5
34. Bombay reports that no cases of Rinderpest occurred in that Presidency
during the year and that no case of the disease could be found, although every
enquiry has been made with the view of finding out whether it existed or
not.
35. Anthrax.—The returns (Table II) show only 33,317 deaths from this
disease in the whole of India and Burma during the year. I am afraid that with
our present system of registration the time has not yet arrived when we can gain
even an approximate idea regarding the prevalence of this disease in India. The
symptoms in cattle are obscure and in some cases diagnosis can only be certain
after a microscopical examination, so that if it be not diagnosed by a profes-
sional man and great care exercised, there is no certainty of the correctness of
the diagnosis. In the United Provinces, and Burma and, I think, most other
Provinces, villagers and headmen are unable to distinguish between Black
Quarter, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia and Anthrax, so that until a sufficiently
great number of Veterinary Assistants are available, we are left in doubt.
36. Eighty outbreaks were attended in all and 6,126 animals inoculated with
protective serum, with the result that the outbreaks ceased and only one death
occurred after inoculation. Only 48 outbreaks were attended last year but
6,385 animals were immunised. The mortality was 33 after inoculation.
37. Hæmorrhagic Septicœmia.—During the year a protective serum has been
prepared at the Laboratory and has proved efficient in laboratory experiments.
It has been recently issued to Superintendents for trial in the field, but so far no
reports have been received and no results can be recorded.
38. As before noted, the returns from some Provinces do not show the number
of deaths from this affection. Punjab records the greatest mortality—8,573, and
Central Provinces 689. The total deaths shown is 10,083. This does not re-
present anything like the number of deaths due to this malady which is very
common and fatal in most Provinces. It will be some years before any idea
can be formed of the approximate number of animals which die.
39. Black Quarter—Charbon Symptomatique.—The returns (Table II) of
deaths from this disease show a mortality of 9,590 of which 7,683 cases occurred
in Madras. The disease is a common one in most parts of India and these
figures do not I am sure show even approximately the mortality from it.
Rajputana and Sind show none and in the United Provinces and Burma the
deaths are included under Anthrax. In the Punjab, some attempt was made at
protective inoculation by the use of a well known prophylactic from the Conti-
nent on a small scale and was very successful. The method was popular
and applications were received from the zemindars in some districts for its use
but, in accordance with Government of India orders, it was discontinued until a
serum could be prepared at the Laboratory; this however has not yet been
found possible.
40. Foot and Mouth disease.—The reported deaths from this disease are 17,029,
of which 9,065 occurred in Burma and 3,460 in the United Provinces. The
disease is generally very widespread but the mortality is comparatively not very
great, animals excepting young calves usually only dying from complications.
The people seldom report it. In Burma, it is more serious than in the dry parts
of India. This is a disease in which medical treatment is of great value and
numbers of cattle can be saved by Veterinary Assistants.
41. Other contagious diseases are reported to have accounted for 47,681
deaths. Amongst these, United Provinces have included Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
and Black Quarter. Other very common diseases are Tick Plague (Pyrosoma
begeminum), Fluke disease (Distoma augusta), Pleuropneumonia Contagiosa
Tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis; but probably these figures do not represent
anything like the number of deaths due to these diseases. Tubercle and Tick
Plague are common enough diseases but deaths occurring in few cases at a time
attract but little attention and are not reported. I have every reason to believe
that Tuberculosis is widespread and causes very serious losses amongst cattle and
it is probable that Tick Plague and trypanosomiasis do so also.
42. It will be seen from Table IV, that 1,42,450 cases of contagious disease,
nature not specified, were treated by Veterinary Assistants on tour, of these 406
were in equines, 1,38,090 in Bovines and 3,954 in others.
B