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BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



one occasion with phenyle and water, 1 part to 50, sending showers 

 of it through tbe air in every direction from a manual fire engine, and 

 thoroughly drenching the roof and stable fittings. Carbolic powder 

 was also sprinkled in all the stalls, and sulphur and tar burnt in 

 braziers in the passage ways. "We noticed that the majority of the 

 horses attacked had been standing in portions of tbe stable most 

 exposed to the N.-W. and N.-E. winds, and tbat it was since tbose 

 winds had turned cold in the evening and at night that the outbreak 

 of " surra " had occurred. With a view to obtaining thorough 

 ventilation in the hot weather our stables at Parel are very open in 

 their construction, and although the Venetians, with which the sides 

 are fitted, are closed at night, it occurred to us that at certain 

 places the horses were more exposed than they should be to the 

 night winds. To provide against this, we effectually protected the 

 horses from all apertures whence these winds could enter and blow 

 upon tbem, and considerably increased the warmth of the stables at 

 night by the erection of bamboo and matting screens across the 

 principal entrances. We also gave all the horses standing at Parel 

 a light course of antiseptic medicine. For three days each horse 

 had daily 5ii Hyposulphite of Soda and 5i Nitrate of Potash mixed 

 with his evening grain feed. These preventive measures were carried 

 out the latter part of December. It was during the last week of 

 that month tbat we set up the screens, &c, which effectually pro- 

 tected the horses at Parel from cold winds. Simultaneously we 

 introduced stringent regulations at Colaba for the complete protec- 

 tion of the horses there, and maintenance of a more even temper- 

 ature in the stables at night. Since the 1st January we have so far 

 had no fresh case of " surra." 



Possible Causes of the Outbreak. — The professional opinioin as to 

 the source of " surra" expressed by the Government Veterinary 

 officers, Mr. Burke, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Steel, in their treatises 

 on this disease is that the parasites which give rise to it enter the 

 horse's system either with his food or his water. In the 

 Company's stables, the water-supply, pronounced a pure and 

 wholesome one by the Government analyst, is the same as has 

 been in use for several years past, and no alteration has been 

 introduced into the character of the grain and hay feed. The 

 drainage of the Parel stable, where two-thirds of the "surra" 

 cases occurred, is exceptionally good, much better than the 

 drainage at Colaba stable. Immediately to the rear of stables 



