HOUSE-SICKNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
Our thanks are due to Mr. Wiltshire for furnishing us 
with the following copy of his Official Report on “ Horse 
Sickness in South Africa.” 
ORDER. 
His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor directs that the 
following Report by the Veterinary Surgeon for the Colony, on 
the subject of the disease called “ Horse Sickness,” be published 
for general information. 
By His Excellency's command, 
C. B. H. MITCHELL, 
Colonial Secretary. 
Colonial Secretary’s Office, Natal, 
June 20 th, 1878. 
The Hon. The Colonial Secretary, 
Sir,—I have the honour to forward for the information of His 
Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, a Report on the disease 
known as horse-sickness, in which I have endeavoured to show, 
as well as the limited opportunities I have had of observing the 
disease enable me, the true nature of this affection, and the 
best means of treatment and prevention, and also the probable 
cause of it. 
It is an enzootic affection, supposed to be peculiar to South 
Africa, but I am informed that a disease very similar to it in 
its symptoms and the rapidity with which it kills, affects horses 
in a district of India called Loodiana, and that it is there 
attributed to a particular kind of grass. I am endeavouring to 
obtain the fullest information on the subject, so as to compare 
notes of the two diseases to see if they are identical, but 
especially with reference to the causes assigned for each. 
Horse-sickness is a malignant disease, usually exceedingly 
rapid in its course, and terminating fatally in a few hours, but 
sometimes extending over two or three days. Occasionally an 
animal recovers, it is however subject to a second and even a 
third attack, either of which may cause its death. 
This affection is not peculiar to the horse, as it also attacks the 
mule, quagga, &c. A gentleman also informed me that he 
had shot wildebeestes seen to be suffering from sickness in 
which the lungs were found to present the same appearance as 
those of a horse which has died from horse-sickness. 
It occurs in summer, and all danger is supposed to be over 
when hoar-frost appears. I have heard, however, that cases 
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