6
84. Foot and mouth disease.—Under this head 2,527 deaths were recorded as
compared with 2,068 in the previous year.
The staff received 252 reports and attended 194 of them.
The districts reporting the greatest mortality from this disease are Trichinopoly,
Chingleput and Coimbatore.
35. Surra.— There was a considerable decrease in the mortality under this
head, only ten cases being confirmed as compared with 39 the previous year. The
affected animals were either destroyed under the Act or died before action could
be taken.
The Deputy Superintendent, II Circle, M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampathu Ayyangar
Avargal investigated a supposed outbreak of surra amongst some cattle belonging to
the Seitur zamindari and his findings are made the subject of an article in the first
number of the Madras Veterinary Journal, a periodical which has recently been
started under the supervision of the Superintendent of this department,
36. Glanders.—The Mallein test was employed in two outbreaks in the mufassal
during the year. As a result one horse was destroyed in Madura district and two in
Ramnad.
37. Dourine.—No cases were reported.
38. Epizootic lymphangitis.—No cases were reported.
39. Kumri.—Only 26 cases were diagnosed by the staff during the year under
report.
40. Piroplasmosis.—The College authorities examined 88 blood smears for these
parasites but only eight proved positive, five in dogs and three in cattle.
41. Rabies.—This disease was confirmed in 52 dogs and two other animals
brought to the staff of this department for treatment.
In addition the staff dealt with 75 other suspicious cases, consisting of 62 dogs
and 13 other domestic animals.
The Veterinary Assistant in charge of the Saidapet hospital reports that he
obtained confirmation in the case of seven dogs during the year and suspected 18
other dogs of the same disease.
42. Sheep-pox.—Two outbreaks of this disease, one in Markapur and the other
in Adōni taluk, were detected and attended to during the year.
43. Pleuro-pneumonia of sheep and goats.—The only outbreak of this disease which
came to the notice of this department during the year occurred amongst the sheep at
the Agricultural Farm at Bantanahal, where some valuable imported rams were placed
in the herd and immediately lost.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
44. For the Forest Department.—The Superintendent revised the pamphlet
entitled "A few hints on the management and treatment of elephants and bullocks,"
originally written by Mr. F. X. Mascarenbas, Special Veterinary Inspector with the
Forest Department, and the Board of Revenue has recently had it printed under the
new title "Instructions for the care and treatment of Government live-stock" and
issued it to all officers in the Presidency having to deal with these animals.
45. During the year Government approved of the proposal of the Board of
Revenue that all elephants selected for baggage work in the northern circars should,
in future, be examined by the Superintendent, or an officer deputed by him for the
purpose, before being sent to their new station.
46. Many cases of Government elephants being heavily infected with internal
parasites were noticed during the year, and as a result of one of the Superintendent's
suggestions it was decided to summer the elephants in the South Coimbatore
division this year at Ulandi instead of at Attakatti.
47. For the police.—As a result of correspondence with the Inspector-General
of Police a little more use was made of the staff of this department last year in
investigating cases of suspected criminal poisoning and malicious injury to animals.
A post-mortem examination was made in 31 cases of the former, and in 18 of them
the viscera were sent to the Chemical Examiner for report. In addition the staff
examined 73 cases for malicious injury and gave evidence when required.
48. The Chemical Examiner reports that he dealt with 80 cases of suspected
poisoning in animals during the year and detected poison in 44 of them.