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EQUINE.
11. Equine contagious disease occurring in the four selected horse-breeding
districts, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, and Meerut, is dealt with by the
Army Remount department, while the Amy Veterinary Corps deals with the
affected animals in the various branches of the Military department. The figures
here only refer to cases brought directly under the notice of the Civil Veterinary
department.
12. Glanders and Farcy.—This disease appeared in the districts of
Lucknow, Dehra Dun, Naini Tal, Bareilly, Benares, Allahabad, and Gonda, and
38 animals either succumbed to the malady or were destroyed in accordance with
the Glanders and Farcy Act. The disease assumed a severe form on the Dehra
Dun-Chakrata road and also on the Kathgodam-Ranikhet road, which is often
the case when the disease occurs on tonga routes and those places where there is
much equine traffic. A scheme has been introduced for the granting of compensa-
tion for compulsory slaughter of animals under this Act with a view of bringing to
light suspicious cases which would otherwise not be reported. Poor and ignorant
owners do not realize the fact that recovery is practically impossible and with a
view to guard themselves against what they consider loss, conceal or fail to notify
the existence of the disease with the result that the danger of a severe outbreak is
much increased. Fifty-five rupees have been awarded in compensation since its
recent introduction.
13. Surra.—It is satisfactory to report that very few cases of this disease
have been discovered during the year. This is attributed to the great scarcity of
certain blood-sucking flies (probably Tabanus, Tropicus, and others) which
generally make their appearance annually at certain periods of the year known as
the " surra season." Those animals which last year were subjected to the arsenic
treatment for this disease are still living and healthy. It is considered that this
treatment, although difficult and expensive to apply in the field, may now be
regarded as specific in a high percentage of cases.
14. Dourine.—Five fresh cases of this disease were brought to light during
the year and dealt with under the Dourine Act. Suspected animals were traced,
registered, and put under observation.
15. Tetanus.—Eighty-two cases have been reported by veterinary assistants
from 18 districts and 48 cases proved fatal.
16. Strangles.—One hundred and twenty-six cases of this diseases were
treated by veterinary assistants, out of which 15 proved fatal.
17. Epizootic Lymphangitis.—No case was reported.
18 Other contagious diseases.—Under this heading cases of horse pox,
piroplasmosis, influenza, anthrax, rabies, as well as those diseases caused by
internal and external parasites have been met with but up to the present it has
not been found practical to introduce a reliable system for obtaining returns.
BOVINE.
19. Rinderpest.—This disease has this year visited the province in a parti-
cularly severe manner, very few districts altogether escaping its ravages, although
on the other hand, many were affected by a benign form of the disease which was
quickly suppressed. The disease assumed a very virulent type in the districts
south of the Nepal forests from whence it is believed to have extended into British
India. The infection was probably brought by the cattle which annually migrate
to those jungle tracts for the grazing. Owing to the almost wild nature of these
herds a rapid spreading of the disease ensues and as they are untractable except
in mobs or with the aid of the lasso it is difficult to apply those measures for its
stamping out which are used when dealing with the ordinary domesticated cattle.
Wherever possible outbreaks were promptly attended and necessary steps taken
for eradicating the disease and preventing its spread. Where the district board's
veterinary staff was insufficient to cope with the disease, provincial veterinary
assistants from the headquarter staff were deputed and rendered the much-needed
assistance. Inoculations were carried out in 37 districts. In the Jalaun district
alone 9,115 cattle were immunised.
Vide table III.
Vide table III.
20. Haemorrhagic Sepicaemiat.—This year appeared in 38 districts with a
total mortality of 1,962 as against 3,679 of last year. Twelve thousand six hundred
and sixty-seven cattle were inoculated with generally satisfactory results.