( 3 )
the Glanders and Farcy Act. It appeared to have assumed a severe form at
Gorakhpur and Basti especially among the ponies of hackney carriages and theka
gharries. The outbreak was immediately suppressed. Had the action been not
taken in time it would have caused disastrous results. Rupees 680 have been
awarded in compensation during the year for compulsory slaughter of animals to
poor owners to whom the loss would otherwise be very severe.
20. Surra.—This disease appeared in severe form in the Baberu tahsil in
Banda district, where alone 118 animals either died or were destroyed. As the
district staff was not sufficient to deal with the outbreak the circle veterinary
inspector and a headquarters veterinary assistant were deputed.
21. Tetanus-Many
cases of this disease have this year been reported by
veterinary assistants, and 31 proved fatal. There is every reason to believe that
many more oases actually occur, as at present only isolated cases which the
veterinary assistants are called upon to treat are brought directly to the notice of
this department.
22. Dourine.—It is gratifying to note that no cases of dourine have been
detected during the year.
23. Strangles.—Five hundred and ninety-nine cases of this disease have been
reported, eight of which were fatal.
24. Epizootic Lymphangitis.—No cases were reported.
25. Other contagious diseases.—Under this head equine piroplasmosis, horse
pox, influenza, anthrax and parasitic skin diseases occur to some extent but up to
the present it has not been found practicable to introduce a reliable system for
obtaining returns.
(1) Bovine.
26. Rinderpest.—The province has this year been visited in a more severe
manner by this disease than in the year 1915-16, most districts having more or
less been affected. The total mortality during the year was reported as 7,563 as
against 3,767 last year. It assumed a severe form in the districts of Dehra Dun,
Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Benares, Ghazipur, and Mirzapur. Wherever possible
the outbreaks were immediately attended to and where the district veterinary
assistants were insufficient to deal with the disease veterinary assistants attached
to the office of the Superintendent and second Superintendent were deputed to
render assistance. Inoculations were carried out in 33 districts.
See Table III.
27. Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia.—One thousand seven hundred and seventy-
seven deaths from this disease have occurred against 1,593 last year. Many
districts escaped its attack and it only appeared in anything approaching a virulent
form in Aligarh, Cawnpore, Jhansi, Banda, and Kheri. All the outbreaks which
could be reached in time were attended to and treatment by inoculation or other
methods were adopted.
28. Foot-and-mouth disease.—During the year under report, with the
exception of Bijnor, Budaun, Benares, Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Garhwal, and Bara
Banki, all other districts reported the existence of foot-and-mouth disease, the
mortality being estimated at 1,373. Deaths from this disease are usually confined
to young calves or old, weakly, and decrepit animals. Where possible, advice and
treatment were given, and medicines distributed free of charge to the stock-owners.
29. Blackquarter.—Outbreaks of this malady were reported from 16 districts
with a total mortality of 700 as against 252. The most serious outbreaks occurred
in the districts of Azamgarh and Kheri.
30. Anthrax.—During
the year 1,109 cattle were reported to have
succumbed to this disease. As often previously mentioned, little reliance can be
placed on these figures owing to the fact that the disease, usually occurring
sporadically, is of sudden onset and runs a rapidly fatal course often before the
veterinary assistant can reach the seat of the outbreak. It is therefore not likely
that all the cases occurring are correctly reported.
Other contagious diseases.
31. One hundred and seventy-three deaths were reported to have occurred
from various other contagious diseases, which include pleuro-pneumonia, contagious
abortion, tuberculosis, piroplasmosis, etc.