104
Cleansing
of
Railway Horse-
Boxes and Cattle-
Trucks.
473. A most important discussion has taken place during the year under
review, which has resulted in definite orders being issued on the subject of the
cleansing of horse-boxes and cattle-trucks. It was felt that, in view of the
importance of the subject, somewhat more stringent measures should be
adopted than those that were generally in force. The Governor General in
Council was pleased to promulgate the following rules for adoption on State
Railways worked by Government, and desired that in order to secure the
object in view, the administrations of other Railways might be moved to also
adopt them:—
"Every horse-box, cattle-truck, or vehicle used for the conveyance of animals shall, on every occasion
after an animal is taken out of it, and before any animal is placed therein, be cleaned and disinfected as
follows:—
"(i)—The floor of the vehicle and all other parts thereof with which the droppings of the animal have
come in contact shall be scraped and swept, and all dung, fodder, litter, scrapings, sweepings, and
other matters shall be effectually removed therefrom.
" (ii)—The floor and sides of the vehicle, and all other parts thereof with which the head or any discharge
from the mouth or nostrils of the animal has come in contact, shall be thoroughly washed with
water by means of a sponge, brush, or other instrument.
"(iii) —The same parts of the vehicle shall have applied to them a coating of lime-wash or other disin-
fecting fluid.
"(iv)—-The scrapings and sweepings from the vehicle and all dung, fodder, litter and other matter
removed therefrom, shall be forthwith burnt or well mixed with quicklime and be effectually
removed from contact with animals.
"At principal stations where a train halts for any time, station masters shall see that horse-boxes on the
train containing horses are cleaned out through the trap doors in front and rear, before an engine is attached to
the train."
I trust that these rules will be strictly enforced, as I feel that if properly
carried out, they will be the means of preventing many cases of contagious
disease; they should receive special attention on the two lines—the Great
Indian Peninsula and the Bombay, Baroda Central India—leading to Bombay.
Manual of horse
breeding,
by
Veterinary Cap-
tain H. T. Pease.
474. During the year under review, a most useful Manual of horse breeding
was published by Veterinary Captain Pease, Assistant to the Inspector General,
Civil Veterinary Department.
From the synopsis given below, it will be seen that it contains articles
on every subject likely to interest a horse breeder; in fact, I consider it of
such value that I deemed it advisable that a copy should be in the possession
of every District Officer who was in any way connected with the development
of horse breeding. This having been sanctioned by the Government of India,
the following number of copies were issued to the various Local Governments
and Administrations, in accordance with indents received from them. At the
same time, 500 copies are retained for sale at the low price of six annas each : —
Secretary to Government of Punjab, Revenue Department
Secretary to Government of Bombay, Revenue Department
Secretary to Government of Madras, Revenue Department
Agent to Governor-General in Baluchistan ... ...
Agent to Governor-General in Rajputana ... ...
Agent to Governor-General in Central India ...
Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Burma ...
Secretary to Government, North-Western Provinces and Oudh
Secretary to Government of Bengal, Revenue Department
No. of copies.
... 60
... 206
... 40
... 15
... 21
... 20
... 40
... 93
... 25
Two copies were also supplied to the Secretary to the Government of
India, Revenue and Agricultural Department, and 10 to the Government of
India in the Military Department.