6
appearances clearly point to some irritant causing the disease; this irritant he thought
resided in certain tanks which had been beyond doubt established as sources of infec-
tion. He suggested that the animals be kept from drinking the water of stagnant pools
and tanks; that eleven "old and worn-out" mules be watered from the suspected
sources until the following February, and that, should the disease reappear in the
mean while, opportunity will have been afforded to carry out further inquiry.
Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon Evans, writing from Ootacamund on 14th May 1884
(No. 549), concludes that there is not sufficient evidence to show what the disease was.
Accordingly, the disease having reappeared, I was, in October 1884, deputed to make
the suggested necessary investigation. The following is a precis of the knowledge of
the disease acquired before my arrival.
8. SYMPTOMS.—" The first symptom which the animals showed was loss of
appetite, followed by rapid wasting and a general dejected appearance. They soon
became tucked up, became unsteady on their limbs, and frequently fell down to rise
again after a short time. In some cases the animals showed distinct symptoms of
paralysis of the hind limbs. Although grain was refused from an early stage, the
animals generally partook of grass for many days." * * * " After an interval of
from five to eight or nine days the patients generally were unable to rise, and death
invariably put an end to their sufferings in the course of 36 to 48 hours; in some few
cases, even in a much shorter time " (Frost). Captain Johnstone of the 2nd Bedford-
shire Regiment records (from Tonghoo) that he has noticed " that the majority of
deaths have been preceded by a very sudden falling away and also that in many cases
a running of the eyes has been a premonitory symptom. At Rangoon an animal
" hanging back " on the collar chain was considered a marked symptom. The Tonghoo
death reports comprise the histories of cases from the evidence of the Transport Officers.
The animals were generally ill some time before death, but the fatal result occurred
when not expected. .GiddinessJ rapid emaciation, extreme weakness, staggering,
tenderness over the loins (in one case), urine thick and high-colored, poor appetite,
dull heavy listless appearance, apparent recovery followed by relapse, very high
temperature, sometimes apparently much pain at intervals, normal evacuations, breath-
ing hoavy and difficult shortly before death, sometimes prolonged recumbence and
painless death. All these symptoms mentioned in the different returns when
examined together give a very good description of those characteristic of relapsing
fever. It is to the credit of the Tonghoo Transport Officers that they especially drew
attention to the high fever which is present and observed that it recurred; they
considered these recurrences as separate attacks, not relapses, but were very near a
correct diagnosis in one or two cases. In Rangoon the earliest cases of the disease
were entered as " fever,"
9. POST-MORTEM APPEARANCES AND PATHOLOGY.—"Ulceration of the stomach, in the
majority of cases, confined to the left sac, but in some instances extending to both sacs,
sometimes very extensive, eating away large patches of the internal lining membrane ;
in others it was less severe " (Frost). " The only visible lesion so far discovered being
a corroded or ulcerated condition of the lining membrane of the stomach, more partic-
ularly at that part where the cuticular and villose membranes meet and towards the
left sac . . . The ulcerated condition appears to have been present in every case to
a greater or less degree " (Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon Shaw). "When Veterinary
Surgeon (First-class) Frost wrote frequent and careful microscopical examinations of
the affected parts had failed to throw any light on the subject." Inspecting Veterinary
Surgeon Shaw states that " sometimes the patches of ulceration were confluent, and, as
described by Mr. Frost, ' had the appearance of a piece of leather that had been denuded
of its outer film or enamel by cockroaches.' " " The ulcerations were not deep, nor
had they in any case penetrated the wall's or given exit to the contents of the stomach.
The course of the trachea was free from disease as were the intestines throughout
their course. The other viscera were healthy, and the stomach at most presented but
a faint blush of inflammatory action. In one or two cases there had been slight
hæmorrhage from the ulceration. No post mortem examination appears to have been
made of the brain or spinal cord. " It seems that Veterinary Surgeon (First-class)
Frost made " more than one examination of the blood, but detected no parasites in
it;" but Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon Shaw suggests that slides of blood be sent to
some spcialist for examination, and says " it is quite open to speculation that further