151
In another district, however, namely, Pegu, the Deputy Commissioner writes that " there is a great deal of
prejudice against European medicines still to be overcome. The people see the value of segregation and are
willing to co-operate in making it thorough and effective."
It is sincerely hoped that the people of Pegu will continue to use every endeavour to make the rules effect-
ive; by so doing there will be less necessity to employ European or other drugs in the treatment of their
cattle.
The Deputy Commissioner of Bhamo, who gives an excellent report of the Veterinary Assistant, remarks
that the treatment prescribed for rinderpest was almost valueless. In an outbreak in which the Veterinary
Assistant treated a number of animals the mortality was high; whereas, in another outbreak where he was not
present to treat the sick, a large number of animals recovered. I regret to state that the Veterinary Assistant is
by no means singular with regard to his treatment of rinderpest not being very successful. The disease in the
first outbreak attended by the Veterinary Assistant was evidently of a most virulent type ; of 88 animals attacked
63 died. In the second outbreak I am of opinion that the large percentage of recoveries was undoubtedly due
to the fact that the disease was of a benign type. Such outbreaks occur occasionally.
668. I am glad to see that a commencement has been made to watch the
trade routes from China to prevent the introduction of cattle disease into
Burma from beyond the border. On this subject the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Burma, states:—
" Deputation of an Assistant to the Chinese Frontier.—With regard to the deputation of a Veterinary
Assistant to Wawchôn, volunteers were called for, and two men sent in their names, Maung Thet Tuen and
Maung Tun Lin. The services of the latter could not at the time be spared, so Maung Thet Tun was sent off
on the 6th December to Myitkyina, with orders to report himself to the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy
Commissioner at first ordered him to proceed to Wawchon, but as that place commands only one route from
China, and that a not much frequented one, he was ordered to Waingmaw where all the routes converge.
Cattle from China are mostly brought by a route which passes near Sima, to Kazu and Waingmow, and it
was on this road that the Assistant spent most of his time. He is reported to have been energetic. The
Deputy Commissioner received complaints from Chinese traders that he had stopped and detained their cattle.
This the Assistant had a right to do as they had had some deaths among their cattle. No disease was imported
this year."
The Deputy Commissioner recommends that—
"A Veterinary Assistant be sent every year to this district during the open season (December to May),
having his head-quarters at Waingmaw. The same man should, if possible, be sent every year as the people are
a strange lot and knowledge of their customs and also of the routes by which cattle are imported is essential to
good work.
"I fancy there will be great difficulty about getting the same man to go every season. There was little or
no competition for the appointment this year. The chance of work on the frontier amongst strange people does
not, I think, appeal to the ordinary Burman."
669. On this subject, Veterinary Major Brodie Mills states:—
Bombay
"Both rinderpest and foot and mouth disease have existed in the City, more especially during the latter
part of 1898 and the early months of 1899. The latter disease was of a most virulent type, and a few cases
made their appearance among the cattle of the Commissariat and Transport Department and the Gun Carriage
Factory; but prompt preventive measures were taken with the result that the disease made no headway; in
fact it never got beyond the animals that were primarily affected.
"In November 1898, I addressed the Municipal Commissioner for the City, pointing out that cases of
rinderpest were in existence, and recommending that a spot be selected for the isolation and treatment of cattle
suffering from the disease. This was not carried out for want of funds and for the reason that the treatment
of cattle diseases, which is alleged to be expensive, is not worth the cost because of the low price of cattle.
"As cattle disease still existed in March of this year, I again addressed the Municipal Commissioner,
drawing his attention to the fact and making certain recommendations and, I am glad to say, that a segregation
hospital has been established and systematic treatment is being carried out. A notification was also published
by the Commissioner under section 434 of the Bombay Municipal Act of 1888, embodying certain repressive
measures, but the Notification only included foot and mouth disease and not rinderpest, although the latter
disease existed at the same time.
"In this office letter No. 88-L. dated 16th March 1899, I asked, through Government, that the Municipal
Commissioner be requested to furnish a weekly report on Civil Veterinary Department Form 11 of all cattle
diseases existing in the City, and in their Resolution, General Department, No. 1459 dated 29th March 1899,
Government were pleased to sanction this arrangement."
670. Table M will show the districts from which outbreaks of disease have
been reported, and the following summary will give some idea of the mortality
The figures given below do not in any way represent the total number of deaths
as the system by which mortality amongst cattle is reported is in no way per-
fect, still they serve to show the percentage of deaths in outbreaks which were
reported to have been 36.27.
North Western Provinces . . . .
North Punjab . . . . . .
South Punjab . . . . . .
Sind . . . . . . .
Rajputana (Ajmere-Merwara) . . .
Berar . . . . . . .
Bombay . . . . . . .
Bengal . . . . . . .
TOTAL . .
Attacked.
70,107
35,501
54,802
4,013
3,792
16,310
4,284
1,09,183
1,97,962
Died.
21,421
4,496
4,596
384
262
8,748
1,262
31,150
71,819
Percentage of
deaths.
30.05
12.66
8.36
9.56
6.90
53.63
29.45
28.53