4
Black-quarter.—This
disease occurred in six districts and affected 166 cattle
in 12 outbreaks. There were 161 deaths. It was diagnosed microscopically in
two cases.
Anthrax.—One
hundred and twenty deaths out of 144 animals attacked were
reported from nine districts, against 314 deaths in ten districts in 1915-16. The
disease was confirmed microscopically on five occasions. All outbreaks, 28 in
number, were attended by the Veterinary Assistants.
Other contagious diseases.—Two hundred and five deaths under this heading
arc recorded, but no details are available as to the cause.
TABLE III.
INOCULATION.
A considerable increase in the number of animals immunized against
contagious disease must be reported during the past year, these satisfactory
results being due to the energy of Veterinary Inspectors and Assistants in
dealing with outbreaks, and to the help which District Officials, and many of
the leading zemindars, and important cultivators were able to give when any of
their villages were affected. With the exception of one or two instances, it is
regrettable to have to state that some of the landholders in Patna and Gaya
were passively opposed to the introduction of inoculation in many of their
villages. On the other hand, those who have had experience of the assistance
which the sera and vaccines conferred on their cattle in helping them to
withstand disease were very gratified, and in many instances, they again asked
for the help of the staff when they re-appeared. The total number of cattle
immunized during the year amounts to 118,788 as compared with 98,144 in
1915-16 and 130,027 in the previous year; there is thus an increase of 20,644
over the figures for 1915-16. Eighty-nine thousand one hundred and eighteen
inoculations represent the work of the Departmental staff, while the remainder
29,670 shows the number of cattle immunized by the Ranchi Inoculators.
Although the increase is satisfactory and reflects considerable credit on the
Inspectors and Assistants in spite of the bad weather conditions which prevailed
during the greater part of the year rendering movement in the mufassal very
difficult, greater numbers could have been done if the Reserve staff mentioned
in last year's report had been available. These men are urgently required and
within a few years, it is hoped that the vacancies will be filled from the large
number of students who are now under training at the Bengal Veterinary
College.
Ample opportunities of observing the effect of inoculations with the various
sera and vaccines were available in the outbreaks into which I made enquir-
ies, and the results were most satisfactory. In two outbreaks, however, in
Hazaribagh and Balasore, the results were not as good as they might have been
through the carelessness of the Veterinary Assistants in not carrying out
instructions and making proper enquiries into the virulence of the disease and
the susceptibility of the breeds affected. Insufficient doses were used, and
consequently many more animals died than should have been the case
had proper quantities been injected. The increased number of outbreaks and
the necessity of having proper enquiries made into the work of the Assistants
in the mufassal is becoming move apparent each year and the appointment of
additional Superintendents as soon as they become available is a matter of
urgent necessity; there is ample work in each Division for one such officer.
To help in checking the expenditure of sera and vaccines by Veteri-
nary Assistants, District Boards were asked to depute some of their members
to make enquiries in the villages ; in the few instances where this suggestion
was carried out, the results were reported to be satisfactory. Greater use will
be made of this agency in the future, as by this means it may be possible to
get the work done by the staff, in combating contagious diseases, better known.
Rinderpest.—Inoculations
against Rinderpest have been carried out in
all districts except Champaran and Angul. 75,405 cattle were immunized,
out of which 8,982 were done by the Inoculators in Ranchi and 66,423 by the
Inspectors and Assistants. This represents a total increase of 19,866 over
the figures for 1915-16 when only 47,447 cattle were inoculated by the