Report of the Civil Veterinary Department, Assam,
for the year 1945-46
Preface—General Administration
I held charge of the office of the Director of Veterinary Department, Assam,
throughout the year under report except for the months of May and June, 194 5,
when Rao Sahib V. R. Gopalakrishnan officiated in my place. During the year
I was on tour for 100 days and travelled 4,288 miles by rail and 2,374 miles by
road.
2. The following hospitals and dispensaries were inspected by me during the
year:—The hospitals at Shillong and Silchar and the dispensaries at Badlipar,
Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Karimganj, Habiganj, North Lakhimpur, Palas-
bari, Goalpara, Sadiya, Tinsukia, Naharkatiya, Nalbari, Sootea and Behali.
3. As a member of the Advisory Board of the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research I attended the meeting of the Animal Diseases and Pests Committee and
also attended all-India Veterinary Directors' Conference. I visited the Govern-
ment Cattle Breeding Farms at Shillong, Khanapara and Sylhet in connection
with investigation of diseases of cattle and fowls. I was also appointed as the
Chairman for the Standing Registration Committee, Assam, in connection with
central herd book scheme of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. A
heavy burden was thrown upon me by reason of heavy epidemics of Rinderpest
in the North Lakhimpur Subdivision for which I had to visit the subdivision and
organise epidemic work in collaboration with the Subdivisional Officer, the
Chairman, North Lakhimpur Local Board and the Veterinary Inspector, Upper
Assam Circle. The Inspector was specially deputed there with a band of Veteri-
nary Field Assistants to control epidemics.
A serious epidemic of Foot and Mouth disease involving the entire valuable
stock of the Upper Shillong Farm which maintains pure and cross English
breed cattle caused considerable anxiety to the department so that I personally
visited the Farm and organised control and remedial measures. There was not
a single loss due to the prompt action but the Farm suffered considerable
pecuniary loss the stock having become less productive for the time being. My
anxiety was intensified as the farm supplied milk to Shillong town and the disease
has a bearing on public health, as it is communicable to human being if the milk
is consumed without being properly boiled.
4. In the Laboratory at Gauhati 1,175 specimens of various kinds were
examined microscopically out of which 23 specimens proved Anthrax, 19 H. S.,
7 Surra, 5 Johne's disease and 1 Black Quarter. These are excluding the
specimens examined by the Veterinary Investigation Officer, Assam.
5. The forms of tables attached to the Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary
Department have been revised by the Government of India in their letter
No.F.17/45-37/A, dated the 10th October 1938 and communicated to this depart-
ment by the Local Government in their letter No. 31-E, dated the 6th January
1939. The revised forms have been adopted for the year under report.
Veterinary Investigation Officer, Assam
6. The scheme for the appointment of the Veterinary Investigation Officer,
Assam, was commenced in the month of April 1933 and it has been extended up
to the 31st March 1948. Rao Sahib V. R. Gopalakrishnan was in charge of the