animals, of which 61 are located in the Punjab, 6 in the United Provinces and
8 in the North-West Frontier Province. Table VII (Provincial) shows that
of this number 23 were employed, covering 319 pony mares and 162 donkey
mares.
Cost of feed and
keep.
92. A satisfactory decrease in the average cost of feed and keep will be
noticed in Table XII (Provincial); the amount being Rs. 134-2-4 against
Rs. 156-6-3 in the previous year.
Produce.
The produce reported is very disappointing. A reference to Table VII
(Provincial) shows that only 79 mules and 35 head of young donkey stock
are reported as the results of the previous year's coverings, giving an average
per stallion employed of 6.07 of mules and 4.37 of donkey stock. This is too
absurd; and for want of proper agency to collect and furnish accurate statistics,
the incomplete particulars rendered to this Department have to be ac-
cepted.
III.-CATTLE DISEASE-INVESTIGATION AND
PREVENTION.
Outbreaks of
cattle disease,
94. Table XX (Provincial) shows the Provinces in which outbreaks of cattle
disease occurred. The return is incomplete as Burma and Madras have been
unable to furnish returns with regard to the number attacked.
95. Every endeavour, however, has been made during the past year to
collect accurate statistics with regard to the total mortality and I have reason
to believe that the figures quoted, viz., 258,419 are more or less reliable and to
be depended upon.
96. These figures clearly indicate that if outbreaks of disease are to be dealt
with on systematic lines and attempts made to reduce these enormous annual
losses, it is essential that our staff, both superior and subordinate, should be
adequate and thoroughly efficient.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION AGAINST RINDERPEST, ETC.
97. A reference to Table XXIII (Provincial) will show that very material
progress has been made under this important head during the past year. It is
to be regretted that owing to insufficient machinery the Laboratory was unable
to meet all demands for serum; but the arrangements now made should suffice
for all requirements in the future.
98. In the "serum alone" method we have the best and only system
possible for this country at the present day. As the native owners more fully
recognise the benefit of an active immunity for their cattle and as we obtain
Veterinary Assistants of higher intelligence and training, the simultaneous
method may become feasible. The experience of the past 3 years shows that
the "serum alone" method is an undoubted success in India and until we can
discover other more effective means at once applicable to this country and its
people it would be highly dangerous and undesirable to change our present
system.
99. It is significant of the value of serum when used in affected herds of
the Darjeeling and Chittagong Hill Tracts to find that only 3.25 per cent. of
injected animals succumbed; whereas in an ordinary outbreak of rinderpest
among such cattle a percentage of 90 to 98 usually fowolls.
100. Rinderpest.-390 outbreaks were dealt with and 47,360 cattle im-
munised against 42,871 last year; the mortality after injection being only
280.
101. Rinderpest broke out amongst the Transport bullocks engaged in the
Sikkim Tibet Force. The serum supplied kept the Force free from rinder-
pest.
102. Anthrax.—48 outbreaks were dealt with and 6,385 animals were
immunised against 3,405 last year. The mortality after injection was 33.