20
Bijápur and Dhárwár. There were 1,866 attacks and 1,609 deaths as against
733 attacks and 623 deaths last year.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—Outbreaks
of this disease were reported from
all districts of the Presidency Proper, except Ahmednagar and Sholápur.
There were 2,254 attacks and 1,779 deaths as against 3,994 attacks and
3,292 deaths last year.
Foot and Mouth Disease.—Occurred
in 13 districts, including the City of
Bombay, viz., East Khándesh, Ahmednagar, Poona, Sátára, Belgaum, Kánara,
Ratnágiri, Kolába, Thána, Surat, Broach, Kaira and Panch Maháls. There were
5,394 attacks and 83 deaths as against 12,123 attacks and 79 deaths last year.
Deaths from this disease usually occur from starvation owing to animals not
being able to get about.
Rinderpest.—This disease made its appearance in the City of Bombay as
well as in all the districts of the Presidency with the exception of Bijápur.
There were 3,279 attacks and 1,810 deaths compared with 4,388 attacks and
2,249 deaths for the last year.
Rabies.—There were 50 cases reported by the Veterinary Assistants against
71 last year.
5. Table II gives 5,968 as total mortality among animals compared with
7,568 for the last year, showing a decrease of 1,600, but as previously
mentioned these figures cannot be relied on.
6. There has been a steady increase in the number of outbreaks of
contagious diseases attended by Veterinary Assistants. In all 813 outbreak
have been attended against 794 last year. Of these 160 were Rinderpest
14 Anthrax, 276 Foot and Mouth Disease, 171 Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
181 Black Quarter, and 11 Surra. The number of anti-rinderpest inoculations
performed this year amounted to 32,573 against 7,745 last year. Out of
160 outbreaks of rinderpest attended by Veterinary Assistants preventive
inoculations were carried out in 116. The large increase in preventive inocu-
lation work is due to the fact that every opportunity has been taken to try
and demonstrate to cattle owners the absence of danger and the ensured
success of this method of controlling and stamping out outbreaks of this disease.
During the year under report several cases have occurred of cattle owners
voluntarily applying to have their cattle protected.
7. During the year under report 360 smears were forwarded by Veteri-
nary Assistants for microscopical examination at the Bombay Veterinary
College, and I wish to record my thanks to the Principal and his Staff for the
help and advice which they have always been ready to give in connection
with this work. Thirty-seven specimens were sent to the College Museum.
(2) Other diseases.
8. On a reference to Table IV it will be seen that the Veterinary
Assistants treated 20,894 cases on tour, of which 12,048 were for contagious
diseases and 8,806 for non-contagious diseases against 21,416 cases last year,
of which 14,797 were for contagious diseases and the remainder 6,600 for
non-contagious diseases. There has been a decrease of 522 in the cases treated
on tour this year, but this is probably due to many districts being practically
denuded of their cattle owing to famine.
(3) Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries.
At the commencement of the year there were 40 Veterinary dispensaries
and three more were opened during the year, viz., (1) at Mancbar in the Poona
district, and (2) at Bársi and Pandharpur in the Sholápur district. Of these
the following, viz., Dhulia, Jalgaon, Nasik, Nagar, Poona City, Sholápur,
Sátára, Belgaum, Bijápur, Dhárwár, Ratnágiri, Alibág, Kalyán, Surat, Broach,
Godhra, Nadiád and Ahmedabad are 1st class dispensaries and the remainder,
viz., Nandurbár, Amalner, Sáwada, Yeola, Málegaon, Miri, Shrigonda, Bárámati,