8
39. Private camels.—I was asked by some camelmen at Kalayat in
Patiala State to treat some of their surra camels. I found, when I went to
Kalayat, that as I could not come earlier they had sent many of their camels
to Batesar Pair and the remainder to Karnal District for grazing. The
information I obtained from the camelman's brother was as follows :—
His brother owned about 200 camels, 100 of which they had detected
to be suffering from surra (by the urine smell test). In a village about
6 miles from Kalayat there were about 200 camels, out of which 40 were suffer-
ing from surra. In another village out of about 150 camels about 35 had been
diagnosed with surra. In another village out of 250 camels about 40 had been
diagnosed with surra. These men have their own camel doctor and they
know surra well. Every case of surra is at once isolated, and if not sold is not
allowed to mix with healthy camels for 3 years. The majority of the
surra cases are sold, as soon as possible, at the various fairs to unsuspecting
buyers. I met some of these men at the Amritsar Fairs, and they asked me to
examine their camels for them in Karnal District; this I propose doing this
year.
40. Are camels suffering frcm surra dangerous to horses and other
animals ?—In order to determine this question two series of experiments must
be carried out.
Series (1) —-Different animals should be inoculated subcutaneously
with blood from camels suffering from surra, when trypanosomes are present
in the peripheral circulation and the result noted. If trypanosomes appear in
the peripheral circulation the course of the disease should be noted, i.e., whether
it is fatal or not. If positive results are obtained in series (1) experiments
series (2) must be carried out.
Series (2).—Biting flies should be fed on camels suffering from surra,
when trypanosomes are present in the peripheral circulation, and transferied
after different intervals of time to feed on other species of animals and the
result noted., as in series (I).
I was only able (on account of pressure of other work) to carry out
series (1) experiments on a limited scale : series (2) experiments will be
carried out next year.
Scries (1).—Ponies, goats and dogs were inoculated with blood from
surra infected camels (when trypanosomes were present in the peripheral
circulation), as follows :—
Pony No. 1.—Inoculated with 1 c. c. blood (trypanosomes 5 in 1
field) direct from camel No. 231 subcutaneously. Ten days
after inoculation trypanosomes appeared in the blood.
Has become greatly emaciated—oedema of legs, sheath and testicles
present.
Has been under observation 8 months 11 days.
Forty No. 2.—Inoculated with 1 c. c. blood (trypanosomes 8 in 1
field) direct from camel No. 566 subcutaneously. Trypano-
somes appeared in the blood 7 days after inoculation. This
pony has not lost condition at all. Has been under observa-
tion 5 months 19 days.
Goat No. 1.—Inoculated with 1 c. c. blood (trypanosomes 5 in 1
field) direct from camel No. 240 subcutaneously. Under
daily blood examination for 100 days : no appearance of try-
panosomes. Improved in condition.
Goat No. 2.—Inoculated with 1 c. c. blood (trypanosomes 5 in 1
field) direct from camel No. 247 subcutaneously. Under
daily blood examination for 99 days : no appearance of trypano-
somes. Improved in condition.
Goat No. 3.—Inoculated with 1 c. c. blood (trypanosomes 5 in 1 field)
direct from camel No. 187. Under daily blood examination for