6
Foot and mouth disease was not generally prevalent, and only a few isolated
cases occurred.
Anthrax.—As far as I can learn no well-authenticated cases were reported,
but several of the descriptions given in the communications received were very
like this disease.
Rabies, I regret to say, prevailed to an alarming extent. Many cases came
to the Hospital for opinion as to whether they were rabies or not, and, in some
instances, carcasses were sent for confirmation by post-mortem examination. 6,796
stray dogs were destroyed by the police in 1891, and 7 deaths occurred from
hydrophobia in the same period; this latter is a very serious matter indeed, and
one which should receive both the attention of Government and the public with
the view of the introduction of more stringent rules regarding dogs, and the
foundation in India of a Pasteur Institute, where those who had the misfortune
to be bitten by rabid animals, could be protected from such a very terrible death
as that from hydrophobia.
Glanders and Farcy.—This loathsome malady is far more prevalent in Bom-
bay than is usually supposed, or even dreamt of, so much so that in spite of
every precaution it found its way to the Remount Depôt at Ahmednagar—a
matter that attracted the notice of the Government of India. Thirty-two cases of
glanders-farcy were discovered and destroyed during the year, and the regularity
with which these cases occurred, would clearly indicate that the disease is enzootic
in Bombay. The Government have, at my recommendation, gone thoroughly into
the matter of the repression of this disease, and an excellent lazaretto has been
built, where suspicious cases can be segregated, and confirmed ones destroyed and
cremated in one of my cinerators. I am in hopes, too, that my suggestion in regard
to the appointment of Veterinary Inspectors for the City and Port will eventually
be sanctioned to perform duties, which, although of purely a veterinary nature,
have heretofore been relegated to Police Inspectors. Unless a competent staff
of graduates be appointed under me, I am confident glanders will never be
stamped out. Another matter also which might well here be mentioned, because
of its intimate connection with the spread of glanders, is the insanitary condition
of the horse-dealers and hack-ghárry owners' stables. No words of mine could
describe some of them. All laws of hygiene are set at utter defiance, with the
result that these stables are simply hot beds for the development and propaga-
tion of the glanderous poison. While such a state of affairs is in existence, all
efforts on my part to rid Bombay of the disease will end in failure. There must
be two forces at work to obtain this very desirable end; firstly, careful and system-
atic inspection, segregation, disinfection, destruction and cremation, and,
secondly, improved sanitation. The former is at present alone my province, but
I think it only right that I should have some power vested in me to deal
also with the latter. It seems to me too largely a sphere in which a veteri-
nary surgeon is best qualified to give an opinion.
11. The College officers have, as heretofore, advised Government and the
Extra duties.
Municipality in the following manner:—
(a) Advice to the Collector of Thána in regard to the suppression of
rinderpest in the Murbád District and deputation of a graduate for the
same.
(b) Reviewed, for the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, the
annual reports of the graduates in charge of the veterinary dispensaries
and itinerating appointments in the districts, Ahmedabad, Kaira, Násik
and Khándesh.
(c) Advice as to treatment of the animals in the Victoria Gardens,
and many post-mortems were made to give the cause of death.
(d) Advising the Commissioner of Police in regard to the better
working of the Glanders and Farcy Act.
(e) Inspection of cattle and hides imported into Bombay from the
East Coast of Africa; but in future this duty will be transferred to the
Port Veterinary Inspector when he is appointed.
(f) Reporting upon the quality of grains and grasses from the Commis-
sariat Department.