NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
14
able to spot out the cause of the loss. Thanks of the depart-
ment are due to the Director, Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Muktesar, for his collaboration and assistance given in
confirming local diagnosis. Another interesting find was a case
of Piroplasmosis in elephant which has so far very rarely been
reported by veterinary workers. The case was successfully
treated by the department.
61. Investigation into Johne's disease in cattle was exten-
sively carried out. The Government in view of the importance
of the disease was pleased to appoint a special Veterinary Ins-
pector (Johne's Disease Officer) during the year. His main
duty was survey of the disease in the province by application of
specific test. The Veterinary investigation Officer, Assam, also
carried out an extensive investigation into the disease during the
year as in previous years and collected data. Though the
department did all that were possible under the limitation of the
local conditions to prevent the spread of the disease it is
extremely unfortunate that the disease crept in some cases
amongst the indigenous village stock. The disease is so insidious
in character that it is a problem to the department. It is how-
ever gratifying that stern measures adopted according to the
recommendations of the WARE COMMITTEE appeared to
have lowered the incidence of the disease in two main Govern-
ment Cattle Breeding Farms. It is of interest to report that for
the first time in India Johne's disease has this year been detected
amongst goats in the Sylhet Government Cattle Breeding Farm.
It was thought necessary and important to investigate if the
strain of Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis responsible for the
caprine disease is the same as that of Johne's disease in cattle.
Materials were therefore collected from the affected goats of the
Sylhet Farm and sent to the Director, Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, who after due examination
reported it to be the same and identical which suggests the
possibility of transmission of the disease from cattle to goats
and vice versa.
62. Success in the treatment of Equine Surra last year gave
incentive to give the remedy a further trial this year. Oppor-
tunity came during extensive epidemics this year and was
availed of. I am glad to be able to confirm my report of the
last year that the treatment is of signal value as indicated by
excellent results recorded this year in a number of cases.
Forced and legalised destruction of horses for Surra as an incur-
able and highly infectious disease, often with the help of the
Police, during the last hirty years considerably prejudiced the
cause of the Department and made it extremely unpopular in
15
the estimation of the public. I repeat that destruction of horses
under the Glanders and Farcy Act for Surra should be a past
history. This is another mile-stone in the history of the Civil
Veterinary Department. Incidentally it may be noted that the
drug was also tried as a preventive against the disease in a very
limited number of cases with apparent good result.
63. Incidence of Anthrax in human beings simultaneously
with cattle was reported from some localities in this province.
In fact two localities became veritable home for the disease and
serum inoculation was of no avail to prevent frequent recru-
descence of the disease. So with the consent of one of the
affected tea estates vaccination with Anthrax-Spore-Vaccine
was undertaken. My thanks are due to Mr. D. T. Mitchei,
M.R.C.V.S., Director of Veterinary Services, Burma, an officer
with considerable experience of the disease in Africa, through
whose courtesy I obtained the vaccine. It is pleasing to note
that the protected animals are so far resisting the disease. This
method of protection against Anthrax in cattle in the face of
epidemic had for the first time been introduced in Assam and
was given another trial in an epidemic in a village with good
result so far. It is intended to give the vaccine further trials.
64. Rabies was reported to have occurred extensively in
Tinsukia Circle as though endemic. Not only animals but
valuable human lives were also reported to have been involved
and lost. This is a preventible disease. Such a high incidence
of the disease again urges the necessity of prophylactic treatment
of all canines with anti-rabic vaccine and immediate destruction
of all infected dogs.
65. Glanders amongst the Civil and Military Transport
ponies in Lushai Hills had been a source of considerable anxiety
to the department. Repeated recrudescence of the disease there
necessitated the measure of Glanders and Farcy Act being intro-
duced to certain areas of the Lushai Hills district this year.
This is another intercommunicable disease between man and
animal. This disease, the occurrence of Anthrax simultaneously
in man and cattle, high incidence of Rabies involving human
and animal lives simultaneously, detection of Bovine Contagious
Abortion which has a relation with the Undulant Fever (Malta
Fever) in man suggest the necessity of co-operation between the
Public Health and the Civil Veterinary Departments in the
matter of intercommunicable diseases.
66. A less thought of yet far-reaching problem which
deserves public attention is the effect of unbalanced diet to the
stock. As in human being so in livestock diet lacking in certain
essentials is the source of many evils. This calls nowhere for so
16
much attention as in Assam. It predisposes not only to diseases
but also to unproductiveness. Cattle in Assam is the poorest of
the type found in India. Its unproductiveness and proneness to
diseases are equally a contrast with that of the rest of the pro-
vinces in India. The remark is more specially applicable to our
milch cows so that the dairy industry which has been adding to
the resources and solving the poverty question of many a poor
family in other provinces can but little be thought of in Assam.
An investigation into the cause of decline of our stock in size,
strength and efficiency seems to be a call. Without this any
attempt to improve the stock merely by introduction of improved
bulls may in the long run prove abortive. Our cattle wealth
(if it can be so called) in Assam mainly depend on pasture for
their nutrition and subsistence. An investigation into the mine-
ral contents of the pasture would therefore appear to be a step in
the right direction. This is thought necessary not only for the
development of the dairy industry in the province and health of
the livestock in general and milch cows in particular but through
the milk and its products also for the health and efficiency of
the human race. The evil of mineral and vitamin deficiency is
now an accepted truth.
67. During the year under report activities of the Civil
Veterinary Department, Assam, towards the improvement of the
livestock deserve more than a passing notice. This is represent-
ed not only by emasculation of a very large number of weedy
bulls exceeding a little over twenty-eight thousand but by active
co-operation in every possible direction with the Agricultural
Department. Thus as many as 117 stud bulls donated by the
public for improvement of the breed of cattle in Assam were
secured by the officers of the Civil Veterinary Department,
Assam. Besides this they in course of their tour in the interior
examined breeding bulls for their fitness and advised stock
owners on the feed and keep and general welfare of stock. Some
of them signified their active co-operation by becoming members
and office bearers of the branch Livestock Association in districts
and subdivisions. One of them secured a donation of Rs.1,500
for the purchase of improved bulls. I myself acted as a member
of the Executive Committee of the Central Livestock Improve-
ment Association, Assam. As a measure of intensive propaganda
for livestock improvement two mauzas in Sibsagar district were
taken up where the local Veterinary Assistant Surgeons supple-
mented by the specially deputed staff from headquarters carried
out extensively the bloodless method of sterilisation of weedy
bulls under close supervision of the Veterinary Inspector, Upper
Assam Circle. They also simultaneously protected all available
17
stock there against rinderpest with Goat-Tissue Vaccine. This
course was adopted prior to the introduction of improved stud
bulls so generously donated by Rai Bahadur Siva Prosad Baruah
who for some years past had been stipulating a scheme in colla-
boration with my Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at Jorhat. The
department is indebted to the Rai Bahadur, to the Deputy Com-
missioner, Sibsager, Rai Bahadur Heramba Prosad Baruah,
B.L., M.L.C., Chairman, Local Board, Jorhat, Khan Bahadur
Maulavi Keramat Ali, B.L., M.L.A. and to Srijut Nil Moni
Phukan for their active co-operation and assistance in carrying
out the programme. While the good work of the subordinate
staff of the department in this direction is appreciated it should
be brought to the notice of the Government that difficulties of
devoting attention to this useful work by the members of this
department have on more than one occasion been brought home
by reasons of paucity of officers and undue pressure of tremend-
ous routine professional work the very limited veterinary staff
have to do in response to ever-increasing and overwhelming
public demand of service.
68. By way of propaganda the department availed of every
opportunity to open a veterinary stall in the Exhibition in
different centres of the province. In such gatherings charts and
specimens of public interest were exhibited and demonstrated to
the mass to educate them on the value of prevention and timely
treatment of diseases. Simultaneously with this lectures were
given on the feed and keep of the stock, improvement of breed,
economic value of cattle, etc. I repeat my remarks of the last
year on the necessity and usefulness of a propaganda officer
which is keenly felt.
69. It is gratifying to record here that the public apprecia-
tion of veterinary service is daily gaining ground in this province.
This is indeed a very healthy sign. Public enthusiasm for more
Veterinary Institutions was not only confined in passing resolu-
tions for increasing the number of such Institutions but it had
condensed to proposal of voluntary gift of land and houses for
the purpose. Nothing could be a better and surer proof of
appreciation of Veterinary Service rendered in the province.
70. As reported last year field for investigation into animal
diseases is really very great in Assam. I am glad to be able to
report that the Veterinary Investigation Officer has been fully
utilising the scope offered by the province and I record my
appreciation for the good service he has been rendering. In fact
the Veterinary Investigation Officer had so far mostly done the
spade work and much of the useful investigation committed to
18
his care remains ahead. To maintain a link between the
Centre and Provinces in the matter of investigation of interesting
and valuable animal diseases no other better scheme than the
existing one (which is financed by the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research) can be thought of The present term of
office of the Veterinary Investigation Officer expires a few
months hence. Needless to say that if the money spent during
the last four years and the experience of the work the province
gained by the Veterinary Investigation Officer have to be utilised
for the practical benefit of the province (and through the pro-
vince to the Centre) the scheme has to be extended.
71. Gauhati Veterinary Laboratory had in its credit a
record of another year of useful work. In all three thousand,
two hundred and fifty-one specimens were examined this year.
In fact nature and number of specimens were at times of such
character that the Officer in charge of the Laboratory had to be
supplemented by another officer. I take this opportunity of
expressing my indebtedness to the Director, Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, for the assistance he had rendered
me through his various departments whenever required.
72. Two Government stipendiaries were sent to the Bengal
Veterinary College during the year. This raised the number
of Government stipendiaries in the College to 4. No private
student from the province except a Muslim who is hot a native
of the province is reported to have joined the College. While
unemployment of qualified graduates some years back might
have been a discouraging factor to private students for the voca-
tional education in this branch it should be pointed out that the
department during the last two years absorbed all the unemploy-
ed graduates and is now finding difficulty to recruit qualified
native of the province on account of dearth of such candidates.
73. The Civil Veterinary Department, Assam, never requir-
ed so much attention for a reorganisation of its cadre as it is
to-day. The demand for aid has long back far exceeded the
capacity of the present staff maintained by the department. In
fact call for veterinary aid has reached such a high pitch that
the department is no more capable of bearing the burden of it
without a substantial addition to its present staff. Recent
advances made by the department and increased activity in all
directions fully justify the revival of the post of the Deputy
Superintendent to relieve the Superintendent of a considerable
part of his routine work. In fact such an unusual pressure of
work has been brought upon the Administrative Head of the
Department, who has to look singlehanded from A to Z of the
department, that consistent with efficiency it is no longer feasible
for him to discharge his responsibility with any degree of satis-
faction unless relief is given to him.
19
74. The entire staff of the department worked so zealously
and unsparingly that I find it difficult to pick up names for good
work. My Veterinary Investigation Officer, Johne's Disease
Officer and all the Veterinary Inspectors devoted best of their
attention, energy and time for furtherence of the cause for
which they were employed. To my Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons, who form the backbone of the department, I have
nothing but my praise for their untiring energy and devotion to
duty. At times they had most difficult hours and they rose
equal to the occasion. I take this opportunity of recording my
high appreciation for the loyal and good service the rank and
file rendered during the year. I however regret to miss Mr. K.
Angami from the department who served long years as a Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeon but had to retire prematurely by reason
of ill health during the year.
What is true of the technical staff of the department the
same holds good for the clerks of my office. On account of
expansion of many sided activities of the department office work
has immensely increased so that the present strength of the
clerical staff proved to be inadequate. My Head Clerk, Maulavi
Muhammad Eunus inspite of his care and attention found it
extremely difficult to discharge his responsibility efficiently with
the insufficient staff at his disposal so that it has reached a stage
when reorganisation of the ministerial service of the department
is also a call.
75. Before I close my report I like to take this opportunity
of recording my thanks to those public spirited gentlemen who
encouraged my officers and extended assistance to them and to
the department, to the District and Subdivisional Officers and
Chairmen, Local Boards, for their continued and constant inte-
rest in all veterinary matters. I am indebted to Sir Arthur
Olver, Kt., C.B., O.B.E., F.R.C.V.S., Animal Husbandry
Expert, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, Messrs. F.
Ware, C.I.E., F.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., Director, Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, P. J. Kerr, M.R.C.V.S., I.V.S.,
and D.T. Mitchel, M.R.C.V.S., Directors of Veterinary Services,
Bengal and Burma respectively for their continued co-operation
and active assistance given to me. I also acknowledge with
thanks the assistance which the Director and Deputy Director
(Livestock) of Agriculture, Assam, gave me and my staff in
carrying out the programme of veterinary work in their farms.
S. C. GHOSE,
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Assam.
22
TABLE II
Statement showing the number of deaths from contagious diseases and other causes among animals during the year 1936-37
District
1
Sylhet .. ..
Cachar .. ..
Goalpara ..
Kamrup ..
Darrang ..
Nowgong ..
Sibsagar ..
Lakhimpur ..
Garo Hills ..
Khasi and Jaintia
Hills.
Naga Hills ..
Lushai Hills ..
Sadiya
Frontier
Tract.
Total
Equines
Glander
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
13
..
13
Surra
3
57
7
..
..
1
4
..
1
..
..
..
..
..
70
Dourine
4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Anthrax
5
4
..
3
1
12
1
7
..
..
..
..
..
..
28
Other diseases
6
22
6
19
25
19
3
29
25
..
..
5
..
..
153
Other causes
7
22
18
73
13
20
8
45
29
7
5
8
2
..
250
Total
8
105
31
95
39
52
16
81
55
7
5
13
15
..
514
Cattle
Rinderpest
9
4,831
3,255
1,957
390
349
1,028
2,985
4,702
155
10
..
..
..
19,662
Hæmorrhagic Sep-
ticæmia
10
1,050
177
342
162
82
154
13
..
12
..
..
..
..
1,992
Foot and mouth
11
35
125
616
37
90
2
166
5
5
12
25
..
..
1,118
Black Quarter
12
3
..
..
..
2
..
..
3
..
..
..
14
1
23
Anthrax
13
429
55
354
152
57
58
136
115
..
..
..
..
..
1,356
Surra
14
...
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Other diseases
15
280
34
281
522
296
94
839
658
13
17
20
2
19
3,075
Other causes
16
736
298
2,252
183
347
379
655
638
116
125
50
100
219
6,098
Total
17
7,364
3,944
5,802
1,446
1,223
1,715
4,794
6,121
301
164
95
116
239
33,324
Buffaloes
Rinderpest
18
127
55
464
228
51
9
1,043
366
14
..
..
..
..
2,357
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia
19
33
54
24
..
2
16
5
3
..
..
..
..
..
137
Foot and mouth
20
..
..
38
1
4
..
40
..
..
..
..
..
..
83
Black Quarter
21
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Anthrax
22
..
..
4
25
8
..
12
2
..
..
..
..
..
51
Surra
23
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Other diseases
24
38
2
75
52
110
7
241
114
..
..
..
..
..
639
Other causes
25
31
20
388
6
117
73
65
56
..
..
..
..
..
756
Total
26
229
131
993
312
292
105
1,406
541
14
..
..
..
..
4,023
23
District
Sylhet .. .. .. ..
Cachar
.. .. .. ..
Goalpara .. .. .. ..
Kamrup .. .. .. ..
Darrang .. .. .. ..
Nowgong .. .. .. ..
Sibsagar .. .. .. ..
Lakhimpur .. .. .. ..
Garo Hills .. .. .. ..
Khasi and Jaintia Hills .. .. ..
Naga Hills
.. .. .. ..
Lushai Hills .. .. .. ..
Sadiya Frontier Tract .. .. ..
Total .. ..
Sheep
Anthrax
27
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Sheep Pox
28
..
..
..
...
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Pleuro Pneaumo-
nia.
29
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Foot and mouth
30
..
..
12
..
6
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
18
Scab
31
1
..
..
..
4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
5
Other diseases
32
1
..
65
..
10
..
32
72
..
4
..
..
..
184
Other causes
33
14
..
118
..
7
..
74
37
..
13
..
..
..
963
Total
34
16
..
195
..
27
..
106
109
..
17
..
..
..
470
Goat
Anthrax
35
..
..
..
..
7
..
..
2
..
..
..
..
..
9
Sheep Pox
36
..
..
..
..
..
..
7
..
..
..
..
..
..
7
Pleuro Pnacumo-
nia
37
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Foot and mouth
38
..
..
36
..
8
..
3
..
I
..
..
..
..
48
Scab
39
3
..
..
2
29
..
42
..
..
2
..
..
..
78
Other diseases
40
40
58
110
54
46
3
127
93
17
..
25
5
20
598
Other causes
41
134
30
352
28
33
73
283
146
6
20
40
45
..
1,190
Total
42
177
88
498
84
123
76
462
541
24
22
65
50
20
1,930
Dogs
Rabies
43
14
5
55
15
14
..
33
77
..
39
5
3
..
260
Other diseases
44
53
7
82
45
2
21
125
52
2
63
10
5
10
499
Other causes
45
25
25
153
25
22
8
122
118
1
71
25
28
..
623
Total
46
92
37
290
85
60
29
280
247
3
173
40
36
10
1,383
24
TABLE III
Summary of result of Preventive Inoculation in the Province of Assam during the year 1936-37
Districts.
1
Cachar ... ... ...
Ditto
...
...
...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Ditto ... ... ...
Kamrup ... ... ...
Goalpara ... ...
Darrang
...
...
Nowgong ... ...
Khasi and Jaintia Hills ...
Ditto ...
Garo Hills ... ...
Sadiya Frontier Tract ...
Sibsagar... ... ...
Name of disease against
which inoculation was
undertaken.
2
Rinderpest ...
„
...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
Method
of inoculation.
3
Tissue virus
Method.
Serum alone
method.
Tissue virus
method.
Serum alone
method.
Tissue virus
method.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto
...
Serum simul-
tanous method.
Serum alone
method.
Tissue
virus
method.
Ditto ...
Source
of product.
4
Veterinary Vaccine
Section, Bengal.
Imperial Institute,
of Vote rinary ke-
search, Muktesar.
Veterinary Vaccine
Section, Bengal.
Imperial Institute,
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Veterinary Vaccine
Section, Bengal.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Imperial Institute
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Ditto ...
Veterinary Vaccine
Section, Bengal.
Ditto
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculation was
undertaken.
5
61
2
75
11
16
83
28
27
...
...
8
...
116
Number of villages affected
in these outbreaks.
6
25
2
97
11
22
93
28
29
...
...
9
...
125
Bovine population of affect-
ed villages.
7
5,470
279
34,429
8,035
7,290
16,832
4,470
9,335
...
...
46
...
12,363
Number of animals
which died
uninoculated in
course of out-
breaks
Bovines.
8
2,226
30
3,148
376
424
1,453
386
1,037
...
...
88
...
700
Equines.
9
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others.
10
...
...
...
...
6
20
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of animals
inoculated.
Bovines.
11
5,758
160
17,655
1,016
2,941
12,425
3.876
6,220
3
36
285
7,377
23,060
Equines.
12
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others.
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of ino-
cunted animals
which died of the
disease.
Bovines.
14
268
2
124
51
8
16
7
21
...
...
9
1
371
Equines.
15
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others.
16
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remarks.
17
25
Ditto ... ... ...
Lakhimpur ... ...
Ditto
...
...
...
Total ...
Cachar ... ... ...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Ditto ... ... ...
Ditto ... ... ...
Kamrup ...
...
...
Ditto ... ... ...
Goalpara. ... ...
Darrang ... ... ...
Nowgong ... ...
Sibsagar. ... ...
Lakhimpur ... ...
Ditto ... ... ...
Total. ...
Cachar ... ... ...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Kamrup ... ... ...
Sibsagar... ... ...
Total ...
Grand total ...
..
„ ...
Anthrax
„ ...
„
...
...
„
„ ...
„ ..
„ ...
„ ...
„
„
...
......
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
„ ...
„ ...
„ ...
......
......
method.
Tissue virus
method.
Serum alone
method.
Serum alone
method.
Ditto
...
Anthrax vac-
cine.
Anthrax old ...
Serum alone
method.
Spore vaccine
Serum alone
method.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Anthrax vac-
cine.
......
Serum alone
method.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
......
......
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Veterinary Vaccine
Section, Bengal.
Imperial Institute
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Imperiul. Institute
of veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Ditto
Ditto ...
Calcutta ...
Imperial Institute
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Burma
Imperial In6titufe
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
......
Imperial Institute
of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar.
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
Ditto ...
......
.....
205
10
649
...
...
...
...
16
...
...
...
...
5
16
...
64
2
45
1
1
49
762
215
11
684
1
8
1
...
16
1
3
1
1
6
16
...
63
2
20
1
1
24
761
60,186
726
144,950
400
1,250
...
...
200
...
900
69
600
840
4,175
...
8,334
720
2,818
...
87
3,625
156,909
3,385
102
13,444
7
65
...
...
126
...
63
16
29
15
76
...
395
19
152
62
1
224
14,064
...
...
...
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
...
6
...
...
...
...
...
5
101
61
188
...
18
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
20
...
...
...
...
...
20S
I
32,544
292
114,608
74
285
9
...
755
...
336
38
100
378
1,084
149
3,321
115
965
339
87
1,506
119,435
...
...
...
121
48
8
22
7
...
...
1
...
2
3
2
214
...
...
...
...
...
214
...
287
287
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
271
...
271
...
...
...
...
...
558
498
6
1,375
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
2
1
...
7
1
...
...
...
2
1,384
...
...
-
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2