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Of all the diseases that the camel is susceptihle to I have no hesitation in
saying that the most serious is surra If camels were employed on active
service at the present time amongst them would be several suffering from surra,
and from these camels the military horses and mules are capable of contract-
ing the disease. That horses can contract the disease under natural conditions
from the camel is proved by the fact that at Sohawa a few years ago a horse
that was kept near surra camels developed the disease.
Twenty-five deaths occurred from poisonous plants and 35 from snake
bite. At Sohawa snakes are very common, but I have not had a single death
from snake bite ; neither have I had a single death from poisonous plants though
kaneir is plentiful The results of experiments show that camels will not
readily eat kaneir.
Sore throat.—I have made every effort to obtain fresh material from
these cases, but I have not succeeded owing to the fact that on unemployed pay
the report of the death of a camel takes a considerable time to reach the com-
mandarts. Arrangements have been made with the commandant of the 57th
silladar camel corps to inoculate culture media from such cases and
forward them to me and I hope during the next year to be able to identify the
disease.
Pulmonary diseases.—One hundred and eight deaths are reported. A
good number of these are probably due to surra, and a large number are due
to neglected wounds. If the pus is not allowed a free exit from the wound the
pyogenic organisms are taken up by the circulation carried along by the blood
stream and become lodged in the lungs. Hence the reason why we find on post-
mortem so many cases of abscesses in the lungs.
Dera Ismail Khan.—A rakh in the Salt Range during the rest period is
an absolute necessity for the camels of the local transport, stationed at Dera
Ismail Khan.
Bannu.—I consider that the death rate would be reduced if all the
government camels at this station were placed under the charge of the officer
commanding the supply and transport, instead of many of them being under
regimental charge.
By systematic temperature taking and blood examination cases of surra
could be at once diagnosed and the spread of the disease could be reduced.
Grantee camel corps. — The 59th corps is badly infected with surra.
The reason for the greater prevalence of surra in this corps than in the other
grantee corps will be investigated next year. The mortality in these corps
cannot be compared with that of the silladar camel corps, these animals doing
but little work in comparison with camels of the silladar camel corps.
20. The detection of surra.—In my report last year I recommended
that the temperature of all camels should be taken once daily and the blood
of any showing an abnormal temperature should be examined. If the tem-
peratures are systematically taken and the blood of any camel showing a
morning temperature of 99° F. or over is examined, very few cases of surra
will remain undetected In order to test the reliability, rapidity, and case with
which the temperature method can be carried out the camels of the 50th, 51st
52nd and 53rd silladar camel corps were examined. In this examination I
had the valuable assistance of Colonel A. C. Newsom, A V.C., I.V.O. northern
circle, and in no case were trypanosomes found in the peripheral circulation
with a morning temperature under 99° F. In chronic cases of surra in the
camel the paroxysms do not occur frequently, i.e., the trypanosome will be only
seldom found in the peripheral circulation, so that a one day's examination of
a corps gives but a little idea of the prevalence of surra amongst the animals.
By carrying out the method of temperature-taking commandants have been
able to detect a large number of cases of surra, several being camels in splendid
condition.