69
NOTES CONCERNING SURRA IN BOVINES AND BUFFALOES.
Although horses which contract Surra by inoculation with the hæmatozoon of the Rat
(Mus decumanus) succumb within a limited number of hours to a very virulent form of the
disease, bovines suffering from the same malady derived from a similar source pass through
a varying number of short paroxysms and prolonged intermissions, and concurrently become
considerably emaciated. Eventually, after some months, these animals throw off the disease,
and again attain a robust condition of body.
2. Surra in bovines appears to follow an identical course and present the same symptoms,
whether the affected animals be stationed in the plains or at elevations of 1,800 feet and
7,500 feet above sea-level.
3. It would appear that the blood of bovines, after inoculation with the Surra Trypanosoma,
must contain for a considerable period the organism or its immature form. For guinea-pigs
inoculated with the blood from an animal (Bull I), on the 76th and 154th days of an inter-
mission, respectively, succumbed to the disease, although no hæmatozoa could be discovered
in the inoculated blood. Animals of the same species succumbed after passing through a
period of incubation lasting 14 days when inoculated with blood from an animal (Bull III),
taken on the 18th day of an intermission.
4. Bovines when inoculated with blood containing the Surra Trypanosoma, primarily
derived from either the horse or rat, present during a varying period (5 to 14 days) a
considerable amount of swelling and œdema, with tenderness at the seat of the injection. On
re-inoculation, however, with material derived from either of the above sources, no local mani-
festations are observed to follow the operation.
5. During the case of Bull No.III, inoculated on the first occasion with horse Surra
blood and on the last with material primarily derived from the rat but passed through the
horse, the seat of inoculation became very irritable on the day previous to the occurrence of the
II and III paroxysms. An observer, therefore, was able to recognise when the Surra organism
was about to re-appear in the blood of the animal.
6. Buffaloes when inoculated with the Trypanosoma Evansi contract Surra after a period
of incubation lasting five days, and finally succumb to the disease after passing through a
varying number of paroxysms and intermissions occupying between 46 and 120 days.
APPENDIX III B.
INVESTINGATIONS REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF THE " TRYPANOSOMA."
(1) During the hot season.
In a demi-official letter dated May 15th, 1896, Veterinary-Lieutenant Loughlin, Superin-
tendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, informed me that
his Veterinary Assistants on the Saharanpur-Mussoorie Dâk line reported the existence of
Surra affecting the ponies under their charge.
This information I considered to be of the utmost importance, for during six years, with
one exception (Bombay), Surra had always been found to be a disease of the rainy season, its
effects being prolonged to the end of the following December or January. Here an oppor-
tunity was offered of investigating the truth of the assertion as to the existence of the above
disease during the hot season of the year, and at the same time of submitting to microscopical
examination the water, mud, flies and fish obtained from the immediate locality of the infected
and other areas.
On May 30th I proceeded to Saharanpur, and on June 3rd accompanied Veterinary-Lieute¬
nant Loughlin and police Superintendents Fitzgerald (Saharanpur) and Thomson (Dehra Dun)
in their inspection of the animals on the Dâk line, as well as in their choice of new sites for
stables at Tunbara, Landibara and Asarori in the Mohand Pass.
The horses, especially those above Moband, presented general congestion of the conjunc-
tivæ, due to irritation caused by the heat and dust (fine girt) especially the latter. Some
animals had light red-coloured petechiæ invading the conjuncivæ, others small patches of
yellow caseous material or kunker imbedded in their membranes, but in none were
yellow or orange-coloured staining of the tissues observed.
The limbs and under¬
surface of the abdomen were entirely free from œdema and swellings due to the accumu-
lation of gelatinous material in the subcutaneous tissues as observed in animals, the subjects
of Surra.
The blood of about 150 Dâk animals was submitted to microscopical examination, but
in none was the Surra Trypanosoma found.