NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
4
EQUINES.
14. Glanders.—Only one death was reported from the disease
against 15 in the previous year.
15. Epizootic Lymphangitis.—The disease is absent in the
province since 1925-26 when for the last time two cases were
detected and destroyed for the disease with due compensation to
the owners.
16. Surra.—The number of deaths from this disease was
reported to be 34 from 6 districts against 36 from 7 districts in
the previous year. A number of cases were successfully treated
during the year under report reducing the number of mortality.
17. Dourine.—This disease is strikingly absent in the
province. No case of this disease has ever been observed in
Assam.
18. Other contagious diseases.—These were responsible for 56
deaths during the year under report against 19 deaths in the
previous year,
BOVINES.
19. Rinderpest.—The Naga Hills, Lushai Hills and Sadiya
Frontier Tract were the fortunate districts in Assam which
escaped from incursion of Rinderpest during the year. Nowgong
had but a very mild touch and escaped practically unhurt. But
the rest of the districts, particularly Sibsagar, Cachar and Sylhet,
suffered heavily from the disease. The total number of deaths
from this disease was reported to be 14,931 against 14,575 in the
previous year.
20. Foot-and-mouth disease.—This disease though not fatal
causes an indirect economic loss to the country. Despite the
fact that the disease was reported from all the districts except
the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Lushai Hills the total loss
was reported to be not beyond 796 as opposed to 2,252 in the
previous year.
21. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—This disease was responsible
for a total loss of 1,624 bovines during the year under report
and was reported from all the districts except the Khasi and
Jaintia Hills and the Naga Hills. Heaviest mortality was
reported from the district of Sylhet where the epidemic was
extensive. Last year 1,141 deaths were registered in the whole
province.
22. Black-quarter.—The number of deaths from this disease
was reported to be 112 in 6 districts against 145 in the same
number of districts in the previous year.
5
23. Anthrax.—Next to Rinderpest Anthrax was responsible
for the heaviest toll of death amongst bovine species—Goalpara
and Sylhet districts being the worst sufferers. The number of
deaths from this disease was reported to be 1,951 from 9 districts
against 839 from 8 districts in the previous year.
24. Other contagious diseases.—The number of deaths from
other contagious diseases was reported to be 2,345 against 397
in the previous year.
OTHER ANIMALS.
25. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—The total
number of deaths under this head was reported to be 1,944
against 1,311 in the previous year.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION.
26. Table III shows the number and result of preventive
inoculations undertaken in the province during the year except
those undertaken by the goat virus alone method against
Rinderpest.
27. Rinderpest.—Inoculations
against Rinderpest by the
serum alone method were carried out in 287 outbreaks in 17
subdivisions and one Hill district (the Khasi and Jaintia Hills).
In these outbreaks 8,245 animals were reported to have died
before inoculation. The number of animals inoculated by the
serum alone method was 23,459. The number of deaths
amongst the inoculated animals was reported to be 454.
In the previous year inoculations were carried out in 323
outbreaks in 18 subdivisions and 2 Hill districts (the Khasi and
Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills). In these outbreaks 7,389
animals were reported to have died before inoculation. The
number of animals inoculated by the serum alone method was
22,497 of which 440 animals were reported to have died after
inoculation.
28. In the year under report the outbreak of Rinderpest
was severe in the districts of Sibsagar, Cachar and Sylhet and
the number of inoculations was greatest in those districts.
29. Besides the serum alone method of inoculation against
Rinderpest, goat virus inoculation was continued, and as many
as 70,081 animals were inoculated by this method (of which
15,523 animals were inoculated in the face of epidemic towards
the last part of the year) against 20,396 in 1934-35 and 2,773
in 1933-34.
6
30. Anthrax.—During the year under report 97 specimens
of suspected Anthrax were examined microscopically in the
Laboratory of which 56 proved to be Anthrax. Inoculations
were performed in 45 outbreaks in 13 subdivisions. In these
outbreaks 9 equines, 319 bovines and 7 others were reported to
have died before inoculation. The number of animals inoculat-
ed was 190 equines, 2,234 bovines and 65 others of which 11
bovines were reported to have died after inoculation.
In the previous year inoculations were undertaken in 36
outbreaks in 12 subdivisions. In these outbreaks 4 equines, 310
bovines and 10 others were reported to have died before inocula-
tion. The number of animals inoculated was 201 equines,
1,732 bovines and 2 others of which no animal was reported to
have died after inoculation.
31. The submission of the monthly return of Anthrax out-
breaks to the American Consul General in Calcutta was
continued.
32. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The diagnosis of this disease
was confirmed microscopically in 32 cases. Inoculations were
undertaken in 25 outbreaks in 8 subdivisions. In these out-
breaks 248 bovines were reported to have died before inocula-
tion. The number of animals inoculated was 1,722 bovines of
which one bovine was reported to have died after inoculation.
In the previous year inoculations were carried out in 15
outbreaks in 8 subdivisions. In these outbreaks 201 bovines
were reported to have died before inoculation. The number of
animals inoculated was 1,076 bovines of which 7 were reported
to have died after inoculation.
ITINERANT VETERINARY ASSISTANT SURGEONS'
WORK.
33. Table IV shows the work of the Staff, Itinerating and
the Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons during the year
under report. They visited 11,761 villages, performed 25,334
castrations and treated 22,304 cases for contagious diseases and
90,376 cases for non-contagious diseases. In the previous year
11,877 villages were visited, 22,914 animals were castrated,
32,864 cases were treated for contagious diseases and 74,222
cases for non-contagious diseases. Five dispensaries remained
temporarily closed for short periods as no substitute could be
arranged.
7
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
34. Table V is a review of the work done in the three
Government Veterinary Hospitals in the province, viz., Gau-
hati, Silchar and Shillong. It is interesting to report that the
number of patients treated in these institutions during the year
under review showed a distinct advance over that of the last
year. What is more gratifying is that the receipts of each of
these institutions this year compared favourably despite the fact
that the country has been passing through an economic depres-
sion. This is a clear evidence that the service rendered by these
institutions is daily growing in popularity. Total number of
in and out-patients treated this year was 5,862 as opposed to
5,544 of the last year. It should be mentioned here that these
are excluding the cases for which medicines were supplied free
of charge but were not actually presented in the hospitals.
Hospital receipts went up this year to Rs. 1,217-12-0 against
Rs. 1,055-0-0 of the last year. This amount does not include
Rs. 123-12-0 (against Rs. 133-4-0 of the last year) received as
cost of certain special treatment. It should be recorded that
both the number of patients and hospital receipts this year are
the highest as compared with any of the preceding ten years.
35. Gauhati Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under
report 62 in-patients and 1,797 out-patients making a total of
1,859 were treated against a total of 1,784 in the previous year.
Under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 20 cruelty cases were admit-
ted in the hospital against 17 of the previous year. This hospital
showed the highest receipts this year.
36. Silchar Veterinary Hospital.—This hospital is to be
credited with the highest number of patients treated during the
year under review. Thus 76 in-patients and 2,194 out-patients
making a total of 2,270 were treated in this hospital against a
total of 2,061 in the previous year. No animal was presented
in the hospital under the Cruelty to Animals Act during the
year. Needless to say that this does not represent the actual
state of things so far as cruelty to animals is concerned. In the
previous year 2 maiming cases were treated in this hospital.
37. Shillong Veterinary Hospital.—During the year 93 in-
patients and 1,640 out-patients, making a total of 1,733, were
treated in this hospital against a total of 1,699 in the previous
year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 16 cruelty cases were
treated in this hospital against 4 cruelty and 3 maiming cases
in the previous year.
8
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
38. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls reported
to be serving in the province during the year. This year the
reports of the Deputy Commissioners have been modified,
where necessary, to tally with the report submitted by the
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Livestock, Assam, who is in
charge of the cattle breeding operation in the province.
There were 65 bulls at the beginning of the year and the
number at the close of the year was 93.
CATTLE FARMS.
39. These institutions numbering three in the province—the
Khanapara, Sylhet and Upper Shillong Farms—are under the
direct control and management of the Department of Agricul-
ture, Assam. The Civil Veterinary Department is however
concerned in the matter of treatment of the sick, undertaking
preventive vaccination and inoculation, examination of speci-
mens, testing of animals for Johne's disease and advising in all
matters concerning the prevention of diseases and general wel-
fare of cattle. The most anxious time the Department had
in connection with the stock of two of the Farms was due to
the high incidence of Johne's disease. Though the Farms were
free from visitations of Black-quarter
and
Hæmorrhagic
Septicaemia, as was the sad experience in the preceding year,
the health of the stock by reason of Johne's disease cannot be
regarded as satisfactory. The effect of mineral feed upon the
animals appeared to be but of little value. Restriction imposed
by the Ware Committee which met during the year under report
is being operated by the Agricultural Department with a view
to check the spread of this fatal disease.
Besides Johne's
disease menace there had been cases of Ephemeral fever,
Ecto and Endo-Parasitic infestation, Pneumonia,
Spora-
dic Abortion and other minor ailments, which the Department
tackled promptly.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
40. Table XIV shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held during the year under report. Whenever officers could be
spared they were utilised for educative propaganda work
amongst the masses in these fairs and shows. A Veterinary
Stall was opened where specimens, models, charts, diagrams,
etc., of interest were exhibited and lectures on the general
welfare of cattle and prevention of contagious diseases were
given.
9
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
41. The total strength of the Subordinate Veterinary
staff as it stood on the closing day of the year under report
was 4 Veterinary Inspectors and 60 Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons as opposed to an equal number of Veterinary Inspect-
ors and 56 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of the year before.
The two posts of Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons who
were placed in charge of Veterinary Hospitals at Silchar and
Gauhati had been converted into posts of Stationary Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons. It thus reduced the number of Reserve
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons from 10 to 8. In view of steady
increase in the Laboratory work at Gauhati it was no longer
consistent with efficiency to leave the Institute without a
wholetime Assistant.
Government was pleased to sanction
a Stationary Veterinary Assistant Surgeon for the Laboratory
during the year under report and his assumption of the charge
after special training in the Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, has considerably added to the efficiency
of the work of the Laboratory. Another post of Stationary
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon was sanctioned by the Govern-
ment for the Sylhet Government Cattle Farm and an officer
has been appointed.
This course was imperative on account
of withdrawal of the two Government Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons under the Sylhet Local Board and entertainment of
only one Local Board Veterinary Assistant Surgeon by the
Board on the ground of adverse financial position of the Board.
Needless to say the retrenchment made by the Sylhet Local
Board gave scope for complaint as to inadequate aid to the
rate payers' stock. The posts of two temporary Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons for Spleen Tissue Vaccine work against
Rinderpest, which were withdrawn in January 1935, have been
revived during the year under report.
42. A brief account of the work performed by the Veteri-
nary Inspectors is given below :—
(1) Rai Sahib Srish Chandra Ghose, held charge as Veteri-
nary Inspector, Gauhati Circle No. I, for three months from 1st
April to the 30th June 1935. During this period he was kept
engaged at headquarters particularly in connection with labora-
tory and other important work. Maulavi Fariduddin Ahmed,
Officiating Veterinary Inspector, held charge of the Gauhati
Circle No. I from the 1st September 1935 to the end of the year.
During this period he was on tour for 117 days and travelled 1,159
miles by rail, 499 miles by steamer and 1,408 miles by road
and boat. He visited and revisited 117 villages and Tea Estates
in connection with the inspection of the work of the Veterinary
10
Assistant Surgeons, investigation of diseases and inoculation of cat-
tle against Rinderpest by the goat virus method. He inspected
the following Veterinary Dispensaries :—Behali 4 times,
Gauhati, Nalbari, Tangla, Mangaldai, Tezpur, Sootea, Now-
gong and Misa 3 times each, the hospital at Shillong and the
dispensary at Morigaon twice each. He visited the Upper
Shillong and Khanapara Farms and carried out virus inocula-
tion against Rinderpest in the Khanapara Farm. He also visit-
ed and examined the animals of the Tezpur Jail Dairy, Tezpur
Mental Hospital Dairy, Nowgong Jail Dairy, and the Govern-
ment breeding bulls at Nalbari and Mangaldai. He attended
the Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition held at Nowgong in
December 1935 and gave demonstrations with pathological and
other specimens of value and interest to the livestock owners
and public.
(2) Babu Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Silchar Circle throughout the year except for the
p eriod from the 2nd May to the 1st July 1935 when he was on
leave. He was on tour for 151 days and travelled 2,164 miles by
rail, 128 miles by steamer and 1,112 miles by road and boat.
He visited and revisited 105 villages and Tea Estates in connec-
tion with the inspection of work of the Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons, investigation of diseases, enquiry into the results of inocu-
lations, and in organising and supervising virus inoculation work.
The following hospital and dispensaries were inspected by him :—
The dispensaries at Hailakandi, Karimganj, Patharkandi, Ku-
laura and Maulvibazar 4 times each, the hospital at Silchar and
the dispensaries at Silchar, Palonghat, Shaistaganj and Habi-
ganj thrice each, Sunamganj and Jagannathpur twice each
and Aijal once. He also inspected the work of the staff and
Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons. He visited and inspect-
ed the cattle of the Sylhet Cattle Farm, Karimganj Agricul-
tural Farm, Silchar Jail Dairy and the breeding bulls at Haila-
kandi, Habiganj and Silchar. He attended the Cattle Fair at
Sidheswar Mela (Katigora), Agricultural Exhibition at Haila-
kandi and Red Cross Exhibition at Silchar and gave lectures on
the improvement of cattle, etc. He also attended the
Annual Camp of Exercise of the Surma Valley Light Horse held
at Silchar.
Babu Annada Mohan Das, who held charge of the Silchar
Circle from the 2nd May to the 1st July 1935 during the absence
on leave of Babu Hem Chandra Sen, was on tour for 16 days
and travelled 25 miles by rail, 271 miles by road and boat.
He visited Aijal in connection with testing of some newly pur-
chased mules of the 1st Assam Rifles with Mallein.
11
(3) Maulavi Azizuddin Sarkar, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Dibrugarh Circle throughout the year. He was on
tour for 265 days and travelled 2,701 miles by rail and 4,763
miles by road and boat. He visited and revisited 501 villages
and Tea Estates in connection with inspection of the work of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of diseases, demon-
stration of castration and enquiry into the results of inoculation,
castration and treatment of cases and in conducting and super-
vising the work of virus inoculation against Rinderpest. He had
most trying time in combating the heavy and wide-spread
epidemic of Rinderpest in the Sibsagar District during the
year under report. He inspected the following dispensaries :—
The dispensaries at Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat 5 times
each, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nazira, Mariani and Badlipar
4 times each, North Lakhimpur and Majuli thrice each,
Sadiya and Dhakuakhana once each. He visited the Jorhat
Farm and inspected the cattle of the Jorhat and Dibrugarh Jails.
He also inspected the breeding bulls at Sibsagar, Golaghat and
North Lakhimpur and the Government elephant at Golaghat.
He visited the Goshalas at Nazira and Dibrugarh.
(4) Babu Bhudhar Chandra Chattarjce, Veterinary Inspec-
tor, held charge of the Gauhati Circle No. II, throughout the
year. He was also placed in charge of Gauhati Circle No. I, for
two months in addition to his own duties. He was on tour for
102 days and travelled 1,618 miles by rail, 171 miles by steamer
and 1,559 miles by road and boat. He visited and revisited 92
villages in connection with the inspection of the work of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of diseases, enquiry
into the result of inoculation, castrations, etc. He inspected the
following hospital and dispensaries :—The hospital at Gauhati
and the dispensaries at Barpeta, Bilashipara and Dhubri 4 times
each, Patacharkuchi, Abhoyapuri, Goalpara and Sukchar thrice
each and Gauhati and Nalbari once each. He visited the
Goshala at Gauripur and examined the breeding bull of the
Dhubri Local Board. He attended the Exhibition at Goalpara
and gave short lectures on the welfare of cattle and demon-
strated pathological and other specimens of value and interest.
He was specially deputed to Nowgong to attend the Industrial
and Agricultural Exhibition where he took an active part.
He had to restrict tours by reason of demand of his service
at headquarters where he rendered useful service in the Labora-
tory and supervised the experimental treatment initiated for the
cure of Surra. He was also in charge of the Reserve Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons, stationed at Gauhati and gave the new re-
cruits necessary professional advice and training for field work.
12
43. The demand for extra help from the districts was so
great that it was not always possible to meet it with the Reserve
at disposal of the Deparment.
44. There were two staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeons as
usual, one with headquarters at Gauhati and another at Silchar,
whose services were particularly utilised for special work, the
demand for which was great.
THE SCIENTIFIC AND OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
CARRIED OUT DURING THE YEAR.
45. The following scientific work of importance was dealt
with by this Department during the year 1935-36, besides the
ordinary professional work of a routine nature :—
(1) Experiment with and investigation into the effect of
goat tissue vaccine method of protective inoculation
in the seat of actual outbreak of Rinderpest.
(2) Investigation into the incidence of Johne's disease in
cattle and the value of mineral feed in the disease.
(3) Investigation into the acute and sub-acute form of
Bovine Trypanosomiasis and the value of Pot. An-
tim. Tart, both as curative for and preventive
against the disease for the bovine species.
(4) Investigation into a short course successful curative
treatment of Equine Surra.
(5) Further investigation into a condition in cattle
named "Sloughing sickness" so far believed to be
due to ingestion of a grass parasitised with a fungus
of Balancia species.
(6) Further investigation into Stephanofilariasis in cat-
tle.
(7) Investigation into Acute Amphistomiasis in cattle.
(8) Investigation into the condition known as Kumri in
horses with special reference to its relation with the
condition known as "Osteoporosis."
(9) Investigation into Anaemia in goats, Theilariasis in
cattle, Bovine Hæmaturia, Heterekiasis and Vermi-
nous Trachætis in Fowls.
13
PAPT V.—EXPENDITURE
OF
THE DEPARTMENT.
46. Table XIV (a) shows the expenditure of the Depart-
ment. The total expenditure during the year under report was
Rs. 1,83,097 including the expenditure incurred by the Local
Boards in connection with Veterinary Charges against
Rs. 1,79,442 in the previous year. The sum of Rs. 7,553 shown
under the head " Central " was incurred for the Veterinary
Investigation Officer, Assam, debitable to the grant of the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research against a grant of
Rs. 8,576 received for the year under report.
47. 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.
a. p.
......
60,997 0 0
12,695 0
0
816 0
0
44 0
0
74,552 0
0
PART V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
48. The most striking success that has ever been made by
the Civil Veterinary Department, Assam, since its inception in
this province is the use of the Goat Virus method of protective
inoculation against Rinderpest in the face of epidemic in actual
seats of outbreaks adopted towards the close of the year under
report as opposed to serum alone method of inoculation during
epidemics and the Goat Virus method of inoculation on a
wholesale scale in absence of epidemic hitherto followed. In
view of the encouraging result the Goat Virus method has, since
the close of the year under report, been generally applied in
actual seats of the disease to control outbreaks for all plain cat-
tle in Assam, which are at least four times more susceptible to
Rinderpest than the stock of the neighbouring provinces—a
problem which often confronts the Department in Assam and
which now appears to have at least been nearing a prac-
tical solution. Its advantage is twofold. Firstly, it not
only effectively checks the epidemic but also gives an
active immunity for years as opposed to nine days
immunity conferred by the Serum. Secondly, it would
replace the costly serum with cheap vaccine of nominal value.