13
ulcer on the first occasion and later only to the unhealthy edges of the ulcer
which the necrotic process is otherwise apt to involve and delay healing. When
granulating properly, mild antiseptics only are necessary. If flies are present,
a fly dressing should be painted on the wound to prevent flyblow.
90. Remarks.—As the disease appears to sometimes affect a number of
animals at the same time, it is probably an infective disease; sometimes an
affected camel appears to inoculate himself in a new situation, as shown by the
frequency with which lesions on withers and poll are seen in the same animal (it
is a habit of the camel sometimes to rub his withers with the poll).
91. That the disease does not depend on filariasis is indicated by examination
of the blood of many cases for embryos (one for 136 consecutive days and a
subsequent post-mortem in which filarial adults could not be found).
Spiroptera nodules in the skin of camels have been found in Australia by
Cleland (Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Bulletin No. 34) but from
his description of the lesion it is distinct from Jhoolak.
92. The pus under the lesion if the slough is pulled off early shows long
strings of streptococci with a few diplococci. Inoculation of the pus of Jhoolak
cases on two occasions into incisions in the skin of healthy camels did not produce
a characteristic lesion, and the pus organisms are probably secondary. 20 c. c.
of the fresh blood from the jugular vein of a Jhoolak case were inoculated
intravenously into a healthy camel without producing appreciable disease during
the five months following. It was not proved however that these animals had
not been through a previous attack.
93. It seems likely that the disease may be a wound infection possibly by the
necrosis bacillus ; but bacteriological investigation of it is awaiting facilities for
the work. Some camelmen consider the disease to be due to eating Babul
(Keekur) probably because this tree is the principal grazing in many places in
the winter, when Jhoolak is seen. Others put it down vaguely to the bite of a
fly ; but this is unlikely as biting flies are few or absent on camels in the Punjab
winter.
94. Anthrax.-This
disease has been met with in Montgomery district in
camels; a condition called Sujan characterised by swellings on body and sudden
death of camels previously in good condition having been met with. Khuda
Baksh, Veterinary Duffadar of 56th Camel Corps was asked to send specimens
of blood from animals dead of diseases showing these symptoms, as soon as
possible after death of the camel; as a result two cases were found in which
Anthrax bacilli were recognisable, although the blood was evidently very putrid,
the smears being made 24 and 36 hours respectively after death in November.
95. The sarwans reported sudden death in both cases, one at grazing, the
other in the night. Khuda Baksh who made post-mortems reports enlarged
softened spleen and gastro enteritis, the body being opened with the object of
ascertaining the lesions in. the camel.
96. Both cases occurred singly and probably depended on infection when
grazing; camels graze close to the ground only at certain seasons ; their tree-graz-
ing habits probably protect them a good deal from this and other diseases ; it is far
more likely that the infecting carcase or excretions. were those of an ox than of
a camel.
97. Under silladar Camel Corps conditions the disease is rarely likely to be
diagnosed in time to ensure the burning of the carcase. Further information on
the frequency of the disease is required.
98. Foot and Mouth disease.—I have constantly been on the look out for out-
breaks in camels of the important contagious diseases of cattle. Veterinary
literature led me to expect that foot and mouth disease would be found in the
camel in the Punjab.
Law (Veterinary Medicine, Volume IV, page 317) says :— " It is doubtful if
any warmblooded animal enjoys an immunity" from it; Friedenberger and
Frohner definitely state that camels are liable to it (Veterinary Pathology,
Volume I).