Notes on an Ephemeral Fever of Indian Cattle Resembling South African "Three Days Sickness."

The Veterinary Journal. it was expect ed tha t some of the more stringent restrictions would be abolished. This was not the case, however, and much friction arose between the Germans and ourselves. Stralsund a t th e time was full of young German soldiers just returned from th e front, and it became a usual occurrence for live shots to be fired into our camp, and many a shot came through th e hut where I slept. Our guards were cha nged ; formerly they consisted of the old Landswehr, but now they were men just returned from France. The Germans became abusive and offensiv e until on December 7th, whilst two British off.cers were taking a walk after dinner about 8.30 p .m., one was shot dead and the other badly wounded for no apparent reason whatever. Certainly it ·~as that they were doing no wrong and not attempting to escare, ~nd; as so often happens, these unfortunate officers were two of the most inoffensive members of th e whole camp. The sentry who fired the shots, of course, could not be found, the commandant declaring that he had no control over the men. The senior British officer took the matter in hand and has ample evidence of the outrage, and th e Germans responsible are, I understand, to be punished by the Allies. After this affairs became so bad that every effort was made to get us away. The camp was broken up into parties, each party being taken away under armed guards between two a nd three o'clock in the morning to Denmark. NOTES ON AN EPHEMERAL FEVER OF INDIAN CATTLE RESEMBLING SOUTH AFRICAN "THREE . DAYS SICKNESS." D. MEADOWS, I.A.R.O., R.A.V.C. I ndian Civil Veterinary Department.

BY CAPTAIN

This disease, which may provisionally be called "Vil," from one of its common vernacular names, appears to have attracted very little attention, and it is doubtful if it has yet been recognised (except by the Indian peasants) as a specific disease. The only reference I have been able to find concerning the occurrence in India of ephemeral fever in cattle is in the section on" Dengue," in Wallis Hoare's "System of Veterinary Medicine." I enquired from the author about the references, and he informed me that they were from French sources and that the French word "L'Inde" occurring in them might mean either India or the Indies. The dates of these references were previous to rgo6, when Edmonds in South Africa recognised " Stiff Sickness" or "Three Days Fever" as a specific. disease. I enquired from Bevan, the Government Veterinary Bacteriologist in Rhodesia, if he considered that the Indian and African diseases were the same and he replied that he thought they probably were.

Notes on an Ephemeral Fever of Ind-ia n Cattle . 139 Distribution.-Up to the present I have only seen a nd heard of "Vil" in the North West Frontier Province a nd the Northern Punjab ; out, from the similarity of the climatic a nd geographical conditions, it is probable that it occurs a ll over North West India a nd the ad joining countries. I believe that this disease is quite common, but it is not possible to give any accura t e idea of the ex tent of its prevalence, as no place has ever been given to it in a ny statistical schedule Vilis usua lly mist aken for other disease,a nd its outbreaks are frequently not reported. I have seen cases of Vil at an aJtitude of nearly 6,ooo feet. It is commonest during, or shortly after, the rainy season (July to Octob er). Aetiology.-Th e causal organism is not yet known (the South African disease is inoculable). The fact that outbreaks occur in widely separat ed localities at the same time a nd are seasonal indicates that the disease is insect-borne. The peasants consider that Vil is caused by eating certain caterpillars and pupre, which are found surrounded by froth a ttached to grass stalks. Animals susceptible.- ! have only seen this disease in cattle and have not heard of it attacking other animals. Symptoms and Course.-The commencement is very sudden. A11 animal may b e left quite all right a nd found a few hours la ter with high fever a nd showing all symptoms. The t empera ture rises to ro4 t o ro7 F. The first t emperature reading is nearly always the highest, as there is seldom a ny opportunity to t ake the t emperature during the very short period wh en it is rising. Th e t emperature falls regularly to norma l before the fourth day. The body is stiff, some animals lying down obstinately and refusing to rise, and others sta nding with their backs arch ed a nd heads extended. There is lameness in one or more limbs. This often moves from one limb to another in a very short . time. There are the usual symptoms of fever-quickened pulse a nd respiration, loss of a ppetite a nd cessation of rumination . There is usually difficulty in swallowing. All these symptoms decrease at the same rate, as the t empera ture and recovery is usually complete before th e fourth day. Constipation is usually presept, but there may be diarrhcea at the commenceme11t. Usually only a small proportionone-fifth or much less--of the animals in a herd are a ttacked . I have not yet noticed any loca l symptoms (such as swellings), but further observation may find them. Lesions.-! have neve1 seen a post mortem of· a case of Vil. T erminations and Sequels.-Under normal conditions, with rest, shade, water and soft fodder and an absence of extremes of heat and cold, deaths are very rare; a nd it is probable tha t most of the deaths that do occur are not due to the disease, but to native treatment; likewise pneumonia, enteritis, etc., following an attack.

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The Veterinary Journal.

Treatment.- No safe or efficient drug treatment is known. Th e a nimal must b e rested and protect ed from heat, cold or rain and offered water and soft food. Constipation should be treat ed by enemas, avoiding drenching. Any other treatment should be symptomatic, a nd it is much safer to give drugs subcutaneously or per a nnum than per Os. lmmunity.-Notbing is known about this. General remarks.-Tbe common vernacular names in Punjabi are Vii or Bilbo (as far as I can ascertain these words
As far as I am aware, this condition has not previuusly been described in veterinary literature. I would like to draw the a ttention of veterinary officers-especia lly those new to the tropics-to its occurrence in animals. It is of great military importance, as its presence in a severe degree m~ kes animals useless and dangerous for night operations. It is well known in human medicine and is known or believed to be due to exhaustion of th e sensibility to light of the retina from prolonged exposure to sun glare or to want of nervous tone from debility or amemia. In a nimals it can easily be ascribed for the fom1er cause, and it is possible that it may occur from the latter cause. I have seen the condition in different troops of a cavalry regiment sta tioned in different localities in a wide area of operations, and noted that the amount of it present was inversely proportional to the 2.mount