14
104. Rinderpest.—211 outbreaks were dealt with and 42,871 cattle immunis-
ed against 19,859 last year. The mortality this year was 139 against 161 last
year.
105. Anthrax.—41 outbreaks were dealt with and 3,405 immunised
against 86 last year. The mortality was 6.
106. The results from Madras under this head are very satisfactory—vide
Report of the Superintendent to the Board of Revenue, dated 7th October 1902.
He states:—
"Care was taken to verify the disease by post mortem examinations of
the carcasses of animals which had recently died of the disease. Considerable
difficulty was experienced at first in overcoming the objections of the cattle
owners to inoculations, but the persuasions of a Brahman Veterinary Assistant
ultimately succeeded in calming their fears. After inoculation the animals were
allowed to go out to graze or work as they had always been accustomed, and
as they suffered no ill-effects from the operation the cattle owners of the
surrounding villages were most anxious to have their herds also submitted to
protective inoculations.
"The animals inoculated had all been in close proximity to animals which
had recently died of Anthrax and, if none of these animals die of this disease
during the next year, much confidence will be placed in the protective powers
of the operation by the conservative cattle owners. If no harassing restrictions
are imposed on the cattle, such as compelling them to be isolated and tied up,
I feel confident that preventive inoculation will become popular."
107. Further arrangements for an increased output of Rinderpest, Anthrax,
and Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia sera from the Muktesar Laboratory are under
consideration.
108. The successful and rapid introduction of this system has conferred a
great boon on the agricultural population of this country and reflects the
greatest credit on the various Superintendents concerned for the care and tact
which they have displayed in overcoming the prejudices of owners against
(to them) so novel a method of dealing with outbreaks of disease.
VETERINARY DISPENSARIES.
109. The number of animals treated at Veterinary Dispensaries during the
year, will be found in Table XIX (Provincial), viz.,—
In-patients . . . . .
Out-patients . . . . .
5,199 against
146,982
„
4,750 last year.
125,536 „
„
making a total of 1,52,181 or an increase of 21,895 over last year's figures
which must be considered as satisfactory. No Dispensaries have yet been
started in the Madras Presidency.
110. Statement showing receipts and expenditure of Veterinary Dispen-
saries will be found in Table XXII (Provincial).
VETERINARY ASSISTANTS.
111. The strength of the subordinate veterinary staff, as shown in Table
XXIV, consists of 15 Veterinary Inspectors and 307 Veterinary Assistants,
against 8 and 242 respectively in the previous year, showing an increase of
7 Veterinary Inspectors and 65 Veterinary Assistants.
112. The decrease shown in the column "employed in Veterinary Dispen-
saries" (vide Table) as compared with last year's figures, is due to 72
Veterinary Assistants in Burma, who were actually employed on duty "connect-
ed with cattle-breeding and cattle disease", having been erroneously entered
as "employed in Veterinary Dispensaries". If this number is deducted from
last year's figures it will be seen that there is an increase of 12 men under
Dispensary work.