234 SURRA 



that all infecting material wliicli may be adhering to the parts 

 is removed. If the situation will admit of it, the entire tissues 

 forming the boundaries of the wound had better be cut away 

 with the knife ; while, if this is not practicable, or only imper- 

 fectly accomplished, cauterization with an iron adapted so as 

 to reach the entire surface and depth of the wound is to be 

 carried out ; or, failing this, attempted destruction of the 

 parts may be sought through the use of nitrate of silver or 

 caustic potash in the solid or liquid form, or liquid nitrate of 

 mercury, or pure carbolic acid. 



CHAPTER XL 



Very recently, through the untiring exertions of some mem- 

 bers of the profession, whose duties lie in our Indian Empire, 

 we have been put in possession of information of a most in- 

 teresting character concerning a condition Avell and widely 

 known there as Surra, a brief resume of which we propose 

 giving here, with the object of furnishing a certain preparation 

 to those who may yet meet this disease. The literal signitication 

 of the term surra is 'rotten;' and we presume this name has 

 been applied to indicate the most appreciable effect of the 

 disease, as, without to the casual observer any marked external 

 manifestation, the animal attacked would seem to be the 

 subject of a decaying, or what we term a ' pining away ' pro- 

 cess, which sooner or later terminates fatally. 



Recognised to a greater or lesser extent throughout the 

 empire, we have it recorded by Mr. Griffith Evans, A.Y.D., that 

 it is more frequently met with west of the Indus. To this 

 gentleman's exhaustive efforts, especially in the Dera Ismail 

 Khan, the profession is deeply indebted for much that is 

 highly interesting and instructive on the subject. The infor- 

 mation gained could only result from patient investigation 

 under adverse circumstances, and should future Avork confirm 

 the apparent outcome of the related experiments, a fresh page 

 will have been added to veterinary pathology, and an original 

 revelation in biology must be acknowledged. 



