8
6. Daily microscopic observations of the blood should be made, and the
number of organisms recorded on a chart for ready reference, together with the
temperature, pulse and respirations of the patient, which should be taken three
times daily, viz. 8 A.M., 1 P.M. and 5 P.M.
7. Most animals will take the drug in one to two pints of water from a
bucket, without any trouble. If this be found occasionally impracticable, the
Arsenic can be mixed with the corn and bran in the form of Liquor Arsenicalis ;
but in obstinate cases the medicine will have to be administered to the animal in
the form of a bolus or in a draught.
8. Acute Desquammative Nephritis is a common complication of Surra, but
it must not contra-indicate the administration-of Arsenic, although the maximum
doses cannot be maintained, otherwise the animal will have a relapse, and ulti-
mately succumb to the disease.
9. Animals suffering from Surra, as a general rule, have voracious appe-
tites. It has been found by practical experience that the following amounts of
hay, corn, &c, are necessary for an Australian horse weighing 1,000 lbs. and
over; for on this the animal keeps in fair condition and during convalescence
puts on flesh rapidly—
Hay 15 to 20 lbs.
Lucerne (fresh) 10 lbs.
*Barley 8 to 14 lbs.
or
}
Daily.
Gram 6 to 10 lbs.
Bran 1½ to 3 lbs.
Salt 1½ ounces.
10. When once the organism of Surra has vanished for some days
from the circulation of the animal under treatment, gentle exercise commencing
with five hundred (500) yards, and gradually increasing to one mile, morning
and evening, may be allowed. But if the temperature becomes elevated, all
exercise must be stopped, until the former again registers within normal limits.
11. The exudation of semi-solid material (œdema) into the subcutaneous
tissues, notably that of the lower extremities, sheath and under surface of the
abdomen, generally becomes absorbed after a time under the influence of Arsenic
and exercise, but this may be accellerated by daily ' massage' of the body and
limbs.
12. Surra horses, under treatment with Arsenic for long periods, and
which eventually die, at their autopsies frequently present some atrophy of the
spleen. Consequently subcutaneous injections of infusion of spleens have been
made in order to ascertain whether the material injected would perform the
function of the atrophied organ. Encouraging results have been obtained.
13. Certain of the Horse Surra cases under treatment somewhat suddenly
developed symptoms of chronic Arsenical poisoning. These, which include
partial loss of power over the hind quarters, crossing of the hind limbs when
walking, and general unsteadiness, and nervous tremours, usually proved fatal
within 48 hours, although the further administration of the drug was immedi-
ately discontinued on their recognition. In some of the later cases under our
treatment, these fatal symptoms have been successfully combated by the subcu-
taneous injection of infusions of spleen and testicle (sheep).
14. The question with regard to the administration of Arsenic to animals
at the commencement of the rains, as a preventitive, in districts where Surra is
Epizootic, is one worthy of trial. A dose of five grains of Arsenic in the form
of Liquor Arsenicalis (ten drachms) given once a day in the drinking water to
each animal, could not fail to produce a beneficial effect, and could with safety
be continued for a month at a time. The dose of Arsenic should then be gra-
dually reduced every three days by half a grain at a time until it is discontinued
altogether. An interval of seven days should then be allowed to elapse, and
again the same process persevered in with intervals, until the termination of the
rains, or end of October.
* Boil half the daily quantity given to the animal morning and evening with half the amount
of salt for 1½ hours, then mix with the bran and give when nearly cold.