3
Various suggestions were made to Government with the view of improving
the condition of the stables in Bombay and for amending Act XX of 1879, but
action in this direction has been deferred pending further report. They in-
cluded :—
(1) that there should be systematic inspection;
(2) that overcrowding of stables should be made penal and that it should be
compulsory on owners for each horse to be allowed a given number of
square feet of stable room;
(3) that urine traps in stalls should be totally abolished and the dry-earth
system be introduced;
(4) that copies of the Glanders and Farcy Act should be posted in all
dealers' and hack ghárry owners' stables in the Vernacular and Arabic;
(5) that the treatment of glanders cases by unqualified persons and the
sale and abandonment of glandered horses should be prohibited;
(6) that the disinfection of horse boxes, cotton waggons and cattle trucks
used for the conveyance of horses by rail should be rendered imperative ;
(7) that the Principal should be invested with some legal powers, either
Magisterial or Police, to enable him to carry out the provisions of the
Glanders and Farcy Act.
A severe form of disease, probably glanders, was reported to exist in
the dominions of His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar. Suggestions were
at once made to the Commissioner of Police that strict orders be given that
no animals or hides be allowed to land until carefully inspected, which was duly
carried out.
Inspections of the various stables at Byculla and elsewhere have been made
from time to time during the year, by myself and the Graduates employed under
Act XX of 1879.
Rabies and Hydrophobia.—Six cases of rabies were admitted to the B. S. D.
P. Hospital during the year, an increase of one over the previous year. 5,049
dogs were destroyed by the Police as againt 8,364 in 1892-93, a decrease of 3,315.
Two deaths from hydrophobia were reported by the Coroner of Bombay to have
taken place, a decrease of one, a marked improvement on 1891-92 when the
deaths from this cause stood at seven.
Lazaretto.
8. Government sanctioned Rs. 240 as an annual grant to meet the con-
tingent expenses in connection with the Lazaretto.
Medicines and necessaries were purchased at a cost of
Rs. 336-4-0.
A hut for the chaukidár has been constructed at an outlay of Rs. 403-8-6,
also a trevis costing Rs. 55-4-11.
The cinerator has proved of great value, both from a sanitary point and for
the speedy cremation of carcasses.
No water has as yet been laid on to the Lazaretto.
Animal imports.
9. During the year 5,999 animals were imported into Bombay from the
following places :—Persian Gulf, 4,445 horses and 17
donkeys; England, 54 horses; Australia, 1,109 horses;
Mauritius, 4 horses; Austria-Hungary, 11 horses; Ceylon, 8 horses; China, 1
horse; Indian ports, 218 horses and 110 cattle; and Italy, 8 horses and 14
donkeys.
The imports of horses for this year show an increase of 1,552 as compared
with last importing season. The greatest increase comes from the Persian Gulf,
which stands at 1,310, next comes Australia with 311, and England 38, whereas
Indian ports show a decrease of 139.
One vessel passed through Bombay conveying 110 Walers for Madras, and
another with two elephants for the Sultan of Zanzibar.