18
May and beginning of June,.the losses were very heavy. This season the transport working
on the Ruby Mines road did not return to Head-quarters till some time in June; the losses
amongst these animals will be terrible. (Between April 1896 and April 1897, 220 mules
succumbed to Surra in Mandalay).
Undoubtedly one great fault is the utter want of knowledge of animal management on
the part of the natives in charge ; some in time may gain experience, still it is expensive for
Government. The Salutris and Jemadars I have met over here are incompetent to give any
sound advice on matters affecting the health and welfare of animals, and are only just able to
treat the most simple ailments. So long as there are defects in the feeding, watering, and gen-
eral care of Transport, so long will the animals suffer severely from enzootic diseases. While at
Head-quarters the greatest care is taken to see that the animals get good dry grass, excellent
water, that they are properly and regularly groomed, and that the stables, standings and
vicinity are kept in a sanitary condition ; yet when these some animals are called upon to
perform severe work, and require, if possible, even more care than when in cantonments, they
are handed over practically to the tender mercies of Transport Jemadars and Muleteers. These
men are very willing, and when looked after, excellent men for the work which should be
required of them.
Two points, I wish to bring particularly to your notice, are :-
(a) The urgent necessity of providing ample European supervision with Government
Transport, and
(b) The desirability of getting the rationing over as early as possible, even if extra
animals have to be employed.
Hired Transport.
In this Province Bullock and Mule Transport can both be obtained. Pack bullocks
are slow, easily stampeded, and as baskets are employed for carrying purposes, it is necessary
that Government Packages be undone. The bullocks carry from 140 to 160 lb. The risks
of contracts not being fulfilled if foot and mouth disease or rinderpest should attack the
animals. The advantage is that it is inexpensive.
Panthe and Yunnanese mule transport, if obtained at moderate rates, must prove a
saving to Government. Government has no risks; with mules all work is pretty sure to
be carried out. Government could considerably reduce their permanent transport, thus
saving keep and establishment.
All work must be pushed through as quickly as possible, as the Panthes are well aware
what the results will be if they are kept out too long. These muleteers are willing, cheery,
and hardworking, if treated well. The mules being small, they can only carry from 120 to
130 lb., and the men naturally resent any attempts at overloading.
I have little doubt that, if due notice be given, ample transport will be obtained.
When prevalent.
April is the only month in which I have up to the present not met with a case of Surra.
The heaviest mortality usually occurs between June and October. June, July and Septem-
ber may, I think, be taken as particularly bad months, though outbreaks severe enough
occur in August and November.
As in India we meet with this disease in two different climates, viz., in places where
there is a moderately high temperature, an atmosphere charged with moisture, heavy rain-
fall and considerable inundation of country ; also where the climate is dry, the temperature
very high, and the rainfall moderate or slight, it must however not be overlooked that in
such places, though the register may show only a moderate amount for the year, the rain
at times comes down so hard-and-fast that tanks are quickly filled, and low-lying tracts
inundated.
Surra prevails at certain seasons throughout Upper Burma, also in the Shan States
and the Chinese say that at times it is very bad in Yunnan. In some years the Chinese
suffer heavy losses along the trade routes from Bhamo. In Lower Burma one does not hear
so much about Surra, for the simple reason that columns do not go out, and most of the
animals are in the hands of private individuals who look after them. In 1890 I witnessed
one bad- outbreak in the Thayetmyo district. Steel saw it in Toungoo and Rangoon. I
have to note an outbreak amongst some private animals in Rangoon. The first case brought
to my notice was on the 17th of September of this year, and is the first case I have met
with in an animal that had not been out of the station. I will let you have some notes on it
later on.
It is surprising that Burmans, owing to their system of feeding ponies, do not suffer
heavier losses; the grass is chopped up and mixed with water; grain is frequently given in the
same way. The reasons given me are (1) That their forefathers always fed animals in this
way and found it answer well, (2) That ponies must digest their food as they cannot bolt it,
(3) That owners are too lazy to clean the grass and grain, so mix it with water. This is
probably the correct reason. A great many cases must arise from eating bad grass; we all
know the customs of ordinary grass-cutters, so we can hardly blame the tired muleteers