3
EQUINES.
It is satisfactory to have to state that no outbreaks of any of the scheduled
contagious diseases occurred during the year.
BOVINCE.
Rinderpest.—This
year outbreaks were reported in all the districts
except Darbhanga. It was the cause of considerable mortality in the Chota
Nagpur Division and it also occurred in Gaya and Shahabad. It was the cause
for the first time during my tenure, of large mortality in the Gopalganj sub-
division towards the diara, but happily did not spread owing to the use of
serum and to the prompt action taken by the District Officers concerned. A
small outbreak was reported from Sitamarhi subdivision, but I am inclined to
believe that this was some other disease or poisoning. It is at present under
investigation.
The total number of outbreaks reported is 1,525 of which 369 were
attended by the Veterinary Assistants. Ten thousand three hundred and
fifty-nine cattle died as against 2,770 in 1912-13 showing a marked rise in the
mortality figures as compared with previous years. Though the greater atten-
tion paid to reporting may have had something to do with this, I am inclined
to believe that the disease was much more prevalent this year than formerly in
the districts enumerated above.
Foot-and-mouth disease.—Deaths were reported from all the districts
except Patna, Champaran, Purnea, Balasore, Manbhum, and Singhbhum, the
total number being 298 against 757 of the previous year. As far as the returns
show, there has been a considerable decline in the prevalence of this disease
during the year.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The number of deaths recorded from this
disease is yearly increasing, on account of better reporting. Six thousand six
hundred and twelve deaths were reported. They occurred chiefly in Ranchi
(it was especially virulent in the Bihar Barwai), Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur,
Cuttack, Balasore, and Angul.
Black-quarter.—Outbreaks
occurred in the districts of Darbhanga
Muzaffarpur, Champaran, and Purnea. There were 88 outbreaks and 554 cattle
were affected. The outbreaks were confirmed on microscopical examination.
Anthrax.—Outbreaks of this disease occurred at the Sabour Agricultural
Farm where four died out of six attacked ; also at Muzaffarpur, Hazaribagh,
Angul, and Sambalpur, the number of deaths being 16, 1, 5, and 1 respectively.
It was diagnosed microscopically in slides sent by the Veterinary Assistants of
all these Districts.
Other Contagious Diseases.—No information is available whereby the
diseases from which 377 cattle died under this head could be tabulated.
TABLE III.
INOCULATION.
More attention has been paid to this method of treatment than during any
previous period. This was especially so as contagious disease was so very pre-
valent and widespread. But though the figures show improvement under all
heads, very much more could have been done in the suppression of rinderpest
had there not been an accident to the machinery used in the preparation of
the serum at Muktesar. The result of this was that practically from July
1913, to March 1914 only a few thousand doses could be obtained although
there were orders for about half-a-lakh.
On two occasions I have had opportunities of seeing its effect this year and
must say that when used with intelligence and doses suitable to the virulence
of the disease and the condition and breed of cattle, its efficacy is undoubted ;
for this reason therefore the failure of the supply was very unfortunate. The
demands for other vaccines were met promptly.