6
2. We have no direct evidence as to whether human beings are susceptible
to the virus of Surra; but there is no doubt that they do not readily contract the
disease. During the performance of one hundred autopsies on horses which
have succumbed to the disease, I have contracted wounds which were at once
treated antiseptically; and the Mahars have had severe cuts and jags from their
blood-stained instruments; but no infection followed.
3, In Burmah—the only country reported up to the present where Surra
is seen in cattle (G. H. Evans), and where one might expect to find cases of
this disease in human beings following the use of cow's milk,—the inhabitants
as true Buddhists are not permitted to use it as food.
IV.
DOG SURRA.
A.—Primary Investigation.
During the first half of 1891, several English Fox Hounds from the Bombay
Pack were kept under observation at the Laboratory. The symptoms noted
were: Paroxysmal fever, temperature running up to 106.5° F, accompanied
by the usual symptoms of fever ; in some few cases opacity of the cornea, and
extravasation of blood into the anterior chamber of the eye supervened late in
the course of the disease. The blood was microscopically examined daily, but
the Surra hæmatozoon was not discovered.
2. Early in 1893 I went to the Kennels at Bandora in order to investi-
gate on the spot an outbreak of disease, which was carrying off several English
Fox Hounds.
3. The symptoms noted in their sequence were: Paroxysmal fever;
anorexia; at a later date swelling of the integument about the head and throat;
injection of the conjunctival membranes; increased lachrymation ; effusion into
the joints in some cases, and marked oedema of the limbs and under-surface of
the abdomen ; extravasations of blood into one or both anterior chambers of the
eyes, followed by opacity of the cornea; and later total blindness.
4. On microscopical examination, the hæmatozoon, resembling that found
in the horse—the subject of Surra—was discovered in the blood during the
paroxysms, and in the fluid of the anterior chamber of the eye, when an extra-
vasation of blood was present, although the organisms were absent during the
same period from the general circulation.
5. English imported dogs, fox-hounds and fox-terriers, have been found to
be the most commonly affected with this disease during the first few years'
residence in this country.
B.—History of previous outbreaks.
This disease was unrecognized as Surra until the outbreak of 1893. The
first records of heavy mortality in imported Fox Hounds are those of the Oota-
camund Kennels in 1869-70. From 1870—1883 there was no mortality in the
Madras packs. But in 1884, fourteen couples succumbed to symptoms similar
to those described as attacking the Bombay hounds, viz. paroxysmal fever &c.
2. On the 11th November 1892, a pack of fresh English Hounds arrived
in Bombay, and were placed in Kennels some ten miles out of the city. The
first animal was taken ill on 11th December 1892, and died on the 10th
January 1893 ; and some twenty succumbed during the three months following.
3. Five dogs (four hounds and one fox-terrier) were bitten by a hyæna
during a run on the 8th January 1893. All the five went blind between the 7th
and 26th March (the 58th and 77th days), and their several deaths took place
between the 12th March and 16th April (63rd to 98th day following the bite).
The animals hunted were foxes, jackals, and hyaenas. One hound, which
absolutely refused to join in the kills, remained in perfect health, and is now
alive (July 1894).
4. Probably some jackals and foxes suffer from Surra : for in 1893,
several of the former appeared incapable of running far, and when put up by