138 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY' SOCIETY. 



their position in the stables, or nature of their work. At Parel 

 stables, where the majority of cases occurred, alterations in the 

 buildings were in progress. The south wall of the stable had 

 been taken down in order to increase the number of stalls 

 in that direction. This open condition of the premises on that 

 side, while it did not expose the horses to any unwholesome wind 

 (the south wind only blowing in the monsoon time, and being a 

 warm one) tended no doubt to increase the draught through 

 the stables from the north, and to lower their temperature at 

 night. (2) That since the time when we introduced measures 

 for protecting the stables from the northerly winds (a period 

 of five weeks), no fresh case of "surra" has occurred. The last 

 case at Parel stables appeared on the 29th December. It was 

 on the 30th of that month that we completed the arrangements 

 for excluding cold winds. (3) That the Parel stables, where nearly 

 three-fourths of the cases occurred, were, until recently, in conse- 

 quence of their system of construction, more open and considerably 

 colder than the stables at Colaba. (4) That there is nothing 

 ascertainable in the feeding or watering of the horses, differing from 

 the feeding or watering during previous years when " surra " was 

 unknown to us, which can, in our opinion, in any way account 

 for the outbreak. 



In connection with the exposure of the horses to cold winds and 

 our opinion that chill to the system therefrom resulting was the 

 immediate factor producing activity in the disease, we may mention 

 that out of 8 horses working as "helping" horses on the Byculla 

 Bridge, no less than 3 were attacked with " surra, " and of these 2 

 were attacked upon the same day. Compared with the work most of 

 our horses do, the work of these particular horses was light, and they 

 were in specially good condition and of exceptionally fine physique. 

 These horses are attached as additional horses to help in pulling 

 cars up the inclines on the Bridge. After pulling up a car they 

 return to the little waiting-sheds provided for them at either end 

 of the Bridge, and stand, usually about 5 minutes, until another car 

 approaches. On examining these sheds, we found them a good deal 

 exposed to the north wind. We have now protected them ; but it is 

 easy to understand how in the early morning, or between 7 p. m. 

 and 11 p. m. at night, these horses, after getting warm at their 

 work, would be specially liable to chill when standing waitiug in 

 sheds, until recently not very well protected from cold winds. 



