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Anthrax Fever.—A good many deaths registered under this heading are cases of charbon
symptomatique, the same terms being employed by the Burmans for this disease as well as
anthrax. Though, not so prevalent as last year, the disease did considerable damage in four dis-
tricts, viz., Akyab 2,946, Hanzada 1,341. Amherst 1,334, Bassien 1,092. It usually breaks out in
the early parts of the rains, no doubt owing to the animals obtaining sadden access to new and
luxuriant pasturage, after partial privation on a drier kind of diet. Young rank grass full of water
is well known to be dangerous to the animal economy.
The mortality from all causes amounted to 69,451, exceeding by 11,867 that of last year. The
excess may be attributed, firstly, to the heavy increase in death-rate from contagious diseases; and,
secondly, to the more accurate registration of deaths. Taking the average value of oxen and
buffaloes at the very low figure of Rs. 30 per head, it will afford some estimate of the loss to cattle
owners and revenue to the State. If the Department has been the means of saving a few thousands
head of cattle, which, from reports and conversations with district officers, I venture to think it
has, it points to the necessity of further augmenting the staff of assistants in the districts.
The Superintendent, North Punjab, remarks :—
" Under this head the information acquired by me is at second-hand'. I have found my own
time so fully occupied in the horse and mule breeding industry that I have no leisure to stop and
investigate outbreaks, even should I meet with them on tour, and until arrangements are made
for additional help, I fear this will continue to be the case.
Rinderpest.—Occurred in all the districts of the North Punjab except Kohat and Peshawar.
The greatest number of deaths occurred in Rawalpindi.
" Anthrax.—Too was general, though. Rawalpindi shows no mortality under this head.
" Foot and mouth disease.—In Gujranwala a large outbreak was reported. This disease appears
to be present in greater or less degree during the whole year throughout the North. Punjab."
The Superintendent, South Punjab, reports:—
" Rinderpest.—Seems to have shown itself in 14 districts out of 16 in this circle. Ferozepur
apparently suffered most; then Hissar and Amritsar. Over 20,000 animals are said to have died in
the Ferozepur district and the number attacked was enormous. Compared with Ferozepur the
losses according to returns are very small in other districts, but a glance at these figures I consider
sufficient to show that they are quite unreliable, and that hundreds of cases have never been
reported. Take for instance the Rohtak district, according to Table M only 100 animals were-
attacked, resulting in 50 deaths. Kangra district, where the disease is enzootic, shows only 141
deaths. In Montgomery only 200 animals were affected whilst 150 died, in Hoshiarpur only
111 deaths are reported. These figures speak for themselves and are I consider sufficient proof
that the returns are absolutely incorrect.
" Anthrax.—Here again Ferozepur district heads the list. 84,000 head of cattle were attacked
and 11,000 died. Amritsar comes next with 1,492 deaths. Gurdaspur lost 648. The disease was.
reported to be prevalent in 7 other districts, but I am informed that the figures given are incom-
patible with facts.
" Foot and mouth disease.—The number of deaths reported under this heading was few.
Rohtak is said to have escaped altogether, which seems strange.
" In Ferozepur 2,100,756 animals are said to have been attacked, of which nearly 3,000 died.
" Pleuro-pneumonia.—The
losses from this disease were very few. Over 138,000 were-
attacked in Ferozepur, of which about 4,000 succumbed. With the exception of the Gurdaspur
district, the number of seizures are hardly worth recording.
" Charbon Symptomatique.—Was reported from Montgomery and Gurdaspur only, 12 deaths
being recorded.
" The number of deaths from other diseases in the Ferozepur district was about 17,000. Ac-
cording to the reports received the loss from cattle disease was over 57,000, in. Ferozepur 3,000
in Amritsar, 2,000 in Hissar."
The Superintendent, North Western Provinces, states as follows :—
" According to the reports submitted by district authorities, 47,293 cattle wore attacked with
disease in these provinces, and of these 23,225 are reported to have died, but this does not represent
the number of deaths.
" Rinderpest.—Was reported from 18 districts and attacked 30,327 head of cattle, of which
18,269 or 60 per cent. are reported to have died. The losses from this disease are undoubtedly much
greater than the above figures would indicate.
" Foot and mouth disease.—1,085 cattle are reported to have contracted foot and mouth disease
and 102 died or 10 per cent. This large percentage would point to the diagnosis being in some
cases incorrect.
"No cases of anthrax and pleuro-pneumonia are reported."
The following remarks are made with regard to disease by the Superin-
.tendent, Bombay:—
"Rinderpest —Was prevalent throughout the presidency except in Guzerat. The heaviest percen-
tage of mortality was in Thana (93 89), then in Sholapur (90.32). The minimum was in Nasik
(32.92). In other districts it varied from 43 percent. to 71 per cent. This disease made great
havoc in the Kanara district, where 3,801 deaths occurred.