3
The Mobile Corps was working mostly in Gōdāvari district till the middle of
October when, owing to the severity of rinderpest in Guntūr and Kistna, the corps
was distributed in these two districts, providing at the same time three additional men
for Gōdāvari district. Additional Veterinary Assistants were also working during
the year in Bellary, South Kanara, Cuddapah, Nellore, Kistna, Guntūr, Chingleput and
Salem.
Anthrax.—This disease accounted for 7,900 deaths against 7,497 in the previous
year. Guntūr and Kistna returned the largest number of deaths.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—Eight thousand six hundred and thirty-five animals
were reported to have succumbed to this disease, the figures for the previous year
being 4,951. The highest mortality was in Guntūr. 7,238 inoculations were per
formed against this disease in Gōdāvari, Kistna and Nellore.
Black quarter.— This disease caused 6,927 deaths against 4,419 during 1915-
16. Chittoor returned the largest number.
Foot and mouth disease.—Two thousand six hundred and thirty-seven animals were
reported to have died of this disease against 1,199 in the previous year. The largest
mortality was in Malabar and Madura.
(ii) Other diseases.—The total number of cases treated by veterinary inspectors
and touring assistants was 21,660 against 17,546 in 1915-1916. The number of
castrations performed by the touring agency was 3,429 against 4,349 in the previous
year. The number performed at veterinary institutions was 816 against 1,505 shown
in the last report. The least work was done in Anantapur.
(iii) Hospitals and dispensaries.—During the year a new hospital was opened at
Mangalore and a dispensary at Madanapalle. Cuddapah is the only district which has
no veterinary institution of any kind and Government have recently been requested
to sanction the opening of a dispensary at the headquarters of the district.
The District Board, Kistna, has under consideration the opening of a veteri
nary hospital in the district. Arrangements are being made at the instance of the
Court of Wards to establish hospitals at Veerakeralampudur (Uttumalai estate),
Kuppam (Kangundi estate) and Valluru (Kistna district) at the cost of the estates
concerned.
Table V shows that a good amount of work was done at the Veterinary hospitals
at Rajahmundry and Berhampur and the Veterinary dispensary at Tinnevelly,
and the question of appointing an additional Veterinary Assistant to each of these
institutions will be considered next year. There was a decrease in the number of
cases treated at the hospitals at Saidapet, Cocanada, Sivagiri and the dispensary at
Srīvilliputtūr. The work done at the hospitals at Madura, Vizagapatam, Pithapuram,
Bellary and Tiruvannāmalai and the Veterinary dispensary at Tinnevelly was more or
less the same as in 1915-16. The remaining institutions show an increase of work
over the previous year. The hospitals at Erode, Salem and Hindupur have made a
very good start. The falling off in attendance at the Veterinary Hospital, Saidapet, is
attributed to the introduction of admission fees.
Cattle quarantine depot, Tuticorin.—During the year 7,721 heads of cattle and
72,977 sheep and goats were passed for shipment to Colombo against 9,644 and 74,570
respectively the previous year. The decrease was due to the curtailment of steamer
service. The depot continued to be at Tattaparai till 26th January 1917 when it was
shifted to Tuticorin as, owing to the shortage of water and the reduction in the
service of trains, it was found impossible to retain the depot any longer at Tattaparai.
There were 39 cases of foot and mouth disease but no deaths. Six cattle and 12
sheep and goats died of anthrax in the depot during the year.
Arrangements were in progress for the construction of buildings at Tuticorin
for the depot but just at that time the Ceylon Government expressed their intention
to quarantine all animals at their port and desired that no further expenditure should
be incurred at Tuticorin on their behalf. They however want the present arrange
ments to continue until accommodation is provided in Ceylon for quarantining. As no
expenditure should be incurred hereafter the dealers have been allowed to make their
own arrangements for housing their animals as they were doing prior to 1911.