46
362. The Principal, Bombay Veterinary College, shows the following as
the number of importations during the year:—
English
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . .
Australians .
.
.
.
.
.
. .
Arabs
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
Persians
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
Country-breds
.
.
.
. . . . .
Hungarians .
.
.
.
.
.
. .
Northerners .
.
.
.
. . . .
Burmans
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
French
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL .
Horses.
34
1,545
1,333
146
32
13
6
...
2
3,111
Ponies.
7
132
832
...
33
...
1
5
...
1,010
The mortality on shipboard amounted in the case of Australians to 5 per cent.
and in the case of Arabs to 64 per cent.
363. There was an increase of 353 in the number of Australian horses
imported this year when compared with last and a decrease of 157 in the number
of Arab horses landed. This decrease the Principal, Bombay Veterinary College,
attributes to the heavy impost which has been placed upon horse exports from
Arabia by the Turkish Government. The Persian imports were 146 horses as
compared to 76 last year.
364. A consideration of the above synopsis will go to show that it is in
our large towns that the disease exists to a great extent, and I am of opinion
that most strenuous measures are called for in order to eradicate it.
SPECIAL SUPPRESSIVE MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT THE
EXTENSION OF THE DISEASE.
Baluchistan.
365. As the outbreak in Quetta occurred just about the time at which the
Horse Show was held at that station, it was decided in communication with
the Agent to the Governor-General to transfer it to Bostan in order to endea-
vour to prevent its extension to the locally-bred stock : this proved altogether
a great success. A Veterinary Officer was specially deputed to Bostan and
no horse was allowed to be boxed before it was inspected. As the Lahore
dealers are large purchasers at this Show, an officer was also deputed to Lahore
to inspect all their purchases on arrival.
366. In order to prevent the introduction of the disease from Afghanistan,
Turkistan and Kohistan, where we have reason to believe it is very prevalent,
I recommended for the consideration of the Government of India that all the
trade routes leading into British territory should be carefully watched. This
question was referred to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab
and to the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan. No action has
been taken in the Punjab for the present, owing to the fact that the Amir
has prohibited the exportation of horses from Afghanistan. In Baluchistan,
however, it has been decided to form an inspection post at Chaman under a
specially selected Veterinary Assistant, who will work under the orders of the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Baluchistan and Sind, and to
take the same precautions on the Nushki route for the few months during
which horses are imported through Seistan.
Kashmir.
367. Owing to the prevalence of the disease in this State and owing to the
fact that numerous horses and ponies belonging to visitors proceeding from
numerous stations in India are always travelling on the road from Kohala to
Srinagar, special Veterinary Assistants were employed under the Superinten-
dent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab. Inspection posts were
formed at the Domel and Kohala bridges so that no equines could leave
Kashmir without being inspected. These measures, I am convinced, were
instrumental in preventing the introduction of the disease into British
territory.
North-Western
Provinces.
368. In the North-Western Provinces, as previously stated, an outbreak of
special severity still exists at Benares. This outbreak in my opinion calls
for special suppressive measures; these are still under consideration.