NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
5
OTHER ANIMALS (SHEEP, GOATS, DOGS)
27. Anthrax.—There were 21 deaths reported from 4 districts
against 9 deaths from 2 districts in the previous year.
28. Sheep pox.—This year no death was reported from this
disease ; in the previous year 7 deaths were reported from 1
district.
29. Pleura Pneumonia.—Only 1 death was reported this year
against none in the previous year.
30. Foot and Mouth disease.—This disease was reported from
4 districts with a mortality of 183 against 66 deaths from 4 dis-
tricts in the previous year.
31. Scab.—This disease was reported from 6 districts with a
mortality of 193 against 83 deaths from 5 districts in the previous
year.
32. Rabies.—The disease was reported from 9 districts
causing 202 deaths against a mortality of 260 reported from 10
districts in the previous year.
33. Other diseases.—The number of deaths from other diseases
was reported to be 1,484 against 1,281 of the previous year.
34. Other causes. The number of deaths reported from other
causes was 2,467 against 2,076 of the previous year.
35. The return of mortality under the head " Camels " is
blank as the province does not possess this animal.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION
36. Table III shows the number and results of preventive
inoculations undertaken during the year. It also includes the
figures of vaccination with the Goat Tissue Vaccine which was
extensively undertaken in controlling Rinderpest outbreaks.
37. Rinderpest.—Like last year Rinderpest was prevalent in
epidemic form almost all over the province. Epidemics were
severe and wide-spread in the districts of Sylhet, Goalpara,
Kamrup and Cachar and also in Nowgong. In the previous
year Rinderpest was severe in the districts of Cachar, Sylhet,
Goalpara, Nowgong, Sibsagar and Lakhimpur.
Inoculations against Rinderpest were undertaken in 669
outbreaks in 11 districts in which 19,356 animals were reported
to have died uninoculated. In these outbreaks 1,25,521 animals
were inoculated out of which only 327 were done by the "Serum
6
alone" method and the rest by the Goat Tissue Vaccine method.
The number of deaths amongst the inoculated animals was
reported to be 1,117. In the previous year inoculations were
performed in 649 outbreaks in 9 districts in which 13,632 ani-
mals were reported to have died before inoculation ; 1,14,608
animals were inoculated out of which 1,377 animals were report-
ed to have died.
38. Anthrax.—The diagnosis of this disease was confirmed
by microscopical examination in 74 cases during the year. Ino-
culations were carried out in 60 outbreaks in 8 districts. In
these outbreaks 590 bovines, 33 equines and 3others were report-
ed to have died uninoculated in course of the outbreaks. The
number of animals inoculated were 4,230 bovines, 172 equines
and 42 others out of which 6 bovines and 1 other were reported
to have died after inoculation.
In the previous year inoculations were carried out in 54
outbreaks in 8 districts. In these outbreaks 396 bovines, 5
equines and 20 others were reported to have died uninoculated
in course of these epidemics. The number of animals inoculated
were 3,321 bovines, 214 equines and 271 others out of which 7
bovines were reported to have died after inoculation.
39. The submission of the monthly return on the occur-
rence of Anthrax to the American Consul General in Calcutta
was continued.
40. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The diagnosis of this disease
was confirmed microscopically in 39 cases. Inoculations were
undertaken in 25 outbreaks in 7 districts. In these outbreaks
267 bovines and 11 others were reported to have died uninocu-
lated in course of the outbreaks. The number of animals ino-
culated were 1,620 bovines and 14 others. There was no death
amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year inoculations were carried out in 49
outbreaks in 4 districts. In these outbreaks 224 bovines were
reported to have died uninoculated in course of the outbreaks.
The number of animals inoculated were 1,506 bovines of which
2 bovines were reported to have died after inoculation.
41. Black quarter—There were 4 outbreaks reported from 2
districts. In these outbreaks 31 bovines died uninoculated in
course of the outbreaks, 239 bovines were inoculated of which
2 were reported to have died after inoculation. No outbreak
of Black quarter was reported in the previous year.
7
ITINERANT VETERINARY ASSISTANT SURGEONS'
WORK
42. Table IV shows the work done by the Itinerating
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons as well as by the Staff and Reserve
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons while working in the districts. In
all they visited 14,694 villages, performed 28,717 castrations and
treated 53,694 animals for contagious diseases and 85,924 ani-
mals for non-contagious diseases. In the previous year 13,134
villages were visited, 28,229 castrations were performed, 25,850
animals were treated for contagious diseases and 94,760 for non-
contagious diseases.
The extensive epidemics of cattle disease caused the number
of cases treated for contagious diseases to swell to more than
double the number of animals treated for contagious diseases
last year. For the very same reason there had been a small fall
in the number of animals treated for non-contagious diseases.
It should be stated here that the demand for service in connec-
tion with epidemics had been so heavy that during the year
under report seven dispensaries had to be kept temporarily
closed for short periods as the Reserve Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons were occupied in epidemic duties. This factor also contri-
buted to the small fall in the number of animals treated for non-
contagious diseases and a heavy increase in the number of ani-
mals treated for contagious diseases.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES
43. Table V shows the work of the three Government
Veterinary Hospitals in the province, viz., Gauhati, Silchar and
Shillong. The total number of animals treated in these hospi-
tals during the year under report including both in and out-
patients was 6,552 against 6,094 of the previous year and the
total number of castrations was 558 against 499 of the previous
year. The total number of cases supplied with medicines
for treatment of animals which were not presented in the
hospital was 592 against z09 of the previous year. Hospital
receipts amounted to a total of Rs. 1,075 against Rs. 1,102 of the
previous year.
44. Gauhati Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under
report 88 in-patients and 2,169 out-patients were treated against
65 and 1,913 respectively of the previous year. Under the
Cruelty to Animals Act 12 cases were treated in this hospital
against 11 of the previous year.
8
45. Silchar Veterinary Hospital.—In this hospital 82 in-
patients and 2,253 out-patients were treated during the year
against 76 and 2,203 respectively of the previous year.
46. Shillong Veterinary Hospital.—In this hospital 96 in-
patients and 1,869 out-patients were treated during the year
against 119 and 1,718 respectively of the previous year. These
include 10 cases treated under the Cruelty to Animals Act
against 15 of the previous year.
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS
47. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls reported to
be serving in the province during the year. There were 115 bulls
at the beginning of the year and the number at the close of the
year was 529. The figures for the plains districts and the Khasi
and Jaintia Hills were furnished by the Director of Agriculture,
Assam, and those for the remaining three districts were fur-
nished by the Deputy Commissioners and the Political Officer,
Sadiya Frontier Tract.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS
48. Table XIV shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held during the year as reported by the Deputy Commissioners.
There were in all 10 fairs or shows as opposed to 7 of the pre-
vious year. Wherever possible the Civil Veterinary Department
participated in the functions by opening stalls and exhibiting
specimens, models, charts, diagrams, etc. and distributed leaflets
and gave lectures on the general welfare of cattle and prevention
of contagious diseases.
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT
49. Table VII shows the strength of the Subordinate
Veterinary staff of this province. The total strength as it stood
on the 31st March 1938 consisted of 4 Veterinary Inspectors,
1 Johne's Disease Officer (temporary) and 61 Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons including 2 temporary Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons. The post of the Johne's Disease Officer which was
originally sanctioned for two years was continued during the
year under report so also the 2 temporary posts of Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons.
50. A brief account of the work performed by the Johne's
Disease Officer and the Veterinary Inspectors during the year
under report is noted below:—
(1) Babu Bhudhar Chandra Chatterjee, Veterinary Inspector
worked temporarily as a Johne's Disease Officer throughout the
year. He was on tour for 133 days and travelled 3,882 miles by
9
rail, 56 miles by steamer and 1,884 miles by road. He tested
and retested for Johne's disease the cattle of the Government
Cattle Farms at Sylhet, Khanapara and Jorhat and also tested
those of the Titabar Agricultural Farm, Jorhat Jail dairy, Tezpur
Mental Hospital dairy and the Gauripur Rajbati. In all he
made 616 tests. He also inspected the animals of the Gauripur
Goshala, Dibrugarh Goshala and those of the Gauhati and
Tezpur Jail dairies. He examined the Government elephants
stationed at Goalpara, Gauhati, Mangaldai and Nowgong.
He investigated and organised the work in connection with
a severe and wide-spread epidemic of Rinderpest in the Goal-
para subdivision. He also demonstrated "Serum alone" method
of inoculation against Rinderpest to the Assistant Medical
Officers of Tea Estates at Dibrugarh, Doom Doom, Tinsukia,
Majbat, Chhatapukuri (Sootea) and North Lakhimpur. He
delivered a lecture on veterinary work and its value and impor-
tance to the Inspectors of the Co-operative Societies in their
Training class at Gauhati. At headquarters he supervised
laboratory and serum depot work and assisted and gave me
some relief in my work at headquarters.
(2) Babu Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Surma Valley Circle during the year except for
the period from the 13th December 1937 to the 31st March 1938
when he was on leave and Maulavi Saved Ataul Haque officiated.
He was on tour for 85 days, travelled 1,303 miles by rail, 189
miles by steamer, 763 miles by road and 327 miles by boat. He
visited and revisited 127 villages and Tea Estates in connection
with the inspection of the work of the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons, investigation of diseases, enquiry into results of vacci-
nation and inoculation.
The following hospital and dispensaries were inspected by
him during the year:—Silchar Hospital and the dispensaries at
Silchar, Palonghat, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Patharkandi,
Maulvibazar, Kulaura, Habiganj, Shaistaganj and Sunamganj
twice each and the dispensaries at Sylhet, Jagannathpur and the
Stationary Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Sylhet Farm and the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the Sylhet Local Board were
inspected once each. He alse inspected the breeding bulls of
the Hailakandi Municipality and the Sunamganj Local Board
and that of the Agricultural Department placed at Maulvi-
bazar; the dairy cattle of the Silchar and Sylhet Jails and also
the animals of the Government Farms at Sylhet and Karimganj.
He attended the cattle fair at Katigora and investigated
the flood condition in the Silchar Subdivision in relation to
cattle and cattle fodder.
10
He delivered a lecture in the Training class of the Co-
operative Inspectors at Sylhet with a view to give them an idea
on veterinary work so that they might take up rural reconstruc-
tion work in close harmony with local officers of this Depart-
ment.
(3) Maulavi Azizuddin Sarkar, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Upper Assam Circle throughout the year. He
was on tour for 176 days and travelled 1,250 miles by rail and
3,672 miles by road and boat. He visited and revisited 294
villages and Tea Estates in connection with the inspection of
the work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, supervision and
organisation of epidemic work and enquiry into results of vacci-
nation and inoculation.
He inspected the dispensaries at Sibsagar, Nazira, Jorhat,
Majuli, Mariani, Golaghat, Badlipar, Tinsukia and North
Lakhimpur four times each, Dibrugarh three times and Sadiya
and Dhakuakhana once each. He inspected the stud bulls
stationed at Sibsagar, Golaghat and North Lakhimpur and the
Government elephants at Golaghat and North Lakhimpur. He
visited the Jorhat Farm and the Jorhat Jail dairy in connection
with epidemic diseases amongst cattle. He also attended the
Agricultural, Industrial and Educational exhibition at North
Lakhimpur and organised lectures and demonstrations and dis-
tribution of Veterinary leaflets with a view to educate the mass
on the value of cattle and its welfare.
(4) Maulavi Fariduddin Ahmed, Officiating Veterinary
Inspector, held charge of the Lower Assam Circle throughout
the year. He was on tour for 171 days and travelled 3,202
miles by rail, 28 miles by steamer and 2,186 miles by road and
boat. He visited and revisited 202 villages and Tea Estates in
connection with the inspection of the work of the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons, investigation of epidemic diseases and
enquiry into the results of inoculation and vaccination.
He inspected the dispensaries at Nalbari five times, Dhubri,
Bilashipara, Abhoyapuri, Barpeta, Patacharkuchi, Mangaldai
and Tangla four times each, Sukchar three times and Tura
once. He also inspected the Government breeding bulls at
Dhubri, Nalbari, Kamarkuchi and Kotpowha. He also visited
several cattle pounds in his circle. He attended the agricultural
and Industrial Exhibition held at Tura and the cattle fair at
Gauripur and organised lectures and demonstration of patholo-
gical and other specimens of value and interest to the masses
to educate them on the general welfare of cattle,
11
(5) Babu Annada Mohan Das, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Central Assam Circle throughout the year. He
was on tour for 176 days and visited and revisited 143 villages
and travelled 3,202 miles by rail, 2,186 miles by road and boat
and 28 miles by steamer in connection with the inspection of the
work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation into
epidemics of cattle diseases and enquiry into results of inocula-
tion and vaccination.
He inspected the Gauhati Hospital and the dispensaries at
Goalpara, Polashbari, Tezpur, Sootea and Behali four times
each, the Shillong Hospital and the dispensaries at Nowgong and
Misa three times each and the dispensary at Marigaon twice.
He also conducted the sero-virus method of inoculation
amongst certain buffaloes of high susceptibility.
(6) Maulavi Syed Ataul Haque officiated as a Veterinary
Inspector and held charge of the Surma Valley Circle from the
13th December 1937 to the 31st March 1938. During this
period he was on tour for 68 days and travelled 721 miles by rail
and 726 miles by road and visited and revisited 27 villages in
connection with the inspection of the work of the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons and investigation and organisation of epide-
mic work.
He inspected the Silchar Hospital and the dispensaries at
Silchar, Palonghat, Karimganj, Patharkandi, Kulaura, Maulvi-
bazar, Shaistaganj, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet and also the
Sylhet Local Board dispensary once each; the Jagannathpur
dispensary and the work of the Stationary Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Sylhet Farm, were inspected by him twice. He also
visited the Sylhet Cattle Farm and the Karimganj Farm once
each.
51. As in the last year also 8 Reserve Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons and 2 temporary Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were
employed during the year and their services were fully utilised
in leave vacancies and in supplementing the district staff in con-
trolling epidemic of cattle disease. The demand for extra
assistance has been ever on the increase and during this year
also the demand was much more than it was possible to meet
with this staff.
52. Two Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were employed
as in the previous year, one with headquarters at Gauhati and
one at Silchar. Their services were utilised for special work for
12
which also the demand was great.
The demand for extra
help from different Local Boards and from the public in the
province was so great that both the Staff Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons had to be deputed in addition to Reserve Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons and Temporary Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons to supplement the district staff in controlling epidemics of
cattle disease.
SCIENTIFIC AND OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
53. In addition to normal routine work the Department
conducted scientific work of importance during the year on the
same line as was reported last year. Besides investigation and
research were also made on the following diseases :—
(1) Rabbit diseases—
(a) Septicaemia.
(b) Coccidiosis.
(2) Tuberculosis of fowls.
(3) Pigeon diptheria.
(4) A pathological condition in cattle simulating Con-
tagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia clinically.
(5) Septic pneumonia in buffalo calves.
(6) Mastitis in goat.
(7) Effect of the Goat Tissue Vaccine in certain breed of
buffaloes.
PART V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT
54. Table XIV (a) shows the expenditure of the Depart-
ment during the year which amounted to a total of Rs.1,91,677
including the expenditure incurred by the Local Boards in con-
nection with Veterinary Charges against a total of Rs.1,83,894
of the previous year. The sum of Rs.8,286 under the head
"Central" represents the expenditure incurred for the Veterinary
Investigation Officer, Assam, debitable to the grant of the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
55. The Local Boards in Assam incurred the following
expenditure in connection with Veterinary Charges.
These
figures were furnished by the Local Boards :—
Veterinary Instruction...
Subordinate Establishment
Hospitals and Dispensaries
Breeding Operations...
Cattle Fairs and Shows ...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rs.
...
61,598
13,675
720
200
76,193
a.
0
0
0
0
0
p.
0
0
0
0
0
13
PART VI.—GENERAL REMARKS
56. The unprecedented heavy and constant calls for veteri-
nary aid and the volume of service done by the Department
during the year under report again prove beyond a shade of
doubt the high appreciation of the veterinary aid rendered in
the province. Thus the number of cases treated rose from
126,704 to 146,170, number of preventive inoculations from
120,207 to 131,839, castrations from 28,728 to 29,275 and
number of villages visited increased from 13,134 to 14,694. In
fact the demand for aid had been so heavy that the Department
to its great regret was unable to cope with it on account of
insufficient staff at its disposal. This was unfortunate indeed,
specially so when the calls were in connection with epidemics of
cattle disease, which were responsible for a heavy loss of cattle—
the only capital of ryots.
57. A part of the legitimate duty of the Department had
to be surrendered in favour of the Assistant Medical Officers of
the Tea Estates on a very strong but appropriate representation
made by the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association to
the Government.
The arrangement cannot be called very
satisfactory and certainly it is economically unsound. Never-
theless to soothe discontent against insufficient aid the Depart-
ment had to yield to this uneconomical and less efficient scheme.
With a view to train the Assistant Medical Officers of the Tea
Estates in the preventive inoculation of cattle against Rinderpest
with the protective serum lectures and demonstrations were
given in six centres where 115 Assistant Medical Officers of
different Tea Estates attended during the year under this scheme.
More of this work remains to be done this year.
58. While the public complaint of inadequate aid is hang-
ing heavy against the Department, the Department finds itself
in an extremely embarrassing position under the pressure of
overwork. It is no good hiding the fact that there is evidence
of an undercurrent discontent amongst the staff by reason of
constant hard work to which they are subjected in a quasi-
military method on account of paucity of staff. It is idle to
expect to maintain much enthusiasm and good work from a
class of officers who always work under the load of an unusual
heavy pressure.
Even realising that the Resources and
Retrenchment Committee is just engaged to find ways for
retrenchment I cannot help but urge for a thorough reorganisa-
tion of the Department on the line as proposed in my schemes
already submitted to the Government with a view to ameliorate
the present unsatisfactory condition.
14
59. Goat Tissue Vaccine method of protection against
Rinderpest has gained considerable ground so that it is now
solely used for plains cattle of Assam. During the year under
report in all 125,191 cattle were protected by this method as
opposed to 111,895 of the preceding year. Mortality amongst
the vaccinated was negligible 0.88 per cent. As a matter of fact
the success of the operation is so very striking that it may be
said that half the battle to control the deadliest cattle Plague
(Rinderpest) is won. Experiments were carried out on the
protective value of the product and degree of reaction in buffa-
loes in Assam during the year under report. It remains yet an
undecided factor as to the use of the product in buffaloes in
view of very severe reaction attended with deaths observed in
some breed of buffaloes. Attempts are now being made to use
the product in a modified dose with a controlling dose of ordina-
ry anti-rinderpest serum used simultaneously in case of highly
susceptible buffaloes. The degree of susceptibility to the Goat
Tissue Vaccine of hill cattle in Assam is another matter which
deserves attention but little so far could be done in this direction
for want of time, staff and opportunity.
60. The incidence of the Johne's disease has been lowered
in the Government Farms under the strict measures adopted
under the Ware Committee recommendations. The situation
in the rural areas cannot possibly be controlled with the same
degree of efficiency for obvious reasons. It is apprehended that
the disease has come to stay in the province and would continue
to be a menace to cattle population in the same way as Tuber-
culosis to human beings. The redeeming feature in this connec-
tion is that the experiment with extra mineral feed given to
Farm cattle is suggestive of providing at least some resistance
against the disease.
61. The cause of deteriorated stock in Assam was dealt
with in my general remarks contained in paragraph 66 of the
annual report of the Civil Veterinary Department, Assam, for
the year 1936-37. As a matter of fact diet deficient in certain
essentials not only stunts normal growth but acts as a
predisposing factor to many pathological conditions.
In
this connection it is of interest to note that Dr. N. C. Wright,
M.A., D.SC., Ph.D., Director of Henna Dairy Research Insti-
tute, Scotland, who specially came out to India at the instance of
the Government of India, after due investigation laid particular
stress on the question. I repeat therefore that it seems to be a
call to have local investigation into the soil and fodder deficiency
in the province which is supposed to be at least one of the causes