TREATMENT OF SURRA.
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. Among these may be named: mercuric chloride subcutem, iodine and potassium iodide intratracheally, iodoform subcutem and intravenously, oleum terebinthinæ subcutem and intravenously, potassæ bichromas by veins and stomach, cinchona alkaloids and arsenic, phenic acid and iodine, quinine, hydrargyri biniodidum, santonin, potash. The claims of different agents, notably arsenic and phenic acid, have been supported by the manifest improvement of condition under their use and the disappearance of the trypanosoma, but both these conditions may often appear during intermissions, without medication. The usual outcome 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 (oats, rice, linseed, barley, gram sorghum, bran, middlings, salt, etc.), with iron, arsenic, and other tonics, yet the best that can be said for them is that they have deferred somewhat the inevitable death.
Prevention of Surra. The first consideration is to avoid placing equines and especially horses and mules, or camels in the infecting localities in the rainy season and just after it. Oxen and buffaloes can be used in such places with greater impunity. If they must be used in such localities, place the stables or pickets in dry locations 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 shall be perfectly clean. All rubbish heaps should be similarly dealt with. The flies breed in the manure and decaying 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. Other suggestions in this line can be found under parasites.
An important consideration would be 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 obtain it. Until we shall learn how many animals, tame and wild, casually contract the Trypanosoma Evansi we cannot speak of how effective this may be made, but it is at least a substantial advance in the line of restriction, since the infected horse or mule in the vicinity of healthy ones is a constant peril, and as given insects attack by preference, given favorite genera, the horse flies, coming from the diseased animal are much more likely than other flies to attack the sound horses. In a surra season it would be a wise economy to destroy the infected equine at once, as according to all past experience, sentence of death has already been passed upon him, and his preservation even for a hour is hopeless for him, but full of the gravest danger for others. The carcass and all pertaining to it, blood especially, should be promptly and deeply buried and the place thoroughly disinfected.
In the same way smudges made by burning green grass or other vegetation, tar, leather or other material producing empyreumatic products offensive to the fly may be employed.
Sanitary Police. The Department of Agriculture forbids the landing in the United States or its dependencies of any animal from the Phillipines. If the infection should by any accident be imported no cost should be considered too high to secure a prompt and thorough extinction of it.
NAGANA. TSETSE FLY DISEASE.
Trypanosoma Brucii: attacks horse, ass, mule, cattle, buffalo, antelope, camel, hyena, dogs, etc. Elephants and zebra, pigeon and hen immune. Tsétsé fly. Inoculation only certain channel; virulence in dead body 24 hours; in vitro 3 to 4 days, or when dried or heated (122° F.) Symptoms: hyperthermia; anæmia; leucocytosis; buffy coat; œdemas; catarrhs; wasting; debility. Lesions: as in surra; trypanosoma in blood at intervals, bone marrow, lymph glands, spleen. Immunizing unsuccessful. Prevention as in surra.
This is an infective disease caused by the Trypanosoma Brucii, which has been supposed to be identical with Trypanosoma Evansi but differs in its morphology and in its infectiveness toward a greater variety of animals. It is 25 to 30μ long by 1.5 to 2.5μ broad, less pointed at its posterior (nonflagellate) end, broader undulating membrane, more deeply staining protoplasm, and more sluggish movements. It invades the blood of horses, asses, mules, cattle, buffaloes, antelopes, camels, hyenas, and dogs, and can be inoculated on cats, rats, mice, rabbits, hedgehog, boshbok, zebra hybrids, Guinea pigs, goats, sheep, weasel, and monkey (Macacus rhesus). Elephants are immune though they suffer from T. Evansi, and the zebra is immune though a soliped.
The tsetse fly (glossina morsitans) is credited with being the main agent in transmitting the parasite to mammals, (see Diptera).