6
actually saw sick animals being fed on dry joar (Sorghum vulgare) and bajra
(Pennisetum typhoideum). This gave him an opportunity of explaining to the
different gatherings the bad results of such feeding. It is only by dealing with
the people in this way that they get to understand the elements of practical
hygiene and so improve the conditions under which cattle are reared. The
disease in a famine year is generally worse, as the animals are so debilitated
that they are unable to withstand an attack of the disease, and there is no
reserve of good fodder with which to feed sick animals during convalescence.
Preventive inocula-
tion,—table III.
10. Eighteen thousand three hundred and thirty-five inoculations
were performed in 197 outbreaks which occurred in 19 dis-
tricts : 3,651 uninoculated and 67 inoculated animals died in
the course of the outbreaks.
A few of the district boards have paid for inoculations which has been
a great help to the department. Had it not been for them the mortality
would have been heavier than is reported.
Epizootic Aptha,—
table II.
11. Foot and mouth disease.—This disease was
reported from 23 districts, and 323 animals died against
684 last year.
The mortality from this disease is very small, and is chiefly caused by
flies (Sarcophagus liniata colis). This fly is capable of laying at least 20
larvæ in a minute on the sores in the interdigital space and mouth. Veteri-
nary assistants have been told to explain to the people that they must be
very careful when their animals get foot and mouth disease that maggots do
not get into the wounds. When this occurs they should go to the veterinary
hospital at once and obtain dressing. The same fly causes a great deal of
trouble in rinderpest.
Although the deaths from foot and mouth disease itself are very small,
the deformities caused in the feet by it and maggot infection are very great,
and this is chiefly the reason of so many bad feet in the country. It also affects
the development of young stock considerably. Veterinary assistants have
been shown a very simple and inexpensive method of passing animals through
a trough containing phenyle. A trench 6 feet wide, 10 feet long and one foot
deep, filled with phenyle solution, is made in the ground and animals quietly
driven through it. This is so easily done that it can be carried out in any
village.
12. Material from foot and mouth disease cases was sent to Bareilly for
the benefit of the Royal Commission investigating the disease.
Table II.
13. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was reported from every district in
the province. Eight thousand six hundred and seventy-
six animals died against 10,894 in the previous year.
From the Chief Superintendent's personal experience it is ascertained
that the disease remains confined to certain areas where water lies in shallow
pools, where land becomes inundated, and in places where canal water gets on
to already infected land which is not cultivated.
The following occurred on the Hissar Farm. There is a shallow tank
which was supplied from the Western Jumna Canal. Hæmorrhagic septicæ-
mia occurred at all times of the year, and after careful investigation it was
discovered that the herds affected with the disease grazed on the banks of this
tank. The area was enclosed with a thorn fencing, and the disease in conse-
quence stopped. About three weeks later owing to a storm the fencing became
breached and the animals got into the area and the disease broke out again. The
breaches were repaired and the tank dried, and the grass and jungle on the
ground all round cut and burnt. The intention was to have the whole place well
ploughed up, as it is believed that if these places are so treated, the organism
which lies under the soil, where there is still moisture, if exposed to the sun
will be destroyed. The Chief Superintendent has been advising zaildars to have