19
15. In 7 outbreaks of anthrax in the Kanara District 1,426 inoculations
were carried out. Inoculations against anthrax are carried out only where the
diagnosis of the disease has been confirmed microscopically. Forty-two unin-
oculated animals died during the course of outbreaks, whereas none of the
inoculated animals died.
16. Vaccination against Hæmorrhagic septicæmia was carried out in 34
villages where this disease is known to recur and 4,784 animals were treated in
this way, of which only 1 died.
17. Vaccination against black-quarter was carried out at the Tegur
Farm, Dharwar District, where 78 animals were vaccinated.
Other disease.
Table IV.
18. The number of villages visited by Veterinary Assistants during the year
was 3,132. The decrease was due to reasons already given
in the last year's report. The Veterinary Assistants
treated 29,611 cases of contagious disease and 15,304 for non-contagious
diseases during their tours. The decrease in the treatment of contagious
diseases was due to the fact that foot-and-mouth and rinderpest were less
prevalent.
1,137 animals, mainly cattle, were castrated by the
Veterinary Assistants on tour against 258 last year. This increase must be
regarded as satisfactory in view of the strong prejudices that exist against
castration, and it shows that the superiority of a proper surgical operation
compared with the more inhumane methods of emasculation usually resorted
to is being appreciated.
Investigation.
19. Five hundred and sixteen specimens were sent to the Sir Dinshaw
Manekji Petit Patho-Bacteriological Laboratory, Parel, for diagnosis and 34 for
the museum.
One case of Johne's disease was detected in a buffalo belonging to the
Agricultural Dairy Farm, Poona. This is the first time the disease has been
discovered in the Presidency but it is probably much more prevalent than
hitherto realised, and it will be made the subject of further investigation.
Major Liston, C.I.E., the Director of the Bacteriological Laboratory at Parel,
detected schistosomiasis in cattle, sheep and goats at the Bandra slaughter
house and Veterinary Assistant K. B. Nair of this department was deputed to
assist Dr. Soparkar in the investigation. It is probable that the disease is
widely prevalent and enquiries are being instituted. The Superintendent is
indebted to Major Liston and the members of his staff for their help in
this matter.
Veterinary Dispensaries.
Table V.
20. There were 54 dispensaries in the Presidency during the year. The
total number of cases treated was 161,211. The new
method of recording these cases shows that 83,461
animals were actually treated at the hospitals while medicines were supplied
for 77,750 cases to be treated at their homes. Last year the total number of
cases treated was 161,668. There is no doubt that the prevalence of plague
influences the attendance at the veterinary dispensaries and that but for
the severity of this disease during the year, the number of cases treated
would have been much greater instead of slightly less than last year. This
was specially observed in the Gujarat districts.
21. No new dispensaries were opened during the year but arrangements
were completed to open 7 in April of 1918. Sanction has been accorded to the
construction of dispensaries on the standard plan at Baramati, Poona District,
Savada, East Khandesh, and Pandharpur, Sholapur District. The construc-
tion of a dispensary at Barsi, Sholapur District, has been taken in hand. The
funds for this work has been partly provided from the Wadia Trust.
22. More dispensaries are urgently required but owing to paucity of funds
many District Local Boards are reluctant to undertake their share in their
maintenance. This interferes with the progress of the department and a
remedy is required if it is to approach anything like meeting public require-
ments in a reasonable time.