CATTLE SUfcVEY OP THE AMBITSAB DISTEICT. 19 



generally in young or weak animals or from complications. The disease 

 causes great inconvenience if it breaks out at a season when animals are 

 required for urgent work as it incapacitates them temporarily. Frequently, 

 however, animals are to be found at work with the disease on them and 

 when used in this way on lines of communication they are a great source 

 of infection. The people treat this disease fairly intelligently using, as a 

 rule, decoctions of " neem " or " kikar " bark as dressings, but frequently 

 maggots get in the wounds and they find this condition difficult to deal 

 with. 



The veterinary staff are able to render excellent service by treating 

 cases and their treatment is becoming popular. In a wide-spread epide- 

 mic such as the recent one (1909), which affected all parts of the Punjab, 

 it was impossible to provide veterinary attendance at more than a percen- 

 age of the outbreaks but the people themselves came in large numbers to 

 the hospitals for dressings which were highly popular. 



At one time isolation of affected cases was recommended in this 

 disease but it was practically impossible to carry out and is no longer 

 attempted. As a matter of fact it is not necessary or even advisable in ex- 

 isting circumstances. 



35. The disease hsemorrhagic septicsemia is common in the district 

 Haemorrhagio septicee- and caus es a good deal of loss especially among 

 mia - buffaloes, but cattle are also severely affected. The 



usual mortality among animals attacked is from 90 to 100 per cent. It is 

 prevalent in the rainy season or rather immediately after the rains. It is 

 most common in the autumn, but it frequently occurs in the spring. The 

 causes that lead to its spread and the method of infection require further 

 investigation. It occurs regularly in dirty and badly drained villages and 

 may be regarded as a disease of unhygienic surroundings. There, is no 

 doubt that it would be heard of less if the people could be persuaded to 

 keep their cattle under more sanitary conditions. No satisfactory method 

 of treating this disease has yet been found. The writer has tried a great 

 number without success. Native owners are in the habit of firing the 

 throats of affected animals, a swelling of the throat being a prominent 

 symptom, 



