7
Dourine. Table II.
32. Two cases of suspected Dourine, discovered in the Gujranwala
District, were reported to the Army Remount Department.
It is pleasing to report that no cases have been detected in
the non-selected districts. The question of legislating for this disease is under
consideration. In the meantime, precautions have been taken in regard to it.
Information of the nature of this disease has been widely disseminated, and rules
issued for the guidance of the Veterinary staff in the event of cases being
detected.
Other contagious equine
disease. Table II.
33. Under the head of other contagious disease, strangles causes the
greatest mortality. During the year under report 14
animals died out of 199 treated, 10 deaths from tetanus in
horses were also reported.
(1). b. BOVINE CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
Rinderpest. Table II.
34. As mentioned above, outbreaks of Rinderpest were somewhat
numerous. 22 districts were affected, and out of 8,447
animals attacked, 4,392 died, being a mortality of 51.99 per
cent. The Karnal District suffered most, but serious outbreaks also occurred
in the Shahpur and Jhang Districts.
Preventive inoculation.
Table III.
35. Preventive inoculation on a large scale was practised against this
disease in actual outbreaks. Operations were carried out in
21 districts and 50,268 animals were inoculated. The large
number of inoculations performed this year both for Rinderpest and Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia, viz., 57,631 against 18,440 last year for Rinderpest and Anthrax,
kept the subordinate staff in many districts very busy. Veterinary Inspectors
did most useful work in initiating and supervising, and Superintendents were able
to check some of the work in unexpected places. Evidence is all in favour of the
good results from inoculation against Rinderpest, and there seems to be no doubt
that it is a most beneficial prophylactic. Opposition is now exceptional, and in
some localities the method is quite popular. The results are shown in Table III.
In respect of the inoculations performed against Rinderpest, 2,504 animals died
uninoculated in the course of the outbreaks, and 42 after inoculation.
Foot and mouth disease.
Table II.
36. The year was exceptionally free from foot and mouth disease.
11,120 cases, with a mortality of 78 or 0.70 per cent. were
reported against 37,290 cases in the previous year, with a
mortality of 330 or 0.88 per cent. Outbreaks occurred in 13 districts, and they
were attended, and the sick animals treated by the Veterinary Assistants.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæ-
mia. Table II.
37. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was not as prevalent as usual. 6,148 cases
were reported against 8,952 in the previous year. The
mortality was 5,821 or 94.68 per cent. against 8,573 or
95.76 per cent. As usual, most of the districts were affected, 3 only escaping.
The Lahore, Amritsar and Lyallpur Districts suffered the most.
Preventive inoculation.
Table III.
38. A preventive serum was made available for this disease during the
year from the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory, and 7,363
animals were inoculated in actual outbreaks. The method
was more or less on trial, but the results appeared to be satisfactory. Some
interesting results were obtained and special reports on the subject have been
made to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department. The nature of this
disease (vide remarks in the Annual Report for 1902-03) renders it somewhat
difficult to judge of the benefits of preventive inoculation without extended trial.
It may be said that it can, in any case, do no harm, if ordinary precautions are
taken. 923 animals died uninoculated in the course of the outbreaks, and 9 died
after inoculation. At the close of the year our indents for serum could not be
entirely complied with.
Black-quarter. Table II.
39. Black-quarter was reported from 12 districts. 362 cases occurred of
which 347 proved fatal. In the previous year, there were
726 cases with 677 deaths. The disease was most prevalent
in the Jhelum, Ferozepore and Hoshiarpur Districts. In accordance with the
Government of India orders no vaccinations were performed against this disease