138
From a description of the disease it appears to have been malignant sore
throat.
Rinderpest.—"During the year the most serious outbreak was reported from Hazaribagh where over a
thousand cattle died. From August to December the disease was prevalent in Purneah.
Foot-and-mouth disease.—Foot-and-mouth disease was reported from Cuttack, 3,425 cattle were attacked.
The epidemic spread over Cuttack, Jolepore, Jagatsingpur, Tiroli, Kendrapara and Daramsala Police Out-post.
The disease appears almost every year. An outbreak was reported in September from Nilphomari. In the
Thakurgaon Sub-division of the Dinajpur District a great number of cattle suffered from the disease. The
District of Patna was also invaded, and suffered considerably.
Pleura-pneumonia.—This disease, as a contagious malady, may be said to be non-existent in Bengal.
The Superintendent remarks with regard to the tabular statements of
disease:—
"In the appendices a tabulated statement showing the percentages of deaths from the various contagious
diseases is given. This may only be taken as an indication of the mortalities of the different diseases, but can
certainly not be relied upon. Comparative statements will only become useful when all the obtainable informa-
tion is collected by trained Veterinary Assistants."
With regard to this point I quite agree with the Superintendent, and I am
inclined to believe that the information regarding the prevalence of contagious
disease amongst the cattle of Bengal is as misleading as that received from
other parts of India, owing to the unreliability of the statistics and the fact
that extensive outbreaks of disease occur which are never reported.
540. CENTRAL PROVINCES.—Two Veterinary graduates are employed. The
Director, Land Records, owing to the fact that no Veterinary officer has been
employed in these provinces during the year, reports as follows:—
"The number of cattle attacked by diseases has risen from 21,478, to 29,190 and the percentage of deaths
stands at 42 98. Outbreaks of cattle disease frequently remain unreported. In August 1895, rinderpest was rife
in the Jalgaou and Dariapur talukas and the loss occasioned was considerable.
The reports hre absolutely unreliable, but Table M gives the statistics
which are available.
541. BOMBAY.—The system of reporting by mamlatdars has been continued
during the year. No reports have been received from the districts of Khandesh,
Dharwar, Surat, Panch Mahals, Karachi, Hyderabad, Upper Sind frontier and
Thar and Parkar. There is, however, every reason to believe that these large
tracts of country could not have been free throughout the year, and the reports
received from the graduates in charge of the dispensaries bear witness to this.
The total number of animals attacked with contagious and infectious
diseases during the year is 18,635 of which 9,998 are reported to have died.
Rinderpest was the most prevalent disease reported in the Presidency,
the total number of deaths being 9,202. The maximum death rate was 92-64
per cent. the minimum 35.55 per cent.
Anthrax was reported from Ahmednagar, Poona, Sholapur and Shikarpur.
The diagnosis is however doubtful.
Foot and mouth disease reported in six districts, but was not fatal.
The Superintendent remarks:—
"Although there is a considerable increase over last year in the number reported, I feel sure that the reports
received by me do not in any way represent the large mortality that takes place annually."
With this I quite agree.
Ajmere-Merwara.—From the reports of disease received from Ajmere-Mer-
wara, it appears that 6,924 cases of rinderpest, 6,376 cases of foot-and-mouth
disease, and 214 cases of anthrax (charbon symptomatique and malignant sore
throat) and 72 other disease were reported amongst cattle and 3,185 cases of
foot-and-mouth disease, 678 cases of rinderpest and 3,489 cases of other disease
occurred in sheep, or a total 20,938 cases of which 10,183 recovered, 4,429 died,
and 6,326 remained.
542. BALUCHISTAN.—Veterinary Captain Maxwell reports:—
"No Veterinary Assistants are employed in the Agenoy, paid from district funds, and the breeders being
illiterate are unable to furnish any information on the subject, hence no returns with reference to cattle
disease investigation and prevention are prepared."