LEGISLATION FOR THE REPRESSION OF CATTLE-
                         DISEASES IN INDIA.

The following note, which has been drawn up by the Revenue and
Agricultural Department of the Government of India, is designed to
show briefly the history and present position of proposals for legislation
with the object of controlling cattle-disease.

The measures which have been under consideration are of two descrip-
tions, viz.,—

      (1)  measures of repression by segregation or slaughter of diseased
                   animals or both;

      (2)   measures of prevention by means of vaccination.

                  REPRESSION OF CATTLE-DISEASE.

Madras Act II
of 1866 for pre
vention of cattle
disease.

1. In 1866 the Madras Government passed an Act (M. C. II of
1866), under which owners of cattle were compelled to give notice of
disease, and certain officials were authorized to impound and detain
diseased cattle, and even, on necessity arising, to destroy such cattle
without compensation. The Act was not, however, brought into force
in any tract till 1876, and it has since then been at various times ex-
tended to a few districts only.

Cattle-Plaguo
Commission.

2. In 1869 a Commission was appointed by Government, at the
instance of Lord Mayo, to enquire into the nature of Indian cattle-
diseases and the means which should be taken to counteract them. In
their report, submitted in 1871, the Commission stated their conclu-
sion that protective measures, such as inoculation and vaccination, pro-
mised to be of very little use, and recommended legislation of a re-
pressive character. They were convinced that the most efficient expedient,
that of killing infected animals, was out of the question in this country,
but suggested the issue of provisions for due notice, proper segrega-
tion, and adequate disinfection and treatment. It must be remembered
that, at the time when the report was written, Bacteriology was hardly
even in its infancy.

Cattle-Plague
Commission's
Report, and V
terinary Licuti
nant-Colonel
Hallen's Manu
al.

3. One of the results of the Commission was the publication of
Mr. (now Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel) Hallen's valuable manual of
the more deadly forms of cattle-diseases in India. Copies of the report
itself were distributed to Local Governments, and its proposals were, in
1874, made the basis of further suggestions by the Army Sanitary
Commission in England. The recommendations made were not, how-
ever, followed by any immediate action.