CO882-(6-8) — Page 199

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

་།༴། ། ་། ཱ། ་

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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“TO PRINCIPAL, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Red Lion Square, London, W.C. "Surra trypanosoma evansi prevailing in Mauritius on mules and bullocks. Heavy losses. Arsenic and quinine treatment unsuccessful. What,prophylactic and curative treatment you suggest?"

The reply is as follows:-

"know no better treatment than arsenic and quinine.-PRINCIPAL, Veterinary College."

I have, &c.,

ADEE. HUGNIN.

Enclosure 4 in No. 2.

RESOLUTIONS passed by the Council of Government at a Meeting held on the 17th June, 1902.

has caused and is still Considering the enormous losses which the "surrahı causing to the interests of the sugar cane planters throughout the Colony, amounting in certain districts to the loss of nearly all the beasts of burden; considering, also, the very serious difficulties, consequent on such diseases, with which such planters will have to contend when realising their crop, it is expedient that Government should adopt every means tending to facilitate the conveyance of canes to sugar factories, the most important consisting in the remission of all customs duties or direct taxes leviable on automobiles, steam road engines and trucks, rails and accessories, loco- motives, waggons or wire ropes imported for agricultural purposes during the year beginning 1st July, 1902, and ending 30th June, 1903.

Provided also that any of the above articles imported previous to 1st July shall be exempt from the payment of direct taxes payable during the year 1903.

Whereas an outbreak of disease among beasts of burden threatens to interfere seriously with the means of transport in the Colony, and especially with the transport of sugar canes and sugar;

(a.) The Council of Government approve of the appropriation of surplus funds for the construction of railway sidings in cases where the Governor in Executive Council is satisfied that the construction of such siding will ensure an increase of revenue sufficient to justify the outlay, the conditions to be laid down by the Governor in Executive Council.

(6.) And the Council of Government further approve the purchase out of surplus balances of automobiles to facilitate the conveyance of canes of small planters to the factories or railways on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Governor in Executive Council.

Enclosure 5 in No. 2.

REPORT OF DR. Lorans.

June 26, 1902.

I shall do my best to carry out in a satisfactory manner the duties which are assigned to me. I have consulted with my colleagues, and, in compliance with para- graph 2 of the Minute of the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, I beg to submit the following remarks:-

The precise diagnosis of the disease is, in my opinion, and that of Drs. Lesur, Barbeau, Momplé, and, I believe, the majority of the local veterinary surgeons, the

surra.

The protozoon characteristic of that complaint was discovered in the blood of a sick mule at Flacq by Dr. Aimé Lesur on the 16th of April last. Dr. Lesur sent me a slide the next day by Mr. Dalais, and on examination of the preparation we were able to identify the protozoon as a "trypansoma," and to name the disease in accordance with a description of it contained in the February number of the "Indian Medical Gazette," which contained an article by Captain Griegg, I.M.S., which had attracted my attention some time previously. I am aware that Dr. Lesur, to whom Mr. Dalais brought the news that afternoon, had come to a similar conclusion, after examining, in the course of the day, some plates of a work which Mr. Veterinary Surgeon Deixonne took to him.

I mention the facts at length to show that the credit of the discovery is due to Dr. Aimé Lesur, but that the Medical Officers of the Department were not inactive,

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as has been stated, and knew something of the complaint theoretically, though it is not a medical subject, properly speaking.

A few days later Mr. Deixonne detected the trypansoma in the blood of sick bullocks at Stanley, and though we cannot state with certainty that the disease in the cattle is the same as that prevailing amongst mules and horses, yet the close relationship between the two is evident.

Repeated examinations of the blood of sick cattle, horses and mules, leave no doubt in our minds as to the nature of the existing epizootic, in spite of what has been publicly stated by Mr. Veterinary Surgeon Blancrad, though we cannot be quite positive as to the species of the trypansoma (Brucei evansi?).

As regards the place of origin or introduction of the disease, a definite answer is not possible at present. There is reason to suspect that the disease has been intro- duced from India last year, but, on the other hand, it is quite possible that the sickness has existed in the Island for some years, if not many years, past.

A regular inquiry must be made to enable a correct or rather probable opinion being arrived at on this point, and this will take some time. It is a fact that the existence and extent of sickness and mortality among draught animals has been concealed from the sanitary authorities with reference to this cattle plague, just as it was in the case of bubonic plague.

The alleged fear of removal of a dear patient to a plague hospital, quarantine of a family, &c., frequently alleged as the causes of obstruction and of concealment when we applied plague measures, did not exist in this instance, and yet, mutatis mutandis, a very similar practice has existed. I am sorry to have to say 30. I shall not discuss the subject further, as this can be of no use at present, and that it is foreign to the question under reference, but I think it right to allude to it to show to Government what is the value of many accusations launched against the Department, the difficulties it encounters in performing its duty, and the state of mind of the people, who must be educated before we can expect from them the assistance which permits of progress, reform and good results being obtained in the fight which the Sanitarian wages against disease and epidemics as in Europe and America.

The distribution and rate of mortality could only be properly ascertained by making a census of the cattle. Our sanitary inspectors and guards, even if they gave up all their present and important duties, could not supply accurate and reliable information before a few weeks, provided further that they are allowed extra travelling

expenses.

It may roughly be said that Rivière du Rempart, Pamplemousses and Flacq have been extensively and severely affected; that Plaines Wilhems, Savanne, Moka and Grand Port, which have been more recently attacked. are suffering seriously; that Port Louis has suffered less, comparatively; and that Black River has not yet had many cases of the disease. If more precise information is wanted, a special staff and the assistance of the police will be required to obtain the necessary statistics. The contributing causes in the transmission of the disease are insects, apparently, as cows, which are kept in close byres, where flies are less numerous than in the ordinary stables, have not, to our knowledge, been affected, though fed on the same food as the sick animals.

The means of prevention would be the isolation of the sick at a distance from the healthy animals, and the slaughter of those sick animals which are apparently past recovery or cannot be isolated.

The practical difficulties in the way of diagnosis and the carrying out of such measures have been pointed out by you. and when we attended at the meeting of the Executive Council on Friday last.

No remedy or means of cure are as yet known, though very numerous treatments have been tried.

This investigation is actually proceeded with.

In conclusion I beg to state that it would be desirable to inquire if His Excellency the Governor intends to accede to the desire expressed at the last meeting of the Chamber of Agriculture of adjoining four of its members to the Committee of the Sanitary Department, so that we might at once decide as to our future line of action. These gentlemen could materially assist us in carrying out our work to a satisfactory termination, for various obvious reasons.

H. LORANS,

Medical Inspector.

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