456 CYCLOl'EDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



though the latter appear to be exceptional. The reaction varies, sugar is 

 absent and the parasite has not been found in it. Appetite, though inter- 

 fered with during paroxysms, remains fair or even voracious in the inter- 

 vals and the animals may eat to the last. Thirst usually increases with 

 the advance of the disease in keeping with the free urinary secretion. 

 Humbling and gurgling of the bowels are common and even tympany at 

 times. In the advanced stages the picture is one of great anemia and 

 general dibility. When moved the animal will stumble over the slightest 

 obstacle, even the litter, recovering himself with effort and difficulty. If 

 he should fall he is liable to remain down indefinitely, the side next the 

 ground becoming drenched with sweat though there is no general per- 

 spiration. The hair becomes increasingly dry, withered, and erect, the 

 skin dry, powdery, rigid and more and more firmly adherent to the bones 

 and muscles, losing all its natural pliancy and mellowness and becomes 

 like that of a dead animal. It is bloodless, and sloughs readily over the 

 prominent bones, where compressed or bruised in lying, owing to the 

 lack of nutritive and reparatory action. The muscles as a whole are 

 wasted to an extreme degree. 



Prevention. — The first consideration is to avoid placing equines, and 

 especially horses and mules, in the rainy season in the infecting localities. 

 Oxen and buffaloes can be used in such places with greater impunity. 

 If horses must be used in such localities, place the stables or pickets well 

 apart from marshes and stagnant water. Keep the stables dark during 

 the Surra season, open to light on one side only and with screens in the 

 windows. Make a deep pit for the manure, keep it well darkened and 

 screened and turn every particle of manure into this several times a day 

 so that the stable may be perfectly clean. All rubbish heaps should be 

 similarly dealt with. Flies breed in the manure and beget organic 

 matter. After each sweeping of the stable sprinkle the manure in the 

 pit with some disinfectant, phenic acid, tar water, copperas, etc. Smear 

 the skins of the animals with tar water, coal tar water, naphthalin, daily, 

 if necessary, to prevent the attacks of the flies. 



An important consideration is to seclude every animal attacked with 

 Surra. The flies can only carry and inoculate the poison, when there is 

 some source from which they can obta,in it. The carcass and all pertain- 

 ing to it, blood especially, should be promptly and deeply buried and the 

 place thoroughly disinfected. 



Treatment. — In well established cases in the horse, ass or mule, no 

 treatment has succeeded in saving the patient. Almost every germicide 

 has been called into requisition, but without good effect. The usual out- 

 come is that the animal dies, and the only claim that can be made is a 

 slight extension of life. This is favored by dry, clean, airy stables, 

 change of water, rich grain and succulent food with iron, arsenic, and 

 other tonics, yet the best that can be said for them is that they have 

 deferred somewhat the inevitable death. 



