4
recovered under proper treatment. It is observed that even in a city like Bombay,
at the time of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease among cattle, due care is
not taken to isolate the affected animals. It is a common thing to see such
animals working on the roads at great risk of infecting the healthy animals.
Even in some cases the owners choose rather to pay fines in Magistrates' courts
than to isolate the affected animals and get them treated. The adoption of more
vigorous measures alone, it seems, will have the desired effect on such persons.
The disease prevails widely in Bombay almost every alternate year, and is observ-
ed not only among working cattle, but also among milch cattle like buffaloes and
cows, and thus endangers the health of human beings, especially the children,
inasmuch as the consumption of milk of the affected animals produces a severe
disease of the mouth and diarrhoea.
Rinderpest was rare last year. There were a few cases in the hospital
wards.
Tuberculosis in cattle in this part of India is common; and as the disease is
communicable to man, both through milk and flesh, it requires immediate atten¬
tion. At present, the milk of the affected animals is freely mixed with good
milk and sold in the market. Possibly the great prevalence of phthisis in
Bombay is due to some extent to this cause.
Anthrax fortunately is absent here : anyhow no cases of that disease have
been brought to notice.
Rabies is heard of every now and then, and almost every month cases of
dogs suffering from this disease are brought to the hospital.
Cases of glanders-farcy are becoming very common in Bombay. They
generally arise in the Arab commission stables. The disease is prevalent in
Bombay to a larger extent than is generally believed. Whenever a case of
glanders is found by the Police Inspector on the road, or brought to the hospital
by an owner, on searching the stable to which it is traced, several more cases are
generally discovered. The Glanders Act in Bombay is working satisfactorily and
a few successful convictions lately secured by the Police have had a very
wholesome effect.
* The previous orders have
been modified since this was
written—vide
Government
Resolution, Judicial Depart-
ment, No. 2693, dated 16th
May 1891.
In their Resolution in the Judicial Department, No. 1552, dated 13th March
1891, Government have been pleased, on the recommendation of the late Veteri-
nary Surgeon Steel, to appoint Mr. Jamshedji Edalji Bharucha, G.B.V.C., and
Mr. Nanabhoy Narsingrao, G.B.V.C., to be Veterinary Surgeons under the Act,
but at the same time they have cancelled the appointments of the Principal and
Resident Veterinary Officer as Veterinary Surgeons under the same Act. The
necessity of restoring the appointments of the latter officers under the Act
in the interests of the College and the public in general has been urged upon
Government in the letter from this office, No. 152, dated 26th March 1891.
In addition to the various inconveniences pointed out
in that letter, the withdrawal from the College officers
of the powers previously vested in them will also tend
to prevent the efficient working of the Act. It is
hoped that Government, on consideration of the facts
brought forward, will re-consider* their previous
decision.
9. The College officers have from time to time been called upon to assist
the Health Officer of the Port of Bombay in accordance with the orders is
Government Resolution, Revenue Department, No. 2955, dated 30th April 1890,
to inspect cattle and hides imported into Bombay from the east coast of
Africa. No fees are paid for the performance of this duty, which also interferes
with the College work of the officers who are deputed to it. The circumstances
point to the necessity of appointing a separate Veterinary Inspector for the port
of Bombay, and proposals on the subject will be shortly submitted.
10. The Principal of the College has, as hitherto, advised Government and
Municipal officials on veterinary matters. They include:
(a) Organisation of the Civil Veterinary Department.
(b) Conference in connection with the Civil Veterinary Department held
in Poona between 29th November and 2nd December 1890.