NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
4
19. Foot-and-mouth disease,—Three thousand nine hundred
and ninety-three deaths were reported from this disease from
all the districts against 3,125 deaths from all districts except the
Lushai Hills in the previous year.
20. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia,—Two thousand and eleven
deaths were reported from this disease from nine districts against
1,682 from nine districts in the previous year.
21. Black quarter.—Eifty-five deaths were reported from
this disease from five districts against eight from one district in
the previous year,
22. Anthrax.—Nine hundred and fifteen deaths were reported
from this disease from 10 districts against 1,238 from eight
districts in the previous year. The disease was diagnosed micros-
copically in all the districts.
23. Other contagious diseases,—Six thousand four hundred
and ninety deaths were reported under this head from eight
districts against 9,577 deaths from eight districts in the previous
year.
OTHER ANIMALS.
21. Con'agious diseases amongst other animals.—Altogether
3,634 deaths were reported from 11 districts against 4,706 deaths
from 10 districts in the preceding year.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATIONS.
25. Table III shows the number and the result of prevent
ive inoculations done in the province during the year under
report.
26. Rinderpest.—Inoculations against rinderpest were car-
ried out in 252 outbreaks in 17 subdivisions and one Hill district
(Khasi and Jaintia Hills). In these outbreaks 5,189 animals
were reported to have died before inoculation. Altogether 15,308
animals were inoculated by the serum alone method. One
hundred and sixty-three deaths were reported amongst the ino-
culated animals.
In the previous year inoculations were carried out in 525
outbreaks in 19 subdivisions and two Hill districts (Khasi and
Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills). In these outbreaks 14,546
animals died before inoculation. The total number of cattle
inoculated, was 40,367 of which 743 died alter inoculation.
27. The outbreaks of rinderpest were severe in the districts
of Sylhet, Kamrup and Sibsagar and the greatest number of
inoculations was done in the Sylhet district. In the previous
year Sibsagar district showed the largest number of inoculations.
28. Anthrax.—Sixty
specimens of suspected Anthrax were
received in the Laboratory of which 36 proved Anthrax; Ino-
culations were performed in 30 outbreaks in 11 subdivisions and
one Hill district (Khasi and Jaintia Hills). In these outbreaks
tour equines, 147 bovines and 22 others were reported to have
died before inoculation. The number of animals inoculated was
220 equines, 1,251 bovines and 194 others. No deaths were
Reported amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year inoculations were performed in 28 out-
breaks in eight subdivisions and one Hill district (Khasi and
Jaintia Hills) in which six equines and 83 bovines were reported
to hare died.before inoculation. The number of animals inoculat-
ed was 213 equines and 761 bovines of which three bovines died
after inoculation,
29. The submission of the monthly returns of Anthrax out-
breaks to the American Consul General in Calcutta was continued.
30. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The diagnosis of this disease
was confirmed microscopically in three cases. Inoculation was
undertaken in two outbreaks in two subdivisions in which 18
bovines were reported to have died before inoculation. Altogether
four equines and 110 bovines were inoculated. No deaths were
reported amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year inoculation was performed in 14 out-
breaks in five subdivisions and one Hill district (Khasi and Jaintia
Hills) in which 143 bovines died before inoculation. Altogether
1,072 bovines were inoculated of which six died after inoculation.
31. Black quarter.—No vaccination was undertaken against
this disease during the year under report.
32. The total number of outbreaks in which inoculations were
undertaken during the year was 284 in which four equines, 5,354
bovines and 22 others were reported to have died before
inoculation. The number of animals inoculated was 221 equines,
16,669 bovines and 194 others of which 163 bovines died after
inoculation.
In the previous year inoculations were undertaken in 565
outbreaks of which six equines and 14,772 bovines died before
inoculation. The number of animals inoculated was 213 equines
and 42,200 bovines of which 752 bovines died after inoculation.
ITINERANT ASSISTANTS' WORK.
83. Table IV shows the work of the Staff, Itinerating and
the Reserve Assistants during the year. They visited 9,967
villages, performed 1,663 castrations and treated 20,177 oases
6
for contagious diseases and 53,297 cases for non-contagious
diseases. In the previous year 9,783 villages were visited, 1,591
animals castrated, 28,173 cases treated for contagious diseases and
4.9,263 cases for non-contagious diseases. There was thus an in-
crease of 179 villages visited, 72 animals castrated and 4,032 cases
treated for non-contagious diseases. There was a decrease of
7,996 cases treated for contagious diseases which was due to less
prevalence of contagious diseases during the year. Eight dispen-
saries remained temporarily closed for short periods as Reserve
Assistants were not available to fill the vacancies.
34. The Veterinary Assistant employed by the Local Board,
Dhubri, resigned during the year and the post remained vacant up
to the end of the year. As no Veterinary Assistant was found
willing to accept the post the Board applied for a Government
Veterinary Assistant. The Government was moved accordingly
and the post of a 3rd Veterinary Assistant under the Dhubri
Local Board was sanctioned at the close of the year. A Veteri---------
nary Assistant has accordingly been sent there at the beginning
of this year.
35. The Reserve and Staff Veterinary Assistants on their
tours visited 369 villages, castrated 14 animals, treated 1,574
cases for contagious diseases and 496 cases for non-contagious
diseases. In the previous year they visited 917 villages, castrated
34 animals, treated 2,723 cases for contagious diseases and 3,121
cases for non-contagious diseases.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
36. Table V shows the work of the three Government
Veterinary hospitals at Gauhati, Silchar and Shillong. The total
number of animals treated in the hospitals during the year under
report including both in and out-patients was 4,221 against 4,275
in the previous year. The total number of cases supplied with
medicines for the treatment of animals not brought to the hos-
pitals was 54 against 421 last year. The distribution of medicines
without the cases being seen is discouraged.
Owners are
encouraged to bring their animals to the hospitals for examination
and treatment.
37. Gauhati Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under
report 73 in-patients and 1,527 out-patients, making a total of
1,600, were treated in the hospital against a total of 1,678 in the
previous year. Under the Cruelty, to Animals Act 16 cruelty
cases and three maiming cases were treated in the hospital against
7
16 cruelty cases and no maiming cases last year. Medicines were
supplied in 20 cases for treatment of animals not brought to the
hospital against none in the previous year.
33. Silchar Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under
report 14 in-patients and 1,704 out-patients, making a total of
1,718, were treated in the hospital against a total of 1,674 in the
previous year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act nine cruelty
cases and four maiming cases were treated in the hospital against
four cruelty cases and eight maiming cases in the previous year.
The cases supplied with medicines for treatment of animals not
brought to the hospital was nil against 375 cases in the previous
year.
39. Shillong Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under
report 51 in-patients and 852 out-patients, making a total of 903,
were treated in the hospital against a total of 923 in the previous
year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act six cruelty cases and
one maiming case were treated in the hospital against three
cruelty cases and no maiming cases last year. Medicines were
supplied in 34 cases for treatment of animals not brought to the
hospital against 46 cases in the preceding year.
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS .
40. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls reported to
have been serving in this province during the year.
There were 27 bulls at the beginning of the year and the
number at the close of the year was 29.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
41. Table XIV shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held in the province during the year under report. In these fairs
there was little of importance to record. The Veterinary stalls
with specimens and other exhibits were one of the most attractive
features of the shows.
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
42. Table VII shows the strength of the Subordinate
Veterinary Staff of this province as it stood on the 31st March
1928. The post of the 4th Veterinary Inspector was sanctioned
during the year and consequently there were four Veterinary
Inspectors against three in the previous year. With the creation
of the post of the 4th Veterinary Inspector the Gauhati Circle was
8
divided into two, viz., Gauhati Circle No. I and Gauhati Circle
No. II with effect from the 27th May 1927, and consequently the
Assam Valley Circles were readjusted as follows :—
Dibrugarh Circle—
Lakhimpur and Sibsagar districts.
Gauhati Circle No. I—
Darrang, Nowgong, Naga Hills, Khasi and
Jaintia Hills districts and Sadar subdivision of
the Kamrup district.
Gauhati Circle No. II—
Goalpara, Garo Hills districts, Barpeta subdivision
of the Kamrup district and the Reserve Veteri-
nary Assistants.
The number of Veterinary Assistants at the close of the year
was 55 including one on deputation to the Iraq Government.
Three new graduates joined the Department during the year and
the services of one were dispensed with.
43. A brief account of the work performed by the Veterina-
ry Inspectors is given below :—
(1) Babu Guru Prasanna Sen, Veterinary Inspector, was in
charge of the Dibrugarh Circle from the 1st to 22nd April 1927
and of the Gauhati Circle from the 25th April to the 26th May
1927. He held charge of the Department from the 27th May
1927 to the 26th January 1928. He was in charge of the Gau-
hati Circle No. II from the 27th January to the 31st March 1928
during which period he was on tour for nine days and travelled
151 miles by rail, 63 miles by steamer and 105 miles by road.
He inspected the hospital at Gauhati twice ; the dispensaries at
Dhubri and Goalpara once each. He also inspected the work
of the Staff and the Reserve Veterinary Assistants at Gauhati.
(2) Babu Satya Charan Mukherjee, Veterinary Inspector.
Dibrugarh, was on leave from the 1st April to the 1st May 1927.
He held charge of the Dibrugarh Circle from the 2nd May 1927
to the end of the year. He was on tour for 157 days, travelled
2,548 miles by rail, 1,045 miles by road and 726 miles by
steamer and boat. He visited and re-visited 117 villages and
tea estates in connection with the inspection of the work of the
Veterinary Assistants, the investigation of diseases, and enquiry
into the result of inoculation. He inspected the following
dispensaries :—
The dispensaries at Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Nazira,
Jorhat, Majuli, Mariani, and North Lakhimpur four times each;
Golaghat, Badlipar and Dhakuakhana thrice. He visited the
9
Nazira Pinjrapoles and Dibrugarh Gowshalla once. He attended
the Veterinary Gamp Hospital at Dibrugarh during the Camp of
Exercise of the Assam Valley Light Horse. Thirty-five speci-
mens were examined by him microscopically during the year.
(3) Babu Srish Chandra Ghose, Veterinary Inspector, Silchar,
held charge of the Silchar Circle throughout the year except for
the periods from the 19th May to the 15th June 1927 and from
the 18th July to the 5th August 1927 during which he was on
leave. He was on tour for 120 days and travelled 2,684 miles by
rail, 250 miles by steamer and 1,278 miles by road and country
boat. He visited and re-visited 42 villages and tea estates in
connection with the inspection of Veterinary Assistants' work,
investigation of diseases and enquiry into the result of inocula-
tions. The following hoipitals and dispensaries were inspected
by him :—
Hospital at Silchar, dispensaries at Silchar, Karimganj,
Kulaura, Maulvibazar, Habiganj and Sylhet four times each ;
Palonghat, Hailakandi, Shaistaganj, Patharkandi and Sunamganj
thrice each; Jagannathpur twice and Aijal once. He also
inspected the work of the Staff and the Reserve Veterinary
Assistants at Silchar. He supervised the work of the Field
Veterinary Hospital opened at Silchar during the Camp of
Exercise of the Surma Valley Light Horse. He attended the
Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition and the Cattle Show
held at Silchar and acted as a judge in the Cattle Show. He
examined 85 specimens microscopically.
(4) Babu Hem Chandra Sen held charge of the Gauhati
Circle as officiating Veterinary Inspector from the 1st to the
22nd April 1927. In that period he was on tour for 11 days
and travelled 79 miles by road and visited 1 village. He held
charge of the Dibrugarh Circle as officiating Veterinary Inspector
from the 23rd April to the 1st May 1927. During that period he
was on tour for seven days and travelled 150 miles by rail and 74
miles by road. He inspected the dispensary at Golaghat once
and visited five villages in connection with the inspection of
Veterinary Assistants' work. He was appointed as the 4th
Veterinary Inspector with effect from the 27th May 1927 ; he
held charge of the Gauhati Circle No. I from the 27th May to
the end of the year. During that period he was on tour for 126
10
days and travelled 1,205 miles by rail, 807 miles by steamer and
1,409 miles by road and boat. The following dispensaries were
inspected by him :—
Gauhati four times, Nowgong, Misa Behali, Sootea and
Tezpur thrice ; Nalbari, Mangaldai, Tangla and Shillong twice
and Kohima once. He visited and re-visited 102 villages in
connection with the inspection of Veterinary Assistants' work,
investigation of diseases and enquiry into the result of
inoculations. He also examined the transport ponies of the
Assam Rifles at Kohima once.
(5) Maulavi Azizuddin Sarkar, Staff Veterinary Assistant,
Gauhati, held charge of the Ganhati Circle No. II, as a
temporary Veterinary Inspector from the 1st June 1927 to the
26th January 1928. During that period he was on tour for 110
days and travelled 868 miles by rail, 899 miles by steamer and
1,290 miles by road and boat. He inspected the dispensaries at
.Patacharkuchi, Barpeta, Abhoyapuri, Bilashipara and Goalpara
thrice each; Dhubri twice and Tura once. He visited and
re-visited 118 villages in connection with the inspection of
Veterinary Assistants' work, investigation of diseases and enquiry
into the result of inoculations.
44. The number of Reserve Veterinary Assistants was 10
during the year under report. Two were employed in charge of
the Government Veterinary hospitals at Gauhati and Silchar,
one on deputation to the Iraq Government and the rest were
employed on leave vacancies and on deputation to supplement
the local staff.
45. The names of the following Veterinary Assistants are
noted for good and steady work :—
(1) Babu Bhudhar Chandra Chatterjee, Staff Veterinary
Assistant, Silchar.
(2) Babu Surendra Mohan Sen Gupta, Veterinary Assistant,
Shillong.
(3) Babu Hemanta Kumar Nag Chaudhury, Veterinary
Assistant, Tezpur
(4) Babu Narendra Nath Basu, Veterinary Assistant,
Nalbari.
(5) Babu Manmatha Nath Ghose, Veterinary Assistant
Nazira.
(6) Babu Debendra Nath Chatterjee, Veterinary Assistant,
Patharkandi.
(7) Maulavi Dewan Eaizuddin Ahmed, Veterinary Assistant,
Mariani.
CORRECTION SLIP TO THE REPORT OF THE CIVIL
VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, ASSAM, FOR THE
YEAR 1927-28.
In paragraph 50 of the report for the figure " 19 " in
column 2 against " Number of cruelty cases examined " substi-
tute " 219 " and for the word " maining " in the next item
substitute the word " maiming".
A. S. P. O (Edn.) No. 41-625—9-11-1928-K. M. R.
11
PART V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
46. Table XIV (a) shows the expenditure of the Department.
The total expenditure during the year was Rs. 1,71,801-7-10
against Rs. 1,78,041-13-10 of the previous year.
47. The Local Boards in Assam incurred the following
expenditure in connection with Veterinary charges. These
figures are furnished by the Boards and are included in the above
total :—
Veterinary instruction
Subordinate establishment
Hospitals and dispensaries
Breeding operations
Fairs and Shows
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rs.
61,661
16,590
596
604
a.
9
7
0
0
p.
0
9
0
0
The sum of Rs. 596 was spent for breeding operations by the
Sibsagar and Dhubri Local Boards.
PART VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
48. An adequate supply of serum was received from the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
49. The following table shows the doses of the various sera
received during the last five years :—
1
Anti Rinderpest ...
Anti Anthrax ...
Anti Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia ...
1927-28.
2
1, 05,000
2,000
...
1926-27.
3
1,74,000
...
...
1925-26.
4
1,25,000
9,000
5,000
1924-25.
5
65,000
6,000
2,000
1923-24.
C
54,760
8,000
5,000
50. The number of cruelty and maiming cases examined and
reported on during the year and previous years is as follows : —
1
Number of cruelty cases examined ...
Number of maining cases examined ...
Number of attendances at Court to give evidence
Number of cases fined or imprisoned ...
1927-28.
2
19
214
160
228
1926-27.
3
142
173
98
125
1925-26.
4
219
156
135
172
1924-25.
5
239
150
128
193
12
As I mentioned in my previous reports these figures bear
no relation to the great, amount of cruelty which is inflicted on
animals in this province. Carelessness, ignorance and lack of
sympathy amongst the general population is responsible for this
most unsatisfactory state of affairs. I hope further efforts will
be made to punish the worst offenders.
51. During the year under report the Veterinary Assistants
observed 462 cases of suspected poisoning amongst cattle ; of
these 393 were reported to have died. In four cases material sent
to the Chemical Examiner showed poisoning by Arsenic. In the
previous year 54 cases were suspected to be of poisoning of
which 46 cattle died. Sunamganj Circle is responsible for the
increase in the number of poisoning cases during the year under
report and contributes 367 cases of suspected poisoning and 342
deaths. These cases were reported to the local authority by the
Veterinary Assistants.
52. During the year one horse, one elephant and 11 dogs were
injected with anti rabic vaccine supplied from the Pasteur
Institute, Shillong. In the previous year, one horse, one calf and
22 dogs were injected.
53. One Veterinary Assistant had to undergo anti rabic
treatment at the Pasteur Institute, Shillong, during the year
as he was exposed to infection during the course of his duties.
In the previous year the Superintendent and two Assistants
underwent the treatment.
54. The question of grazing grounds and their further
extension is so often under discussion that a few remarks from
the Veterinary aspect may not be out of place.
Public grazing grounds are a great danger to the cattle
population because it is there that contagious and parasitic
diseases get their best chance of spreading.
Contagious diseases acquired in the common grazing grounds
are responsible for a great part of the high death-rate. These
diseases are rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, etc.
No less fatal, but acting more slowly and insidiously are
the parasitic diseases which makes animals useless for work or
for milk. These infected animals die slowly and all the time
they are infecting the pastures so that the healthy become
infected and they in their time slowly go the same way. Every
grazing ground is well stocked with these useless emaciated,
dying animals. They are a danger and should not be allowed
on public grazing grounds. Cattle owners who wish to keep
their stock fit and healthy must avoid grazing on these common
grounds. The alternative is to have a private grazing ground,
13
grow fodder crops and keep only a limited number of healthy
animals. Again at certain times of the year the grazing ground
is a misnomer, it would be more correct to call it a starving
ground.
55. His Excellency the Governor of Assam visited the
Veterinary hospitals at Silchar and Gauhati.
56. The Hon'ble Minister of Education, Sir Saiyid Muhammad
Saadulla, visited the Veterinary hospital at Silchar and
dispensaries at Hailakandi, Sylhet, Karimganj, Maulvibazar,
Kulaura, Sibsagar and Jorhat.
57. All the Inspectors carried out their duties in a very
satisfactory manner and the Department owes much of its
success to their keenness and ability.
58. Office Staff.—During the year the staff carried out the
clerical work in a satisfactory manner.
59. The Department wishes to thank District Officers,
members of the Local Boards and private gentlemen who have
taken an interest in Veterinary work and the general welfare of
cattle.
W. HARRIS,
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Assam.
TABLE II.
16
TABLE II
Showing number of deaths from contagions diseases amongst animals during the year 1927-1928.
Province.
1
Cachar
...
... ...
Sylhet
Khasi and Jaintia Hills ... ...
Naga Hills ... ... ...
Garo. Hills
...
... ...
Lushai Hills ... ... ...
Goalpara ... ... ...
Kamrup ... ... ...
Darrang
...
... ...
Nowgong
...
... ...
Sibsagar
...
... ...
Lakhimpur ... ... ...
Sadiya ... ... ...
Total ...
Equines.
Glanders.
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Anthrax.
3
4
3
...
...
5
...
...
...
13
1
...
26
Surra.
4
...
31
...
11
5
...
...
3
...
...
6
...
...
56
Dourine.
5
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Other contagious
diseases.
6
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
40
...
70
6
...
119
Total.
7
4
34
...
11
10
...
...
6
40
...
89
7
...
201
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
8
235
3,676
58
...
235
...
1,649
2,871
3,038
530
1,005
509
...
13,806
Foot-and-
mouth
disease.
9
23
46
20
2
222
3
22
1,149
813
700
980
12
10
3,993
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
10
17
176
...
...
35
...
127
565
60
956
5
10
2,011
Black quarter.
11
...
3
...
43
2
...
3
...
...
...
...
4
...
55
Anthrax.
12
130
75
3
...
3
...
59
370
5
40
200
30
...
915
17
Province.
1
Cachar
...
...
...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Khasi and Jaintia Hills ...
Naga Hills ... ...
Garo Hills ... ...
Lushai Hills ... ...
Goalpara ... ...
Kamrup ... ...
Darrang ... ...
Nowgong ... ...
Sibsagar ... ...
Lakhimpur ... ...
Sadiya
...
...
Total ...
Bovines—concld.
Other contagious
diseases.
13
...
...
...
343
...
92
555
2,339
2,000
1,102
19
40
6,490
Total.
14
405
3,976
81
45
810
3
1,952
5,501
6,195
3,690
4,243
579
120
27,270
Other animals
Rinderpest.
15
12
...
...
12
...
..
342
85
81
63
...
...
595
Foot-and-mouth
disease.
16
1
...
5
4
...
170
105
71
47
...
...
403
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
17
2
...
...
2
80
3
64
...
...
66
...
...
217
Black
quarter.
18
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Anthrax,
19
1
...
...
...
2
8
...
...
10
22
...
43
Distemper.
30
2
24
...
...
3
...
3
31
39
...
7
2
...
111
Babies.
21
2
8
12
...
...
...
6
229
2
31
72
14
...
376
Other
contagious
diseases.
22
...
...
...
...
24
30
4
509
463
500
357
1
...
1,888
Total.
23
4
48
12
47
114
18
1,353
694
683
622
39
...
3,634
Grand
Total.
24
413
4,058
93
66
897
117
1,970
6,860
6,929
4,373
4,954
625
120
31,105