6           REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,

valued at about £5,000,000 perished from the disease. The measures
taken to suppress it consisted of the complete prohibition of movements
of animals from infected to non-infected areas and the complete slaugh-
ter of diseased and in-contact-with diseased animals in farms where the
disease had broken out. These measures without the use of serum,
which was not then available, completely stamped out the disease. We
cannot, however, put these in force in Burma. We cannot, without
paralysing the economic life of the people, completely stop the move-
ments of animals at times when they are required for cultivating the
land or conveying its produce to the market. The slaughter of animals
is outside the question and in any case, apart from religious objections,
it would be unworkable in a country where the cultivators live in
villages instead of in isolated farms. Bearing in mind these facts the
only conclusion which can be drawn is that, by the measures which are
now available, contagious disease may be mitigated but it will be diffi-
cult entirely to eradicate it. The third of the evils mentioned above—
the existence of Indian cattle breeders—as a matter which, if it cannot
be entirely prevented, might be remedied to some extent and the sooner
the better. Not only do these herds aid in the dissemination of
disease but their owners by the use of Indian bulls are slowly but
surely breaking up the excellent breed of Burmese cattle which is so
well suited to this province. If nothing else can be done these herds-
men could at least be registered and their cattle placed under veterinary
inspection and control. The control should extend to the lands of bulls
they would be allowed to use and to seeing that they obey the segrega-
tion rules when disease breaks out.

12. It is often stated that disease is brought into Burma from without,
i.e., from Siam, China and possibly Bengal and Assam. We are of
course always prone to lay the blame for these matters on our neighbours,
but I am afraid that the conclusion must be accepted that Rinderpest is
enzootic to the province. This does not of course means that it cannot
occasionally come in from outside and that we should not make some
attempt to control the frontier routes. This is done at present by the
posting of extra assistants on the main cattle routes in frontier districts
like Myitkyina, Bhamo, Salween, Thatôn and Amherst. Proposals for
a more systematic quarantine are at present under consideration and
have been circulated to Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners for
their opinion. The general conclusion reached after all opinions have
been taken is that we have not at present legal powers to prohibit the
movements of animals along the frontier routes and that this can only
be done if a comprehensive "Animals Diseases Act" is introduced.
This matter is at present under consideration.

13. I am not satisfied that the Veterinary staff have in the past done
what they might have done to popularise segregation and inoculation
measures. No departmental leaflets have ever been prepared and