72
"The dissemination of veterinary knowledge among the people is still progressing very slowly. There are
now 8 dispensaries open in the province, and Veterinary Assistants make short tours in the interior of the
districts; but the owners who bring cattle for treatment are as yet few, chiefly residents of towns or villages in
the close vicinity of the towns. Several thousand copies of leaflets by Veterinary Lieutenant Trydell on the
prevention of the spread of contagious and infectious diseases of cattle, and by Veterinary Captain Gunn on the
treatment of the four more deadly forms of cattle diseases have been distributed among the people, but these
will only appeal to the most educated among the agricultural classes. Yet the results are not altogether dis-
couraging. From Chanda, Bhandara, Balaghat and Chindwara come reports that the advantages of segregation
are gradually being recognized, while in the first-named district it is stated that some persons have tried the
treatment indicated in the pamphlet with good results. Elsewhere, and most notably in Chhattisgarh, the
people cling to their traditional methods with hide-bound steadfastness."
460. These figures were not inserted in the statistical table (Table M)
as the report reached me after mine had gone to press.
461. The Director of Land Records and Agriculture submits a most interest-
ing report on cattle disease and the results of the famine which I would have
liked to have inserted in extenso, but under the orders of the Government
of India, bearing on the preparation of this report, I shall only give the
following précis:—
He states that new forms of registration have been introduced during
the year under review, and that although they do not as yet ensure absolute
accuracy, they have been the means of obtaining earlier intimation of the
prevalence of disease in any particular part of Berar, thus enabling veteri-
nary assistance being sent to deal with the various outbreaks.
462. The following comparative table will show that cattle disease has been
very prevalent during the past year and that the mortality has been excessive:
this is attributed to the fact that animals have been so reduced in condition
by famine that they were unable to fight against any form of disease even
when of a mild type :—
Names of diseases.
Rinderpeat . .
Anthrax . . .
Foot-and-mouth disease
Pleuro-pneumonia .
Charbon
symptoma.
tique . . .
Other diseases .
TOTAL .
1897-93.
Attacks.
4,280
26
5,290
1,559
201
9,546
20,902
Deaths.
2,263
11
1,577
951
173
4,911
9,886
Percentage
of deaths.
52.87
42.30
29.81
71.00
86.07
51.44
47.29
1898-99.
Attacks.
2,457
1
5,112
1,163
209
7,368
16,310
Deaths.
1,571
1
1,091
801
200
5,084
8,734
Percentage
of deaths.
63.94
100.00
21.34
68.87
95.69
69.00
53.63
1899-1900.
Attacks.
10,825
40
1,626
882
186
10,244
23,803
Deaths.
5,968
33
984
794
172
9,790
17,741
Percentage
of deaths.
55.13
82.50
60.52
90.02
92.47
95.57
74.53
463. Remarking on the mortality arising from famine, the Director of
Land Records and Agriculture states :—
"The year has been a very bad one for the cattle of the Province, the failure of the rains having induced
the greatest scarcity of fodder; in many districts grass was unobtainable after September, and a still more
serious blow was the loss of the Karbi or Jowar stalks. In some parts of Akola and Buldana districts the
young jowari plants withered soon after sprouting, and in other taluqs the stalks only attained a height of two
feet; these were rooted up to be used as fodder, but the supply was utterly inadequate and was quickly exhausted.
Cattle were then driven in thousands to the jungles of the Melghat taluq which were freely opened for
grazing, but they seemed unable to assimilate themselves to the altered conditions of climate and water, and the
weakly perished by hundreds. Those that remained in the plains soon had to face a fresh difficulty in the
failure of the water-supply, and under the reduced conditions of both fodder and water it is not extraordinary
that the mortality amongst the cattle of the Province has been great. The district returns give estimates of
the losses sustained owing to scarcity of fodder and water, the total amounting to 25,984, but I am inclined to
think that this figure is under the mark; probably we shall never be able to ascertain the correct total, so many
cattle having died in the extensive and remote jungles of the Melghat taluq, but the next cattle census will
without doubt prove a very large diminution in the numbers of our agricultural stock."
464. The statement made referring to the removal of cattle to the Melghat
taluq and their inability to assimilate themselves to the altered conditions
of climate and water, bears out that made by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Bombay, viz., that cattle removed from the plains
to hilly tracts perish in large numbers.
465. The Director of Land Records notes with regret that the bison were
attacked with rinderpest in the Kinwat and Melghat taluqs, and states that
many are reported to have died.