13
the disease is caused by the animals eating a species of grass called Naree, which grows abundantly in
low-lying and water-logged land. They state, with probably little truth, that this grass has only re-
cently appeared in the neighbourhood. In all likelihood the knowledge of the disease has only recently
been acquired, and this grass is supposed to be the cause of it."
" It also appeared among the solipeds at Chakmakund, and out of 12 horses, 2 mules and 25
donkeys, 7 horses, 2 mules and 11 donkeys succumbed to the disease."
" The villages Jagatpur, Serai Amantkhan and Kotesayan also suffered from the disease in 1895."
Lahore District.
The total area of the district is 3,602 square miles and has a population of 1,075,379 souls.
Of this area about one-fourth lies on the right bank of the Ravi, forming part of what is known
as the Rechna Doáb between the Ravi and Chenáb rivers ; the remainder is on the left bank or near
side of the Ravi between it and the Sutlej. The Rechna Doáb or Trans-Ravi tract is mostly lowland
that has in times past been under the influence of river water.
There are four tahsils in this district, viz. Lahore, Kasur, Chunian and Sharakpur.
The surface of the district is in the main level throughout. The valleys of the three rivers Biás
Ravi and Degh and the ridges between them constitute the principal physical features of the district.
The broad and high upland between the Sutlej and Ravi is fairly cultivated towards the north, but
contracting towards the south, and as it contracts, assuming the appearance of a barren steppe covered
with low bushes giving forage to camels and in favourable seasons, with long grass used as pasturage
for cattle. This tract is the celebrated Munjha.
The lowlands which lie to the south of Munjha are known as the Hithár, derived from the verna-
cular term het (below). The high bank which runs nearly due east and west from the Sutlej, forms
the southern boundary of the Munjha.
The district is wanting in fertility, except on the banks of rivers and in the canal tracts, but it
appears that water is of the greatest necessity.
The average rainfall from 1868 to 1892 was as follows in each tahsil :—
Lahore
Chunian
Kasur
Sharakpur
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
18.2
18.4
19.3
16.1
inches.
„
„
„
That for the whole district varies from 20 inches on the north-east border to 8 inches on the south-
west and a large proportion of this rain falls in the cold season rather than in the periodical rains
during July and August.
The temperature is very variable, from burning hot winds during May and June to an intense cold
in December, January and February.
The most common diseases are those which occur in all malarial countries, and the most sickly
months of the year in this district are September, October and November.
Cattle Diseases.—Large number of cattle die in this district every year from disease, especially in
Sharakpur Tahsil and in the lowlands of Chunian Tahsil. The most common forms of disease are
rinderpest called by the natives mátra or pir ; Mukhor or foot-and-mouth disease, which of late years
has been very prevalent in the Chunián Hithár ; Gal ghotu or anthrax; Sokar, a disease brought on by
eating jowár stalks that have dried up for want of rain ; Aphára or swelling of the stomach, which accord-
ing to the natives is caused by the cattle eating a worm which sometimes breeds in the grass known
as Senji. Cattle are constantly dying in Sharakpur from inflammation of the bowels, which the natives
generally say is brought on by the cattle taking to the hard jowár stalks after they have got used to
the soft rice straw of which the cattle there eat a great deal in the autumn. Others say the complaint
is induced by drinking water from the Deg.—(Gazetteer of the Lahore District, 1893-94, page 182.)
Lahore Tahsil.—During December 1894 and January 1895 a loss of 24 horses and 22 asses has
been recorded in the three low-lying villages of this tahsil. Veterinary-Captain Pease informs me that
Surra is by no means uncommon in the Lahore District along the low-lying portions of land bordering the
rivers Ravi and Deg, where it is known as "Zaharbad". All the limbs swell and the usual symptoms
are present. Five cases were taken for treatment to the Veterinary College during the 1896 ' Surra'
season.
Chunian Tahsil.— A low- lying village of this tahsil lost twelve ho
is known by the name of 'Sokrá.'
During October and November 1895 two villages of this tahsil are reported to have lost 14 horses out of 21 possessed.
In the month of October 1896 one village of the tahsil lost 4 horses out of 7 owned by the villagers.
During the month of January 1897 the disease is reported to have broken out in a village,causing only a slight lo
B 2204 —4