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SUBJECT V.—SURRA AND DOURINE. WHAT CONCERTED ACTION
      CAN BE TAKEN TO DEAL WITH THESE DISEASES ? THEIR
      DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

Colonel Farmer stated that the spread of irrigation had led to
an extension of surra in areas where the disease had not previously-
occurred. He was obtaining information as to the extent of the
infected areas. Where stabling had been adopted and the practice
of keeping horses in the stable between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. had been
followed, the results had been very satisfactory.

Colonel Walker mentioned that in Bombay, only surra had to be
dealt with. In the Presidency there are a large number of Indian
States in which the Glanders and Farcy Act cannot be applied, so
that there is a constant risk of the introduction of the disease from
these States.

Mr. Oliver pointed out that it was little use slaughtering surra-
infected animals in one district when in an adjoining area this could
not be carried out. Colonel Pease drew attention to the fact that
it was impossible to prevent surra by slaughtering infected horses
and camels, as a large proportion of cattle were also infected and
served as a source of reinfection. He admitted that infected animals
should be slaughtered to reduce the chances of infection, but he
wished to emphasize that this could not stop the disease and that
before asking Government to grant legislation in the matter, it
should be clearly ascertained whether such legislation should be
enforced and would have the desired effect. Regarding dourine,
he stated that there was little difficulty in controlling the disease
as only horses were affected. As the question of diagnosis was
frequently difficult, he suggested that the provisions of the Act
should be so modified as to make diagnosis on clinical symptoms
fall within its cognizance.

The President referred to the appointment of a permanent
Committee to control the experiments being carried out by Mr.
Howlett and Captain Pool.

Colonel Farmer mentioned that certain alterations in the Act
had been proposed to cover the complement fixation test which was
being carried out by Mr. Shilston at the Muktesar Laboratory for
the diagnosis of both diseases.

Colonel Walker thought that the case would be met if the Act
referred only to an examination, without specifying the nature of
it, and proposed the following resolution :—

Resolution XI.

" That it be recommended to the Government of India that in
Section 8, Clause (b), of the Dourine Act, the word ' microscopical '
be omitted."

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