NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
6
327 were done by the serum alone method and the rest by the
Goat Tissue Vaccine and amongst the inoculated 1,117 died
subsequently.
37. Anthrax.—The diagnosis of this disease was confirmed
by microscopical examination in 67 cases during
the year.
Inoculation was carried out in 67 outbreaks in 8 districts in
which 477 bovines, 4 equines and 25 others were reported to
have died uninoculated, 5,757 bovines, 143 equines and 32
others were inoculated (including 1,082 bovines done by Anthrax
Spore Vaccine). Twelve bovines were reported to have died
amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year inoculation was carried out in 60 out-
breaks in 8 districts in which 590 bovines, 33 equines and 3
others were reported to have died uninoculated in course of the
outbreaks, 4,230 bovines, 1", 2 equines and 42 others were inocu-
lated amongst which 6 bovines and 1 equine were reported to
have died subsequently.
38. The monthly return of the occurrence of Anthrax cases
continued to be submitted to the American Consul General in
Calcutta.
39. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The diagnosis of this disease
was confirmed by microscopical examination in 26 cases during
the year. Inoculation was undertaken in 26 outbreaks in 7
districts in which 245 bovines were reported to have died un-
inoculated in course of the outbreaks, 2,320 bovines were ino-
culated ; there was no death amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year inoculation was undertaken in 25 out-
breaks in 7 districts in which 267 bovines and 11 others were
reported to have died uninoculated in course of the outbreaks.
One thousand six hundred and twenty bovines and 14 others
were inoculated and there was no death amongst the inoculated.
40. Black quarter.—There were 2 outbreaks reported from 2
districts in which 9 bovines were reported to have died unino-
culated in course of the outbreaks, 78 bovines were inoculated—
no death was reported amongst the inoculated.
In the previous year 4 outbreaks were reported from 2 dis-
tricts in which 31 bovines died uninoculated in course of the out
breaks, 239 bovines were inoculated of which 2 were reported to
have died subsequently.
ITINERATING VETERINARY ASSISTANT SURGEONS'
WORK
41. Table IV shows the work done by the Itinerating
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons as well as by the Staff and Re-
serve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons while on deputation in the
7
districts. In all 15,054 villages were visited by them in which
they castrated 30,758 animals and treated 29,001 animals for
contagious diseases and 1,15,431 for non-contagious diseases. In
the previous year 14,694 villages were visited in which 28,717
castrations were performed and 53,694 animals were treated for
contagious diseases and 85,924 for non-contagious diseases.
During the previous year owing to extensive epidemics of
Foot-and-mouth disease the number of cases treated for contagious
diseases swelled up to more than double the number of the year
previous to that. Even in spite of this the total number of cases
treated for contagious and non-contagious diseases together
shows a substantial increase this year over that of the last year.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES
42. Table V shows the. work of the three Government Vete-
rinary 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 7,844 against 6,552 in the previous year, and the
total number of castrations performed during the year was 542
against 558 in the previous year. It seems that the owners are
gradually realising the value of presenting sick animals to the
Dispensary and Hospital so that the number of cases for which
medicines were supplied but not brought to hospitals was very
meagre this year (14 against 592 of the previous year)
Total
hospital receipts amounted to Rs. 1,066 against Rs. 1,075 in the
previous year.
43. Gauhati Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under re-
port 49 in-patients and 2,374 out-patients were treated against
83 in-patients and 2,169 out-patients treated in the previous
year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 4, cases were treated in
this hospital against 12 cases in the previous year.
44. Silchar Veterinary Hospital.—In this hospital 80 in-patients
and 3,157 out-patients were treated during the year against 82
in-patients and 2,253 out-patients in the previous year. Under
the Cruelty to Animals Act one case was treated in this hospital
during the year against no case in the previous year.
45. Shillong Veterinary Hospital.—In this hospital 109 in-
patients and 2,075 out-patients were treated during the year
against 96 in-patients and 1,869 out-patients in the previous
year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 9 cases were treated
in this hospital against 10 cases in the previous year.
a
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS
46. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls reported to
be serving in the province during the year under report. There
were 529 bulls at the beginning of the year and the number at
the close of the year was 740. The figures were furnished by the
Director of Agriculture, Assam, and the Deputy Commissioners.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS
47. Table XIV shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held during the year as reported by the Deputy Commissioners.
There were in all 6 fairs or shows as opposed to 10 of the pre-
vious year. Wherever possible the Veterinary Department par-
ticipated in the functions by opening stalls and exhibiting speci-
mens, models, charts, diagrams, etc., and distributed leaflets
and gave lectures on the general welfare of cattle and preven-
tion of contagious diseases.
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT
48. Table VII shows the strength of the Subordinate Vete-
rinary staff of the province. The total strength as it stood on
the 31st March 1939 consisted of 1 Johne's Disease Officer
(temporary), 4 Veterinary Inspectors and 61 Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons including 2 temporary Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons. The post of the Johne's Disease Officer which was
originally sanctioned for two years was extended for another
year and therefore continued during the year under report as
also the post of the temporary Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
49. A brief account of the work performed by the Johne's
Disease Officer and the Veterinary Inspectors during the year
under report is enumerated below :—
(1) Babu Budhar Chandra Chatterjee, Veterinary Inspec-
tor, worked temporarily as the Johne's Disease Officer from the
beginning of the year up to the 4th January 1.939 after which he
was temporarily appointed as the Veterinary Investigation
Officer, Assam, for the remaining period of the year. As the
Johne's Disease Officer he was on tour for 74 days and travelled
1,516 miles by rail and 851 miles by road. He tested 238
animals for Johne's disease with Avian Tuberculin. At the re-
quest of the Civil Surgeon, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, he was
deputed to Shillong to test 5 cattle for Tuberculosis which how-
ever proved negative. He also investigated into the effect of
9
Anthrax Spore Vaccine in cattle. He also investigated into an
outbreak of suspected Surra amongst the transport animals at
Kohima and also investigated into the result of treatment of
Surra cases in Kamrup.
During
extensive epidemics of Rinderpest the Johne's
Disease Officer had to be withdrawn from his specific duties and
was deputed as a special case to investigate and organise Rin-
derpest epidemic work in the Kamrup district. He was also
entrusted to give demonstration of Anti-Rinderpest Serum inocu-
lation to 86 Assistant Medical Officers of Tea Estates in six
different centres in the province. While at headquarters the
Johne's Disease Officer also supervised work in the Laboratory
and in the Serum Depot.
(2) Babu Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Surma Valley Circle throughout the year except
for the period from the 1st to the 18th April 1938 when he was
on leave and Maulavi Syed Ataul Haque officiated in his place.
He was on tour for 166 days and visited 166 villages and Tea
Estates ; he travelled 2,308 miles by rail, 82 miles by steamer,
1,178 miles by road and 256 miles by boat.
He inspected the following hospitals and dispensaries:—
The Veterinary Hospital at Silchar and the dispensaries at
Silchar, Patharkandi, Maulvibazar, Kulaura, Habiganj and
Shaistaganj four times each ; Hailakandi, Sylhet, Sylhet Local
Board and Sylhet Farm, Karimganj and Jagannathpur three
times each ; Palonghat and Sunamganj twice each.
He inspected the cattle of the Sylhet Cattle Farm, Karim-
ganj Agricultural Farm, the Sylhet Jail Dairy and Silchar Jail
Dairy and also inspected the breeding bulls placed at different
centres in the Hailakandi, Habiganj and Maulvibazar Subdivi-
sions. He also supervised the work of the Camp Veterinary
Hospital opened in connection with the Camp of Exercise of the
Surma Valley Light Horse. He organised work and supervised
the work of the Staff and Reserve Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons in connection with the wide-spread epidemic of Rinder-
pest in the Sylhet, South Sylhet and Habiganj Subdivisions and
the Surra epidemic in the Maulvibazar Subdivision.
(3) Maulavi Fariduddin Ahmed, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Lower Assam Circle from the 1st to the 13th April
and of the Upper Assam Circle from the 15th April to
the end of the year. He was on tour for 150 days, travelling
2,233 miles by rail, 168 miles by steamer and 1,873 miles by road
and boat. He visited and revisited 220 villages and Tea Estates.
10
He inspected the Veterinary dispensaries in his charge as
follows—Mariani, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia four times
each, Nazira, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, Badlipar,
North
Lakhimpur and the 3rd Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Dibru-
garh three times each, Sadiya and Dhakuakhana once each.
He also inspected the cattle of the Jorhat Agricultural Farm,
Jorhat Jail Dairy and Dibrugarh Jail Dairy and also the bree-
ding bulls of the Jorhat and Sibsagar Municipalities and Gola-
ghat and North Lakhimpur Local Boards and those placed at
different centres in the Jorhat, Sibsagar, Golaghat and Dibru-
garh subdivisions. He attended the Cattle Show held at
Thengal and supervised work in the Camp Veterinary Hospital
in connection with the Camp of Exercise of the Assam Valley
Light Horse at Jorhat, He also visited the flood-affected areas
in the Sibsagar district and organised Veterinary relief work
there.
(4) Babu Annada Mohan Das, Veterinary Inspector,
was in charge of the Central Assam Circle from the 1st to the
25th April 1939 and of the Lower Assam Circle for the rest of
the year. He was on tour for 173 days and travelled 2 611
miles by rail, 1,249 miles by road, 162 miles by steamer and 448
miles by boat. He visited and revisited 239 villages. He
inspected the Veterinary dispensaries in his charge as follows—
Dhubri and Nalbari four times each, Barpeta, Patacharkuchi,
Abhoyapuri, Mangaldai and Tangla three times each, Sukchar
and Bilashipara twice each. He inspected the Government
breeding bull at Nalbari and the live-stock at Dcosiri breeding
area. He attended the Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition
at Nalbari and also visited the flood-affected areas in the Dhubri
subdivision. He also organised and supervised epidemic work in
his Circle.
(5) Maulavi Syed Ataul Haque, Veterinary Inspector, was
in charge of the Surma Valley Circle from the 1st to the 18th
April and thereafter was in charge of the Central Assam Circle
till the end of the year. He was on tour for 138 days and
travelled 1,175 miles by rail, 595 miles by steamer and boats
and 1,752 miles by road ; he visited 93 villages. He inspected
the Veterinary Hospital and the Veterinary dispensaries in his
charge as follows-- Gauhati Hospital four times, the dispensaries
at Goalpara, Tezpur, Nowgong and Misa three times each,
Palashbari, Sootea, Behali and Marigaon twice each, and the
Shillong Veterinary Hospital once only.
He organised and supervised work in connection with the
wide-spread epidemics of Rinderpest in the Kamrup and
Nowgong districts and also visited the flood-affected area in the
Goalpara subdivision.
11
SCIENTIFIC AND OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
50. The Department continued its usual normal activities.
Besides research and investigation were done on the following
pathological conditions amongst other things :
(1) Kumri in horses.
(2) A disease in buffaloes simulating Kumri clinically.
(3) Effect of Anthrax Spore Vaccine in the face of
Anthrax epidemic.
(4) Non-specific prophylactic treatment of Surra in
horses.
(5) Investigation into Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia.
(6) An obscure pathological condition in cattle alleged to
be due to ingestion of grass parasitised with fungus
of Balancia Species.
PART V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT
51. Table XIV(a) shows the expenditure of the Depart-
ment during the year. The total expenditure was Rs.2,07,411
including the expenditure incurred by the Local Boards against
Rs. 1,91,677 in the previous year. The sum of Rs.7,305 shown
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.
52. The Local Boards in Assam incurred the following
expenditure in connection with Veterinary Charges. These
figures were furnished by the Local Boards :—
Subordinate Establishment ... ...
Hospitals and Dispensaries ... ...
Breeding Operations ... ... ...
Cattle Fairs and Shows ... ... ...
Total ... ... ...
Rs.
64,610-
14,461-
1,485-
400-
80,956-
a.
0
0
0
0
0
p.
-0
-0
-0
-0
-0
PART VI.—GENERAL REMARKS
53. The Department is glad to be able to present an account
of another year's useful work which has been of immense value
to the ryots' cattle which constitute their only capital and wealth.
The Department has not only maintained the high standard of
efficiency but has made a tremendous advance during the year
under report. The total volume of service rendered this year is
at once spectacular and shows an unprecedented increase. Thus
the total number of cases dealt with by the Department rose to
170,718 this year as opposed to 306,990 of the last year.
12
Notwithstanding the fact that Foot-and-Mouth disease, which
caused the number of cases to swell up last year considera-
bly, was conspicuously of minor occurrence this year, there is
yet an increase in the total number of cases treated. Similarly
there is an increase in the number of animals castrated. But
the most outstanding feature is the increase in the volume of
preventive vaccinations against Rinderpest which had surpassed
all. To control Rinderpest, which alone is responsible for more
than half of the total mortality of cattle in Assam and which
year after year puts a heavy toll upon cattle population of the
province, is the most sacred duty of the Department. With
that object in view and having regard to extensive virulent
epidemics which were prevailing the Department concern rated
its attention to the most effective yet incredibly cheap system
of vaccination against the disease. It has very good reasons
to feel gratified that its earnest efforts succeeded in efficiently
protecting more than double the number it did last year and
much greater than that of any of the previous years. Thus the
total number of cattle which had been protected against the
disease this year with the Goat Tissue Vaccine rose to 276,814
against 125,521 of the last year, 111,859 in the year 1936-37,
70,081 in 1935-36, 20,396 in 1934-35 and 2,773 in 1933-34.
This at once suggests to what extent this measure of the preven-
tive vaccination has become popular with ryots. It is indeed
gratifying that the number of vaccination which stood at only
2,273 in 1933-34 has gone up as high as 276,814 during the
year under report.
54. While I report this rapid expansion of veterinary work
in the province I am not slow to realise that it would have been
an impossible task to attain this but for the selfless, strenuous
and ungrudging service rendered by the earnest band of the
loyal subordinate officers placed at my disposal. The facilities
and active co-operation rendered by the ryots were also no less
responsible for the substantial progress in work. While efficien-
cy and usefulness of service rendered are mainly responsible for
the success, intimate mixing of the staff with the ryots to make
them feel that the Department shares with them their pains and
sorrows and therefore stands by them at their needs contributed
immensely. What a tremendous task it had been to educate the
masses against their superstitious faith will be realised when I
say that in the past they not only stoutly resisted vaccination
of cattle lest they offend the Goddess of the disease (" Aye "
or " Sitala " as they call it) but many used to go up to the
length of suppressing the information of epidemics. Active
propaganda, efficient service, practical demonstration of the
value of the preventive and curative treatment, and close touch
13
and active co-operation with the ryots have been able to earn
their confidence and dispel the superstitious faith so that owners
who would once suppress the report of epidemics now send
requisition for veterinary aid even by wire. This is not only
true of the people of advanced rural areas but the usefulness
of the Department has penetrated far deep into the interior so
that the most orthodox and backward tribal people also send
now telegraphic requisitions for veterinary aid.
55. Rinderpest had never been so bad as it was this
year particularly in Sylhet, Kamrup, Goalpara, Nowgong and
Darrang districts which had been the worst sufferers. The
situation was indeed so seriously alarming that it confronted the
Department. It necessitated not only mobilising all the reserve
force of the Department but permanent district staff had to be
withdrawn, even temporarily closing some of the dispensaries
against the wishes and incurring displeasure of the local authori-
ty in cases, with a view to control the epidemics. This explains
higher mortality of cattle this year. The situation was indeed
so pressing that the Government sanctioned extra staff which
however could not be availed of on account of paucity of quali-
fied Veterinary Graduates. In this connection I like to refer
to paragraph 67 of my annual report for 1937-38 and I cannot
help but bring it once more to the notice of the Government
that unrestricted movement of cattle had again been responsible
for the spread of the disease which is always a handicap in
effectively controlling epidemics. I should like to take this
opportunity to express my thanks to Mr. K. Cantlie, C.I.E.,
I.C.S., Deputy Commissioner, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, for his
active co-operation given to the Department by enforcing strict
quarantine of imported cattle when Rinderpest was introduced
to Shillong through the migratory stock from Kamrup district
so that the spread of the disease was effectively checked without
further loss. This one instance explains the value of legislative
measure in localising even the deadliest of the cattle diseases.
56. The Department encountered one of the worst type of
epidemic of Surra amongst horses in South Sylhet subdivision
this year. As this subdivision suffered from a similar lot some
years back when a large number of horses were seized and des-
troyed by the Department under the provisions of the Glanders
and Farcy Act for Surra there had been an attempt to suppress
cases by the owners so that the epidemic came to the notice of
the Department rather late. Thanks to the zeal and tact of Babu
Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, Surma Valley Circle,
who was specially deputed to deal with the epidemic and carry
out special curative treatment, a large number of clinical cases
were brought to light and placed under treatment with such
14
great success that many owners came out later voluntarily with
their sick ponies and many paid for the treatment. The result
was so strikingly successful that not a single horse had to be
destroyed. This is indeed a great contrast to the sad experience
of mortality, natural and forced, just a few years back. Non-
specific prophylactic treatment of horses for Surra was in greater
demand this year which yielded a receipt of Rs.634 being the
cost of the product.
57. Tick infestation of cattle is not uncommon in the pro-
vince and is given but little significance by the owners. It is
a definite menace to cattle. Ticks not only act as vector of
many tick-borne diseases but they cause considerable economic
loss to be sustained in consequence of the lowered efficiency of
the tick infested live-stock during their life time and low value
of the tick-damaged hides Hide is one of the important pro-
ducts of live-stock that finds its way out of the province every
year to be turned into finished products. It seems desirable
therefore that apart from humanitarian point of view it behoves
owners to pay better attention to keep their stock tick free.
58. A pathological condition of cattle which simulates
Bovine Contagious Pleuro-Pneumonia clinically—a disease
which has so far not been reported from India, is noticed from
time to time in Assam ; but its etiology remains yet to be deter-
mined. This is a disease of considerable professional and eco-
nomic importance. Investigation on it is proceeding in colla-
boration with the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute as
opportunity occurs and it is expected that more useful infor-
mation on the pathological condition would be found out.
59. Investigation on "Kumri" in horses is on progress. Data
and materials so far collected and examined have given use-
ful information. More investigation and reasearch on the pa-
thological condition are necessary which is being done with
active assistance given by the Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute. Incidentally it is interesting to report that a condi-
tion clinically similar to Kumri in horses has been traced in
buffaloes in this province. The clinical picture is so striking-
ly similar and the result of materials so far submitted to the Im-
perial Veterinary Research Institute gave such result that if
Kumri in horses and this pathological condition in buffaloes
prove to be one and the same disease it will be a very interest-
ing finding. More investigation into the condition is proposed
as cases may be found.
60. Simultaneous occurrence of Anthrax in cattle and man
was reported in my annual report of 1936-37. The Depart-
ment had encountered yet another bad epidemic of Anthrax