712 CAMELS WITH SOUTH AFGHAN EXPEDITION, 1878-9. 
dysentery, which is a known accompaniment of scurvy, I do 
not doubt, as I observed many camels during life much ema¬ 
ciated from that cause ; and I have heard that in the northern 
army many succumbed to the premature birth of calves, 
an accident which we can perceive to be the result of debility, 
but I have stated the fact of our camels being almost exclu¬ 
sively males. Beyond sore backs, which were very frequent, 
and as frequently concealed by not removing the pilanes 
(saddles), other affections than those I have noticed were 
not conspicuous. I have referred to such meagre accounts 
of camel diseases as we possess, but find that “paypsay” 
(pneumonia) and “ soolee” (dysentery) were the greatest 
scourges during the expedition. A dropsical affection 
(“ zaharbahd”), I am informed, is a frequent result of the 
debility produced by hardship and exposure, and was par¬ 
ticularly prevalent during the siege of Delhi; but I can 
safely assert that it was not a prominent malady in 
Afghanistan. 
Predisposing causes of disease. —These may be very 
briefly noticed, attention merely being called to those em¬ 
bodied in this paper, such as a departure from ordinary 
habits in the way of feeding and attention, change of climate, 
continued exposure, and all the hardships inseparable from 
a campaign. 
Exciting causes. —Improper food, overwork, bad quality 
of water, neglect in supplying water, and direct cruelty. 
Both predisposing and exciting causes will necessarily be 
considered under the head of “ Methods of obviating 
Diseases.” 
Symptoms of the diseases mentioned .—Provided the oppor¬ 
tunity occurs of invaliding an animal for a time, and by 
treatment giving it a chance of recovery, it is of the greatest 
importance to recognise such symptoms as will indicate 
the first approach of disease. These, in approaching pneu¬ 
monia, are such as indicate general debility and a feverish 
state of the system. The nostrils are dry, and there is fre¬ 
quently an exudation of blood therefrom; the membrane 
lining the mouth is also dry, and of a very dark colour 
from congestion. The animal is evidently languid and 
hangs back, tightening the leading-string in his nostril; 
there is an occasional cough ; rumination will be sus¬ 
pended ; appetite completely lost or partially impaired; 
constipation will accompany the other symptoms, or in 
some cases the reverse will be the case; the urine is of 
a dark colour, and has an increased ammoniacal odour ; but 
there will not be perceptible respiratory difficulty or disturb- 
