2
7. The newly appointed Veterinary Assistants were given practical
instructions in field work as well as in office routine before being sent out to
districts.
Part ll.—Treatment of Diseases.
8. Contagious diseases.—Table II shows the number of deaths from
contagious diseases. The total number of deaths reported during the year was
14,898 as against 15,569 in the last year and 26,486 in 1917-18. Too much
importance should not be attached to the improvement shown from a
comparison of the above figures in the general mortality.
9. Improvement does exist but only in so far that more outbreaks were
attended with fewer deaths resulting.
10. The police reports of deaths (included in the statement) can only
be recognised as more or less complete records of cases brought to their
notice, excluding the many hundreds, which it. is quite feasible to presume,
die unheard of.
11. I mention this fact as a safeguard to future comparisons as I feel
sure that since a more complete cadre will tend to make* more extensive and
possibly more authentic the records, these figures are bound to vacillate
greatly in years to come.
Equines.
12. Glanders.—Seven deaths under this head occurred as against 17 in
the previous year. Of these three occurred in Dinajpore, one in Serampore
(Hooghly) and three in the Sodopur Pinjrapole. The rest of the province
was apparently free from this disease. Compensation was, as usual, paid
to horse-owners for the compulsory destruction of their animals, the total
sum awarded being Rs. 67-8 for three animals.
13. Anthrax, surra and dourine.—No deaths were reported under these
heads.
14. Other diseases.—The number of deaths under this head was 51
against 36 in the previous year. Of these 43 occurred in the district of
Darjeeling, but no details thereof are available.
Bovines.
15. Rinderpest.—Was prevalent more or less in all the districts and
caused 12,178 deaths against 10,772 in the year previous. There was thus an
increase of 1,465 deaths probably due to heavy outbreaks in the Tippera
district where 5,879 animals were protected from the disease by inoculation.
The number of deaths could of coarse have been reduced if outbreaks had
been reported earlier.
16. Foot and mouth.—The loss under this head was comparatively
small, being 227 against 360 in the previous year.
17. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The mortality under this head was
1.804 against 1,255 in the previous year. The outbreaks were rather severe
in the district of Dacca where 448 deaths were recorded as against 91 in the
previous year.
18. Black-quarter.—Only two deaths were recorded against nil in the
previous year.
19. Anthrax.—This disease is reported to have occurred in six districts,
causing 88 deaths as against 2,555 in the previous year. The mortality last
year (1918-19), it may be noted, was due to heavy outbreaks in the Sundar-
bans of 24-Parganas district where 2.543 animals died of this disease.
20. Other contagious diseases.—The number of deaths amongst cattle
from other contagious diseases was reported to be 345 against 292 in the
previous year, but no details thereof are available.
21. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—These include such
diseases as rabies and distemper in Canines, fowl cholera, swine plague, etc.
In all 196 deaths occurred against 277 in the previous year.