4
19. On tour I examined a number of the camels and found that the disease
had not spread to any very serious extent in the local troops, probably because
of their freedom from surra before going into the surra-zones on the frontier.
20. The total number of proved surra cases found in the twelve months ending
31st March 1909 was 10 (of which one was discovered after casting). Of these,
eight were camels employed in the expedition and two were 1908 purchases.
1 he mortality of the four local troops is about 16.5 per cent.; that of the whole
corps about 19.4 per cent.
21. Finding that surra was not to be blamed altogether for the increased
Mortality I made an examination of a number of camels in poor condition for
filariasis. Filarial embryos were found in 13 cases out of 40 examined. This
is a high percentage, and although only a minority of these 13 owed their poor
condition entirely to the Filariae, there is little doubt that the parasite directly
and indirectly accounts for much of the increased mortality ; and that the
animals became infected from the other side of the Indus. The Commandant
has since found other cases. Much work has been done this year in investiga-
tion of filariasis and I hope to send a full report on the subject before the end
of the hot weather. There is reason to think that this disease, in the case of
the four local troops, will not spread to any greater extent than it has done
already. In the absence of exact knowledge of the agent of infection, only
segregation (in the case of Trans-Indus troops) and watering of affected camels
further down stream than the healthy could be advised ; this in a Silladar Corps
is of course more easily said than done.
22. The breeding farm was visited and the camel bachas closely examined
for signs of Girki. Last year I advised that the dachis with bachas " at foot "
be sent down from the stony rakhs altogether for a considerable portion of the
year when grazing in Pindigheb becomes ready. The Commandant however
tells me that under existing arrangements this would have been difficult and the
bachas have therefore not been sent down altogether but kept as far as possible
on the lower slopes of the hills where it is less stony. That this is an improve-
ment on the old system, is shown by the fact that only one new case was found
fortunately in a dachibacha ; but it is not sufficient to save losses from Girki ;
camel-breeding herds in this part of the country must be able to make seasonal
movements for complete success. The bachas otherwise leave nothing to
be desired and are calculated to make good hill camels. The freedom of the
Kala Chitta Rakh from Surra is shown by the low mortality in the breeding
farm.
23. In the breeding season of 1908 a Bactrian camel was imported as a sand ;
it did not become musth however and was useless. This experiment was hardly
necessary when such an excellent stamp of camel is to be found locally ; and as
the Bactrian was not old enough, was in poor condition when it arrived and was
not even a good specimen of its type, the experiment does not prove that the
Bactrian is useless as a sand in India.
24. 51st (Rawalpindi) Camel Corps.—The increased mortality is no doubt
also partly due to the effects of diseases acquired on the frontier. The mortality
is however too high as a rule to be satisfactorily accounted for at present and the
grazing ground on the Murree road must be suspected of being a surra-zone.
This road will be carefully watched for fabanus this year. It is a curious thing
that the tonga ponies have seemingly escaped this disease on the road. Camels
work on it within the surra season.
25. Fifty-six Surra cases have been detected this year as against 20 last
year. It is probable that a good number remain undetected.
26. For the better health of the camels of this corps, grazing is wanted on the
Kala Chitta range, eastern end, which experience shows to be healthy for camels.
A change in the rest period has also been suggested to the Commandant, so as
to keep the camels off the Murree road in-July, August and September, which
from what we know of similar hill-roads and from what is reported about this
road, is the worst time for Tabanus. In May and June it is likely that a number