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15
PART VI.—GENERAL REMARKS
60. It is my pleasure and privilege to present the Annual
Report of the Civil Veterinary Department, Assam, once more.
I am glad to be able to report that the Department not only
well maintained the quality and volume of service rendered in
the past but had been able to make further notable advances
during the year under report. In fact economical and profes-
sional achievements had been so great that it can be described
as a land-mark in the history of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment in Assam. This signifies how the Department though
handicapped by limitation is steadily progressing and gaining
in popularity. To what extent progress is being made from
year to year will be evident from the data provided in compa-
rative charts enclosed as appendices to the report showing the
work and expenditure of the Department.
These charts are
eloquent enough to comment further and I might at once say
without any fear of contradiction that with the limited staff at
my disposal this is a record service for which the Department
has very good reasons to feel gratified. It is interesting to
record that the public and their representatives in the Assam
Legislative Assembly now not only renounce the once unmerited
stigma reflected on the Veterinary Department that it was a
prodigal Department of the Government but are in a highly
appreciative mood to make substantial and voluntary contribu-
tion for more Veterinary Institutions in the province and there
is persistent demand in the Assembly for immediate further
expansion of the Department.
Though the system of work
introduced during the recent years by the Department and its
thorough application in the field had been responsible for this
high appreciation there is no good hiding the fact that much
more remains yet to be done. I have a clear vision of what
more could be achieved and I leave it to future and better times
for further realisation of the ideals.
61. While the indirect economy derived for the ryots by the
Department is immense the direct economic benefit which the
province and the Government have been able to secure due to
the policy of work adopted by the Department is not negligible.
Though the work had immensely developed the expenditure had
been maintained to the lowest possible limit which also attract-
ed the notice of the Government as indicated by the remarks
recorded in writing by the Hon'ble Minister in charge of the
Veterinary Department that "The Civil Veterinary Department
Assam, with a minimum veterinary staff and minimum expen-
diture had been doing the maximum work". In fact the policy
16
adopted by the Department during the recent years not only
considerably added to the efficiency of the Department but
during the last five years the Department had been able to
secure an economy to the Government Exchequer of an amount
which might be safely assessed to over four and half lakhs of
rupees as may be seen from a quinquennial review given below
of only one item of work, viz., Goat-Tissue-Vaccine inoculation
against Rinderpest:—
I. Number of animals
protected
with
Goat-Tissue-Vac-
cine.
2. Amount
which
would have been
required if serum
were to be used as
was done previ-
ously.
3. Amount spent for
Goat-Tissue-Vac-
cine.
4. Net saving ..
1935-36
70,081
Rs.
35,040
154
34,886
1936-37
1,11,859
Rs.
55,930
686
55,244
1937-38
1,25,194
Rs.
62,597
927
01,670
1938-39
2,76,814
Rs.
1,38,407
2,130
1,36,277
1939-40
3,35,384
Rs.
1,67,692
3,574
1,64,118
Total
9,19,332
Rs.
4,59,666
7,471
4,52,195
For this achievement in these days of financial difficulties
the Department rightly feels gratified and the province and rate-
payers may as well reasonably feel proud and congratulate
themselves.
62. The employment of 42 Veterinary Field Assistants
towards the close of the year under report and sanction of 18
more such posts since the close of the year had been a double
blessing. While the Veterinary Field Assistants so employed
are not only a useful asset to supplement the overworked Vete-
rinary Assistant Surgeons for vaccination and other minor work
of the Department in the field their employment by the Govern-
ment has gone to solve partly the acute unemployment of our
youths by finding them a useful vocation in life and a morsel of
food to sixty needy families of Assam in these days of acute eco-
nomic distress. I must however reassure that this staff is not in
any way meant for higher professional work which can only be
done by duly qualified veterinary graduates nor are they meant
to replace the scientifically trained Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
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as apprehended in certain quarters. The Department and the
Government are fully conscious to the necessity of strengthening
scientifically trained Veterinary officers which is clearly evident
by their move in sanctioning more Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
and greater number of veterinary stipends for education of our
youths in the Bengal Veterinary College during the current
year in spite of recruitment of Veterinary Field Assistants.
There is hardly any room to question that the Department
would not continue its onward march.
63. While the question of cattle breeding has been enga-
ging attention of all concerned in the general welfare of livestock
it will not do to forget that the question of nutrition and
disease-control of stock should have as much, if not a greater
attention. The need of raising a disease-resisting stock cannot
be too strongly emphasised. Animal nutrition, disease-control
and scientific cattle breeding should be co-ordinated in such a
way that maximum result might be secured at a minimum cost.
The veterinary and the livestock improvement work is so inti-
mately connected that both are interwoven and inseparable
from one another. To know the livestock in health one must
know the livestock in disease because what is true of the Public
Health and the Medical Departments is also true of the Animal
Health and the Veterinary Departments. So to keep the Live-
stock Section separate from and independent of the Veterinary
Department is, to my mind, to keep the soul out of the body.
To what national benefit these two branches can be amalgama-
ted is answered by the Punjab Veterinary Department where
the livestock and the veterinary work is under the unified and
undivided control of the Director of Veterinary Services so that
the Punjab to-day rightly feels proud as the foremost province
in livestock resources in India. The same is to be found in the
North West Frontier Province. Good example of the Punjab
had lately inspired Madras so that the Livestock Section of the
Agriculture Department there had recently been transferred and
placed under the Director of Veterinary Department, Madras.
Bihar, the United Provinces and the Central Provinces have
made a beginning. Even the new province of Orissa has follow-
ed the good example. If utmost benefit is to be secured, if effi-
ciency and economy are to be combined, if Assam is to pool
well directed energy and scientific intelligence together, if she is
to have a powerful and productive Animal Husbandry Depart-
ment to the greatest benefit of the province where livestock is the
mainstay of 95 per cent. of the population I visualise that Assam
cannot follow a different course. It needs hardly be emphasised
that the veterinary service is the rock-bed of sound foundation
on which livestock section can stand and thrive with safety.
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64. While unemployment amongst educated middle class
Bhadraloks is an acute problem engaging serious thoughts of
Government and public alike it cannot be denied that acute
economic depression of our ryots arising out of loss of cattle
every year is no less a serious problem. Attempts to improve
agriculture and livestock which daily and directly concern our
ryots will continue to be in jeopardy so long we may not be able
to effectively control the huge drainage upon the cattle resources
of our ryots. To save the life of a pair of plough bullocks or a
couple of milch cows is a greater relief to an average ryot than
what is accrued from relief given otherwise, viz., agricultural
loan, remission of land revenue, etc., for which such a vigorous
plea is put forward by the press and the public which by reflect-
ing on the Government revenue is bound to affect other benefi-
cial measures of national importance. A ryot is happier to see
his field laden with crop and his cattle-shed full of efficient and
productive stock. Loss of a pair of bullocks, specially in plough-
ing season, is a double-edged weapon which cuts an ill-clad and
ill-fed cultivator both ways. He not only loses his valuable
cattle but he has to leave his otherwise arable land a fallow to
starve himself and his family unless he desperately gives himself
up to the clutches of money-lenders which in itself in many
cases makes a cultivator eventually homeless. As the real test
of a nation-building department lies in its usefulness to the great-
est number of people of the nation the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment as the custodian of livestock of the province is ever anxious
to do as much as possible. To attain this there can be no two
opinion that we must have an enlarged and a thoroughly reorga-
nised veterinary department. I tried to impress this one fact
in the past and I repeat that we can no more afford to give this
factor an importance next to any other national project. I am
glad to be able to report that further reorganisation of the Civil
Veterinary Department, Assam, is now contemplated and
scheme for the same will soon be submitted to the Government
for their consideration.
65. While the Government have been exploring every
venue to strengthen the Veterinary Department in Assam it is
to be regretted that in spite of earnest appeal by the Depart-
ment the Local Boards except in solitary instances did not so far
seem to actively appreciate the necessity of increasing the veteri-
nary staff maintained by them. I hope the Local Boards will
agree with me when I say that to administer veterinary aid over
a vast area covered by an entire subdivision with a huge num-
ber of livestock by two Veterinary Assistant Surgeons is more an
apology in the name of rendering service. To meet this uncom-
fortable situation the Government had to employ extra staff of
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forty-two Veterinary Field Assistants during the year under re-
port and the department had frequently to depute the reserve
officers to supplement the district staff. The Civil Veterinary
Department, Assam, has passed the stage of infancy and grown
into adolescence requiring adequate number of duly qualified
staff but for which loss of cattle is bound to continue. To let
cattle die in such large number is to kill a goose which lays gold-
en eggs. So every self-governing institution, every society, every
community, every individual, who has the good of the nation
at heart, has to pause and think seriously how to save cattle—
our chief national wealth. We may import costly new stock, we
may improve the breed of cattle but unless we have got a suffi-
ciently strong Veterinary Department to protect our cattle from
the scourge of diseases all our attempts for furthering agricul-
ture and improving rural life and living might mean very little
indeed.
66. I regret that I cannot help but repeating my remarks
of 1937-38 that the present system of dual control of the district
veterinary staff by the Department and the Local Boards had
not been working satisfactorily. I am regretfully compelled to
bring it to the notice of the Government that when district Vete-
rinary Assistant Surgeons had not breathing time to meet the
demand of veterinary aid from the public certain of the Local
Boards thought it fit, even against the good counsel given by the
Department, to impose restrictions interfering with the activities
of the Department. While this attitude is to be deeply deplored
the Department did not find a way out of this unhappy position
by reason of unbending attitude of the Board concerned. So
long the division of control by the Department and the Local
Board will continue nothing better can be expected. If the
Department could not expand to its required strength the pre-
sent system of dual control is greatly responsible for it. It is
therefore high time to seriously consider if the Department
should not be entirely provincialised to increase its efficiency.
67. The Department as usual took an active interest in the
livestock improvement work in Assam. I myself worked as an
ex-officio member of the Executive Committee of the Central
Livestock Improvement Association, Assam. Twenty-two of my
officers functioned as Branch Secretaries or Agents. They
attended 42 meetings, inspected 295 breeding bulls and cas-
trated 33,997 animals besides securing 104 members for the
Livestock Improvement Association and donation of bulls and
cash money. As subscription and donation they realised
Rs.825 during the year under report.
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68. I desire to record a simple yet very cheap and effect-
ive curative treatment evolved by the writer of this report for
two of the most fatal and highly infectious diseases of cattle,
viz., Anthrax and Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia. This treatment
had been given such extensive trials for several years in the
field that it can now be safely declared that an ordinary bazar
drug (Camphor), which many a household possesses, is a
specific for these two fatal diseases which cause great loss to
ryots year after year. The process of treatment is so simple and
the ingredient so readily available even in the remotest corner
in a village bazar that the treatment can be resorted to by
average ryots themselves. As a matter of fact the treatment
has become so popular in the province that it is now adopted
by villagers themselves without waiting for Veterinary Surgeons
with excellent result. Before the result of the treatment was
made known to the public the Department carried out this
treatment in many microscopically confirmed epidemics of
Anthrax and Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia keeping control. The
result so far obtained (about 70 per cent. cure as opposed to
100 per cent. mortality amongst the untreated) is a mile-stone
in the history of the Civil Veterinary Department, Assam.
69. South Sylhet Subdivision had again been a victim of
severe type of Equine Surra. However, cases confirmed micros-
copically were given prompt treatment and they responded
successfully. As a result of extensive trials the short course
treatment evolved in this province has been found to be safe
and effective. The field workers are able to carry out the
treatment without difficulty as the scheme of dosage is very
simple. A statistical survey on the line of treatment adopted
now as a routine measure
clearly indicates that this is a
method of choice both for clinical cases as well as in prophy-
laxis.
70. A detailed survey of the Epizootology of a pathologi-
cal condition of cattle simulating Bovine Contagious Pleuro-
pneumonia clinically and further investigation into etiology
were conducted during the year in collaboration with the
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar. Examina-
tion of morbid materials and transmission experiments seem
to indicate the presence of fungoid bodies of the nature of
Blastomyces as the probable cause of the specific nature of
pneumonic lesions in the affected animals. Although experi-
mental findings do not appear to be conclusive, the clinical
observation in the actual outbreaks, the tendency for the pro-
gressive spread of the disease, the high rate of mortality, etc.,
point to the possibility of the disease being identical with the
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classic Bovine contagious pleuro-pneumonia with such slight
variation in the severity as are likely to appear within the
boundaries of any bacterial or virus disease. I shall not there-
fore wonder if further research and investigation tend to prove
the pathological condition to be the one and the same as Bovine
contagious Pleuro-pneumonia from which India is supposed to
be free.
71. Investigation on Kumri in horse was continued. In
addition to the clinical and pathological observation experi-
mental work was in progress to elucidate the cause of the
disease by biological tests for the study of a neurotropic filtrable
virus as there seems to be an evidence of a close pathological
relationship between Kumri and Equine Encephalamyelities.
As opportunity occurs this line of approach of the problem
will be pursued further in collaboration with the Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar.
72. The problem of Johne's Disease amongst cattle in
Government Farms in particular and in the province in general,
has been engaging the anxious thoughts and serious attention
of the Veterinary Department for some years now. The effec-
tive application of the recommendations of the Committee
headed by Mr. F. Ware, C.I.E., F.R.C.V.S., F.N.I., I.V.S., Animal
Husbandry Commissioner with the Government of India, gave
ample indication of success in the control of the disease in
Government Farms as reported by the Second Ware Committee
and evidenced by substantial reduction in the incidence of the
disease in the Farms. Unfortunately however, for reasons
which were beyond the control of my Department, the disease
mounted again. However when the situation again assumed a
retrograde turn the Local Government seized the opportunity
of a visit by Dr. Minett, D.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Director of Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar, who reviewed the
Johne's Disease situation when he visited the province towards
the close of the year. Dr. Minett's recommendations are now
under consideration of the Government.
73. A comparative diagnostic test with Johnin and Avia
Tuberculin simultaneously in 206 cattle of Government Farms
was carried out during the year under report and very interes-
ting observations were recorded. The result of field tests of
this nature are of much importance. It is indeed of great
value in the study of methods of diagnosis as an aid to solve
the problem of control of Johne's Disease. I take this oppor-
tunity to thank Mr. K. Krishna Iyengar, Superintendent of
Mysore Civil Veterinary Department, for assisting me with
supply of Johnin free of charge manufactured in his Serum
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Institute to carry out this comparative test. Another sugges-
tion interpreted by this test is that though Tuberculosis had not
so far been detected in cattle in Assam the result of this test
indicated that it is worth while to take up an investigation in
that direction.
74. The economic loss in animal wealth and lowered
efficiency of cattle accruing from helminthic infestation about
which I also made mention in my previous report is indeed
fairly high in Assam. It is extremely fortunate that the Depart-
ment during the year under report has been able to make a
survey in certain centres in collaboration with Dr. G. S. Thapar,
M.Sc., ph.D. (London), Officer in-charge of Helminthiasis
scheme of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
attached to the Lucknow University. A plan of work for a pre-
liminary field experiment for the comparative and seasonal
study of the degree of helminthic infestation is now contem-
plated and preliminary measures are being taken to start the
work.
75. Vaccination against Rinderpest with Goat Tissue
Vaccine both in absence as well as in actual seats of outbreak
had again been demonstrated with very encouraging results.
While this disease alone was again responsible for more than
half of the mortality of cattle in Assam during the year under
report it is gratifying to record that the loss amongst the vacci-
nated cattle again proved to be less than negligible 1 per cent.
It is gratifying that the popularity of Rinderpest preventive vac-
cination with the Goat-Tissue-Vaccine is phenomenal and there
had been such an increasing demand for this operation from
the public that the number of Goat-Tissue-Vaccine inoculation
had excelled the capacity of the present staff necessitating the
employment of Veterinary Field Assistants.
76. During the year investigation into an out-break of
disease amongst sheep simulating Rinderpest clinically was
carried out in the Lakhimpur district. The disease on clinical
basis was tentatively diagnosed as Rinderpest pending further
investigation. It was reported that the flock of sheep was
brought by road marches from Muzaffarpur (Bihar) to Assam.
The disease broke out almost immediately after their purchase
in two Tea Estates. Immediate control measures were adopted
to check the spread of infection. One feature of the disease was
that it was exclusively confined amongst the imported sheep and
no cattle or goat caught the infection though they were grazing
and moving almost on the same, pasture land.
23
77. A very severe type of Foot and Mouth disease as already
mentioned broke out in the Upper Shillong Government Farm
where in spite of all rigid attention and measures almost the
entire stock became infected which presented a very serious
problem to the Department to handle. The stock in the Farm
represented quite a good number of pure and cross bred English
cattle. As the disease in English and Cross-English cattle as
well as well-bred heavy animals is by far more severe than what
is seen in ordinary indigenous cattle the disease occurred in its
worst form so far seen in Assam. As many as 87 animals were
attacked leaving only a residual stock of three highly resistant
cattle unaffected. In fact the epidemic so seriously threatened
the Farm that I had to pay my personal attendance and with
the active assistance of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Shil-
long the loss was limited to death of negligible minimum of 3
only, due to secondary complications of Pneumonia and Pyemia.
While it is gratifying to record that the life of such a valuable
stock could be saved by active and efficient treatment rendered
by the Department the Farm had to suffer as the diseased stock
went economically unproductive for some time.
78. A very severe type of Goat-Pox (confirmed by the
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute) broke out in the
Khanapara Cattle Farm amongst 23 imported goats obtained
from the United Provinces immediately on their arrival. As a
matter of fact the disease broke out en route so that 3 animals
died in the train and 15 died on their arrival in the Farm.
Peculiarly enough not a single of the local goats already in the
Farm died though the disease extended to the stock and as
many as 43 were affected with the disease.
79. Slow breeding and sterility had been reported from
time to time. Hormone treatment was adopted in such cases
and responded satisfactorily. For this purpose detoxicated
urine from pregnant cows in doses of 10 c.c. per 100 pound
body weight of cattle was given subcutancously with very satis-
factory result.
80. The Hon'ble Minister for Veterinary Department of
Assam paid a visit to the Headquarters Institutions at Gauhati
and to the Veterinary Institution at Nowgong during the year
under report. The Institute at Gauhati was also visited by
Dr. Minett, D.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Director, Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, and by Dr. G. S. Thapar, M.Sc.,
ph.D., (London), Officer in-charge of Helminthiasis Scheme of
the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. The value of
such visits is immense and it is an encouragement to the
Department and to the staff.