Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General, North-West
Frontier Province, No. 72 Ag., dated 20th August 1909.
READ—
The Report on the working of the Provincial Civil Veterinary Department for the year ending 31st March 1909.
REMARKS — Mr. Carless held charge of the Department from the middle
of April to the beginning of November. Mr. Woodley was in charge for the
rest of the year. Both officers made adequate tours of inspection and also
attended the various Horse and Cattle Shows.
Diseases, Mortality and Preven¬
tive measures.
2. The year was very unhealthy and the number of deaths from conta-
gious diseases amongst cattle was nearly double that
reported last year. Among bovines rinderpest,
hæmorrhagic septicæmia and black-quarter accounted for 403, 422 and 226
deaths respectively against 361,192 and 68 in 1907-08.
Rinderpest appeared in a severe form in Kurram and Hazara. There
were severe outbreaks of hæmorrhagic septicæmia and black-quarter in
Peshawar and Hazara. Kohat was entirely free from deaths amongst bovines
throughout the year, while in Bannu only 23 deaths occurred (all from black-
quarter) and in Tochi only 2, from foot-and-mouth disease. Amongst equines
there were 5 cases of glanders, one of anthrax and 11 of surra. Last year
there was no case of anthrax and only one of glanders and 2 of surra. On the
other hand the mortality amongst sheep and goats is considerably less in the
year under report, as 142 cases have been reported against 580 last year. Out
of these, 100 deaths occurred in Dera Ismail Khan.
Inoculation for rinderpest was undertaken in 13 outbreaks of the disease
and 4,380 animals were inoculated against 5,484 in the previous year, when
22 outbreaks were reported. No inoculations were performed against
hæmorrhagic septicæmia, although the deaths this year were considerably more
numerous. Black-quarter broke out severely in Peshawar and Kurram and in
over 3,600 cases preventive vaccination was resorted to. The promised report
as to the success of these vaccinations will be awaited by the Chief Commis-
sioner with interest.
The inoculations against rinderpest were efficacious and the confidence
of agriculturists in the treatment is reported to be growing. This is satis-
factory. No inoculations for hæmorrhagic septicæmia were carried out.
This was presumably due to the absence of a proved vaccine and the dis-
continuance of the serum previously issued from the Becteriological Laboratory.
Inoculations generally were less than those in the previous year. The Chief
Commissioner hopes that special attention will be given to this very important
branch of veterinary work and the progress made and results achieved in the
current year described in somewhat greater detail and fullness when the next
annual report is prepared.
The defects in the system of reporting outbreaks of epidemic diseases
which have been previously noticed have now been remedied. The Lambar-
dars and Patwaris have been made responsible for reporting outbreaks at once.
If the instructions conveyed in Revenue Commissioner's Circular letter
No. 3961/1-7 of the 25th August 1908 are carefully followed more accurate
information should be readily available about all outbreaks, and this should
much facilitate speedy and effective treatment.
Hospitals, Dispensaries and
Staff.
3. The four Veterinary Hospitals of the previous year, at Peshawar,
Bannu, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan, were increased
to seven, by the addition of the three institutions in
Hazara which are now in charge of stationary men. The dispensaries open in
the year numbered ten. These are in charge of itinerating men. The number