9
due to unrestricted movement of cattle from one place to another in the Province.
The incidence of this disease has been noticed in all seasons of the year. As the
disease has got every chance of being spread over the whole Province its control at
this stage is very essential. Accordingly a scheme for the control of Bovine
Contagious Pleuro-Pneumonia was submitted to the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research and it has been sanctioned this year. But due to shortage of technical
staff it has not yet been given effect to. As soon as technical men even from
outside the Province will be available the scheme will be materialised.
59. The problem of Johne's Disease amongst cattle in the Province and
particularly in Government Farms has been also engaging the serious attention of
the Department. During the year under report Mr. V. R. Rajagopalan, Research
Officer, T. B. and Johne's Disease, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar, visited Assam to test cattle in Government Farms. My Veterinary
Investigation Officer, Assam, Rao Sahib V. R. Gopalakrishnan helped him in his
research work in the Government Farm; while visiting the Upper Shillong Farm
they found two Farm sheep suspected for Johne's disease on clinical basis.
Postmortem examination was conducted and the lesions in both of them were
indicative of the infection. But the smears from the thickened portions of the
intestines and the enlarged and oedematous mesentoric lymphatic glands, were
negative for acid fast organisms. However, material was collected for cultural
examination and histopathological study by the Research Officer.
During the year under report my Veterinary Investigation Officer Rao Sahib
V. R. Gopalakrishnan investigated the disease and as a result of his investigation
four cases manifesting clinical symptoms of Johne's disease, were detected and
confirmed by microscopical examination of feacal material obtained by bowel
washing and of scrapings from inusa of posterior bowels. In all cases of
confirmation of disease, control measures were suggested to check the further
spread of infections. Examination of material from local cattle outside the
Government Farms, proved negative for the disease.
60. During the year under report Mr. A. Rahman, B.A., G.V.Sc, P.G.,
Mukteswar, Assistant Investigation Officer,
(Poultry) diseases, Assam, had
rendered valuable service by investigating Poultry diseases such as Ranikhet
disease, Fowl-Pox, Fowl Cholera, etc. But no extensive investigation of all the
items under the technical programme could be undertaken owing to his absence
from the headquarters from the 8th October, 1946 to the end of March 1947
for undergoing a training at Izatnagar.
Among the poultry disease Ranikhet is the most fatal disease in Assam
causing a heavy toll of lives of poultry of the poor cultivators of the Province.
Assam, has got no Ranikhet Vaccine Depot of its own and has to depend
upon Bengal to meet its demand. But Bengal cannot supply the required
quantities. I have seriously taken account of this and have decided to submit
a scheme for the establishment of a Ranikhet Vaccine Depot to the Government
for their approval.
61. I have alrendy stated that this Department has to indent Goat Tissue
Vaccine from Bengal, Bihar, etc., and without a Vaccine Section of its own the
Province cannot be self supported and at times cannot cope with Rinderpest
epidemic. Hence I found it necessary to establish a Vaccine Section of our own
Department, Gauhati, where Vaccine can easily be prepared according to the
demand. Accordingly I paid a visit to the Bengal Veterinary Vaccine Section,
Calcutta, in August, 1946. I had submitted a detailed scheme to the Local
Government for approval. The present Veterinary staff of the Province is quite
inadequate to deal with about 127 lacs of livestock of the Province according
to 1945, Cattle Census Report. According to this the Department was in need
of at least 425 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, and 780 Veterinary Field Assistants
for dealing with the whole cattle population of the Province. I have paid my.
serious attention to get more men trained in Veterinary Science In case
sufficient number of seats are not available in Veterinary Colleges outside the