6
16 deaths all the animals at the Farm were inoculated against hæmorrhagic
septicæmia. The organism of this disease was found in the heart blood of some of
the sheep after death. Investigations on the disease are still in progress.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
33. Forest Department.—In 1920 the mortality among the newly-captared
elephants and those in working condition was serious and at the request of the Chief
Conservator of Forests, suggestions were offered by the Superintendent to prevent
such heavy mortality in future.
39. Police.—The staff of this department held post-mortem examination on 55
cases of suspected criminal poisoning as against 46 in the previous year. In 32 cases
viscera, etc., were sent to the Chemical Examiner for report, and poison was detected
in eight of them. The staff also examined 139 animals for malicious injury and gave
evidence when called upon to do so.
40. The Chemical Examiner, Madras, dealt with 64: cases of suspected criminal
poisoning in animals during the year and detected poison in 30 of them. Guntūr
supplied the largest number of oases, 11 proving positive. The chief poisons detected
were yellow oleander and arsenic in some form or other.
41. Ninety-one prosecutions were made for criminal poisoning and in 26 of
them convictions were obtained.
42. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.—3,256 convictions were
obtained under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in this Presidency exclu
ding the Madras City, but only in 659 cases the animals concerned wore sent to
veterinary infirmaries for treatment. The figures for the previous year were 3,549
and 1,035 respectively. It is obvious from these figures that the convicting magis
trates have shown greater disinclination than in the past year to order the animals to
be treated in a veterinary institution.
43. Cattle Quaranine Depot.—The Ceylon Government decided on the abolition
of the system of quarantining animals intended for export to Ceylon under the super
vision of a Veterinary Inspector of this department and decided to employ an
Inspector of their own at Tuticorin. In accordance with this decision the temporary
depot which was under the control of this Department was abolished on the 1th
July 1920.
44. Meal inspection.—This was being carried out by an officer of this Depart
ment in the following towns:—Cuddalore,Coonoor, Calicut, Trichinopoly, Erode,
Coimbatore, Adōni, Kampet, Parlākimedi, Guntūr, Palghat, Nellore, Tiruvālūr,
Tanjore, Madanapalle, Kumbakōnam, Hospet and Salem. In the last seven places
Veterinary Assistants were employed to do this work during the year under report.
The Salem Municipality had removed this work from the Veterinary Assistant in the
preceding year, but re-employed him during 1920-21.
45. Fairs and Shows.—The Cattle and Pony Show at Tiruppur was not held in
1920 as rinderpest and plague were prevailing in the district. A few annual and
weekly cattle fairs in other places were recommended to be closed on account of
rinderpest. The biennial cattle show at Ongole, which was held the last time in
February 1918, has not since been held. The reason for this is net known.
46. The Cattle Disease Act was enforced at all important annual cattle fairs as
usual. To stop the prevalence of rinderpest the Act was also put in force in the
Nilgiris throughout the year, in the Conjeeveram taluk of Chingleput district for
three months, and in Bukkapatnam town of Anantapur district for about a month.
47. Sections 6 and 15 of the Cattle Disease Act make it obligatory on the
keeper of the hospital pound to impound every animal found to be suffering from a
contagious or infectious disease. In certain cases however, it has been found
impracticable to impound all such animals, and in the case of a disease like rinder
pest it is desirable to avoid movement as far as possible. To remedy this defect in
the law, Mr. Ware proposed certain amendments so as to give discretion to the
keeper of the hospital pound in the matter of impounding animals and Government
have brought in a Bill during the year to amend the Act accordingly.