18
B.—TREATED CASES OF SURRA.
Horse No. LXXXIX.
Australian gelding, aged 16 years, body weight 1,028 lbs.
This experiment was undertaken with a view to elucidate whether an animal inoculated
with Surra could be successfully treated, and during the progress of the case observations
were made daily with regard to the output of Nitrogen as urea.
After the investigations had been carried on for six days, the animal was inoculated
with Surra : the period of incubation occupied six days, and the first and only paroxysm five
days. Treatment with arsenic (Liq. Arsenicalis) was commenced immediately on the appear-
ance of the Trypanosoma in the blood, and was continued during 60 days, although no
organisms re-appeared after the first five days of treatment, in which 50 grains of Arsenic
were administered. At that date (61st day) the double Iodides of Arsenic and Mercury were
substituted for the above. The iodides were administered for a period of one-hundred and
six (106) days. As the organism of Surra had now been absent from the blood for a period
of one-hundred and sixty-six (166) days, all treatment was discontinued, but the observations
were carried on for a further period of two-hundred and twenty-six (226) days. For the
last 26 weeks of the case—regarded as health—the total Nitrogen ingested and egested
was estimated.
The chief points of interest in this case are:—
Urine.—The small quantity, viz., 1,255 c.c., passed daily during the preliminary period
of health; this quantity increased slightly during the period of incubation and still more
during the paroxysm. Under the arsenical treatment it again decreased, average 1,543 c.c.,
but when the iodides were administered, the daily quantity was doubled—3,162 c.c., and
still further increased after treatment ceased. The average daily quantity was now 4.8 times
that of the preliminary health period.
Urea.—The amount of urea, as in the case of the urine during the period of health and
incubation, was only one-fourth the normal output as found in England. It increased about
2.5 times in the paroxysm, but again diminished during the arsenical treatment. The effect
of the double iodides was to rapidly raise the excretion of urea to 4.03 times that of the
preliminary health period, and this elimination was still further increased to 4.43 times,
during the subsequent period of non-treatment extending over 31 weeks.
Hippuric Acid.—The average daily output of hippuric acid, viz., 11.08 grammes, in
health, was increased during the latent period to 18.62 grammes; it fell to 12.49 grammes
in the paroxysm, and rose again during the 60 days' arsenical treatment to 16.14 grammes.
A great reduction to 2.18 grammes occurred during the administration of the double Iodides
of Arsenic and Mercury, and none was excreted during the first 163 days after the iodides
were discontinued, the excretion of the acid then recommenced, and for the last 63 days
of the case the mean daily output was 14.87 grammes.
TABLE III.
HORSE LXXXIX. Showing the mean daily averages and ratios, in health and treated
Surra, of urine and its constituents, &c., together with the water drunk.
Periods.
Length in days.
Urine, c.c
Ratio
...
Urea, grammes
Ratio
Hippuric Acid, grammes
Albumen, grammes
Water, litres
Ratio urea to urine
Ratio urine to water
...
...
Arsenic, grains
...
...
...
Iodides As., grains
„
Hg
Health.
6
1,255
1
21.42
1
11.08
...
14.44
1 :11.50
1 : 58.50
...
...
...
L. Period.
6
1,364
1.08
19.71
0.92
18.62
0.052
13.87
1: 10.16
1 :69.50
...
...
Paroxysm.
5
1,892
1.50
52.90
2.47
12.49
0.157
15.96
1 : 8.43
1 : 35.80
50
...
...
Arsenic.
60
1,543
1.23
28.71
1.34
16.14
0.233
17.18
1 : 11.13
1: 53.76
368
...
...
Iodides.
106
3,162
2.52
86.53
4.04
2.18{
1.105
18.06
1 : 5.71
1 : 36.54
...
288
288
No
treatment.
226
6,180
4.92
94.93
4.43
days
163-nil
63—14.87
3.645
18.78
1 : 3.12
1 : 63.49
...
...
...
Whole
Period.
409
4,437
3.53
80.33
3.75
5.194
18.19
1 : 4.09
1 : 55.23
438
288
288