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favourably impressed at first, but owing to the death of some
of the inoculated and to the abatement of the outbreak, they
refused to continue the experiment.
(b) Raniganj.—Two hundred and sixteen cattle died in an outbreak
before inoculation. After the inoculation, only 8 died out of
366 inoculated. The death-rate was said to have been greatly
checked, and the villagers appreciated the results. They ap-
peared to be willing to have their cattle inoculated in future
outbreaks.
(c) Kanti.—Thirty-eight head of cattle died before inoculation. After
the inoculation, 4 out of the 225 inoculated cattle were attacked,
of which only one, which had developed the disease eight hours
after the operation, died. The other three had it in a mild form.
The results were considered to be very satisfactory. The
villagers were at first afraid of allowing their cattle to be in-
oculated, but after Mr. Toomey, the Manager of the Kanti Indigo
Concern, had explained to them the benefit they would derive
thereby, they allowed it to be done, and are now putting faith
in it.
(d) Calcutta Municipal gowlchanas.—In the outbreaks that occurred
during the year, 219 cattle were attacked, of which 82 died.
In the one outbreak in which inoculation was resorted to, the
attacks before inoculation were 35, of which 26 died and 9 re-
covered. After the inoculation, 32 out of the 769 inoculated
animals developed rinderpest, of which 26 died and 6 recovered.
Probably fewer of the inoculated animals would have suc-
cumbed, if some of them had not been worked by the Super-
intendent of the gowkhanas, when ill. The Veterinary Assis-
tant informs me "some animals were made to work by the
Superintendent even after the attack, and were not sent to
the hospital until they were exhausted and utterly unable to
do further work."
Noakhali.—During a mild outbreak, the people were asked if they would
like to have their cattle inoculated, and they refused.
It will be seen that though the results of the inoculations have been
distinctly beneficial, they vary somewhat. We must have the results of a
very large number of inoculations before any final conclusions can be drawn;
but I may say that it appears that the dose of serum hitherto used has been
somewhat too small.
I have addressed the District Officers, pointing out the benefits likely to
accrue from inoculation during outbreaks of rinderpest, and asking for their
support. So far, nearly all the answers promise assistance.
Tuberculosis.—During the year, I was requested to ascertain if certain
sheep belonging to the Calcutta Commissariat suffered from tuberculosis. I
found they had not the disease.
Hœmorrhagic septicœmia.—I was deputed to Port Blair, Andaman Islands,
to enquire into the mortality which affected the sheep there. I found they
were dying of hœmorrhagic septicœmia. I also discovered that the disease
existed in Bengal. I submitted a list of preventive measures.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION AGAINST RINDERPEST.
113. It is very satisfactory to note that 4 Superintendents—Bombay, Bengal,
Burma and Madras, report having carried out preventive inoculation success-
fully in the field. The results are most encouraging, and if the arrangements
which I propose making can be successfully completed, considerable headway
will be made with this important subject during the coming year.
114. The work done under this head, by the Assistant to the Inspector Gen-
eral, Civil Veterinary Department, is embodied in his Report, which is appended
as Table XXIII (Provincial).