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show that prompt reports of outbreaks, segregation of the sick, and general careful supervision has yielded
excellent results. Not only has the extension of disease been checked, but in many instances it has been stamped
out. A great advance has also been made in setting apart certain areas (on which in many places sheds have
been erected) for the accommodation of animals suffering from contagious disease. Copies of the rules have been
freely distributed, and I would recommend that this means of acquainting the villagers with the rules be continued
as in this manner only can the people learn the good intentions of Government. Deputy Commissioners, Sub-
divisional Officers, and Township Officers have, when on tour, done everything to point out the advantages of
segregation, etc., and frequently take the Veterinary Assistants with them. Veterinary Assistants have received
standing orders to explain to the headmen and villagers the benefits likely to accrue from a close observance
of the rules.
"Until the villagers on their own initiative take immediate precautions on the outbreak of disease, we
must be prepared to hear of losses of cattle in the remoter parts of many districts and on distant grazing-
grounds, as it is only during the open season that rapid communication is possible; consequently reports of
outbreaks are frequently not received till most of the mischief is done, and when the Veterinary Assistants and
others arrive at the scene of outbreak they are too late to be of any service."
453. Cattle disease and mortality does not appear to be as carefully
reported in Upper as in Lower Burma, but from various reports received there
can be no doubt that cattle disease was much more prevalent than during the
preceding year. At the same time none of the outbreaks assumed the alarming
proportion they occasionally do in Lower Burma.
454. Reporting on the returns of mortality, the Superintendent states :—
"Registration of cattle deaths.—In some districts increased return of mortality does not necessarily mean
that the normal average has in reality been exceeded, but may be attributed to better registration of deaths,
especially from the remoter parts —each year shows improvement in this direction. During the year I found no
case of neglect. The registers are so frequently examined by various officials that the headmen take good care
to keep them up. Though the system has not been extended to Upper Burma, efforts have been made in several
districts to obtain reliable figures of cattle deaths during outbreaks of disease."
455. There can be no doubt that Burma is far in advance of other Pro-
vinces, both in its registration and in its working of rules for the prevention of
cattle disease. This I attribute to the sound organization put in force by the
Superintendent, Veterinary Captain Evans.
Madras.
456. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, appends to his
report a comparative statement showing the total number of deaths for the
past five years, from which it would appear that the death-rate during the past
year was considerably less than it has been for the three previous years, but
as pointed out in the report, these figures are quite unreliable as but few of
the officials from whom statistics are received are able to distinguish a case
of rinderpest from one of diarrhœa or dysentery. As an instance of the
unreliability of statistics the Superintendent points to an outbreak of rinder-
pest in the Madura district in which 308 deaths are shown to have occurred,
and he estimates that at least 3,000 deaths should have been recorded.
457. I am glad to find that preventive inoculation against rinderpest has
been commenced in Madras, and that the Board of Revenue has sanctioned
its being carried out in other centres.
458. Two points call for attention, viz. :—
(a) The necessity for the employment of a large staff of skilled
subordinates.
(b) The inauguration of a better system of registration of cattle disease
statistics.
Central Provinces.
459. The Director of Land Records and Agriculture states :—
"Registration of cattle disease by patwaris has only been attempted in Nagpur and Wardha. The number
of deaths reported in Wardha is 24,324, against 21,560 in the preceding year. In Nagpur the cattle mortality
is reported to have been 11,452, against 11,950 in the preceding year. In consequence of the holding off of
rains, scarcity of fodder was felt almost everywhere during the three closing months of the year, and several
deaths are attributed in Wardha to cattle eating young juari. With the opening of forests to free grazing in
the district the mortality disappeared. In addition to the usual endemic maladies, anthrax broke out in parts
of Saugor, Betul, Hoshangabad, Wardha, Nagpur and Chanda, and the mortality from all kinds of disease in
Saugor is believed to have been unusually heavy. A large number of deaths from rinderpest are reported from
the Raipur and Sambalpur districts. The number of cattle which died from this disease in Wardha and
Nagpur are reported as 1,349 and 606, respectively. In Betul there was a severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease in the north, and of anthrax (black quarter) in the west. The last disease was introduced by cattle from
Berar, the mortality among which was very great. The malady spread to Betul cattle also, but not to any great
extent.
"In the remaining districts cattle disease broke out at various times, but the outbreaks were not of a viru-
lent or widespread kind.From Balaghat it is reported that cattle poisoning for the sake of hides was on the
increase. There were 14 cases reported, in 5 of which convictions were secured. The Deputy Commissioner con-
siders that restrictions on the sale of arsenic would have a good effect in diminishing this kind of offence.