18
Equine contagious disease.
5. Ninety-one cases of glanders were reported, all from the Bombay City.
Surra was reported from 8 districts and from Bombay City. There were 230
deaths as against 56 in the previous year. Thana District was most severely
affected. Several cases occurred at the Chembur Panjrapole ; these were iso-
láted and treated but without success. As equine diseases are very rarely
reported by the revenue officials, these figures cannot be regarded as a complete
indication of their prevalence.
Bovine contagious disease.
6. Rinderpest was reported from all the districts except Ahmedabad and
Panch Mahals. As already mentioned all the Gujarat districts were practically
free from this disease. The total mortality was 13,944 against 18,502 last year.
Although the disease was not so widespread as in the previous year it appears
to have been of a more virulent character, the percentage of mortality being
53'22 against 48.9 the previous year. As usual the Konkan districts were most
severely affected.
7. Foot and mouth disease was reported in all districts except Dharwar.
In all 349 deaths occurred against 284 last year. Mortality from this disease is
generally confined to young stock and is due to the neglect of the complications
to which it renders them liable. Much benefit accrues to the public by the
treatment of this disease by the Veterinary Assistants and their services for
this purpose are much sought after.
8. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia was widely prevalent affecting all the districts
of the Presidency except the City of Bombay. 5,323 deaths were reported
against 2,229 in the previous year. The most severely affected districts were
Kaira, Surat and Belgaum. 523 outbreaks were attended by the Veterinary
staff and the diagnosis of the disease was confirmed microscopically in 178 cases.
9. Black-quarter was prevalent in 12 districts and caused 848 deaths.
As usual it was confined to the Deccan and Karnatic districts. The disease was
somewhat severe in the Sholapur and Ahmednagar districts. 106 outbreaks
were attended and the diagnosis was confirmed microscopically in 36 instances.
10. Anthrax prevailed in 8 districts and caused 158 deaths. Twenty-eight
outbreaks were attended by the Veterinary Assistants and the diagnosis was
confirmed by microscopical examination in 4 outbreaks.
11. Other contagious disease in bovines includes pleuro-pneumonia and
dengue.
Contagious disease in other animals.
12. Some cases of suspected bilharziosis in sheep was detected but the
diagnosis was not confirmed. Also a few cases of spirachœtosis in fowls were
met with. Seventy-three cases of rabies came under the observation of the
Veterinary staff during the year and the brains of 45 cases were sent for
examination to the Bacteriological Laboratory, Parel.
Preventive measures.
Table III.
13. The number of inoculations against rinderpest amounted to 35,380 in
288 outbreaks. 6,190 uninoculated animals and 154 inocu-
lated animals died in the course of these outbreaks. The
decrease in inoculation is owing to the smaller number of outbreaks of rinder-
pest reported during the year.
14. In 122 outbreaks of Hæmorrhagic septicæmia attended 21,027 inocula-
tions were performed. More inoculations could have been performed but for the
delay in getting serum from the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory, particularly
during the months of July and August, when many outbreaks where inoculations
might have been carried out could not be dealt with. 1,414 uninoculated and
13 inoculated animals died in the course of the outbreaks where inoculation was
performed. Inoculation against this disease has been introduced very recently
but it has made good progress. There is evidence to show that where inocula-
tions can be carried out at the beginning of an outbreak very satisfactory results
are obtained, hence the rapid extension of this method of treatment in popular
favour.