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522. Owing to a severe outbreak of Glanders in Bengal, the provisions of
the Act were extended to the districts of Saran, Champaran, and Muzaffarpur;
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, and his Veterinary Assistant
being appointed Inspectors and Veterinary Practitioners under Sections 4 and 7.
OUTBREAKS REPORTED DURING THE YEAR.
North-Western Provinces,
523. If we except the Saharunpore Road on which the dak horses belonging
to native firms are a positive disgrace, these Provinces have been particularly free
from Glanders.
On the Saharunpore line, cases were discovered at:—
Arora 9½ miles from Saharunpore.
Assarori...6 miles from Dehra.
Body Guard Stage.
In addition to these cases, one horse was discovered at the village of Gandusars
on this road. All cases were immediately destroyed.
524. A pony presented for purchase to the Chief Commissariat Officer at
Agra was discovered to be affected, and was destroyed. This case was not reported
until some days after it was destroyed; this is to be regretted as it might have
been possible to trace from whence he came.
525. Although no report has reached me, I am informed that the British
Cavalry Regiment at Lucknow has suffered severely from Glanders. This can,
however, in no way be attributable to any contact with diseased animals from
outside, as the disease would appear to be enzootic.
Punjab.
526. Glanders was reported from 4 centres only in this Province during
the year under review, viz:—
527. At Amritsar. An Ekka proprietor brought his pony to the Dispensary
for treatment. He did not endeavour to conceal anything, but stated that he had
treated the pony for 26 days, dressing the wounds in the nostrils regularly. The
pony died soon after admission. When we consider the facts of this case, it is
only to be wondered at that Glanders is not much more prevalent than it is.
528. At Rawalpindi. One pony, also the property of an Ekkawalla
was discovered to be affected, and was destroyed.
529. Sialkote district, village Pasrur. A pony that had been ordered to
be isolated by the Veterinary Assistant in the Gurdaspur district was actually
marched to another District, when it was discovered; it was immediately destroyed.
The Lambardar, under whose care the pony was placed, appears to have connived
at the removal of the pony. The case was reported to the Local Government.
530. At Lahore. A case of Farcy developed in the Lahore Veterinary
College Hospital, and was destroyed. No history of the case can be obtained as
the pony was the property of an Officer who had left the country.
Central Provinces.
531. A most serious outbreak was reported as having occurred in the
months of August and September 1896, on Piparia-Pachmari dak line, from
which 56 horses died, but no reports were received from the Police Sergeant
who inspects the dak line twice a month. It is very hard at this distance of
time to assert that all these deaths were attributable to Glanders, nor do I think
they can have been, still, the symptoms described in some cases were undoubtedly
those indicative of this disease. The point, however, is that we had a serious
outbreak of some contagious disease on a line much frequented by Officers'
ponies, and that no report on same was made, neither was the matter reported
to the Military Authorities as required by Government of India orders. I,
therefore, made certain suggestions to the Chief Commissioner, Central Provinces,
for the inspection of all dak lines by a trained Veterinary Assistant which will
ensure the existence of any contagious disease being brought to the notice of
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, and through him to the
authorities concerned.