9
(iii) A large brown-headed fly, seen only during the rainy season, the
mandibles of this fly being adapted for piercing the skin, as it lives by
sucking blood.
On several occasions in different outbreaks I have demonstrated micros-
copically the Trypanosoma Evansi in their blood. The most frequent fly found
on equines is a kind of gadfly; the one infesting the dog appears to be a small va-
riety of the same species.
A collection of the different flies found infesting Surra animals in this
country is being made, and will probably appear in Volume III of the Surra
Report.
I suggested that Surgeon-Captain Bruce be asked, when opportunity offers,
to examine microscopically the blood and body fluids of the Tsetse fly for the
presence of parasites (Trypanosoma, Nematodes, &c.)—
(i) When the fly is caught on the affected animals.
(ii) In its natural or wild state, and further that he may be allowed to
correspond directly with me on points of interest connected with the
elucidation of this disease in the two continents.
The following enclosures were despatched with the above letter:—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Photograph of Horse No.
Surra.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Horse No.
Do.
do.
LXXXIX, Australian, pulled down by
do.
six months later.
do.
one year after Surra, cured.
CXV, country-bred, after cure affected.
CXIX, Herati, during convalescence.
Drawings—
A. Trypanosoma in
B.
Do.
C.
Do.
D.
Do.
E.
Do.
P. Tsetse fly.
G. Drawing of flies
blood of Rat (Mus decumanus).
do.
do.
do.
do.
caught
Cat.
Horse.
Guinea Pig.
Bovines.
on the body of a Surra Horse, and Dog.
H. Photos of flies from Surra Horse.
Government of India forwarded Volume I, Surra Report, and Summary for
1894.
In September 1895, Summary forwarded for 1895.
In a letter dated 15th September 1895, Ubombo, Zululand, received 7th
November 1895, Surgeon-Captain Bruce says :—
" We want to establish the identity of the fly disease with Surra, or the want of identity,
and for this purpose I propose to send you cover glass preparations of the blood from various
animals, stained and unstained, and an account of the symptoms of the disease in the same
animals. I shall also send you specimens of the Tsetse fly, which may or may not have
some connection with the propagation of the disease."
" In this country an important point to settle is whether or not any of the wild ani-
mals help to spread the disease. Because there is a very widely spread idea among the
natives and white settlers here, that some of the big game, such as buffalo, wildebeeste,
rhinoceros, koodoo, water buck, have in some way or other a connection with the disease.
They say, drive out the big game, you drive out the disease; allow the big game to increase,
the disease increases."
Blood specimens of the Trypanosoma taken from the cow, dog and donkey
were also received.
On my return from Karnal, Punjab, in January 1896, I carefully examin-
ed the above microscopical specimens, and expressed my opinion at some length
on this and other questions raised, in a letter despatched on 16th February
1896 to this effect :—
" That the flagellated protozoa found in the Nagana and Tsetse blood disease, corre-
spond exactly (as far as I am able to judge, microscopically) with those found in the blood
of animals the subjects of Surra in India."
B 563—3