8
all causes in comparison with last year, the greatest mortality being noticeable under
the head " other diseases " which are responsible for as many as 5,324 deaths out of
6,887 attacked. This increase seems to be partly due to the fact that the year under
report was an unfavourable one as regards cattle disease owing to heavy rainfall,
and partly to the Veterinary Assistants having been able to supply more accurate
information. Still, in my opinion, some outbreaks are probably not reported.
Owing to the transfer of 34 men to the Army Remount Department, 8 of whom were
employed in connection with cattle disease, this important work has suffered to some
extent. In addition, certain duties in connection with Imperial horse breeding
were for a portion of the year performed by men whose services had previously
been entirely at the disposal of this branch and possibly their legitimate work
suffered. By the end of the year under report, however, practically all the
Imperial stallions were disposed of and the subordinate staff of this department
will now devote themselves to work in connection with cattle disease, and perform
the minor duties connected with District Horse Breeding in non-selected districts.
As the subordinate staff increases and the areas of circles become smaller, a better
position in this respect can be hoped for,
Revised rules for dealing
with contagious diseases.
45. Revised rules for dealing with contagious disease have been approved
and incorporated in an Agricultural Circular. Regarded from
the European point of view they err on the side of leniency.
In course of time and as education progresses stricter lines can be drawn.
Pamphlet on cattle dis-
ease and its prevention.
46. Four thousand copies in Urdu of the pamphlet " Muháfiz-i-Sahat-i-
Maweshi" have been taken by the Director of Public Instruc-
tion, and it is presumed that the work will be adopted as a
text-book in village schools. The importance of educating agriculturists in methods
of dealing with cattle disease cannot be overrated as a factor in clearing the way for
measures in the future.
Rinderpest and prevent-
ive inoculation.
Appendix VII. M.
47. Three thousand eight hundred and ninety-six cases of rinder-
pest were reported during the year against 2,710 the
year before, of which about one-half died. Preventive
inoculations against this disease were performed in 132
villages.
The number of inoculated animals is smaller than last year,
being 16,480 against 24,457. This is accounted for by the fact that serum
was not obtainable on several occasions when it was applied for. I under-
stand that there has been a great demand for serum all over the country, I had to
refuse 10 applications from Veterinary Assistants for more than 13,000 doses as
the Imperial Bactereologist could not meet my demands. It will be seen that 24
deaths occurred after inoculation. At the village of Bhopur in the Siálkot District,
5 deaths occurred. I visited the scene myself and ascertained that the disease was
of a particularly virulent type. When the mortality percentage of an outbreak
is large it follows that the dose of serum must be fixed higher than when the
disease is of a mild type. In this particular case, the serum had been subjected
to great heat also and had no doubt lost some of its power. Under my orders,
the dose had been considerably increased but perhaps this was not sufficient.
I incline to the opinion that the dose of serum would have been sufficient had
not the disease been particularly virulent. The question of fixing the dose of
serum will always be rather a difficult one in this country. The virulence of
the disease varies in an extraordinary manner in different outbreaks and the fact
that serum deteriorates quickly in the heat of the plains complicates matters.
Veterinary Assistants receive very explicit instructions in these matters, but acci-
dents are occasionally unavoidable. In spite of a few drawbacks the utility of the
method is unquestionable, and, in the Punjab, the results have so far been excellent.
On the whole, inoculations have been well received and even welcomed. I have
pleasure in reporting progress in the Kángra District which I mentioned last year
as backward. The Deputy Commissioner (Mr. Younghusband, c.s.) has taken a
personal interest in the matter and my thanks are due to him for his assistance.
The supervision of inoculation work has received as far as possible my personal
attention; but an inspecting staff is essential.
Cold storage of serum.
48. The question of storage of serum is under consideration. I made a
temporary arrangement last hot weather in my office with
some success, as shown by a daily temperature chart. It is
practically impossible to keep serum cool in transit in the districts. When it is
subjected to great heat, the dose is always increased.