The equine diseases of India / by Richard W. Burke.

  • Burke, R. W. (Richard W.)
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The equine diseases of India / by Richard W. Burke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/84
    The wide distribution of equine diseases and their disastrous effects upon the horses of the country in which they prevail, and the obstacle they constitute to the progress of horse-breeding, rearing and supply, is not generally realised in India, whereas it is a subject which should attract the attention of the Government of India, inasmuch as these diseases materially increase the cost of administration. We as a profes- sion have had some experience of them, and the importance of the subject is enormous, but, withal, little or nothing has been done towards Understanding their etiology, or the precise conditions necessary for their existence or production. If we examine the widespread distri- bution of diseases in India, we cannot fail to be struck by the immense loss they occasion to the country, and by the indifference of the people where they prevail. No one who has not paid attention to the subject can form any idea of the annual loss which natives of India are subjected to in having no right advice available to treat their animals when attacked by any sort of disease or suffering from any accident, The native, as is well known, classes almost every description of disease under one head, and if his usual remedy is of no avail, he submits to fate and looks upon his loss as a dispensation of Providence. It would be as well, therefore, if the Government of India would lend its coun- tenance to some general scheme for diffusing veterinary knowledge which would benefit owners of animals throughout the country. We hope that such a useful suggestion, even amongst the pressing require- ments of the Government of India at present, will not be neglected. This is a practical suggestion of tjie*very greatest interest, and also of the very greatest importance to the subject, as tending to show the native classes the conditions necessary for the development and spread of animal diseases. There is, however, one very great difficulty in this question, that animal suffering is considered so lightly that, unlike the human diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, &c. it does not attract the attention of the people, aul still less of the Govern- ment, and thus we are led to argue the presence or absence of disease