11
applications for assistance could be met, or in Chhatisgarh where half the out-
breaks were attended. In Jubbulpore, however, and in Narsingpur, Hoshanga-
bad and Chindwara districts of the Nerbudda Division, where the disease was
present in epidemic form and widespread, notwithstanding that all the
available staff was deputed, the disease could not be dealt with effectively. In
the Jubbulpore Division only 272 out of 1,311 outbreaks could be attended
and in the Nerbudda Division only 86 out of 543.
72. A scheme for converting the veterinary subordinate staff into a Pro-
vincial service has been under consideration and has since received the sanction
of the Secretary of State and no doubt this will place the Superintendent in a
better position to provide for emergencies.
73. Punjab.—Happily, the Punjab was comparatively free from Rinder-
pest during the year, only 3,531 cases being reported with a mortality of 1,714
against 15,890 and 7,971 respectively in the previous year. Small outbreaks
occurred in 21 districts but the disease was not of a very virulent type and did
not spread. The worst outbreak was in the Montgomery district but the type
was mild and only 593 deaths were reported, recoveries being numerous. There
were 213 deaths in Ambala and 135 in the Lahore district. The mortality in
the remainder of the districts was very small.
74. Protective inoculations were undertaken in 70 outbreaks and 14,815
animals were injected with serum. There were a few instances of opposition
to inoculation but in the majority of cases it was easily overcome. The people
in some of the districts of the South Punjab and in other out of the way places
are averse to the method but on the whole it is yearly becoming more popular.
75. North-West Frontier Province.—Rinderpest appeared in the districts
of Dera Ismail Khan and the Kohat and Kurrum Agency, of which Dera
Ismail Khan suffered the most, 263 deaths being reported. There were 98
deaths in the Kurrum Agency. 5,484 animals were inoculated with serum in
22 outbreaks. The method is achieving popularity year by year and the op-
position to inoculation which previously existed is rapidly disappearing.
76. Rajputana and Sind.—138 deaths are reported from Rajputana and 8
from Sind. It is hoped that some progress may be made in the latter Province
in the near future.
77. Bengal.—It appears that Rinderpest occurred in the districts of Dar-
jeeling, Hoogly, Sonthal Parganas, 24-Parganas, Angul, Burdwan, Saran
Muzaffarpur, Hazaribagh and Sambalpur. The most important outbreak
appears to have occurred in the Sonthal Parganas, 1,003 deaths; and in Sambal-
pur 731, whilst smaller outbreaks occurred in 28 districts out of 33, causing a
total reported mortality of 6,095 cattle. Protective inoculation was caried out
in 58 outbreaks and 5,978 cattle were injected with serum.
78. It is noted that timely and reliable information of the existence of
outbreaks is still difficult to obtain, but with the advent of 2 Veterinary Asis-
tants in each sub-division and the cooperation of members of the Agricultural
Associations and it may be added with the appointment of a separate Provincial
Superintendent, more may be done to lessen the mortality.
79. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—This is a most troublesome disease and one
with which it is very difficult to dealt effectively. It causes great loss amongst
young buffaloes especially and is severe in parts of the Punjab. The figures
received show that, excluding Burma, the Central Provinces, and Rajputana,
16,153 cases occurred in the rest of India. Of these, 7,351 cases were in the
Punjab where it occurred in 25 districts, of which Kangra and Lahore suffered
most. In Eastern Bengal and Assam, 4,604 deaths are reported from 10 dis-
tricts, the heaviest mortality being in Kamrup. In Bombay, 1,464, in Bengal
620 and in the North-West Frontier Province 192.
80. In regard to protective inoculation, it may be said that very little is
really known about this disease, which wants working out. We know that it
attacks preferably young buffaloes and is most prevalent in lowlying lands at
certain times of the year. But, owing to the fact that it appears very suddenly