58 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



or three injections usually effect a cure. If the animal is only treated 

 early enough in the disease the chances of recovery are greatly increased. 



" All the recorded cases developed undoubted clinical symptoms of horse 

 sickness. 



" In my hands over 66 per cent of such cases recovered; but I do not 

 claim that all horses with a rise in temperature were sufi'ering from the 

 disease, as coincidences are bound to occur, but I claim that the greater 

 number of them, if left untreated or treated by old methods, would 

 have died of horse sickness." 



"Preventive Measures. — All animals should be stabled before 

 sunset, and not removed from stables until some time after sunrise, when 

 the dew and fog have disappeared. Smoke should be kept going through 

 stables or picket-lines, fi-om small smouldering fires on windward side 

 during the night. 



" If possible, remove animals to high veldt pastures where frost prevails. 



" Protect animals from bites of winged insects, particularly mosquitos 

 and their species. 



" Prevent animals from eating dew-laden grass until it is well dried 

 in the sun. 



" Kraal horses with cattle at night, as the ammoniacal gases from 

 excrement prevents winged insects and mosquitos from infecting the place. 



" Animals which have to traverse districts infected with horse sickness, 

 and remain in them during the night, if not stabled, should have nose- 

 bags on, previously steeped in antiseptic fluid, sanitas for preference. 

 Nose-bags are used by prospectors and game-hunters in infected districts 

 with success, tar being smeared on bag and nostrils. They are put on 

 before sunset, and taken off after sunrise. This plan prevents grazing, 

 and acts as an antiseptic inhalation. 



" A weak solution of parafiin-oil, lightly brushed over the animal every 

 evening, is an excellent preventive to mosquitos, and should be used 

 on all animals not stabled; and arsenic given daily is also beneficial, 

 perhaps owing to its antiseptic action on the alimentary tract. 



" Preventive inoculation, if successful, no doubt would be supreme, 

 as it would enable animals to live and work in the worst horse-sickness 

 districts. 



'• AVhen protective inoculation can be employed throughout the whole 

 country, and animals rendered immune, it will be of great benefit both 

 from an agricultural and equine point of view. Dr. Edington produced 

 an attached virus and serum for protective inoculation, which experiment- 

 ally he has employed with success, but I am unable to .say what the 

 practical results of this method are. 



