3
9. Remarks on mortality.—There has been a marked reduction in
mortality for all Silladar Camel Corps compared with the previous years,
the total percentage of deaths from all causes being 8.4 —a decrease of 2.3
per cent. as compared with the previous year. Colic and enteritis are res-
ponsible for 144 deaths ; out of this number 50 cases occurred in the 51st Silladar
Camel Corps, and the majority of these deaths are returned as due to colic.
That these deaths are due to ordinary colic, I am not inclined to believe. If
the cause of death was simply colic, it shows that the animals must have been
improperly fed. Out of 128 deaths that occurred in this corps, 105 occurred
when on unemployed pay, and as the cause of death when camels are on un-
employed pay is usually reported to the commandant by the sarwan himself,
little reliance can be placed upon the diagnosis. This matter, however, will
be the subject of inquiry next year, and it is hoped that an explanation of this
high mortality from colic will be forthcoming.
10. Only 70 cases of deaths from surra have been reported from the
Silladar Camel Corps ; 22 of these occurred in the 50th Silladar Camel Corps.
That there is more surra in the 50th Silladar Camel Corps than in the other
corps, I am not disposed to believe. In my opinion the fact that more cases of
surra have been found in this corps than in others is simply due to the fact,
that probably more systematic blood examinations are made in this corps than
in some of the others. I would point out that not only should the blood of
animals in poor condition be examined for the surra organism, but the blood
of all camels, irrespective of their condition, should be examined whenever an
opportunity is afforded of so doing. It appears to be a prevalent belief that
if a camel is in good condition it is unnecessary to examine the blood for the
surra organism. This is absolutely wrong If a camel becomes infected with
surra when in good condition and the virulence of the trypanosome is not
very great, the camel, if well fed and not overworked, may go on for some
months without losing much condition, but during the whole of this time is a
source of danger to other animals. The routine method for the diagnosis of
surra which I recommend is given in paragraph 32.
11. Sixty-nine deaths in the Silladar Camel Corps are reported as due
to debility. Debility is not a disease, it is the result of either (1) disease or
(2) overwork and starvation and old age. The majority of these deaths are pro-
bably due to surra.
12. Thirty-nine deaths are returned as due to snake-bite, or poisonous
plants. As far as 1 have been able to gather during the short time I have
been in charge of this office, any sudden death is put down to one of these
causes ; but in all probability some of these deaths are due to anthrax, a
case of which I found amongst the camels of the 52nd. I have seen the
Commandants of several corps with regard to this matter, and they arc making
arrangements to have smears taken from any cases of sudden death, and
forwarded to me, for diagnosis. Similar arrangements will be made with
other Commandants. In all cases of sudden death the carcase of the animal
should be burnt, and the animal should on no account be skinned.
13. Twenty-two deaths occurred from " sore throat". This is a disease
that requires investigation, and it is proposed to carry out investigations regard-
ing this disease as soon as the necessary bacteriological apparatus, which has
been sanctioned, arrives from England. The disease runs a very rapid course,
and, as a rule, ends fatally. In many respects it resembles a disease found in
camels in British East Africa.
14. One case of rinderpest is reported, and one case of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia. The diagnosis in each case was made by the Veterinary Daffadar.
Whether the diagnosis was correct or not, I am unable to say. Experiments
will be carried out next year regarding the susceptibility of camels to these
diseases, if the necessary sheds for carrying out such investigation are