OUTBREAK OF SURRA FEVER. 135 



ings would appear along the abdomen, and especially between 

 the forelegs. The horse, although feeding well, would now 

 commence to lose condition. In many cases renewed trouble would 

 be observed at the lungs and heart. The majority of the horses 

 attacked exhibited these alternate improvements and relapses, the 

 animals wasting gradually away, until utterly worn out. In two 

 cases, however, death ensued four days after the disease had declar- 

 ed itself. In these cases the affection of the lungs was extremely 

 severe, the horse would hardly feed at all, and the whole appearance 

 of the animal was very distressed. One horse attacked with the 

 disease, a rather coarse -bred Waler, in very fine condition, lost flesh 

 but slightly before death. The specific" surra " microbe was found 

 in the blood of this animal by Mr. Pottinger, A, V. D. The same 

 gentleman examined microscopically the blood of some of the other 

 cases, and was generally successful in finding the microbe, but not 

 invariably so. The results of the post-mortem examination are 

 given in the Veterinary record of the cases hereto attached. In all 

 these post-mortems the black colour of the blood was a very 

 noticeable feature. 



The Treatment adopted. — The system of treatment adpoted in 

 the majority of cases was that recommended by Mr. Pottinger, 

 and consisted of ^ii Hyposulphite of Soda and 3i Nitrate of 

 Potash given in the drinking water ; 30 drops of Carbolic Acid 

 in Ji Rectified Spirits given three time daily as a draught. We 

 also tried Arsenic, Aconite, and Sulphate of Quinine in large 

 doses. We cannot claim for any of these medicines that they 

 seemed to exercise any control k over the disease. Certainly they 

 did not arrest its course. Every horse attacked with " surra" has 

 either died or had to be destroyed. As a precautionary measure 

 we isolated the horses suffering from it. 



Preventive Measures adopted. — As soon as we were satisfied 

 that "surra" had appeared amongst our horses, and that the causes 

 producing it seemed in especial force at our Parel stables, we 

 carried out a most careful and thorough examination of the watering 

 and drainage arrangements at that stable. The results of the 

 examination of the water have been given above. The stable 

 drainage was found in good order, no stoppage anywhere; all drains 

 clean and free from smell. A drain in the neighbouring property 

 to the north was, we found, not working well, and we had it 

 attended to. We disinfected the stables throughout ou more than 



