8
Sanction has now been received, however, to the use of Blacklegoids, and the
Punjab Government have provided funds for the purchase of a sufficient quantity
next year. Arrangements will be made for a regular fresh supply and a thorough
investigation is being instituted for the purpose of finding out in what villages
the disease regularly occurs with a view to vaccinations being performed in
those places. In this way it may be possible to prevent its recurrence, and the
consequent losses from it.
Anthrax. Table II.
40. Anthrax was reported from nine districts. 184 deaths occurred from
the disease against 268 last year. No inoculations were
performed, the reports being received too late for preventive
measures to be of service. Anthrax spores having been found in oil cake
exported from India to Great Britain, the Secretary of State for India called
for certain information on the subject. A report was accordingly submitted in
which after a review of the circumstances under which it was likely to be
conveyed it was stated that, without a larger staff and wider legislation, it is
difficult to see what can be done to prevent it.
(1). c. CONTAGIOUS DISEASE. OTHER ANIMALS.
Contagious disease.
Other animals. Table II.
41. The deaths recorded from contagious disease among other animals
are mainly due to sheep pox and parasitic diseases in sheep
and goats. For some years I have been anxious to investi-
gate these diseases, but time has not permitted of it. Dur-
ing the past year, material has been obtained and handed over to Captain Baldrey
of the Punjab Veterinary College, who has kindly taken much interest in the
work. A joint investigation in regard to a disease known as "Gillar"
which is the cause of much mortality among sheep and goats, is now in
progress, and results will be reported in due course.
Rabies.
42. 15 cases of rabies were reported from the districts of Simla,
Amritsar, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Umballa and Muzaffargarh.
These cases were brought to the notice of Veterinary
Assistants professionally, and bear no relation to the total number of cases that
occur.
(2). OTHER DISEASE.
Treatment of disease in
villages. Table IV.
43. During the year under report, 74 Veterinary Assistants were employ-
ed on itinerating duty. They visited 8,575 villages and
treated 32,052 animals. In the previous year, 12,804 vil-
lages were visited, and 40,149 animals were treated. Veterinary Assistants are
now required to spend more time in the larger villages, and inoculation work
entails longer halts. The smaller number of animals treated during the year,
compared with the previous year, is due mainly to the comparative non-preva-
lence of Foot and Mouth Disease. In that year, 18,438 animals were treated
for contagious disease against 9,674 animals during the year under report. 601
castrations were performed against 527 in the previous year. The work per-
formed by Veterinary Assistants on tour has no doubt improved to some
extent under the supervision of the Veterinary Inspectors, but it is considered
that, in the absence of contagious disease, the services of the Veterinary Assis-
tants are most usefully employed at Veterinary Dispensaries. This question is
somewhat involved, and it is now being thoroughly discussed.
(3). VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
Veterinary Hospitals.
Tables V and VI.
44. There are now 12 Veterinary Hospitals at work in the Province.
Those at Gujrat, Mooltan and Murree have been opened
during the year. Gujrat was opened on the 1st April.
Work was commenced at Mooltan with a stationary man on the 8th January,
1906. There had been a dispensary there before with an itinerating man in
•charge. The hospital at Murree was open from the 1st July, 1905, to the 15th
October, 1905. It was in charge of one of the Veterinary Assistants attached
to this office. In future it will probably be open for all the summer months.
The delay in commencing work last summer was due to a difficulty about a build-
ing. Most of the hospitals show an increase in the number of patients
treated. The total number treated at the hospitals was 26,528 against 20,233
last year. These institutions do excellent work, and appear to be much appreciated
by the public.