296 
Cure of Surra 
The result of the arsenic treatment in twenty cases of Surra 
spontaneously contracted. 
In the Autumn of 1909 Surra broke out among the Army Transport 
ponies working on the Kathgodam road. Twenty of these cases were 
sent to the Laboratory for treatment. All these ponies were old, not 
less than sixteen years, worn out, and in the last stage of the disease. 
They were so debilitated that it required two days to march them from 
their camp to the Laboratory, a distance of about 18 miles. 
On blood examination ti’ypanosomes varying in number from 
5 to 100 in a field were detected in every case. The animals were 
not in a condition to tolerate the administration of arsenic by the 
mouth. Consequently, an injection of atoxyl was first given which 
freed the blood from trypanosomes. The injection was repeated after 
an interval of three days. After a week the ponies had so far improved 
that it was considered safe to commence treatment. Out of these 
twenty cases, two died from tympanitis during the course of treatment. 
There were no symptoms, or post mortem lesions of poisoning, and 
death was not attributed to arsenic. 
One pony died some weeks after the completion of treatment from 
injuries received by falling under the partition of his stall, at night. He 
had not shown any relapse. 
Seventeen recovered. Four of these had a relapse and received 
a second course of treatment. Sixteen ponies were returned to their 
corps after being kept under observation at the Laboratory for three 
months following their treatment. One pony which injured his hock 
and is unfit for work remains under observation at the Laboratory. 
Taking into consideration the age and condition of these animals, 
the fact that the disease was contracted spontaneously and had advanced 
to the last stage, it is evident, that, no more severe or practical test 
could be applied to the arsenic treatment of Surra. The results have 
been most successful. The recovered animals are being kept under 
further observation in the Transport Corps. 
Pony C 48. 550 lbs. 
1 st day 600 c.c. ars. ac. sol. 
2 nd ,, 60 c.c. atoxyl. 
3rd ,, 1-5 gms. ars. ac. 
Four days interval. 
8 th day 800 c.c. ars. ac. sol. 
9th ,, 60 c.c. atoxyl. 
10 th ,, 2 gms. ars. ac. 
Four days interval. 
