diagnosis of surra having previously been
confirmed, by microscopical examination of the blood. The hæmatozoon disappeared from the
blood on the 4th December 1894, but the treatment was continued until the commencement of
March. This animal was returned to the Mounted Police, Bombay, on March 9th, 1895. A Board
examined the horse, reported that he was sound and healthy, and ordered him to be returned
for duty.
"A Herati gelding (No. 119) aged 8 years, belonging to the Bombay Tramway Company
(No. 882), was found to be suffering from fever on December 1st, 1894, and on the 4th, the
hæmatozoon of surra was discovered in its blood. Treatment was commenced at the Poona
Laboratory on December 6th, and the organism disappeared from the blood on the 8th, but again
returned on the 16th February 1895—after an absence of 70 days. The arsenical treatment has been
persevered with, and on June 20th—200 days since the first manifestation of surra—the animal is
in good condition, has regained flesh, and now weighs eleven maunds or 902 lbs. The hæmato-
zoon has been absent for some weeks, and hopes are entertained of yet saving the animal,
" Does one attack of surra, protect against a second attack?.—A horse (No. 89) the subject of
surra—December 1893—was cured by the administration of arsenic and the double iodide of
arsenic and mercury. Between March and October 1893, the animal gained in body weight to
the extent of 235.75 lbs. and presented a perfect condition. Fifteen months after the date of the
previous attack of surra, and twelve months after the cure was effected, the animal was inoculat-
ed with a minute drop of surra blood—a mere trace of soiled blood being smeared over a small
scratch on the nose—in order to ascertain whether any protection had been conferred by the
previous illness. The latent period of the second attack occupied seven days. The progress
of the disease was marked as usual by paroxysms of fever, and intermissions therefrom ; the
former occupying a much more prolonged period, viz., 22 days, and the latter being shorter (2 days)
than was observed during the primary attacks of surra in horses. Death took place on the 53rd
day of the disease, clearly proving that one attack of surra does not confer on an animal any
protection against a second attack."
" Note on the treatment of Surra in Horses."
" Only animals in good or fairly good condition are suitable to undergo treatment for surra.
It will be found impracticable to attempt the cure of ill-preserved animals, such as Tonga ponies.
towards the end of a heavy and hard-worked season."
" The weight of an animal should be ascertained when practicable, in order that the maximum
dose of arsenic to be administered during the treatment may be regulated.
" It is of the utmost importance for the successful treatment of surra that the disease be
recognized and the animal put under the influence of the drug with the least possible delay.
" Arsenic should be administered in the form of liquor arsenicalis (Fowler's solution). The
preparation is as follows:—
" Arsenious acid (in powder)
" Carbonate of potassium
...
...
...
...
...
...
87 grains.
87 grains.
add half a pint of distilled water to these in a flask and heat till dissolved ; cool and add,
*" Compound tincture of lavender
...
...
... 5 drachms."
" Distilled water, sufficient to make one pint. (One fluid ounce contains about four grains of
arsenic.)
" * The Tinct. lavendula Compound may be omitted, but the animals under treatment for
surra take the medicine more readily when it is present."
" In most cases of surra in equines, a dose of from four to five grains may be commenced
with, and given twice daily for forty-eight (48) hours, the amount being increased by half a grain,
after every four (4) doses have been administered, until seven (7) grains are reached. The latter
amount should be continued twice daily for seven (7) days in the case of an animal below 700 lbs.
in weight, but in Australians of 1,000 lbs. and upwards, the dose may be increased by the addition
of half a grain to as high as nine or even ten grains twice daily, for the same period.
The dose of arsenic should then be gradually reduced by half a grain to one grain according to
the condition of the animal, until a four grain dose has been reached. After a period of two
days, if possible, repeat the treatment, increasing and diminishing the dose of arsenic as above
described.
" The fact, however, must never be lost sight of, that if arsenic be administered in increasing
doses to an animal regularly and for a prolonged period, varying according to the subject, symp-
toms of gastric derangement will be noticed sooner or later, followed by weakness across the loins
and paralysis."