36
tionally sultry weather the mules should be picketed in the open, and the stables would
benefit by the temporary evacuation. With regard to the Tonghoo lines, their bad
situation might be improved and possibly be made to answer if some improvements
were made in the surroundings; the drainage altered by deepening the existing
channels and by cleansing of the neighbouring impure jheel, also by the removal of
refuse accumulations and encroaching native huts. Each of the mules should be
provided with a good jhool in order that it may be available in the event of unavoidable
exposure, especially during monsoon-time, and there should be provision made for a
reserve supply of nosebags being available, so that the animals may never have to feed
off the ground. If all stables were, like those of the dep6t at Rangoon, fitted with
mangers, the saving in food for the animals would be great and the cost more than
covered by the saving in nosebags, which are quickly worn out by mules and might
then be kept simply as service kit. I attribute so much ill effect to exposure during
the rains that I am of opinion it would be an advantage if an order were issued that
whenever in British Burma mules or ponies are removed from their stables into
quarantine, during the monsoon especially, cheap temporary sheds be run up
for their accommodation, and that at places such as Thandoun and Kokine, where
Government mules are constantly wanting accommodation, provision be made for
their proper housing. With regard to watering: it seems to be generally understood
that well water should be used whenever procurable, and, when it is not, large tanks
with ample water in them are to be preferred, and especially those free from rank vegeta-
tion and scum on the surface. Care in selection of water and in avoidance of that of
marshes and low tanks should everywhere be strictly enforced and constantly impressed
on every one in charge of the mules; especially is this precaution necessary with
puckal mules, and great care should be exercised that these be not overworked and
that they get regularly tended and fed on their return from this duty.
35. Reserve supplies of food, both fodder and grain, should be available for im-
mediate use, so that condemnation of a day's supply will not mean deprivation of the
mules of one day's feed. The gram or paddy should be crushed ; there is a large pro-
portion of animals among the mules in Burma with defective teeth and weak digestive
organs; such animals cannot make the most of uncrushed gram, and they do not digest
unprepared paddy, which therefore acts as an irritant. If the gram be purchased in
crushed condition, it is liable to be of inferior quality and adulterated; it would be
better if there were grinding stones for crushing purposes in each large mule lines. It
would be an advantage if part of the present supply of grain were supplemented by
some aromatic, such as Indian oil-cake, which can be purchased in the bazaar at a cheap
rate. It would supply the aromatic element, which is usually deficient in Burmese
fodder, and which native horse-owners atone for by the constant administration of mus-
sauls. It is already used in feeding the Government bullocks at Rangoon and Tonghoo,
and is much liked by animals and excellent for fattening. There are so many points
which might be settled with advantage on the question of feeding Government
animals in Burma—the conditions as to price, quality, and procurability of foods are so
different in that country from in India—that I am of opinion the whole matter might,
with advantage to Government, be gone into by a committee of experts. So long as
there are defects in the feeding of the animals, so long will they suffer from enzootics,
such as relapsing fever and anthrax. Another cause, though an indirect one, of such
losses is the want of information on animal management by those in charge of the
regimental mules; they gain experience in time, but at the expense of the welfare of
the mules, and it cannot be otherwise until they are instructed in such matters before
being put in charge. Also, with ample stable and transport duties to occupy their
attention, they are too frequently needed for drill and parades, and the mules, left to
native supervision, suffer accordingly. I believe that this disease will be much less
frequent when the Burma transport has adequate veterinary supervision and organ-
ization. The salootries need instruction in the most elementary points of their duties
and are utterly incompetent to give advice in animal management and to cope with the
most simple cases of sickness or injury, much less severe outbreaks of obscure disorder ;
they also need special instruction, and, until they receive it, will be of but little
use. These are matters affecting the general welfare of the animals mainly, but their
indirect influence on the prevalence of relapsing fever has, I feel convinced, been very