NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
14
were also noticed. At first it was suspected that these were vermicules
liberated from the red cells of the rat; but a cursory examination of the
rat's blood shewed that, if present, parasites were scanty. It was also observed,
that the active vermicules were present only in the neighbourhood of the
ruptured cyst, and that they were distinctly larger than vermicules ordinarily
seen in rat's blood.
Soon nearly all the liberated forms were seen to be exhibiting move-
ments. The movements were not progressive, but consisted of a wriggling
motion somewhat like that of the larvæ of blow-flies. Forms here and there
were then noticed to he rotating one or more blood corpuscles, apparently
by means of an invisible projection from the tail. This movement was so
curious and significant, that the hope of some development in plasma was
raised. The preparation was placed in the incubator at 37° for an hour. The
bodies had all become quiescent, except one, which was rotating upon its own
axis at considerable speed. The preparation was again placed in the incubator
for an hour. On examination, it was found that the form just noted had also
become quiescent, but that it had changed somewhat in shape so as to
become egg-shaped with rather truncated ends. The forms still included in the
cysts were apparently unchanged. With a view to liberate more of these, the
coverglass was compressed with a needle. By this means most of the cysts were
ruptured, and the contained forms set free. Almost all the forms so liberated
and many of those lying in partially ruptured cysts, at once began to exhibit
the most active movements. It was then noted that the majority of the forms
were going through the same extraordinary feat of rapidly rotating one or more
red cells by means of their narrow extremity. The corpuscles, in many cases,
were put in rotation whilst still separated by a distinct interval from the point
of the parasite. Very often no movement of the parasite was seen, but in some
cases the narrow extremity moved in a circular manner. As the process con-
tinued, the corpuscles became aggregated in masses of ten or twenty, the whole
mass being rotated in some cases. In others the body of the parasite itself
rotated, using the blood cells as a fixed point. For an hour the field of the
microscope was filled with forms revolving upon their axis or causing red
cells to revolve. The preparation was again placed in the incubator and not
examined until next morning. All forms were then motionless, but had in most
cases taken on the egg-shaped form already noted. A certain number of
bodies had retained their original sausage shape. From the position of some of
these, it appeared probable that they were forms which had failed to exhibit the
movement of rotation. A stained specimen, made from this preparation, shewed
oval forms, having a light reticular protoplasm and a central lightly staining
chromatin mass. The constriction previously noted was no longer present, and
15
the appearance of the bodies was much changed. The forms measured in the
fresh state 9.5µ in length and 5.5μ in breadth.
CONCLUSIONS.
So far as I am aware a hæmogregarine parasite has not been observed
previously in either a bird or a mammal. The only mammalian parasite, which
may possibly come under this designation, is that recently described by Captain
James 1 and Dr. Bentley 2. Except that this parasite appears to invade the
polymorphonuclear leucocytes, there are some points of general resemblance
between it and the parasite now under discussion. In the parasite of the field rat,
the resemblance to a hæmogregarine, in every respect, is exact. The absence of
pigment, the vermicule form, the curved "tail," the presence of a space in which
the parasite lies, the occurrence of motile forms and their behaviour are all features
characteristic of the group. The only appreciable difference between this form
and typical members of the genus is due to the absence of a nucleus in the red
cell of the host.
I have provisionally named the parasite Hæmogregarina gerbilli.*
The method of increase in the blood is not very clear. The only method
of multiplication, of which any evidence was obtained, was longitudinal fission.
Forms younger than the attenuated form of vermicule, if present, must be
very rare. The absence of appearances shewing how the red cells are invaded
and the early stages of invasion, is also very remarkable. The existence of
multiplication forms in the intestinal epithelium is doubtful. As regards the
forms seen in the louse. I have no doubt that they are extra-corporeal stages
of Hæmogregarina gerbilli. This is of interest since although the transmission
of many protozoa by biting insects has been demonstrated by experiment, the
only instance, of which we have actual knowledge of the stages gone through in
the carrier, is that relating to the developmental stages of certain parasites in
the mosquito. The effect of intestinal secretion upon the sporozoits does not
suggest ingestion by the mouth as a probable method of infection ; but the
extraordinary behaviour of the sporozoits in freshly drawn blood of the rat is, on
the other hand, very significant. Further dissection of lice, kept for longer
periods on infected rats may throw light on the method by which the sporozoits
gain entrance to the blood.
* M. Laveran has very kindly given me his opinion upon the nature of this parasite. He writes as
follows:— "Comme vous me l' eerives, il ne parait pas douteux que ces hématosoaires nouveaux doivent etr
e rangés parmi les hémogrègariens."
PAPERS REFERRED TO IN THE TEXT.
1 On a parasite found in the white corpuscles of the blood of dogs. By Captain S. P. James,
I.M.S. Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the Government of India
New Series, No. 14, March 1905.
2 Preliminary note upon a leucocytozoan of the dog. By C. A. Bentley, M.B., D. T. M. H. Cantab.
D.P.H., British Medical Journal, May 6th, 1905, page 988.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE.
Figure 1.—Forms seen in fresh preparations of the peripheral blood.
Figure 2.—Forms seen in films stained by Romanowski's stain.
Figure 3.—Oval form due to position adopted by a mature vermicule. The nucleus
shews transverse bands of chromatin.
Figure 4.—Longitudinal fission form.
Figure 5.—Forms possibly arising from an act of longitudinal fission.
Figure 6.—Imperfectly stained form, shewing similarity to malignant tertian crescent.
Figure 7.—Vermicules in fresh blood preparation.
Figure 8.—Vermicules stained by Romanowski's stain.
Figure 9.—Vermicules in contents of mid-grit of louse. A single field.
Figure 10.—Dissection shewing alimentary canal of louse and contained vermicules.
Figure 11.—Pyloric ampulla containing numerous vermicule forms. Fresh prepara-
tion.
Figures 12 and 13.—Young forms of cyst.
Figure 14.—Form shewing clear outer area and granular contents.
Figure 15.—Fully matured cyst.
Figure 16.—Zygotes containing sporozoits.
Figure 17.—Zygotes in process of development.
Figure 18.—Sporozoits in normal saline.
Figure 19.—Sporozoits; stained preparation.
Figure 20.—Adult louse shewing a single fully matured cyst in abdomen.
No.18.
(NEW SERIES.)
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND SANITARY DEPARTMENTS
OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
HÆMOGREGARINA GERBILLI.
BY
LIEUT. S. R. CHRISTOPHERS.:,M. B. I..:M..S.
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BY THE SANITARY COMMISSIONER WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SIMLA
CALCUTTA OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA.
1905.
Price Annas 10 or 1s..
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR.
1898-99.
No. 198—216 R. & A.
FROM
VETERINARY-COLONEL A. E. QUERIPEL,
INSPECTOR-GENERAL, CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT,
To
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND AGRICULTURE,
SIMLA.
Dated Simla, the 9th August 1899.
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to submit, for the information of the Government of
India, the Annual Administration Report of the Civil Veterinary Department,
for the official year 1898-99.
I have the honour to he,
SIR,
Tour most obedient Servant,
A. E. QUERIPEL, Vety. Col.,
Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1898-99.
CONTENTS.
PART I.—IMPERIAL REPORT.
A.—MILITARY SECTION.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING—
(1) Government horse stallions—
Number of stallions
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Received during the year
.
.
.
.
.
.
Casualties . . . . . . . . . .
Sales . . . . . . . . . . .
Remarks on classes of stallions—
English stallions
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thoroughbred Australian stallions
.
.
.
.
.
.
Arab stallions .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hackney stallions
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Transit of horses from England and of donkeys from the Continent .
Removal of the Punjab Stallion Depot to Abbottabad . . .
Transfer of horse and mule-breeding in Sind from Provincial to
Imperial control .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Number of stallions at stud work
.
.
.
.
.
.
Average number of mares covered per stallion
.
.
.
.
Maps . . . . . . . . . . .
Demand for stallions .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Stallions which produce the most suitable stock for the Army . .
(2) Remounts—Country-bred—
Number purchased .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Endeavours made to bring Remount Agents and breeders together
Reports by Officers Commanding British Cavalry Regiments as to
the class of stallions which produce stock most suitable for Army
purposes . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase of young stock by Officers of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment . . . . . . . . . .
II.—MULE-BREEDING—
(1) Government donkey stallions—
Number of stallions .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Casualties and sales .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Number of donkey stallions at stud work
.
.
.
.
.
Average number of mares covered per donkey stallion employed . .
Demand for donkey stallions
.
.
.
.
. . .
PAGES.
1
ib.
ib.
ib.
2
ib.
4
5
6
ib.
ib.
8
ib.
9
ib.
10
11
13
14
15
19
ib.
ib.
ib.
20
ii
II.—MULE-BREEDING—continued.
Supply of donkey stallions .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Donkey stallions to be handed over to Lambardars for the encourage-
ment of mule-breeding .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Number of mules purchased by Government
.
.
.
.
.
Supply of mules in India .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Capabilities of Cyprus as a mule-supplying centre .
.
.
.
III.—TABLES (MILITARY SECTION) . . . . .
B.—REVENUE SECTION.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING—
(1) Government horse stallions—
Cost of feed and keep
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Branded mares-
Number present
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Certificates granted by District Officers to allow unbranded mares to
be covered .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Elimination of old and useless mares from the Registers . . .
Mares cast from Mounted Corps to be utilized for horse-breeding .
Number of mares covered by Government horse stallions . . .
(3) Produce—
Number of produce foaled, showing averages to mares covered and
stallions employed .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Verification of Statistical Returns
.
.
.
.
.
(4) Castration .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
II.—MULE-BREEDING—
(1) Government donkey stallions—
Cost of feed and keep
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Pony and donkey mares—
Number served by Government donkey stallions
.
.
.
(3) Produce-
Number of mule stock foaled
.
.
.
.
.
.
III.—HOUSE FAIRS AND SHOWS—
Review on Horse Fairs and Shows during 1898-99 .
.
.
Reviews on Horse Shows in N.-W. Provinces
Ditto
Punjab
.
.
.
.
.
Ditto
Baluchistan
.
.
.
.
Ditto
Sind
.
.
.
.
.
Ditto
Rajputana
.
.
.
. .
Ditto
Tirhoot
.
.
.
.
Ditto
Bengal . . . . . . .
Ditto
Bombay Presidency
Ditto
Madras
„
.
.
.
.
Amount awarded as prizes at Horse Shows .
.
.
.
Special Judging Committees
.
.
.
.
.
.
Summary of Horse Fairs and Shows
.
.
.
.
.
Stallions whose produce won prizes
.
.
.
.
.
IV.—INSTRUCTION FARM—
(1) N.-W. P. Farm
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Punjab Farm
(3) Balance sheet of cultivation operations
.
.
.
.
.
PAGES.
21
25
26
ib.
30
i to xxxv
33
ib.
34
35
ib.
36
37
ib.
38
41
ib.
ib.
45
ib.
48
60
64
69
ib.
ib.
ib.
70
ib.
71
ib.
73
77
80
ib.
iii
IV.—INSTRUCTION FARM—continued.
(4) Return of Farm stock
.
.
.
.
.
. . .
(5) Casualties .
.
.
.
.
. .
(6) Sales
.
.
.
.
.
V.—BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY—
(1) Bacteriological Laboratory
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Summary of experiments on Rinderpest carried out during 1898-99
V (A)—EQUINE DISEASES—
(1) Glanders and Farcy
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Reports to be submitted by Civil Officers to Military Authorities and
vice versâ on the appearance of contagious disease .
.
.
. .
(8) Extension of the Glanders and Farcy Act to the N.-W. Provinces . . . . .
(4) Glanders and Farcy in—
N.-W. Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal
.
.
.
.
.
Bombay
.
.
.
.
(5) Surra in Bombay
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(6) Inspection of Dâk Lines—
Saharunpore-Rajpur Dâk Line
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kathgodam-Naini Tal Dâk Line .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Simla-Kalka Dâk Line
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rawalpindi, Murree and Kashmir Dâk Lines .
.
.
.
.
Patbankot, Dharmsala and Dunera Lines
.
.
.
.
.
Pipavia and Pachmari Lines . . . . .
VI.—GENERAL—
(1) Cost of the Department .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Tours of Imperial Officers—
Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department
.
.
. .
. .
Assistant to the Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department
Imperial Bacteriologist
.
.
.
.
.
.
(3) Personnel of the Department
.
.
.
.
.
(4) General Remarks—
Horse and mule-breeding in Ajmere
.
.
.
.
. .
.
Pony and mule-breeding in Central Provinces
.
. . .
Horse and mule-breeding in Central India
.
.
.
.
.
Mule-breeding in Kurrum .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mule-breeding in Sikkim .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Trial of Veterinary preparations .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Collection of samples of horse and bullock shoes and instruments used
by Nalbunds in different parts of India
.
.
.
.
.
(5) Publications—
Translation of Williams' Medicine and Surgery into Urdu
Lectures in Urdu delivered by Veterinary-Captain Pease at the Lahore
Veterinary College .
.
.
.
.
Veterinary Quarterly Journal in Urdu by Veterinary-Captain Pease .
Manual of cattle diseases by Syud Sardar Shah Gilani . . . .
Pamphlet in Sindhi by Asudamal, Veterinary Assistant, Hyderabad .
Special Veterinary Series of the Agricultural Ledger
(6) Horse and mule-breeding in Native States .
.
.
.
.
.
VII.—TABLES (REVENUE SECTION) . . . . .
PAGES.
80
ib.
ib.
88
84
91
ib.
ib.
93
ib.
ib.
ib.
94
ib.
95
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
99
ib.
105
ib.
106
108
ib.
ib.
109
ib.
ib.
ib.
110
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
111
xxxvi to lxvii
iv
PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.
I.—HORSE-BBEEDING—
(1) Horse and pony stallions belonging to District Boards, etc. . .
.
Casualties
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sales
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Demand for Provincial and District Board stallions . . . .
Number of stallions at stud work and number of mares covered
Cost of feed and keep and how defrayed
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Produce
.
.
.
.
.
.
(3) Colts castrated
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(4) Discontinuance of Table
F
.
.
.
.
.
(5) Pony and mule-breeding in Burma .
.
.
.
.
.
.
(6) Pony and mule-breeding in Madras .
.
.
.
.
.
.
(7) Pony and mule-breeding in Bengal
.
.
.
.
II.—MULE-BREEDING—
(1) Donkey stallions belonging to District Boards, etc.
.
.
.
.
Cost of feed and keep of district donkey stallions .
.
.
.
Demand for donkey stallions
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
III.—CATTLE DISEASES—INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION—
(1) Rinderpest experiments .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Experiments with hides and bones of animals that have died from Rinder-
pest
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(3) Tick Fever
.
.
.
.
.
.
(4) Rabies
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(5) Warbles . . . . . .
(6) Tuberculosis
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(7) Cattle disease as reported from various Provinces—
N. W. Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab (Northern Circle) .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab (Southern Circle) .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Baluchistan
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sind
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Reports of cattle disease in Baluchistan and Sind .
.
.
.
Madras .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Assam .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Burma .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bombay .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(8) Veterinary Dispensaries—
Bengal .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bombay .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Central Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Berar
.
.
.
. . . . .
N. W. Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(9) Veterinary Assistants
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Burma .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Berar
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Central Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
N. W. Provinces . . . . . .
Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
PAGES.
119
ib.
ib.
ib.
120
121
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
122
123
127
ib.
ib.
131
184
136
138
139
143
144
145
ib.
146
ib.
ib.
147
148
149
151
152
ib.
153
154
ib.
155
ib.
ib.
156
157
ib.
ib.
ib.
V
IV.—CATTLE-BREEDING, ETC.—
(1) Introductory remarks
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
N.-W. Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bombay .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2) Cattle Fairs and Shows—
Baluchistan
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
N.-W. Provinces
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
V.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTION—
(1) Veterinary Colleges and Schools
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal Veterinary College .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bombay Veterinary College
.
.
.
.
.
.
Lahore Veterinary School .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rajputana Veterinary School
.
.
.
.
.
.
Burma Veterinary School .
.
.
.
.
.
.
(2)
Remarks
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
VI.—TOURS OF SUPERINTENDENTS— . . . . . . .
VII.—GENERAL—
(1) Provincial cost of the Department .
.
.
.
.
. .
(2) General remarks—
Horse-breeding, etc. (Imperial) .
.
.
.
.
. .
Ditto
(Provincial) .
.
.
.
.
. .
(3) Conclusion .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
VIII.—TABLES (PROVINCIAL)— . . . . . . .
PAGES
161
162
ib.
163
ib.
165
ib.
166
ib.
171
ib.
172
173
175
176
177
181
185
ib.
.
186
ib.
lxxi to cxii
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR, THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1898-99.
PART I.-IMPERIAL REPORT.
A.—MILITAEY SECTION.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT IN INDIA
FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR
1898-99.
PART I-IMPERIAL REPORT.
A.—MILITARY SECTION.
I.—HORSE-BREEDING.
Stallions. Number
of.—
As will be seen by Table I, the number of stallions present at the com-
mencement of the year was 383. Fifty were added, and 43 were struck off
the register, leaving a balance on 31st March 1899 of 390. Of this number,
46 were undergoing acclimatization and were unallotted. Of the remainder—
78
97
85
40
15
1
28
were
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„
„
employed
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in North-Western Provinces;
in North Punjab;
in South Punjab;
in Baluchistan;
in Sind;
in Rajputana; and
in Bombay, including Deccan, Guzerat and Cutch.
Received during
the year.
2. Thirteen stallions were received by importation from England, nine were
imported by Messrs. Krcrouse and Madden from Australia, three Australians
were purchased in India, and 21 Arabs were also bought by me. Of the nine
imported by Messrs. Krcrouse and Madden, one was a Thoroughbred English,
having been imported into Australia as a yearling.
Casualties.
3. As will be seen by reference to Table II, nine stallions died during the
year under review, giving a percentage of 2.31. This compares most favor-
ably with last year when 17 deaths occurred, giving a percentage of 4.40.
Were it not for cases of abdominal disease, the death-rate would be but
trifling. Only one case of contagious or infectious disease occurred during
the year, this being a case of Anthrax. The Department unfortunately lost
the services of two excellent horses through death, viz., Thoroughbred English
stallions "Thessalian" and "Devoue".
4. Twenty-one horses were destroyed against 12 last year. Of these, 12
were destroyed as being old and worn out, 6 for incurable disease, and 3 as
being bad foal-getters.
5. The total number of horses that died or were destroyed was 30, or one
more than last year.
Sales.
6. Twelve horses were sold during the year (vide Table III) against 14 i
last year. Thus the total casualties from death, destruction or sale amounted
to 42 against 43 in 1897-98.
B
15
Purchase of young
stock by Officers
of the Civil Veteri-
nary Department.
82. With a view of endeavouring to avoid the constant references made
by Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department, to the fact that more stock
might have been purchased by Officers of the Army Remount Department at
Horse Shows, it was decided, on the recommendation of the Director of the
latter Department, that officers of this Department should purchase one head
of stock that had been rejected at any Fair, this one to act as a sample of
what might have been obtained. I feared from the onset that this scheme
would not work; however, as the Director was anxious to give it a trial, I
issued the necessary orders, but failure has resulted, and only one head of
stock was so bought. The reason of the failure is that, although the
Superintendents can select suitable stock, still, with the multifarious duties
which they have to perform at Fairs, they have not the time to spare to effect
a bargain; and again, as represented to me by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Baluchistan and Sind, they must wait until the
Remount Officer has concluded his purchases, otherwise they would be enter-
ing into competition with him, and by this time the young stock has been
removed from the Fair.
PART I.-IMPERIAL REPORT.
A.—MILITARY SECTION.
II.—MULE BREEDING.
19
PART I.-IMPERIAL REPORT.
A.—MILITARY SECTION.
II.—MULE BREEDING.
Donkey stallions.
Number of—
83. The number of donkey stallions at the commencement of the year
was 392 (vide Table I). Sixty-two were received by importation, viz., 11
Catalonians and 51 Cyprians. Seven were purchased in India, viz., 4 Arabs
and 3 country-breds.
Casualties and
Sales.
84. Of the total of 62 donkey stallions struck off the Register, 12 died, 41
were destroyed (vide Table VII), and 6 were sold (vide Table VIII). The
death-rate was approximately what it was last year, but the number of de-
structions was double. Nearly all that were destroyed were very old animals
quite unfit for work.
Number of donkey
stallions at stud
work.
85. Table IX will show the number of donkeys at stud work to have been
as follows:—
North-Western Provinces, 93 out of 124. Of these, however, 26 were
unallotted and being acclimatized.
North Punjab, 115 out of 133.
South Punjab, 79 out of 116. Of these latter, however, 23 were un-
allotted.
Sindh, 20 out of 26 on the Register.
Baluchistan, 4 out of 4 on the Register.
The relative numbers therefore are—
North-Western
Provinces...
North Punjab.....
South
Punjab.....
Sind
......
Baluchistan.....
93 out of 98 on the Register.
115
79
20
4
311
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133
93
26
4
354
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The proportion actually employed is relatively much greater than last year.
This points to a lesser number having been on the sick list.
Average number of
mares covered per
donkey stallion
employed.
86. The average number of mares covered per donkey stallion employed
compared with last year, is as follows:—
North-Western Provinces.
North Punjab...
South Punjab...
Baluchistan...
Sind...
Central India...
Deccan
....
Guzerat ....
1897-98.
Pony mares.
41.5
76.06
67.19
27.29
29.82
29.00
6.38
20.00
Donkey mares.
25.0
60.71
46.33
12.00
...
...
...
...
1898-99.
Pony mares.
47.5
79.87
68.24
27.89
39.73
30.00
26.82
17.07
Donkey mares.
33.87
70.46
38.46
...
...
...
...
...
87. A great increase in the percentages is noticeable in all the larger
breeding districts, especially in North Punjab; but the average is undoubtedly
too high. There is no doubt that the country has great recuperative powers,
for it has recovered in a most marked manner from the drain it received during
the Tirah expedition and from the results of famine.
88. We can best judge of the success of our operations by watching the
D2
PART I.-IMPERIAL REPORT.
B.-REVENUE SECTION.
I.—HORSE BREEDING.