4
The absence of a reserve of Veterinary Assistants is seriously felt in dealing
with outbreaks as many Districts and Subdivisions have to be denuded to help
to suppress outbreaks in other parts of the Province. Altogether I consider,
that though there has been a falling off in the number of inoculations per-
formed, the Veterinary Assistants themselves have on the whole done their best
to make this method of treatment popular.
The remarks which I passed last year on the value of the serum as a pro-
tective agency when used with a certain amount of intelligence are further
strengthened by this year's experience. In one instance, however, a large
number of deaths, 225, occurred after inoculations owing to the carelessness of
a Veterinary Assistant in the Puri District in not injecting a suitable dose. A
report was sent to the Imperial Bacteriologist. This is a demonstration of the
danger which is likely to beset those officers deputed for inoculations who
have not had the ordinary professional training of a Veterinary Assistant.
As regards the present method of suppressing outbreaks of rinderpest I
have already submitted a note to the Director of Agriculture on the subject
and wish again to state that I am of opinion that the whole question ought
to be examined with a view to strengthening the hands of the Department by
some measure which would compel owners of cattle to allow their animals
to be inoculated. The success of the serum depends on the immunization
of large numbers of cattle in the neighbourhood of an outbreak, but at present
owners refuse with the result that the disease continues indefinitely, causing
large losses to cattle-owners in this as well as in the Provinces to the East.
We are also unable to stop the movement of infected herds from grazing
grounds, the consequence being that the disease is spread far and wide.
Rinderpest.—As previously noted, rinderpest was found all over the
Province except Darbhanga and it is satisfactory to note that inoculations were
performed in most of those districts from which the disease was reported. Forty-
seven thousand four hundred and forty-seven were protected by the Inspectors and
Assistants against 68,172 of the previous year, while the Inoculators in Ranchi
immunized 8,092 against 3,223 of the previous year. There has, therefore, been
a decrease of 20,725 inoculations in the case of the former and an increase of
4,869 as regards the latter, the net decrease being 15,856 inoculations for this
disease alone. The greatest number of cattle was inoculated in Gaya, Cham-
paran, Monghyr, Puri, Angul, Shahabad and Sambalpur, but forms only a
minute fraction of the number which ought to have been protected, as a large
number of villages were affected.
The total number of deaths among inoculated animals is 484 as compared
with 399 in 1914-15.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—Seven thousand five hundred and eight cattle
were immunized by Veterinary Assistants against 16,722 in 1914-15. This
number includes 4,360 inoculations with serum and 3,148 with vaccine, the
figures of the previous year, being 6,557 and 10,165 respectively. There has
thus been a decrease of 9,214 inoculations performed during the period under
report. The total number of deaths is 24 as compared with 7 of the previous
year.
Black-Quarter.—Inoculations
could be performed in only four districts, viz.,
Gaya, Shahabad, Saran and Muzaffarpur, the total number being 919 against 26
of the previous year. Seven deaths occurred among inoculated animals. The
disease was confirmed microscopically before inoculations were carried out.
Anthrax.—There has been an increase in the number of animals pro-
tected against Anthrax, as 2,888 were protected in 22 outbreaks against 768 in
1914-15.
There was one outbreak of Anthrax among some horses in which three
animals were inoculated with serum, with satisfactory results.
RANCHI INOCULATION SCHEME.
As regards the number of cattle immunized by the Ranchi Inoculators, a
statement (III) (a) is attached giving full details. Altogether during the year
31,290 animals were protected with Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia Vaccine while
8,092 were inoculated against rinderpest, making a total of 39,382 as compared