V. R. GOPALAKRISHNAN                           57

                                     PROPHYLAXIS

In certain enbemic areas, espscially in Surma Valley, prophylactic treat-
ment was tried. For an average pony, 50 c.c. of a 4 per cent solution of
Naganol has been used once in a month during the season. As this work
was started only in 1937, it will require some more time to draw definite
conclusions. There is, of course, great demand for prophylactic treatment
and no less than 200 ponies were given this treatment from 1 April 1938 to
date. Relating to the problem of prophylaxis it is stated in the Annual
Report of the C. V. D., Assam, for the year 1936-37 that incidentally it may
be noted that the drug (Naganol) was also tried as a preventive against the
disease in a very limited number of cases with apparent good result. At
present great caution has been taken in regulating the issue of Naganol as the
supply is likely to be affected due to war conditions. In this connection
mention may be made of two recent products—Antrypol (a British Drug
House product) and Moranyl (a French preparation) that have been tried
In the treatment of equine surra (Annual Report, I. V. R. I., 1939-40). These
preparations have been reported to be as effective as Naganol excepting
that in case of relapse the period was more prolonged. It is proposed to
study their value under field conditions.

                                      DISCUSSION

The method adopted in Assam in the treatment of equine surra involves
only two injections at an interval of six days. As the period of treatment is
short, it is less inconvenient to field workers and the owners of animals. The
required quantity of Naganol is issued and the field worker injects it after
dissolving it in boiled water and passing it through a filter-paper. This can
be easily done even in villages.

The average weight of a pony is only about 500-lb. and the first injection
of 2 gm. in 50 c.c. does not generally evoke complicating symptoms. The
second injection of a larger dose is well tolerated and presumably reinforces
the curative effects. The second injection has been insisted upon as the
experience with the single-injection method sometimes gave indications of
relapse as has been recorded elsewhere. Relapses would appear to depend
upon the stage of the disease when treatment was undertaken. Hence when
a second injection has been found necessary the question was—when to give
it ? Experience in the treatment of equine surra during the early stages
of the experiment gave sufficient indications that urticarial and other com-
plications attributable to the initial dosage passed off in four to five days
at the most. The second injection on the sixth day was observed to be
uniformly tolerated. An early second injection would probably tend to
maintain the concentration of the drug in circulation and thus ward off any
likelihood of relapse.

Another factor worth noting is the general improvement in the condi-
tion of the treated animals, which begins after a week following the last in-
jection, is complete in about a month and is maintained well.

It is necessary to point out that the method adopted in Assam is more
convenient and less complicated in its application in the field. A single