The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-19
FEAR FOR THE ARMY HORSE
THE DREADED MORSE sICKNEsso
APPEARS IN THE BRITISH CAMP.

pnien and Suffer From the Long Trip on
Transports-spread OF tho Disease would
Seriously Affect tho British Forces.
LONDON. Dec. S.-when THE SUNS corrc-
spondent cabled from Frere camp tho day be-
fore yesterday that there was 'one case OF
horse sickness" In camp II may not have
seemed q very serious statement. As natter
OF fact II was. and those few cabled words con-
tained more serious news than many messages
describing the loss OF human life. That one
sick horse in Frere camp has already caSsed
moro anxiety In the British camp than
would the sudden appearance OF n commando
OF 5000 Beers. Already tho lack OF horses has
over md over again prevented the British
troops from following up initial success. 1t
was 50 at Belmont. at Gras Pan and at the Mod
der River II is hamperlng Gatacre at north
ern Cape Colony. and. with the exception. per-
haps, OF Elandslaagte. II has been the case In
nearly every engagement OF note In Natal
In addition to the lack OF horses there 10
the further detriment that tho English horses
are evidently very unit for their work Brit
ish cavalrymen are extensively mounted and
their horses are OF an excellent type. But In
the piping tmes OF peace they are chiefly en-
ployed In eating their heads on" and though
they are 10 fine horse-show condition and
groomed to perfection. making a noble show
paIgnlnR In a country such as South Africa. A
Sun correspondent at Cape Town cabled some
time ago that whereas the Australian horses
landed there 10 good serviceable condition the
English horses arrived with their Joints
swollen and stiff. This Is partly due to their
tenderness" and partly. no doubt, to the long
voyage OF 1000 miles When the transports
first began to leave England It was freely
prophesed that the horses would suffer more
than was necessary. inasmuch as they were too
cramped. and ''slinRs" had not been provided
in their stalls. Thus the horse would be
obliged to support his entire weight on his
legs throughout the long journey Of seventeen
or eighteen days. In some cases. indeed. for
nearly a month. Tho sling. otherwise q band
passed under the horses body to take some OF
his weight OF his legs. was objected to on the
ground that in rough weather It made the
horse helpless to Withstand the motion OF the
boat which would consequently buffet him from
side TO side ut his narrow stall IL was pointed
out that there was no need for the horses to be
"slung" the whole time. and that the amount
OF rest given by means OF sings. when the SEQ
was moderate. would be OF great value. How
ever. sings we're not used. and be the reason
what II may II Is certain that tho cavalry horses
sent TO South Africa. are not only for too few.
but in very poor condition. to rectify which
there il no time to spare.
Thus II horse sickness on large scale be
added 10 these two evils II is evident how SER
ious the result may be. and this is why l ven-
ture to suggest that the sick horse OF Fere
camp gives more cause for perturbation than
even message bringing tho sad news OF some
brave mems death. For on the horses and
mules In South Africa depend the lives OF
many men. The more efficient the transport
service and the cavalry are. the sooner will the
war he over. and the fewer the lives sacrificed
on either side.
In most parts OF South Africa the dangerous
season for horse sickness extends from jan
uary till early in May. but In some seasons the
disease appears sporadcally during Novem-
b,r and December. Low-lying areas and
valleys are the dangerous places. High
plateaus have such immunity that It is COM
mon practice to send horses from low country
TO Craze on these areas during the summer
months. An unexplained popularity OF the
disease Is that. although II appears
every year In one or more districts.
II only In certain seasons becomes
general over large areas. Seven serious
epizootio outbreaks have occurred in South
Africa since tho first historical one In 1903.
On one occasion 10000 horses and mules.
worth over half million sterling. died. Its
exceptionally early appearance has been re-
ported among the Boer horses near Lady
smith. but all horses. mules and donkeys in
South Africa are liable to 1t. with the exccp-
lions OF the comparatively few specimens OF
"saited" animals which have recovered from
two attacks OF the malady. Probably 95 per
cent. OF the horses affected die. and OF mules
almost as many. while donkeys. being subject
to milder form Of the disease do not suffer
severely Their taking II. however, would
render them unserviceable for the present
campaign.
Mr. Robert Wallace professor OF agriculture
at the University OF Edinburgh. and the author
OF Farming Industries OF Cape Colony"
writes to the Times the following particulars OF
the disease:
Horse sickness fEdrmd nvcosisJ Is malarial
foyer which Is produced by a micro organism
one OF tho fldmentosss Jungt-which under
suitable conditions OF heat and moisture
grows In the weld. but whether In water on the
soil or as a parasite It Ia not yet known. Under
the microscope the vegetAtive spores OF the
fungus In tho blood from horse well advanced
In tho disease can be easily seen like so many
minute beer barrels. and the mycelium on
which they have grown can also be found on
closer examination.
Tho disease Is not confessions. but is con-
posed to night air. especially while mist rises
from the ground. or which are permitted 20
consume looi wet with dew or the exha!Ntons
OF the night. The summer sun renders 1t
harmless by day and the advent OF frost ban
ishes II during the winter months.
At least two varieties OF the disease are
kuown--the common form, the Boer ''paard-
ziekt.," in which the lungs are most seriously
affected, owing, no doubt, to the disease having
zieEte." in which swelling Of the head and neck.
or OF the tongue, forms the most prominent
symptom. In both varieties the Incubation
period between the time tho Organisms gain
access to tho system and the first sudden rise
Of Temperatures il about eight days. but whls
the former usually terminates fatally in about
twelve days from the onset Of the initial rlgor
death in tn" latter 4 generally delayed for
few days more. In the common form ot horse
sickness dealt occurs very suddenly after the
temperature has risen to about 100 degrees
Fair The animal feeds freely till within n
few, minutes Q! death. and when, tho
an emulation Of its own blood serum
into the air passages. These become gorged
with dense white roth. which does not col
lnpse, on . portion OF It, like q mass q soap
no-trils in the death struggle. Both forms OF
the disra', can be induced In healthy horses
by vonou4 incubation and another form locally
situated n the aClomen has been produced
Diseased horse with the ANIMALS food.