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The most serious outbreak of rinderpest in the Madras Presidency was that
which occurred in the Bellary District. The disease has been present in this
part of the country for some years, but it was only since 1894 that the
epidemic began to assume serious proportions. In that year the reports stated
that 551 animals had succumbed to this disease. During the next year the
disease rapidly spread and became more virulent, and the number of deaths
increased from 551 in 1894 to 4,728 in 1895, and 9,593 in 1896. The disease
is said to have first broken out in epidemic form about January 1895, in the
Taluks of Kudligi and Hadagally, but from the reports received it would seem
that the disease had existed enzootically for some time previously. From a
perusal of the monthly statements of cattle mortality in the Bellary district,
it will be seen that the disease gradually became more virulent until October
1895, when the mortality reached over 1,000 a month. At the beginning of
1896 we find that the deaths increased to nearly 2,000. At this period the
disease assumed a most virulent type, and an examination of the return
above alluded to will show that the number of deaths in March, April, May
and June were 2,643, 2,880, 2,548, and 1,887, respectively, after which months
the epidemic gradually subsided. This table is most interesting as showing
the gradual extension and growth of virulency, month by month, until the
number of deaths had increased nearly tenfold. The average percentage of
deaths to the total number of animals attacked works out roughly to 57.6, but as
the number of deaths, and those of animals reported sick are not very accurately
reported, the figures above may be only considered to be approximate.
The Stock Inspector who was placed on special duty to make enquiries
regarding the outbreak of rinderpest in the Bellary District states, that so
far as he has been able to learn, the disease first appeared at the village of
Mylar in the Hadagally Taluk, and from there travelled to the Cusba
Harpanhally, and to Balligatti in the Kudligi Taluk about February 1895,
during which month cattle fairs are held at the villages of Mylar and Kurvatti,
which are within two miles of each other. In the Hospet Taluk the disease
first appeared in May 1895 among the cattle belonging to the villages of Gadi-
ganur and Kurkappi. Further enquiries showed that buffalo dealers from
the Mysore State come annually to purchase, and it was their custom to collect
their animals at a place called "Yelu Gudda" (seven hills) where excellent
pasturage is obtainable. Having finished their purchases, they drive the animals
in batches, and disperse by different routes. It is claimed that the spread of
rinderpest can be traced partly to the cattle fairs held near Mylar and partly
to these batches of cattle which have come from the Nizam's dominion. It is
stated that rinderpest was prevalent in the villages of Mylar previous to the
fair being held, and also after the cattle had dispersed, and that the disease had
affected cattle for a period of three months during this time. The Inspector
has therefore grounds for believing that, in all probability the disease spread
from this focus. It seems incomprehensible that the authorities should allow
a cattle fair to be held in a locality in which such a contagious disease as
rinderpest was known to be present. Another point in the Stock Inspector's
contention that the disease spread from Mylar is, that shortly after the cattle
dealers had passed along the different roads, it was found that cattle belonging
to villages situated on the road sides became affected, and that almost all the
villages along the roads in all four Taluks Hadagally, Kudligi, Hospet and
Harpanhelly were likewise infected.