26
should be kept under observation for surra. After a few weeks be informed
me that 5 out of the 14 ponies had been found to be suffering from surra.
Conclusions.—(1) Ponies can contract surra from camels.
(2) Ponies should not be kept in contact with camels.
SUDDEN DEATHS AMONGST CAMELS OF THE 57TH SILLADAR CAMEL
CORPS AT MULTAN.
67. In the month of January 1916 several cases of sudden deaths
occurred amongst the camels of the 57th Corps stationed at Multan.
I was requested by Major Fenny, Commandant of the Corps, to invest-
gate the cause of death, and to advise what steps should be taken to prevent
the spread of the disease.
Between the 20th [January and my arrival at Multan on the 25th
January 1916, out of 117 camels, seven cases of sudden death had occurred.
The history of all cases (with the exception of one) was the same, the
camels became suddenly ill and died within a few hours. All the cases oc-
curred amongst the camels of one troop.
Post-mortem appearances.
Post-mortems had been made by the Veterinary Duffadar in charge.
The result of the post-mortem, as stated by him, was as follows :—
Peritonitis and enteritis in all cases, accompanied in some cases by en-
largement of the spleen and abnormally dark coloured blood.
On the afternoon of my arrival one camel was noticed to be sick half
an hour before my arrival at the camp. He died half an hour after my arrival
there.
He presented the following symptoms:—
Temperature 102.4.
Head stretched out on the ground.
Rolling- symptoms of pain.
Unable to rise.
Rapid breathing.
Death occurred an hour after the camel was observed to he sick. Smears
of blood taken immediately after death showed typical anthrax bacilli.
No post-mortem was made, but before the carcase was burnt a discharge
of blood from the natural orifices was observed. Seven smears of blood, from
the seven cases of sudden death, were handed to me for examination. Of these
five contained Anthrax bacilli.
Source of injection.
68. This I was unable to determine. The animals never watered at the
same place but watered from different wells every day. The camels had never
been in any place where any animal had died suddenly.; neither could any
information be obtained of any sheep, horses or cattle having died suddenly in
the neighbourhood. The old stock of bhoosa was finished on the 10th January
1916, and. the dealer supplying the Corps had obtained fresh supplies from
many different sources. The source of infection was probably the water or the
bhoosa, but as the camels had been watered from different wells and the bhoosa
had been obtained from different places, it was quite impossible to trace the
disease to either the water supply or the bhoosa.
Further it is possible that the camels became infected by chewing
anthrax infected bones, when out grazing in the jungle. Camels chew bones,
and it is not impossible that the camels became infected in this way.
Prevention of the spread of the disease.
69. The steps taken by the Commandant before my arrival were quite
correct and undoubtedly saved camels of the other troops from becoming in-
fected. I suggested further measures for the prevention of the spread of the
disease amongst camels of the infected troop. These were at once carried out
by the Commandant and no more deaths occurred.