70
disease would most probably have spread rapidly and the mortality would have been great. The disease was
of the most virulent type as the majority of deaths occurred within five days. Our unsuccessful efforts to
reproduce the disease, the small number actually attacked in proportion to the number unavoidably exposed
to contagion can only be accounted for in the two following ways. That the great heat and desiccating effects
of the sun are antagonistic to the disease or that a very large percentage of the Guzerat cattle are immune.
The great mortality from debility (famine) in Nos. 2 and 6 Camps was due to the fact that many animals
were admitted in the beginning that should have been rejected. It is well known that cattle starved to a
certain point never recover. When in this state, even if placed under the most favourable conditions, they
linger on for weeks and eventually die. Mr. Mollison and I endeavoured to some extent to rectify this and
sent many animals that had already been accepted, to the Pinjrapol.
Should the misfortune ever arise again to form similar camps, no efforts should be spared to procure men
with sufficient knowledge of famine cattle to be able to tell at a glance whether animals ought to be accepted
or rejected, as I feel sure that on this first careful selection the success or otherwise of a famine cattle camp
mainly depends. Those camps, where animals were at first carefully selected, have shown a very slight
mortality and scarcely above what was to be expected under normal conditions; but those on the contrary
where all animals were taken regardless of condition, show a very high mortality, entirely due to the above
cause.
Cattle sent by rail to forest lands.—In the month of October some 3,500 cattle were railed from the
Ahmedabad district and sent to the Thana forest and Dharampur. They were sent inland some 30 miles and
grazed in the forests and uplands of the Thana district. The mortality was heavy and I visited the various
herds in April. No disease was apparent and they were dying of starvation as the grass was perfectly dry
and yielded absolutely no nourishment and the water-supply indifferent. This somewhat doubtful experiment
affords another instance of how careful one should be in moving cattle from one part of India to another,
either for breeding or any other purpose, and how little adapted the cattle of one district are to accommodate
themselves to totally altered conditions. The large heavy Guzerat cattle, practically hand fed, living and
working in a perfectly level and flat country, suddenly find themselves transported to a mountainous tract,
where, to gain a livelihood, they were compelled to climb steep places. This they were unable to do and
suffered in consequence, whereas, the small hill cattle indigenous to the country, capable of climbing like goats,
were able to live in the same forests and keep in condition. Before condemning this experiment as one to be
avoided in the future, I think that evidence should be forthcoming as to whether it was not possible under
slightly altered conditions to have achieved better results, but there can be no doubt that working on general
principles, the moving of a heavy breed of cattle from the plains to the hill, is not sound policy and apt to end
in failure. Another instance has been brought to my notice where the results have been the same. The
following veterinary graduates were employed on famine cattle camps in Guzerat and did excellent service :—
V. G. Basu, V. G. Juda Hyam, V. G. Bhatt, V. G. Shah, and V. G. Maniar.
451. I fear I may be accused of having quoted at too great length from
the Bombay Annual Report, but the subjects dealt with are of such great
importance that I trust I may be pardoned if I have exceeded the instructions
lately laid down for the compilation of this report.
Burma.
452. On this subject, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
states:—
"Cattle disease, Lower Burma.—It is a pleasure to report that the year under review has been as favour-
able to the health of the cattle in the Province as it was during the preceding year.
"There was an absence of the serious and widespread outbreaks of contagious disease which, unfortunately,
are not in frequent in parts of Burma.
"The total mortality registered from contagious diseases amounted to 19,024, while in the year previous
20,907 deaths were recorded.
"The mortality reported under the heading "Other causes," i.e., old age, accident, and disease, amounted
to 65,646, an increase of some 7,000 over that recorded last year.
"The mortality registered from all causes in each of the divisions during the year is as follows :—
Division.
Arakan
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Pegu
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Irrawaddy
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tenasserim
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL
Rinderpest.
1,237
1,996
3,168
447
6,848
Anthrax and
Charbon
symptom-
atique.
2,090
1,518
3,787
1,165
8,560
Foot-and-
mouth
disease.
956
344
1,198
1,118
3,616
Other
causes.
12,463
18,600
23,638
10,945
65,646
Total.
16,746
22,458
31,791
13,675
84,670
"Rinderpest.—Only two districts, namely, Akyab and Bassein, record over one thousand deaths: Akyab
1,161 and Bassein 1,043.
"Anthrax and Charbon symptomatique.—Two districts reported more than one thousand deaths during
the year, namely, Bassein 1,963 and Akyab 1,892.
"Foot-and-mouth disease.—The heaviest mortality was recorded in the Akyab district, namely, 903.
Towards the close of the year cattle-owners, owing to the scarcity of water, were rather anxious. It may
sound strange speaking of a difficulty about water in Lower Burma, but in many places towards the close of the
hot weather, in a very dry season such as we have just passed through, the water-supply, apart from being filthy,
is very often distant and inadequate.
"Working of the rules for the prevention of cattle disease.—The only unfavourable report on the work-
ing of the rules is from the Mandalay district. From other reports, etc., received there is ample evidence to