8
of it, it is satisfactory that even so small a beginning has been made. We may
hope that when they begin to see the benefit of the measures, all opposition will
disappear as has occurred in other parts of India. It is feared, however, that
the failure to avail themselves of the serum treatment will, in the present out-
break, cost them dear.
The Veterinary Inspector of Assam attended 31 outbreaks and inoculated
3,905 head of cattle.
48. Anthrax.—For the reasons above stated, I am afraid that even less
reliance can be placed on the reports received regarding this serious disease. The
time is far distant when we shall be able to gain even an approximate idea regard-
ing the prevalence and distribution of anthrax in India. The symptoms shown
during life are obscure and in most cases not diagnostic. Animals die very
quickly and unless a microscopical and bacteriological examination can be
made by a properly qualified person, the cause of death cannot with certainty
be attributed to Anthrax. That the disease does exist in India to a great extent
there can be no doubt whatever, as it has in numerous instances been diagnosed
by professional men. Moreover, it is proved to have been introduced into
England by means of hides, wool and feeding stuffs imported from India. As
will be seen from the report of the Imperial Bacteriologist, cases were reported
amongst human beings, prisoners in a jail, who were engaged in carpet making
and using wool which was unfortunately contaminated with the spores of
Anthrax.
49. Owing, however, to the paucity of Imperial officers employed in
district work and the amount of office and other clerical work necessitated by
organisation and administration, it has been scarcely possible for outbreaks
to be visited and the diseases correctly diagnosed by them. Added to this, the
absence of research laboratories in some provinces renders diagnosis still more
difficult. It is of great commercial importance to us to improve so far as is
practicable our methods of dealing with this serious malady and as time goes
on it is hoped that great improvement will be effected. At present, owing to
the method of collecting statistics, we cannot in many cases obtain returns
which will differentiate between this disease, Charbon Symptomatique and
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia. The non-professional agency employed cannot
diagnose between these various maladies and lack of time prevents the Superin-
tendent from visiting the locality and doing it himself. The increase in the
number of Superintendents, which will allow of each man having a workable
charge, will admit of this being done, but so long as officers have such enormous
charges, it cannot be expected that much progress can be made.
50. The figures given in the returns are as follows :—15,331 cases are
reported to have occurred in the whole of India against 33,317 Last year.
Burma is unable to supply figures. The disease is, however, common enough
there, many elephants dying off, so cattle are doubtless affected also. 13,474
cases are reported to have occurred in the Madras Presidency where, however,
the total deaths are reported to be below those of last year. There was a seri-
ous outbreak in Tanjore and numerous deaths occurred in the Kistna district.
Cases were also reported from the Nellore and Godavory districts. In the
United Provinces there were 673 deaths reported ; in the Central Provinces
430 deaths; in Bengal proper 361; in the Punjab 184 ; in Bombay 138 ; in
the North-West Frontier Province 42; in Eastern Bengal and Assam 23;
and in Rajputana 6.
51. According to the reports the disease occurred in the United Provinces
in 21 districts—Hamirpur 187, Bulandshahr 103, Kheri 50, Sitapur 40, Fateh-
pur 53, Banda 53, Jaunpur 38, Bahraich 38, Fyzabad 16, Cawnpore 15,
Etawah 14, Aligarh 16, Barabanki 7, Partabgarh 6, Pilibhit 6, Farrukhabad
10, Bijnor 6, Bareilly 8, Jhansi 2, Muzaffarnagar 3, Etah 2.
52. In the Punjab it was reported from Montgomery 44, Amballa 37,
Ferozepore 19, Gujranwala 8, Dera Ghazi Khan 6, and Muzaffargarh 2.
53. In Bengal, the following districts are reported to be infected :—Singh-
bhum 117, Sambhalpur 219, Pauri 24, Palamau 1; whilst 18 cases are reported
from Mymensingh and 5 from Bogra in Eastern Bengal and Assam. The chief