22                REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,

bracket them in the mortality returns. This procedure must be
continued until microscopic diagnosis by examination of blood smears
made from the carcases can be introduced as a routine procedure.

Surra.—Outbreaks of this disease were reported from seven districts.
Severe mortality is recorded from Pakôkku, Katha, Bhamo and
Myitkyina.

Deaths totalled 284 during the year. The previous year's death
record was 66. The most severe outbreaks occurred in Military Police
lines.

The disease in the northern districts where the greatest increase has
occurred will receive the attention of the department.

Glanders.—One case was recorded during the year in the districts.

The occurrence of the disease in the Rangoon Municipal area is
recorded in a report by the Municipal Veterinary Officer, which is
included in the indices.

Epizootic Lymphangitis.—This disease is limited to the Myitkyina area
and results in sporadic outbreaks in equines of the Military Police. The
disease is present among the equines used for border trade with China.

              SECTION IV.—MEASURES FOR THE CONTROL
                 OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS.

                         (a) PREVENTIVE INOCULATION.

Rinderpest.—The number of animals inoculated with anti-rinderpest
serum during the year was 72,038 as compared with 106,478 during the
previous year.

Inoculations were carried out in the various circles as follows:—

A feature has been made in previous years in the Annual Report of
the number of deaths following Rinderpest inoculation and to the
uninitiated the figures may be interpreted to represent mortality actually
caused by the inoculation of anti-rinderpest serum. It is pointed out
that as serum immunisation is always done during an outbreak of the
disease many sick animals or those in the incubative stage of the disease
are inoculated which may succumb later to the natural disease.

The serum is inocuous on injection except in rare cases and deaths
after inoculation must be regarded as the result of continuation of the
outbreak.

The very rapid cessation of deaths from the disease which usually
follows after serum inoculation indicates that the serum obtained from
Muktesar is of very high titre and the authorities there are to be
congratulated on the remarkable efficacy of their product.