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.