154
Mortality amongst live-stock.—The subjoined table compares the mortality
reported during the year, with that in the preceding year, and with the average
for the five years ending 1894-95:—
|
Causes of death. |
NUMBER AMONGST CATTLE. |
NUMBER AMONGST HORESE AND PONIES. |
||||
|
Average for |
In 1894-95. |
In 1895-96. |
Average for |
In 1894-95. |
In 1895-98. |
|
|
Diseases— |
||||||
|
Rinderpest . . . . . |
14,528 |
13,974 |
21,475 |
... |
... |
... |
|
Diarrhœa and Dysentery . . |
21,435 |
9,825 |
11,089 |
13 |
4 |
44 |
|
TOTAL . |
35,958 |
23,799 |
32,564 |
13 |
4 |
44 |
|
Anthrax . . . . . |
17,980 |
16,123 |
17,746 |
20 |
13 |
5 |
|
Foot and mouth disease . . . |
6,961 |
7,545 |
3,477 |
... |
... |
... |
|
Variola . . . . . |
2,103 |
1,803 |
2,063 |
... |
... |
... |
|
All others . . . . . |
30,793 |
35,947 |
36,439 |
147 |
155 |
163 |
|
Total from diseases . |
93,795 |
85,220 |
92,289 |
180 |
172 |
212 |
|
Other causes— |
||||||
|
Snake-bite . . . . . |
2,257 |
2,597 |
2,656 |
7 |
16 |
8 |
|
Wild animals . . . . . |
10,427 |
10,750 |
10,566 |
172 |
204 |
119 |
|
Criminal poisoning . . . |
24 |
35 |
21 |
... |
... |
... |
|
Total from other causes . |
12,708 |
13,382 |
13,243 |
179 |
220 |
127 |
|
GRAND TOTAL . |
106,503 |
98,602 |
105,532 |
359 |
392 |
339 |
Cattle disease.—The total losses of cattle from disease were about 8 per
cent, greater than in the previous year, but were below the average by 1.65
per cent. The increase, as compared with the previous year, occurred chiefly
under Rinderpest, while there was a large decrease under foot and mouth
disease. The losses from Rinderpest were nowhere very large, except in
Bellary, in which district one-third of the total losses from this disease reported
for the Presidency occurred. In Anantpur the losses were also considerable,
and they were noticeable also in South Arcot and South Canara. In Bellary
and South Arcot a considerable number of deaths were put down to diarrhœa
and dysentery, some of which may have been actually caused by Rinderpest.
Taking these causes of death together, it was not until October 1895 that any
serious increase in the mortality recorded appeared, and in December it again
decreased, only, however, to increase again during the closing months of the
year, during which the disease caused very considerable losses in Bellary and
Anantpur.
Anthrax—Is reported to have caused about 1,600 more deaths than in the
preceding year, but not so many as have been recorded on the average. The
largest number of deaths reported from this disease occurred in Godavari, South
Arcot, Tanjore and Chingleput, but they were numerous also in Kistna,
Kurnool and Bellary. The heaviest mortality occurred during the months
from July to November, although in September there was a marked decrease
on the number reported in August; as the dry weather set in, the deaths from
this disease decreased. The decrease from mortality in Epizootic Aphtha
occurred principally in the districts of Ganjam and Chingleput, where deaths
from this cause were numerous in the previous year; but still the losses in
these districts and in Godavari were considerable. More than half the deaths
attributed to Variola were reported from three districts—Ganjam, Kistna and