NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
5
BOVINE (CATTLE AND BUFFALOES)
19. Rinderpest.—This disease was prevalent in all the dis-
tricts except the Lushai Hills, the Naga Hills and the Sadiya
Frontier Tract. The total mortality from this disease was re-
ported to be 25,826 against 34,120 reported in the previous
year. This year again Sylhet district was the worst sufferer
and sustained the heaviest loss.
20. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.—The number of deaths from
this disease was reported to be 1,796 from all districts except
the Lushai Hills, the Naga Hills and the Sadiya Frontier Tract
against 1,507 from 8 districts in the previous year.
21. Foot and Mouth disease.—This disease was reported from
all districts except the Sadiya Frontier Tract with a mortality
of 943 against a mortality of 432 reported from 8 districts in
the previous year.
22. Black-Quarter.—The number of deaths from this
disease was reported to be 108 from 6 districts against 100 re-
ported from 6 districts in the previous year.
23. Anthrax.—This disease was reported from 8 districts
with a mortality of 2,075 against a mortality of 1,724 from 8
districts in the previous year.
24. Surra [Bovine).—No death from Bovine urra was re-
ported during the year against 2 deaths reported in the previ-
ous year.
25. Other contagious and Parasitic diseases.—The number of
deaths from other contagious and parasitic diseases was reported
to be 6,245 from all the districts except the Lushai Hills, the
Garo Hills, and the Sadiya Frontier Tract against 10,362
from all the districts of the province in the previous year.
26. Other causes.—Deaths from other causes were reported
from all the districts in the province. The number of mortality
was reported to be 5,660 against 6,016 reported from 11 districts
in the previous year.
OTHER ANIMALS (SHEEP, GOATS, DOGS)
27. Anthrax.—Number of deaths reported from this disease
was 21 from 5 districts against 12 deaths from 3 districts in the
previous year.
28. Sheep pox.—Only 8 deaths were reported from this
disease from 2 districts against none in the previous year.
29. Pleuro-Pneumonia,—Only 7 deaths were reported from
this disease from 2 districts against the same number of deaths
from 3 districts in the previous year.
6
30. Foot and Mouth disease.—Number of deaths from this
disease was reported to be 38 from 6 districts against none in
the previous year.
31. Scab.—This disease was reported from 9 districts with
a mortality of 279 against a mortality of 236 in the previous
year.
32. Rabies.—The mortality reported from this disease was
223 from 9 districts against 153 from the same number of dis-
tricts in the previous year.
33. Other Contagious and Parasitic diseases.—The number of
deaths from other contagious and parasitic diseases was reported
to be 2,009 from 10 districts against 1,891 reported from 12
districts in the previous year.
34. Other causes.—The mortality reported from other causes
was 2,202 from all the districts against 2,160 from 11 districts
in the previous year.
35. There is no camel in this province and so the statement
under this head is blank.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION AND VACCINATION
36. 1 able II shows the number and results of preventive
inoculation and vaccination undertaken during the year. It
needs hardly any mention that the Department directed its
energy to its utmost capacity to prophylactic inoculation of
cattle against Rinderpest which is the main concern and the
work therefore mainly consisted of vaccination of cattle with
the Goat-Tissue-Vaccine which was extensively undertaken.
37. Rinderpest.—This disease was prevalent in epidemic form
in all the plains districts of the province and also in the Khasi
and Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills. Epidemics were severe
and widespread in the districts of Sylhet, Sibsagar and Kamrup;
the loss of cattle due to Rinderpest was also considerable in
these districts.
Preventive vaccination and inoculation against Rinderpest
was undertaken in 1,279 outbreaks in 10 districts in which
22,996 animals were reported to have died uninoculated in
course of the outbreaks. In these outbreaks 335,384 animals
were vaccinated with the Goat-Tissue-Vaccme and 354 animals
were inoculated in serum alone method ; out of the inoculated
and vaccinated animals 1,964 animals were reported to have
died subsequently. In the previous year inoculation and vac-
cination were undertaken in 1,360 outbreaks in 10 districts in
which 27,602 animals died uninoculated in course of the out-
7
breaks and 2,78,812 animals were vaccinated and inoculated
(only 1,998 having been done in the serum alone method) and
amongst the vaccinated and inoculated 1,724 died subsequently.
38. Anthrax.—This disease was confirmed microscopically
in 58 cases during the year. Inoculation was carried out in 47
outbreaks in 7 districts in which 861 bovines, 3 equines and 1
other animal died uninoculated in course of the outbreaks.
Two thousand one hundred and eighty-three bovines, 68 equines
and 172 other animals were inoculated and vaccinated (36 bo-
vines having been done by Anthrax Spore Vaccine) ; amongst
the inoculated 5 bovines died subsequently. In the previous
year the disease was confirmed in 67 cases and inoculation was
carried out in 67 outbreaks in 8 districts in which 477 bovines,
4 equines and 25 others died uninoculated in course of out-
breaks ; 5,757 bovines, 143 equines and 32 others were inoculat-
ed and vaccinated (1,082 bovines having been done by Anthrax
Spore Vaccine) and 12 bovines died amongst the inoculated.
39. The monthly statement showing the incidence of
Anthrax outbreaks in the province continued to be submitted
to the American Consul General in Calcutta.
40. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.—This disease was confirmed
microscopically in 34 cases during the year. Inoculation was
undertaken in 18 outbreaks in 4 districts in which 488 bovines
died uninoculated in course of outbreaks. One thousand two
hundred and ninety-two bovines were inoculated—none amongst
the inoculated died subsequently. In the previous year the
disease was microscopically confirmed in 26 cases and inoculat-
ion was undertaken in 26 outbreaks in 7 districts in which 245
bovine died uninoculated in course of the outbreaks. Two
thousand three hundred and twenty bovines were inoculated
last year ; there was no death amongst the inoculated.
41. Black-Quarter.—The disease was microscopically con-
firmed in 2 cases during the year. Inoculation was undertaken
in one outbreak in which 2 bovines died uninoculated during
the outbreak, and 26 bovines were inoculated amongst which no
death was reported. In the previous year 2 outbreaks were
reported from 2 districts in which 9 bovines died uninoculated
during the outbreak and 78 bovines were inoculated — there
was no death amongst the inoculated.
42. Fowl Cholera.—There was only one outbreak reported
during the year in which 100 birds died uninoculated in course
of the outbreak and 25 birds were inoculated amongst which no
death was subsequently reported. In the previous year no case
of Fowl Cholera was reported.
8
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES
43. Table III shows the work of the three Government
Veterinary 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-pa-
tients was 8, 221 against 7,844 in the previous year, and the
total number of castrations performed during the year was 658
against 542 in the previous year. The total number of cases
supplied with medicines but not brought to the Hospitals was
30 against 14 of the previous year. The total Hospital receipts
amounted to Rs.1,104 against Rs.1,066 in the previous year.
The figures above indicate an all round improvement of
work including receipts done by the Veterinary Hospitals this
year as compared with the previous year.
44. Gauhati Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under 49
report 44 in-patients and 2,412 out-patients were treated against
in-patients and 2,374 jut-patients treated in the previous year.
Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 3 cases were treated in the
Hospital against 4 cases in the previous year.
45. Silchar Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under re-
port 76 in-patients and 3,487 out-patients were treated against
80 in-patients and 3,157 out-patients treated in the previous
year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 4 cases were treated in
this Hospital against one case in the previous year.
46. Shillong Veterinary Hospital.—In this Hospital 110 in-
patients and 2,092 out-patients were treated during the year
against 109 in-patients and 2,075 out-patients treated in the pre-
vious year. Under the Cruelty to Animals Act only one case
was treated in this Hospital against 9 cases in the previous year.
ITINERATING VETERINARY ASSISTANT SURGEONS'
WORK
47. Table IV shows the work done by the Itinerating Vete-
rinary Assistant Surgeons of the province as well as by the Staff
and Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons while on deputation
in the districts. In all they visited 15,607 villages in which they
castrated 33,339 animals and treated 51,875 animals for conta-
gious diseases and 1,17,174 for non-contagious diseases making
a total of 2,02,388 cases dealt with during the year. In the
previous year 15,054 villages were visited in which 30,758
animals were castrated and 29,001 animals were treated for
contagious diseases and 1,15,431 for non-contagious diseases
making a total of 1,75,190 cases dealt with. It will thus appear
that the volume of service rendered during the year shows an
all-round progress over that of the last year.
9
48. Table V is a new statement and it shows the number of
castrations performed and the number of cases treated district
by district. These figures have been worked out from the state-
ments in Table III and Table IV.
The figures of live-stock
population have been obtained from the report of Cattle Census
held in 1935.
PART III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS
49. Table VI-A shows the number of approved bulls at stud
in the province. There were 819 stud bulls at the beginning of
the year and the number at the close of the year was 620 as
furnished by the Deputy Commisssioners of districts and the
Director of Agriculture, Assam. In addition to these approved
bulls at stud there were 47,538 breeding bulls in the province,
i.e., entire males over three years kept or used for breeding pur-
poses according to the Cattle Census held in 1935.
50. Table VI-B shows the approved male buffaloes at stud
in the province. The number of male buffaloes at stud in the
beginning of the year was three and at the close of the year five.
In addition to this there were 19,075 male buffaloes in the pro-
vince, i.e., the entire male over three years kept or used for
breeding purposes, according to the Cattle Census held in 1935.
This is a new statement adopted from this report.
51. Table VI-C is blank as there is no approved horse and
donkey stallion at stud in this province according to the reports
received in this office. This is also a new statement adopted
from this year's report.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS
52. Table VII shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held during the year as reported by the Deputy Commissioners.
There were in all 8 fairs and shows during the year as against 6
in the previous year. Wherever possible the Veterinary Depart-
ment participated in the functions by opening stalls and exhibi-
ting specimens, models, charts, etc., and distributed leaflets and
gave lectures on the general welfare of cattle and prevention of
contagious diseases.
STATISTICS OF LIVE-STOCK SLAUGHTERED
53. Table VIII shows the statistics of livestock slaughtered
in recognised slaughter houses in the province. This is a new
statement adopted from this report and the figures have been
obtained through the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
The
number of recognised slaughter houses was reported to be 50
and the number of unlicensed slaughter houses was 41. In
these slaughter houses 61,796 animals of all kinds were slaugh-
tered.
10
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT
54. Table X shows the strength of the Subordinate Veteri-
nary staff employed in the province during the year under
report. The total strength employed on the 31st March 1940
consisted of one special Veterinary Inspector known as Johne's
Disease Officer (temporary), 4 Veterinary Inspectors, 63 Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeons and 42 Veterinary Field Assistants who
were appointed towards the close of the year. The post of the
Johne's Disease Officer which was originally sanctioned for two
years was further extended and continued during the year.
The two temporary posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were
abolished and the number of Reserve Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons increased from 10 to 12. The Hailakandi Local Board
revived the post of second Veterinary Assistant Surgeon under
them and the Nowgong Local Board entertained two more
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons during the year.
55. It was realised that with a short course of practical
training literate youths could be turned out for such simple work
as vaccination, castration with Burdizzio's castrator, dressing
of simple sores and wounds and similar other minor work.
With this idea 43 posts of Veterinary Field Assistants were sanc-
tioned during the year to supplement the work of the Veterinary
Department of the province on the lines proposed at the Veteri-
nary Education Sub-Committee and of the second meeting of
the Animal Husbandry Wing held in December 1936. To fill
up these posts 43 stipendiaries were selected and they were given
necessary training for 6 months at the Gauhati Veterinary Hos-
pital under a senior Veterinary Inspector and on the completion
of their training 42 were found fit for the purpose and were
posted in the districts under the district Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons.
56. A brief account of the work performed by the Johne's
Disease Officer and the Veterinary Inspectors during the year
is given below :—
(1) Babu Bhudhar Chandra Chatterjee, Veterinary In-
spector known as Johne's Disease Officer who was
appointed temporarily as Veterinary Investigation
Officer, Assam, from the 5th January 1939, as report-
ed in the last year's report, continued as such up to
the 14th May 1939. From the 15th May 1939 up
to the 9th November 1939 he worked as Instructor
at the training class of the Veterinary Field Assist-
ants at Gauhati. Practically he therefore worked as
Johne's Disease Officer from the 10th November
1939 up to the end of the year. During this period
11
he was on tour for 66 days and travelled 722 miles
by rail and 1,508 miles by road. He tested and re-
tested 429 animals for Johne's disease with Avian
Tuberculin and Johnin in the Government Cattle
Breeding Farms at Khanapara, Jorhat and Sylhet.
He was specially deputed to study the reaction of
Goat Tissue Vaccine in Bhutia breed Hill Cattle and
to treat a valuable Government elephant belonging
to the Forest Department at Kulsi.
He attended the Minett Committee held in Shillong in
March 1940 to review the present Johne's disease
situation in the province.
At the request of the Organisers of the Adult Literacy
Campaign he was deputed to give a lantern lecture
at the Cotton College, Gauhati, on the economic
value of cattle and their importance in Agriculture
in India.
(2) Babu Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Surma Valley Circle throughout the
year. He was on tour for 203 days and travelled
2,184 miles by rail, 208 miles by steamer and 1,741
miles by road and boat. He visited and revisited
127 villages and Tea Estates in connection with the
inspection of the work of the Veterinary Assistant.
Surgeons, investigation of diseases, enquiry into the
results of vaccination, inoculation, castrations, etc.
The following Hospital and Dispensaries were inspected
by him:—
The Veterinary Hospital at Silchar, the Veterinary Dis-
pensaries at Silchar, Sunamganj, Kulaura, Maulvi-
bazar, North Sylhet, and the Stationary Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Sylhet Farm four times each,
Palonghat, Hailakandi No.1, Karimganj, Pathar-
kandi, Jagannathpur, Habiganj and Shaistaganj,
three times each and Hailakandi No.II once. He
inspected the breeding bulls of the Agricultural De-
partment and the Livestock Improvement Associa-
tion in his circle. He visited the Cattle Breeding
Farm at Sylhet and also the Karimganj Government
Agricultural Farm. He inspected the dairy cattle
of the Silchar and Sylhet Jails. He attended the
annual Camp of Exercise of the Surma Valley Light
Horse at Silchar and also attended a meeting in
connection with the opening of a Model Village
at Kulaura.
12
(3) Maulavi Fariduddin Ahmed, Veterinary Inspector,
held charge of the Upper Assam Circle from the 1st
April 1939 to the 15th December 1939. He retired
from service with effect from the 16th December
1939. During the period he was in charge of the
Upper Assam Circle he spent 114 days on tour,
travelled 716 miles by rail, 222 miles by steamer
and 1,938 miles by road and boat. He visited and
revisited 183 villages and Tea Estates in connection
with the inspection of the work of the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons, investigation of disease, enquiry
into the results of inoculation and vaccination.
He inspected the following Veterinary Dispensaries :—
The Veterinary Dispensaries at Dibrugarh, Tinsukia,
Sibsagar, Nazira, Jorhat, Mariani, Majuli, Golaghat,
Badlipar and Naharkatia three times each, North
Lakhimpur twice and Dhakuakhana once. He
inspected the Gosalas at Nazira and Sarpara,
Cattle farm, Jorhat, Agricultural farm, Titabar
and Jail Dairy, Jorhat. He also inspected the
breeding bulls of the Agricultural Department, Live-
stock Improvement Association and Local Boards
in his circle.
(4) Babu Annada Mohan Das, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Lower Assam Circle throughout the
year. He was on tour for 160 days and travelled
2,431 miles by rail, 60 miles by steamer and 1,473
miles by road and boat. He visited and revisited
148 villages in connection with the inspection of the
work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, enquiry
into the results of vaccination and inoculation and
investigation of diseases.
He inspected the following Veterinary Dispensaries in his
circle :—The Dispensaries at Dhubri, Barpeta, Pata-
charkuchi and Mangaldai four times each, Nalbari
and Tangla five times each, Bilashipara and Abhoya-
puri three times each and Sukchar twice. He ins-
pected the breeding bulls in his circle and the cattle
of the Deosiri breeding area.
(5) Maulavi Syed Ataul Haque, Veterinary Inspector,
held charge of the Central Assam Circle from the 1st
April 1939 to the 11th December 1939. During this
period he was on leave on average pay for 25 days
13
from the 2nd to the 26th October 1939.
He
was on tour for 82 days and travelled 723 miles by
rail, 36 miles by steamer, and 1,081 miles by road.
He visited 50 villages in connection with the inspec-
tion of the work of the Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons, investigation of diseases and enquiry into the
results of inoculation and vaccination.
While in charge of the Central Assam Circle he inspected
the following Veterinary Hospital and Dispensaries :—
The Dispensaries at Goalpara and Palashbari twice
each, and the Veterinary Hospital at Gauhati and
the Veterinary Dispensaries at Tezpur, Sootea,
Behali, Nowgong, Misa, Marigaon, Dhing and
Kampur once each.
On the retirement of Maulavi Fariduddin Ahmed, Vete-
rinary Inspector, Upper Assam Circle, Maulavi
Syed Ataul Haque, Veterinary Inspector, Central
Assam Circle, was transferred to the Upper Assam
Circle where he held charge from the 16th Decem-
ber 1939 to the end of the year. During this period
he was on tour for 64 days, and travelled 334 miles
by rail and 680 miles by road. He visited 33 villages
in connection with the inspection of the work of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of
diseases and enquiry into the results of inoculation
and vaccination.
In the Upper Assam Circle he inspected the following
Veterinary Dispensaries :—The Veterinary Dispen-
sary at Nazira twice and the Veterinary Dispensaries
at Jorhat, Mariani, Majuli, North Lakhimpur, Dha-
kuakhana, Golaghat, Badlipar, Naharkatia, Tinsukia,
Dibrugarh and Sadiya once each.
(6) Babu Sasadhar De, Veterinary Inspector, held charge
of the Central Assam Circle, from the 16th Decem-
ber 1939 to the end of the year. During this period
he was on tour for 48 days and travelled 703 miles
by rail, 470 miles by road and 34 miles by steamer.
He visited 4 villages to enquire into the result of
Goat Tissue Vaccination. He visited the Veterinary
Dispensaries at Tezpur, Sootea, Behali, Nowgong,
Misa, Kampur, Dhing and Marigaon twice each
and the Veterinary Hospital at Gauhati and Veteri-
nary Dispensaries at Palashbari and Goalpara once
each. He inspected the cattle of the Mental Hospital
14
at Tezpur, and breeding bulls of the Agricultural
Department and Livestock Improvement Association
in his circle.
SCIENTIFIC AND OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
57. The Department continued its usual normal activities.
Besides research and investigation were done on the following
pathological conditions amongst other things:—
(1) Research and Investigation into a pathological con-
dition in cattle simulating Bovine Contagious Pleuro-
pneumonia.
(2) Investigation into Kumri in horses.
(3) Investigation into a pathological condition in sheep
clinically simulating Rinderpest in cattle.
(4) Investigation into relative value of Avian Tuberculin
and Johnin in testing cattle for Johne's disease.
(5) Investigation into a poultry disease chiefly affecting
chickens (suspected "Black head"—Specific Entero
Hepatitis of Poultry?).
PART V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT
58. Table IX shows the expenditure of the Department
during the year. The total expenditure was Rs. 2,08,693 in-
cluding the expenditure incurred by the Local Boards against
Rs. 2,07,411 in the previous year. The sum of Rs. 3,576 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.
59. The Local Boards in Assam incurred the following ex-
penditure 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.
65,338
14,520
655
25
80,538