4
23. This year there were 36 outbreaks of anthrax in seven districts, where preven-
tive inoculation was undertaken. Before inoculation 28 horses and 572 cattle died
uninoculated. There were 105 equines and 9,521 bovines inoculated, of which
2 equines and 28 bovines subsequently died from the disease. Last year there were
three outbreaks of disease in three districts in which 51 bovines died before inoculation,
181 bovines were inoculated, and no further deaths were reported.
24. Preventive inoculation against Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was carried out in
two districts. Before inoculation 56 cattle died. The number of cattle inoculated was
2,129, of which 11 subsequently died from the disease. In the previous year, there
was one outbreak of disease in which inoculation was undertaken. Seven animals died
before the operation, 376 were inoculated, and no further deaths were reported.
25. The total number of outbreaks of all diseases in which preventive inocula
tion was undertaken during the year was 289, before inoculation 6,344 animals died.
The total number of animals inoculated was 64,168, of which 428 subsequently died.
In the previous year preventive inoculation was undertaken in 73 outbreaks, 2,806
animals died before inoculation, 18,865 animals were inoculated, of which 169
subsequertly died.
26. Table No. IV shows the number of animals treated by itinerating Veterinary
Assistants during the year. They visited 4,146 villages and treated 35,354 animals : of
these 18,137 animals were suffering from contagious diseases and 17,102 were treated
for non-contagious diseases. Inoculated animals are not included in the number of
animals treated. In the previous year 1,225 villages were visited and 10,932 were
treated for contagius and non-contagious diseases.
27. The Veterinary Assistants at Shillong and Gauhati were especially placed
there by Government with the view of improving the miserable condition of the tonga
ponies on that road. The road is 63 miles long, and each Assistant inspected the stables
and ponies on his half of the road. On the Shillong half there are eight stables, and
these were inspected 24 times. The number of cases treated for lameness and harness
galls was 187. From Surra 15 animals died or were destroyed, and two animals were
destroyed for glanders. The Assistant treated 187 horses for non-contagious diseases
and 23 for contagious diseases, chiefly mange. Three temporary sheds have been
erected for the isolation of animals with contagious diseases. On the Gauhati half
of the road there arc nine stables, and these were inspected 47 times. The number of
animals treated for lameness and harness galls was 115. From Surra 32 animals died
or were destroyed, and four animals were destroyed or died from glanders. All the
cases of Surra, before destruction, were confirmed by microscopical examination.
The Assistant treated 78 horses for non-contagious diseases and 42 horses for contagious
diseases, chiefly mange or strangles. In addition to the actual treatment of disease,
the Assistants have given attention to the quality and quantity of the food, the condition
of the harness, brishes, etc., the method of shoeing and cleanliness of horses and.
stables. A small supply of simple medicines has been placed at each stable, and the
syces have been instructed how to apply or administer them. The tonga contractors
were asked to give the number of deaths which occurred in previous years from
contagious disease, but these figures are not obtainable. From enquiry, the mortality
seems to be less than in former years, when the deaths were put down to anthrax.
This year not a single case of anthrax amongst the tonga ponies has been found.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
28. See Table V.—During the year under report two new veterinary hospitals have
been opened, namely, one at Rangpur and one at Malda. At veterinary hospitals
there is accommodation for in-patients. All the time of the Veterinary Assistant at
Chittagong is occupied by the hospital; the assistants at the remaining hospitals and
dispensaries spend a portion of each month on tour. The dispensary at Mymensingh,
which had been closed in the previous year, as no assistant was available, was re-opened
on the 13th May 1907. The Veterinary Assistants at Bakarganj and Sibsagar have
been employed this year almost entirely on itinerating work, owing to the amount
of contagious diseases in the districts, and as they have no accommodation for in-
patients they have no work to show under this head. Towards the close of the year
temporary dispensaries were opened at Gauhati and Shillong, but here also the Assistants
have been employed chiefly on itinerating work, especially in the treatment of tonga
ponies. On the 31st March 1908, there were thus seven veterinary hospitals and six
veterinary dispensaries in the province. The total number of in-patients and out-
patients treated at these places during the year was 405 in-patients and 13,500 out--