62
intestinal glands, &c. I mention this because in no other way could a satisfactory-
investigation post mortem be made under such conditions of climate, and to add weight
to the results of my examinations, for I took every precaution in my power to prevent
making mistakes. This was the more necessary because of the disease being a new
one to me.
10. There was more or less abnormal amount of clear serum effused in the
peritoneal cavity in all cases, with a slight fluff of lymph upon the parietal layer, but
no sign of any inflammatory action; it was a simple exudation. I found no abnormal
effusion in the pleuritic cavity, but in one case the pericardial sack was greatly
distended with fluid. In several cases I found filaria papilosa free upon the mesentry,
besides other nematodes as well as a very small tape-worm, whose character 1 have
not yet been able to determine. I examined the kidneys, liver, spleen, heart, lungs
and the mucous lining of the stomach and intestines throughout with great care in
every case that I had the opportunity, and I am prepared to state positively that this
disease is not characterised by any structural organic change; it is purely a disease
of the blood. In one case, as I mentioned elsewhere (appendix C, case 3), the
kidneys were pale and soddenlike, and in another the margin of one lobe of the lung
was hepatised; but these cases being so exceptional can have had no characteristic relation
to the disease. In some cases there were petechiae of the mucous lining of the
intestines, similar to what was visible during life in the vagina and on the eyelids.
The mucous membrane everywhere was more or less tinged yellow, and often the
subperitoneal connective tissue was yellow also; but in no case was the structure of
the liver diseased, though in one case the liver was studded throughout with calcareous
degenerations of cestode larvae, and in two cases 1 found flukes in the liver, with
inspissated bile distending some of the bile ducts enormously.
11. Mortality.—The records of the 4th Punjab Cavalry show that no case
entered on the sick list for this disease has ever recovered. I was told that a few
cases have made slow progress in the disease, alternately better and worse for over a
year, but they never recovered. This was confirmed by what the natives of the
district informed me at the outposts. The percentages of fatal cases among the
horses of the 4th Punjab Cavalry at the outposts, with reference to the numbers of
horses there during the two past years, and this year up to the end of September, are
as follows:—
Years.
1878
1879
1880
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of cases.
33.3 per cent.
46.8
„
56.4
„
The total numbers of horses of the 4th Punjab Cavalry which died during the
several years are as follows. The return shows at what posts the horses were placed
on the sick list. I have not been able to get the percentage of those stationed at each
post: —
Years.
1878
1870
1880†
Total ..
Dera Ismail
Khan.
7
1
2
10
Draband
3
33
..
36
Manghi.
14
12
36
62
Jutta.*
..
22
47
69
Girni.
7
4
..
11
Khirghi.
..
..
..
..
Zam.
9
1
..
10
Tank.
..
44
30
74
Tot al .
40
118
114
272
Remarks.
Year remarkably wet.
Tear very dry.
Do. do.
Forty-nine horses, more or less affected with surra, brought in from the different
outposts, marched out from Dera Ismail Khan with the 4th Punjab Cavalry on
removal to Edwardesabad on the 6th October. One other was shot the same day for
being too weak to rise, and six remained behind for my observations. On the
3rd instant, the officer commanding reported to me that out of those fifty-five, forty
had since died and fifteen remained hopeless. Since that date fifty-six fresh cases had
been admitted, out of which fourteen had died, leaving a total of fifty-seven (15 + 42)
* Jutta not occupied in 1878.
†
Up to the end of September.