15
Statement showing number of Ponies of the Military Police that died from " Surra"
as below.
Stations.
Mandalay ...
Bhamo
...
...
...
Mogaung
Katha
...
...
Mogôk
Lashio
...
...
...
Mônywa
Yamethin
Pyawbwe (Yamethin)
Shwebo
...
...
...
Meiktila
...
...
Pokakku
Magwe
Gangaw (Pakokku)
Myitkyina
Pymmana (Yamethin)
Pegu
Total ...
1894.
53
1
6
25
3
5
25
9
16
5
2
1
4
...
...
...
...
155
1895.
2
...
23
26
3
...
9
3
19
1
30
...
6
2
21
42
12
199
Rainfall.
MuchRain ...
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Dryer.
Dryer.
Dry.
Dry.
Dry.
Dry.
Dry.
Dry.
Much Rain.
Ditto.
Remarks.
July 16th, 1896.—Surra now
prevalent amongst the Com-
missariat Department Trans-
port animals: seventy have
succumbed already, many
others dying.
(Veterinary Captain G. H.
Evans )
REMARKS.
It will be observed, on reference to the accompanying map, that Surra has been found to
be prevalent, in different degrees of severity, in ten districts of the Punjáb, and the five
bordering districts of the North-Western Provinces, those in which enquiries have been
made by Veterinary Captain Pease up to the present date. No information has been recorded
of an earlier period than 1892, and in most instances the reports deal with outbreaks which
occurred between the years 1894 and 1896 ; consequently the data are reliable. During the
past season, the above officer has been able to examine microscopically—on the spot—the
blood of diseased animals; and having observed the Trypanosoma Evansi in numerous cases,
has consequently settled the question of ' diagnosis' once and for all.
Surra is undoubtedly very widespread in this part of the continent of India, and if we
are to judge the total losses in these provinces during 1895, by the returns of a number of
villages where statistics have been forthcoming, the ravages of this disease in horses, mules
and asses have been truly appalling. The only recorded outbreak of such magnitude, which
can be compared to the above, was a widespread one which occurred during the rains of
1893 and 1894, in the Gujarát, Ahmedabad and Baroda districts, involving an area of some
400 square miles, and occasioning the loss of thousands of horses, ponies, camels and
asses.
Portions of Veterinary Captain Pease's report on Surra in the Kurnal District are
equally applicable to other districts in the Punjáb and North-Western Provinces, I cannot
therefore do better than quote certain passages in this officer's own words.
(i) Recognition of the disease by the natives.—" The simple fact of its being so well
known to every one in the place who knows anything about horses, and indeed to the
majority of people, who have little to do with these animals, points to its extensive ravages
and general distribution: for it is not a very usual thing for the people to have the
symptoms of a disease at the tip of their tongue, and in this place, I do not think I ever
asked anyone whether they knew anything about it, without receiving an answer in the
affirmative."
(ii) With regard to the season of occurrence, "the disease is purely one of the
' chaumasa' or the rainy season. It generally occurs after a considerable quantity of rain
has fallen, and the country has been flooded for some time, and new grass has sprung up. It
commences to show itself most commonly towards the end of August, and remains prevalent
in horses until the middle of December. It continues longer in both mules and donkeys,
and I found numerous cases still going on late in January."
(iii) Geographical distribution.—" The distribution of this malady seems to be entirely
influenced by the physical aspect of the country. It appears to be chiefly influenced by
the occurrence of floods and inundations, being far more prevalent in those parts of the