6
of planters and other enlightened people. Those animals which have been done so
far in this Presidency have for the most part been the property of Europeans and
they have been quite satisfied with the results,
34. Foot-and-Mouth disease.—Two thousand and sixty-eight deaths were reported
during the past year from this source against 2,637 in the previous year.
Ganjam returned 272 and Bellary 254 deaths. The staff received 261 out
break reports of this disease and attended 205 of them.
35. Dourine.—No cases came to the notice of the staff during the year.
36. Glanders.—From the history of cases discovered in Madras by the Principal
of the Madras Veterinary College it was suspected that the stables of the Raja of
Venkatagiri at that place were affected.
The whole stud, consisting of 47 horses, were tested with Mallein with the
result that 12 reacted and were destroyed under section 8 of the Glanders and Farcy
Act XIII of 1899.
37. Owing to the increased prevalence of the two diseases Glanders and Surra,
the Deputy Superintendents of this department have been appointed Veterinary
Practitioners under the Act.
38. Surra.—The number of blood smears received for microscopical examination
from cases suspected for this disease was 72, of which 39 proved positive. Ten of
the cases belonged to Vellore and seven to Berhampur. Last year only 16 cases
were confirmed.
39. The Glanders and Farcy Act has now been extended to the whole Presidency
in respect of Surra and this has enabled the department to take measures to prevent
the spread of the disease, but it may shortly be found that it is useless notifying
only equines for Surra under this Act, as evidence is accumulating to show that
actual epidemics of Surra occur amongst bovines occasionally in this Presidency. An
enquiry on this subject is now being made.
40. Epizootic Lymphangitis.—Three cases were reported but they were not
confirmed by microscopical examination.
41. Kumri.— For the want of more knowledge as to the cause of this disease,
although the most recent investigations point to food-stuffs being implicated, it is
still treated under this head.
During the past year 47 cases were diagnosed by the staff. There has been a
steady decline in the number of cases brought to the notice of this department since
the extremely bad year of 1914-15 but, as its chief victim is said to be the Australian
horse, this may well be accounted for by the fact that, since the outbreak of war, the
importation of Australian horses into this country for civil purposes has been stopped
or greatly curtailed.
42. Piroplasmosis.—Out of 50 smears sent for this disease 12 in dogs and 7 in
cattle proved positive.
In 1916-17 only nine cases were confirmed.
43. Rabies.—The. staff dealt with 26 cases of this disease in dogs in which
confirmation by the microscope was obtained.
In 46 other dogs and in 7 other domestic animals it was suspected but no
microscopical examination was made.
44. Sheep-pox.—There is no doubt that this disease causes a considerable amount
of loss amongst sheep in this Presidency, but owing to the itinerating nature of the
flock it is rarely reported to this department.
Outbreaks were discovered or attended by the staff in Kistna, Kurnool, Bellary,
Ramnad and Tinnevelly districts during the year.
45. Pleuro-Pneumonia of goats—was reported from Srīvilliputtūr taluk of
Ramnad district.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS
WORK.
46. Breeding operations.—Government having appointed a Deputy Director of
Live Stock in the Agricultural Department for the control of all cattle-breeding
operations, and that officer having decided that he did not require any of the seven
stud bulls remaining in this department, sanction was obtained for their disposal.