86 WASTAGE OF ANIMALS IN WAR. 



camels were employed. Practically during the whole of last 

 year the camels were on Active Service; they were stall-fed, 

 and ' treated like other Service animals. They were not 

 exposed to biting flies in grazing rukhs, and excepting a few 

 that were transferred to a Surra Corps, which worked in 

 isolation a long distance from other Corps, diagnosed cases of 

 Surra were destroyed. It is a remarkable drop in mortality, 

 and it speaks volumes for stall-feeding of camels and attention 

 to stable management, and with the general policy pursued 

 this year it is hoped that losses may be still further reduced. 



During the fly or Surra season, camel units are charged with 

 the duty of collecting biting flies (Tabanidm), their larvae and 

 egg-clusters, from shrubs and blades of grass in the vicinity of 

 their animals' drinking water. But what can be practised in 

 Government Camel Corps is difficult to carry out in Silladar 

 and Grantee camels when not embodied for military service, 

 and therein lies the difficulty. However, by a combination of 

 Civil and Military effort difficulties are not insurmountable, and 

 if Surra is scheduled under an Act and Order there is reason to 

 suppose that it will be successfully collared. 



