(5)
39. In the Bogadar subdivision 139 animals were attacked, out of which 72 died. In
Gomiar subdivision 208 out of 317 succumbed, while in Dumri in the Giridih sub-
division the large number of 612 animals died out of 964 seizures. The disease goes by the
name of Barka Dookh. On enquiries being made, the Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh
reported that the natives treated the animals after methods of their own, and as the disease
was disappearing, no assistance was required. The disease was not spreading, and affected the
cattle annually. Measures were taken to prevent the disease from spreading, and people
were instructed to keep the diseased animals separate from the rest. The carcases were
buried so as not to allow Chamars to remove the hides for Bale.
40. From August to December 1895 rinderpest may be said to have been persistent in
Purnea. The villages near the police-outposts Tamajganj and Belgatchia were particularly
unfortunate. Excepting Tamajganj, where 20 animals succumbed out of 44 attacked, the
number of seizures were few, averaging about 5 in each village. During the month of
November the disease was much more widely spread, and attacked cattle more or less severely
in the villages of Parora, Kashar, Katraili, Luckna, Hansi, and Maghgaon.
41. On the 24th December 1895, a report was received from the Superintendent,
General Hospital, Howrah, to the effect that rinderpest had broken out among the hospital
cattle, and that within three days 13 cows out of a total of 20 had died. I went
to the hospital and examined the remaining cows, two of which were suffering from a mild
form of the disease. The precaution of disinfecting the stalls had been thoroughly carried
out, and I recommended that the animals should remain whore they were, as there was
less chance of spreading the disease than if they were allowed outside, particularly as their
standings had been thoroughly purified. No further deaths were reported.
42. When the disease sets in with acute diarrhæa the people call it morak or
cholera, in all probability on acoount of its fatal termination. As little is understood about
these diseases by the natives, there can be very little reliance placed on the reports of death.
When, however, each district employs an educated Veterinary Assistant, the reports will be
much more satisfactory, and the information thus gleaned will prove valuable in thoroughly
studying these epidemics and controlling them.
43. It will, however, be seen that these epidemics can scarcely be called severe; and
considering the enormous numbers of cattle in the districts, serious epidemics may be said
to have been non-existent during the years 1895-96. On the receipt of information a
Veterinary Assistant was always immediately despatched with instructions and the necessary
medicines to the locality from which the disease was reported, and it may justly be considered
that these energetic measures had much to do with localizing the epidemic and preventing
its spreading.
Foot-and-mouth disease.
44. At the commencement of the year a report was received from the Collector of
Cuttack, from which it appeared that 3,425 cattle had been
attacked with foot-and-mouth disease, and that out of this
number 112 animals had died. The epidemic would seem to have spread over Cuttack,
Salepur, Jagutsingpur, Tirtoli, Kendrapara, and Daramsala police-outposts. The disease
being of a benign nature, simple treatment and cleanliness is all that is required.
Mr. Growse remarks " that the disease is not so serious as was at first supposed. The figures
have been compiled by the police, but they do not seem reliable. The disease appears
almost every year, and dies out under native treatment, or more often without any treatment.
Deaths have been few in comparison with the numbers attacked ; so I did not think a
Veterinary Assistant necessary." In the case of disease of the feet, the natives make the
cattle stand in mud. Turpentine, coal-tar, and kerosine oil are also applied to the affected
parts. Where the mouth is also affected, the sores are washed with a warm lotion made of
an infusion of leaves, such as Durlabha, Begunia (Brinjal) or Hinjal
45. In September 1895 the Collector of Rangpur forwarded to me four reports showing
that foot-and-mouth disease had broken out among the cattle of the Nilphamari subdivision.
A Veterinary Assistant was at once despatched to the district with the necessary medicines,
but the epidemic proved to be exceedingly mild, and by treatment and isolation the
disease was suppressed. In the Dinajpur district, particularly in the Thakurgaon subdivision,
a large number of cattle suffered from foot-and-mouth disease, and 33 animals died out of
417 attacked ; but as the epidemic oocurred out of the ploughing season, very little incon-
venience was felt, and the number of deaths was very small. Cattle of the district of Patna,
principally in the Mokameh subdivision, also suffered considerably from this complaint,
but only 13 deaths were reported to have occurred. Instructions as to the proper
treatment were sent to the Magistrate, who had them widely circulated among cattle-owners
in the district, and this action seems to have arrested the progress of the disease. In the
district round the Islampur thana the disease seems to have affected 1,118 animals, but only
5 deaths resulted ; and with the precautions already advised and circulated, the disease soon
abated. The affection is called korha, and has been seen in previous years, and is well known
to the people.
46. Pleuro-pneumouia as a contagious disease is unknown in Bengal, and may be said to
be non-existent.
47. In Appendix J a tabulated form has been made showing the percentages of
deaths from the various contagious diseases which have been reported. These figures may only