16
Bovine contagious disease.
6. Rinderpest was reported from all the districts except Kaira. The
number of deaths was 8,597 against 13,944 in the previous year, and the percent-
age of mortality was 48.4. The Konkan districts were as usual the most severely
affected, but there was a severe outbreak in the Ahmedabad District (Dhandhuka
Taluka and Gogha Peta).
7. Foot and mouth disease was existent in all the districts except Panch
Mahals. Its greater prevalence than usual may be attributed to animals being
moved more extensively for grazing.
8. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia was reported from 14 districts only and was
comparatively mild in its ravages, only 689 deaths being reported against 5,323
last year.
It is always less prevalent in dry seasons. Preventive measures for dealing
with this disease have been markedly successful since their introduction three
years ago.
9. Black-quarter accounted for 273 deaths in nine districts. It is enzootic
in the Deccan, but in dry seasons it is rarely severe. Diagnosis was confirmed
microscopically in 13 outbreaks out of 48 attended.
10. Anthrax was reported from five districts and Chharodi Farm, causing
185 deaths. Twenty-four outbreaks were attended and the diagnosis was
microscopically confirmed in three cases. Frequently specimens cannot be
taken owing to the late arrival of the veterinary assistants.
11. Other contagious disease in bovines includes variola and mange.
Contagious disease in other animals.
12. No deaths under this head were reported by the revenue officials.
Fifty-four cases of suspected rabies claimed the attention of the veterinary staff
and 25 brains were sent for examination to the Bacteriological Laboratory,
Parel.
Preventive measures.
Table III.
13. The number of inoculations against rinderpest amounted to 26,836
in 249 outbreaks against 35,380 in 288 outbreaks last year.
During the course of the outbreaks 3,895 uninoculated
animals and 148 inoculated animals died. The work in this respect was
satisfactory so far as it went, but there is still much apathy and prejudice in
some localities and veterinary assistants have considerable difficulty in getting
the treatment adopted.
14. Inoculations were carried out in four outbreaks of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia, 1,146 animals being treated. In eight villages 1,035 animals were
vaccinated against the disease. Among the inoculated animals there was only
one death, while 96 uninoculated animals died during the course of the disease.
There was no death among the vaccinated animals.
When employed correctly and wisely, vaccine and serum treatment in
hæmorrhagic septicæmia is very valuable and this has been recognised by the
readiness to pay charges in some instances. A small beginning in this direction
has been made though it is naturally not popular. Nevertheless the time must
come for treatment of all kinds to be paid for directly and not indirectly as at
present.
15. Inoculations against anthrax were carried out at the Chharodi Farm
and in the Kanara District, 402 being performed. There were no deaths in the
inoculated animals, whilst 16 uninoculated animals died during the course of
the outbreaks.
16. Ninety animals were vaccinated at the Tegur Cattle Farm (Dharwar
District) against black-quarter and one died of the disease afterwards.
Other disease.
Table IV.
17. The number of villages visited by 61 veterinary assistants was 3,301
against 3,132 by 54 last year. They treated 41,931 cases of
contagious disease and 10,724 non-contagious cases during