7
The serious nature of the disease is explained to owners of horses, mules
and donkeys, and that it can be communicated to man. Mr. Gaiger's case
has been brought to their notice. In Amritsar the result of these lectures is
that keepers of serais in which horses are kept do not allow strange horses
to enter unless they have been tested.
11. During the Amritsar Dewali and Baisakhi Horse Fairs special
arrangements were made for the detection and prevention of glanders. Three
Veterinary Inspectors and 14 Veterinary Assistants were posted on all the roads
entering the fair ground to examine animals. Each owner was given a printed
slip showing that his animal had been examined. These slips were checked
in the fair ground by the Chief Superintendent and Veterinary Inspectors. One
case of glanders was detected before entering the fair ground. If this case
had been allowed to enter the fair ground (which was very crowded) it would
have infected several animals. All purchasers were supplied with a notice
warning them to keep every animal purchased at the fair ground isolated for a
month after purchase.
12. The Chief Superintendent cannot speak too highly of the staff
who has so ably assisted him in this troublesome and dangerous work. The
following members of the department deserve mention in this connection.
Mr. W. Taylor, Veterinary Inspector Ghulam Hassan, Veterinary
Inspector Kadir Bakhsh (Army Remount Department attached to Civil
Veterinary Department for glanders duty) and Veterinary Assistant Sazawar.
13. As to the outbreak at Delhi and Gurgaon, it is being successfully
dealt with by Deputy Superintendent, Lala Kotu Ram. It may be noted that
though Delhi is not now in the Punjab, the Department is still dealing with
cattle disease there.
14. The work of detection of, and testing for this disease requires a
great deal of tact : as ignorant owners are only too keen on hiding cases. The
Chief Superintendent's orders have been carefully carried out with the result
that there has been no friction of any kind. The outbreaks in Lahore and
Amritsar have been thoroughly dealt with, and beyond a few sporadic cases
which are bound to occur the disease has been checked. The total number
of animals destroyed as suffering from glanders was :—
In Lahore District .. .. .. .. ..
In Amritsar District .. .. .. .. ..
In Delhi .. .. .. .. ..
58
42
30
While the number tested with mallein, many of them two or three times,
was :—
Lahore .. .. .. .. ..
Amritsar .. .. .. .. ..
Delhi .. .. .. .. ..
490
510
160
The Railway authorities have been asked to have horse-boxes and trucks
very carefully cleaned and disinfected. Government has been approached
regarding the necessity for all Provinces to report outbreaks to each other,
which will enable this Department to deal with the disease in a more satisfactory
manner throughout India.
15. The Chief Superintendent has not waited for orders on this matter
and has reported to all Provinces the number of trucks, also the number of
animals carried in each truck, which left Amritsar for all parts of India with
horses after the Amritsar fair.
16. Strangles has usual been prevalent during the year. Until
every hospital has an isolation ward this disease cannot be treated satisfactorily.
17. Surra has been prevalent as usual. During the year 2.18 deaths
occurred. The Chief Superintendent fears that there are a great number of
cases which are not reported. Until the movements of animals from diseased
areas can be restricted (which is a very big problem) the disease is bound to
spread.