5
and North-West Frontier Province, and performed the work of Superintendent
in addition. Captain Walker on rejoining from leave on 11th February 1905,
took over the duties of Superintendent from Mr. Oliver.
SECTION II—TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
Mortality.
28. The mortality from contagious disease for the year will be found
in Table II. 11,269 deaths were reported against 8,498 last
year. The increase in numbers is probably due to the
fact that a larger number of Veterinary Assistants were employed and thus
more reports were received. It is unlikely that the total mortality from
contagious disease in the Province is accurately arrived at.
Equine contagious disease.
29. Only 21 deaths from contagious equine disease have been reported.
It must be remembered that in selected districts the Army
Remount Department deals with equine contagious disease
and only isolated cases treated at dispensaries come under the notice of this De-
partment in those districts. No doubt many more deaths from contagious
disease in equines do occur, but as a rule they are isolated cases and nothing
approaching the sudden and appalling losses which take place in the case of
cattle diseases is seen. Consequently, it does not occur to the patwari to report
the matter even when several horses die of Surra in one village. Again, except
in the case of suspected glanders, cases cannot be detained in hospitals and
dispensaries. The consequence is that many cases of equine contagious disease
are brought into hospitals and taken away to die unrecorded in the districts.
It is proposed to schedule Surra and Lymphangitis Epizootica under the Act.
If this measure comes into force, a large number of deaths from equine con-
tagious disease will no doubt be reported in future, but the numbers would
decrease in course of time.
Rinderpest.
30. During the year under report Rinderpest was reported from 11 dis-
tricts. The outbreaks were promptly dealt with in nearly
every case by means of preventive inoculation. Only 997
deaths from this disease were reported against 1,920 last year, and no doubt
preventive inoculation contributed largely in stopping the spread of the disease.
It is encouraging to find that in many places the agricultural community
now welcome inoculation as a preventive measure. A reference to Table III
will show that inoculations against Rinderpest were performed in 8 districts.
The number of cattle inoculated was 17,620 against 16,480 last year. Eight
hundred and twenty animals died uninoculated during the outbreaks and 12 only
after inoculation. The inspecting staff recently appointed has been usefully
employed in the initiation and supervision of inoculation work.
Cold storage of serum.
31. Serum is now stored during the hot weather at the Punjab Veteri-
nary College, where an underground cold room has been
built for the purpose.
Anthrax.
32. Anthrax broke out in 6 districts with 268 deaths among cattle. Eight
hundred and twenty animals were inoculated against this
disease in the Ferozepore District with satisfactory results.
Hæmorrhagic septicæ-
mia.
33. During the past year the disease hæmorrhagic septicæmia has
again been the most prevalent among cattle. Few districtss
escaped and in some the disease assumed serious propor-
tions. Ten thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
bovines are entered in Table II as having died from contagious disease
during the year, out of which 8,573 were reported to have succumbed to
this disease, and the great majority of these animals were buffaloes. When
Veterinary Assistants get to outbreaks in time they are able to render treatment
with indifferent success. An effectual prophylactic treatment is urgently re-
quired to cope with this disease.
Foot and mouth disease.
34. During the year foot and mouth disease occurred in 15 districts.
Thirty-seven thousand two hundred and ninety cases were
reported amongst cattle of which 330 died, the mortality
being 0.88 per cent.