6
3. The system of instructing Veterinary Inspectors and Veterinary
Assistants has continued as in past years : it has certainly improved the
standard of work generally. During the inspection of Hospitals Veterinary
Assistants are examined on the cases treated and the latest methods of treat-
ment are explained to them. As before, lectures and practical demonstra-
tions on veterinary matters have been given in villages.
Part II.—Treatment of diseases.
(1)—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Mortality.—Table II.
4. During the year under report 30,804 deaths from contagious diseases
were reported in the province, against 20,903 in the pre-
vious year. The increase is due to a large number of
outbreaks of rinderpest, hæmorrhagic septicæmia and surra. Owing to the
shortage of staff (on account of war) the Department was unable to cope with
all the outbreaks nor has the reporting of diseases by patwaris yet reached the
standard desired.
Equines.
Glanders.—Table II.
5. The Pathankot-Palampur and Pathankot-Dalhousie tonga lines have
been again free from glanders. The Manager of the lines
has all newly purchased animals tested for this disease by
the Department. Only one case of glanders occurred during the year in the
non-selected districts of the province, and 3 in the selected districts under this
Department, against 32 cases in the selected districts last year. Every care was
taken to follow up in-contact cases, which were tested. A careful watch is be-
ing kept on this disease to prevent outbreaks such as occurred in 1913-14 and
1914-15.
Influenza.—Table II.
6. Influenza was very prevalent in Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffar-
garh, Ferozepore and Montgomery : 30 deaths were re-
ported, but it is certain that a larger number of deaths
occurred which were not reported. Mr. Quirke personally attended the out-
break in Muzaffargarn.
Surra.—Table II.
7. Surra was very prevalent in the province owing to the heavy rains.
It was particularly bad in the Gujranwala, Ferozepore and
Gurdaspur Districts. A larger number of cases must have
occurred which were not brought to notice
Every endeavour was made to
destroy diseased animals so as to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Douline.—Table II.
8. Dourine is a serious and difficult disease to deal with. The Depart-
ment in its efforts to deal with the disease during the previous
year discovered that still more active measures were neces-
sary. The Dera Ghazi Khan District was notified as a dourine-infected area.
At the request of the Chief Superintendent, the Deputy Commissioner of Dera
Ghazi Khan kindly arranged for a meeting of the Tumandars and leading men
of the district at Fort Munro in October 1916. The President of the
meeting was the Commissioner of the Division. The Chief Superintendent
pointed out to those present the necessity of stamping out the disease,
and of examining every mare and stallion in the district. He, Mr. Quirke
and Mr. Shilston (of the Mukhtesar Laboratory) again visited the district in
November 1916, and arrangements were made with Mr. Shilston to carry out
the serum test at Mukhtesar. The Chief Superintendent and Mr. Quirke then
proceeded to make an extensive tour through the district, during which about
6,000 mares and 1,000 stallions were examined. The result of this has been that
a large number of mares have been detected showing suspicious symptoms. The
serum taken from these cases has been dealt with by Mr. Shilston. The
Department has taken, and is taking, the best possible precautions, with the
staff available, to prevent further spread of the disease.
Dourine is reported to be prevalent in the adjoining districts of Baluchi
stan. This somewhat handicaps this Department in the work of stamping out
the disease, as a mare is very often owned, partly by a resident in Baluchistan,
and partly by a resident in Dera Ghazi Khan. Steps are being taken to notify
the whole of the Punjab under the Act.