9
insidence of diseases has been noticed in all seasons of the year. During the year
there were outbreaks of this disease in the districts of Kamrup, Sibsagar, Naga
Hills and Sylhet. As the disease has got every chance of being spread over the
whole Province its control at this stage is very essential. A scheme for the control
of this Bovine Contagious Pleuro Pneumonia in Assam was submitted to the
Indian Council of Agriculture Research and it has been sanctioned by them with
effect from the 1st April, 1946.
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
The control measures adopted in farms according to the
recommendations of the Wars committee had reduced the incidence of the disease
there and eliminated the possibility of its spread. According to a proposal of the
Minett Committee, 1940 Mr. M. L. Sahoi, Research Officer, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Mukteswar, paid a visit to Assam in February, 1944, investi-
gated the incidence of Johne's Disease in the Province, and tested the farm cattle.
After his test with Jonin and Tuberculin he had suggested for a second test
according to which Dr. P. C. Nag, Assistant Research Officer, Tuberculosis and
Johne's Disease Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, visited Assam
and carried our the test of Government cattle once more. The results of the test
have not been received. During the year my Veterinary Investigation officer
Rao Sahib V. R. Gopalakrishan, G. M. V C., P. G. (Mukteswar)
investigated
the disease and as a result of his investigation eight cases manifesting clinical
symptoms of Johne's Disease were detected and confirmed by microscopical Exa-
mination of faecal material obtained by bowel washing and of scraping from
mucosa of posterior bowel in the Bappapang Farm, Digboi, the Government
Cattle Breeding Farm, Khanapara, Larsing Tea Estate, Cachar District and
Government Cattle Breeding Farm, Jorhat.
60. During the year under review Mr. A. Rahman
B.A., G.B.SC., P.G.,
(Mukteswar), Assistant Investigation Officer, Poultry Disease had rendered inva-
luable service by investigating Poultry diseases such as Ranikhet Disease, Fowl
Pox, Fowl Cholera, etc. By his timely action the outbreak of the Poultry diseases
in Government Farms at Khanapara and Shillong had subsided. He had visited
many other localities of the Province, and tried to advise the interested villagers
and private farmers how to construct cheap houses for Poultry, work out balanced
rations from the grains available locally to feed their birds, and had advised the
methods of controlling diseases in face of epidemics and precautions to be adopted
in absence of it. It is noticed that Poultry keeping is a very good and substantial
means of livelihood for the poor Ryots of the Province. More Poultry Diseases
Officers are necessary to educate the Ryots as to keeping of their Poultry and
also for rendering help to the diseased ones and thus saving them from heavy
loss.
61. As I have stated this Department was bringing vaccine and serum from
outside this Province and had a contemplation of having vaccine section
of its own where the vaccine can be prepared according to it demand.
It had also been thinking of the expansion of the Department by an
increase of Veterinary personnels, Veterinary Dispensaries and Hospitals through-
out the Province. The present staff of about 150 of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Assam, is quite in-adequate to deal with about 127 lacs of livestock of
this Province (cattle, goats, and sheep) acoording to 1945 cattle census report.
According to this the Department was in need of at least 425 Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons and 780 Veterinary Field Assistants for dealing with the whole
cattle population of the Province.
62. Owing to the Financial difficulties I had not submitted many schemes for
such development though I had a strong mind to do so. At this stage this province
got a huge sum of money from the Government of India in connection with Post-
war Development work and I, in order to fulfill my projects had submitted many