6
attacked by the various infective diseases was 7,650 as compared to 2,488 last
year. Of these 4,647 or 60.75 per cent. proved fatal as against 674 or 27.09
per cent. last year. The increase was due to "Black-quarter" which prevailed
throughout the Presidency.
(2).—Outbreaks during the year.
Rinderpest.—There has been no rinderpest. This will perhaps seem a
surprising statement in view of the havoc occasioned by this disease in other
Provinces, particularly those in the north. Every outbreak of cattle disease
reported in the Presidency has been visited and diagnosed by a Veterinary
expert.
Anthrax.—This disease occurred in the Ahmednagar (16 deaths), Ratnágiri
(41 deaths), and Kaira (19 deaths) Districts, and in the Panch Maháls (179
deaths); 330 cases in all with 255 deaths, a percentage of 77.27.
Foot and mouth disease.—This was reported from the Bombay City, and
the Ahmednagar, Poona, Belgaum, Ratnágiri, Kolába, Broach, Kaira, and
Ahmedabad Districts, and the Panch Maháls. Only 2,359 cases were reported
with 64 deaths, a percentage of 2.71. This is a very common disease and a
very contagious one. The mortality, however, is but slight. For this reason
and because it is so common it is not often thought worth while reporting it, so
that I do not regard the above figures as representing anything like the full
number that have occurred.
Pleuro-pneumonia.—This was reported from the Ratnágiri and Broach
districts. Only 30 cases were noted with 26 deaths, a percentage of 86.66.
I am doubtful if the diagnosis was correct in these cases. Contagious pleuro-
pnuemonia I have not met with in the plains of India.
Charbon Symptomatique.—This disease has prevailed all over the Presidency
except in the Bombay City and the Kaira and Ahmedabad Districts. In all
4,481 cases with 3,956 deaths were reported, a mortality of 83.28 per cent. The
Sátára District reported the greatest number—1,310 with 1,196 deaths, next comes
Násik with 845 and 720 deaths, then the Panch Mahals with 723 and 651 deaths,
Belgaum with 384 and 332 deaths, Sholápur with 333 and 301 deaths, Poona
with 267 and 235 deaths, Ratnágiri with 216 and 173 deaths, and Ahmednagar
with 215 and 186 deaths. The others had comparatively but few. This disease
in my opinion has been reported more frequently than in former years, circular
letters having been issued to Collectors requesting them to order all outbreaks to
be reported by wire. It has also been more prevalent, the result perhaps of a
succession of comparatively dry years followed by a wet season; the number of
cases reported, however, is probably a good deal below the actual number which
occurred.
Other diseases.—These amount to 450 with 346 deaths, a mortality of 76.88
per cent. and include 267 from gloss-anthrax, 13 from glanders and farcy, 2 from
epizootic lymphangitis, 7 from surra, 54 from malignant sore throat and 3 from
Ludhiana disease. The last named is a synonym for anthrax with swelling of
the throat.
(3).—Treatment, Vaccination, &c.
16. Table XIX gives the number of animals treated by Veterinary
Graduates during the year. The total number of patients treated by them was
27,513 as against 22,958 last year, an increase of 4,555.
Inoculation.
17. No inoculations have been carried out this year.
IV.—CATTLE-BREEDING, INCLUDING CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
18. A detailed tour was made in the Ahmedabad and Kaira Districts in
connection with cattle-breeding by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, report submitted with his No. 428 of the 15th June 1904 to the Director
of Land Records and Agriculture. Several places along the valley of the
Krishna river were also visited in connection with cattle-breeding and a proposed