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learn whether these cases were amongst newly-imported horses, especially as
referring to the Australians.
512. Veterinary Major Mills brings to notice the insanitary condition of
some of the Arab dealers' stables. On this point, he states:—
"Many of the Arab dealers' stables are kept in an insanitary condition. The bane of these stables is the
system of catch-pits, which through ignorance and carelessless are allowed to become blocked, with the conse-
quence that the floors are saturated with urine and are offensive. The removal of refuse is not quick enough, and
large mounds of it in many of the stables can be frequently seen, which is not conducive to the health of the
horses standing there, or of their human inhabitants."
With his remarks I fully agree, and this important measure should receive
the attention of the Health Department.
BENGAL.
513. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal, states as
follows:—
" Since the 10th September 1877, the Bengal Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, VIII of 1880, has been in
force in Calcutta, and it has been extended to mêlas at Sonepur, Kalimpong and Berhampore during the fairs.
As Veterinary Assistants are gradually appointed in the mufassal, it will be feasible to recommend the extension
of the Act."
" It would be useful if reports were available in this office for submission to Government showing the working
of the Act. At present I can only report that 13 cases were diagnosed in the Bengal Veterinary Institution and
destroyed."
In future years it would be instructive to learn amongst what class of
horse this disease is discovered, and especially whether it is ever found amongst
Australians lately landed.
Loodhianah.
disease.
514. During the year under review, it was proposed to investigate this
disease, in order to determine its exact nature. This disease, characterised in
many instances by rapid swelling of the throat and high temperature, prevails
to a considerable extent amongst horses; and in low marshy districts is fre-
quently the cause of many deaths; the fact that horse-breeding has declined
so terribly in the district of Muzafargarh in the Punjab, is ascribed to the
prevalence of this disease. It is said to be Anthrax, but I cannot say that it
has been scientifically proved to be such. It is one of the most difficult
diseases to catch, as owing to the rapidity with which the disease runs its
course, and the difficulty and delay in receiving reports and proceeding to
the scene of the outbreak, it generally has ceased before an officer can arrive.
515. As, however, it now occasionally occurs amongst army horses in the
Punjab, and as cases are detected at once, it was proposed that Dr. Lingard
should investigate the disease, in order to arrive at some definite opinion as to
its nature. With this object in view, the Lieutenant-Generals Commanding
the Forces, Punjab, Bengal, Bombay and Madras, were addressed by the Mili-
tary Department, and the Local Governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal,
the North-Western Provinces and Oudh and the Punjab, also the Chief Com-
missioners, Central Provinces and Ajmere-Merwara, and the Resident at
Hyderabad, were addressed by the Revenue and Agricultural Department, and
were asked to report, by telegraph, direct to Dr. Lingard, the occurrence
of any serious outbreak of either so called Loodhianah disease or Anthrax.
516. Owing, however, to that officer proceeding on leave to England, no
action has as yet been taken, and I fear that as his time will now be so fully
occupied with his investigations regarding Rinderpest, but little will be avail-
able for investigations in this direction, still the question is one so full of
interest to the Military authorities, as well as to the zemindars, who lose large
numbers of cattle annually from so called Anthrax, that the sooner the nature
of the disease is defined, the better it will be.
517. And, in connection with this question, it was proposed by the pro-
moters of the " Pasteur Institute of India," which we soon hope to see estab-
lished in this country, to prepare anthrax vaccine. It was, however, submit-
ted for the consideration of the Government of India that the diseases which
are returned as Anthrax are numerous, and, as stated by the Assistant to the
Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, the majority of cases