5
of Tabanus may also be present, but this will be investigated next month and if
they are then found to be numerous, the Commandant will at once be advised as
to the most dangerous zones and the best steps to take to save the camels work-
on the " Murree move."
27. 52nd (Jhelum) Camel Corps.—On 29th September 1908 I duly visited
the Pabbi Rakh, the corps grazing ground ; Tabanus was present even at this late
date ; Stomoxys were also very numerous. It is very necessary that the Rakh
which is undesirable for many reasons for corps camels be exchanged in favour
of Rakhs on the Salt Range for the grazing of the camels in the surra season
from which a gradual improvement in the health of the camels may be anticipated.
I also found Tabanus in the camel corps lines in Jhelum on 3rd October; the
camels should therefore be kept away from head-quarters as far as is practicable
for at least a month after the end of the present rest period.
28. The high death-rate this year is due to the vigour with which the disease
surra has been searched for in the corps in which little or nothing
in the way of combating the spread of the disease had for some time been done
and surra had therefore spread to an appalling extent as I indicated in my last
report. The Commandant and Native Officers have been at work all the hot
weather and rains in the search for surra, and the good work done, if coupled with
the grant of a new grazing ground on the Salt Range, will I think after a little
time be apparent by its results. The camelmen in this corps now have confidence
in the microscope as a test for surra, and in the measures which have been
adopted against further losses from the disease. The search for surra has re-
sulted in the detection of 140 cases, diagnosis in all cases being checked by the
Commandant, a necessary precaution, before being sent for Veterinary confirm-
ation. Precautions are being taken not to purchase latent surra. About
2-5ths of the total casualties are surra cases destroyed after microscopic diagnosis
and of these a very large proportion would have lived on until next year to con-
tinue the disease and great mortality, had they not been discovered.
The corps was sent to Nowshera at the time of the Mohmand expedition.
The breeding farm, which could not be properly superintended, and was
being carried on in unfavourable conditions has been dispersed.
29. 53rd (Sargodha) Camel Corps.—The causes of mortality of this corps
are not the same as last year. I have only seen 270 of these camels this year : they
had just arrived at Rawalpindi for work on employed pay. They were a poor
lot and I easily found 14 cases of surra out of 34 suspects. The Thal camel is
being weeded out but I do not know what class of animal is being bought in;
this corps more than any other is in danger of buying in latent surra as it has to
buy where it can, Thal camels having been found useless. In January and Feb-
ruary 1909 the total casualties were 48, of which 23 were 1908 purchases.
30. The 26 cases of surra discovered during the 12 months ending 31st March
1909 probably only represent a small proportion of the number of animals affected
with the disease this year. This corps was grazed on the Murree Road in May
in 1908 at the time of the Mohmand expedition, and I am told that Dhang was
present then; it is dangerous to march camels through the irrigated part of
Shahpur after the rest period before 15th October, and the camels are liable to this
having head-quarters at Sargodha. From the point of view of camel supply and
grazing the corps is unfortunately situated.
31. 54th (Lahore) Camel Corps.—Last year it was hoped that the decline of
surra in the corps would result in a smaller mortality this year. This has not
been the case partly owing to the exceptionally heavy rains and partly owing to
the corps having taken part in the frontier operations in May 1908.
32. The 38 proved surra cases are obviously but a small proportion of the
surra casualties and as the weeding out of surra cases in the corps is especially
important owing to the difficulty of avoiding the fly, the disease should be searched
for vigorously.
33. The prevalence of malaria has probably accounted indirectly for losses in
camels which in many cases could not be properly looked after by their sanvans
in the rest period. The breeding farm animals were put under the charge of a