NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
8
CATTLE FARMS.
39. There were three cattle breeding farms at work in this
province during the year. They are placed at Upper Shillong,
Sylhet and Khanapara and are under the control and manage-
ment of the Agricultural Department. The farm stock were
inspected when necessary by this department.
40. Upper Shillong Farm,—The health of the cattle was
satisfactory.
41. Sylhet Farm.—The health of the cattle was satisfactory.
42. Khanapara Farm.—The health of the cattle is now
satisfactory. The campaign against the stomach worm (Mecisto-
cirous Digitatas) which threatened to exterminate both the
young stock and mature animals two years ago was continued
during the year. The parasite has now been almost entirely
eradicated. Of the total animals only 4.4 per cent. are now
slightly affected and these are kept segregated and treatment
continued.
Two years ago there was an extensive outbreak of Bovine
Contagious Lymphangitis which greatly handicapped the growth
of young stock and the health of the old stock. On my return
from leave this condition was investigated and it was found that
the herd was badly infested with lice. Since these have been ex-
terminated there has been no further trouble with this disease.
This strongly indicates that lice are one of the vectors for the
propagation of the disease.
CATTLE FAIRS AND SHOWS.
43. Table XIV shows the number of cattle fairs and shows
held in the province during the year. In these fairs there was
little of importance to record.
PART IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
44. Table VII shows the strength of the Subordinate Vete-
rinary staff of this province as it stood on the 31st March 1932.
There were 4 Veterinary Inspectors and 67 Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons at the close of the year. Owing to the present un-
favourable financial condition of the province no new appoint-
ments were made during the year.
9
45. A brief account of the work performed by the Veterinary
Inspectors is given below :—
(1) Maulavi Azizuddin Sarkar, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Dibrugarh Circle throughout the year. He was on
tour for 126 days and travelled 1,562 miles by rail, 147 miles by
steamer and 2,271 miles by road and boat. He visited and re-
visited 268 villages and tea estates in connection with the in-
spection of the work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investi-
gation of diseases, enquiry into the results of inoculation,
demonstration of castration by Burdizzio's castrator, etc. He
inspected the following dispensaries :—The dispensaries at
Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Sadiya thrice each, Tinsukia, North
Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Sibsagar, Nazira, Mariani, Golaghat,
Majuli and Badlipar twice each. He visited the Goshalas at
Nazira and Dibrugarh and the jail at Dibrugarh in connection
with investigation of cattle diseases and advised treatment.
(2) Babu srish Chandra Ghose, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Silchar Circle throughout the year. He was on
tour for 105 days and travelled 1,607 miles by rail, 470 miles by
steamer and 1,348 miles by road. He visited and re-visited 110
villages and tea estates in connection with the inspection of the
work of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of diseases,
etc. He inspected the following hospital and dispensaries :—
The hospital at Silchar, the dispensaries at Silchar, Palonghat,
Hailakandi, Kulaura, Maulvibazar, Habiganj and Shaistaganj
thrice each ; Karimganj, Patharkandi, Sylhet, Sunamganj and
Jagannathpur twice each. The work of the Staff and Reserve
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons attached to Silchar was also
inspected by him. He attended the Camp Veterinary Hospital
opened during the Camp of Exercise of the Surma Valley Light
Horse at Silchar. He inspected the breeding bulls in his circle
and the live-stock in the Government Agricultural Farm at
Akbarpur.
(3) Babu Hem Chandra Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Gauhati Circle No. I, throughout the year. Ho
was on tour for 120 days and travelled 1,279 miles by rail, 564
miles by steamer and 1,262 miles by road. He visited and re-
visited 102 villages in connection with the inspection of the
work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of
diseases, etc. He inspected the following hospital and dispensa-
ries :—The dispensary at Gauhati four times ; the dispensaries at
Tezpur, Mangaldai, Tangla and Nalbari thrice each ; the hospital
10
at Shillong and the dispensaries at Nowgong, Misa, Behaii and
Sootea twice each. He inspected the cattle and poultry of the
Government Agricultural Farm at Upper Shillong, the Munici-
pal breeding bull of Nowgong and the elephants and transport
bullocks of the 5th Assam Rifles at Lokra. He gave magic
dantern demonstrations in 13 villages in his circle.
(4) Babu Guru Prasanna Sen, Veterinary Inspector, held
charge of the Gauhati Circle No. II, throughout the year. He
was on tour for 86 days and travelled 1,348 miles by rail, 494
miles by steamer, and 918 miles by road and boat. He visited
76 villages in connection with the inspection of the work of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, investigation of diseases, enquiry
into the result of inoculations and castrations, etc. He inspected
the following hospital and dispensaries :—The hospital at Gauhati
and the dispensaries at Barpeta, Patacharkuchi and Bilashipara
four times each ; the dispensaries at Dhubri, Goalpara, Sukchar
and Ahhoyapuri thrice each. He also inspected and supervised
the work of the Staff and Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
at Gauhati. During his stay at headquarters he worked in the
Laboratory and imparted necessary instructions to the Reserve
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons about their work.
46. The number of Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
was 10 during the year. Two were employed in charge of the
Government Veterinary Hospitals at Gauhati and Silchar and
the rest were employed on leave vacancies and on deputation to
supplement the local staff during outbreaks of cattle diseases.
47. The number of Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
employed during the year was 2, their headquarters being at
Silchar and Gauhati respectively. They both worked in connec-
tion with the outbreaks of diseases, Laboratory work, experi-
mental treatment, etc.
48. The names of the following Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons are noted for their good and steady work :—
(1) Babu Bhudhar Chandra Chatterjee, Staff Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Gauhati.
(2) Maulavi Dewan Faizuddia Ahmed, Staff Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Silchar.
(3) Babu Hemanta Kumar Nag Chaudhury, Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Tezpur.
(4) Srijut Bhabit Chandra Das, Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Dibrugarh.
11
(5) Srijut Jagadish Prasad Das, Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Shillong.
(6) Srijut Lalit Mohan Das Gupta, Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Sootea.
(7) Babu Narendra Nath Bose, Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Nalbari.
(8) Babu Narendra Nath Dutta, Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geon, Silchar.
(9) Maulavi Muhammad Brizish Quader, Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Nowgong.
(10) Babu Abani Kanta Dutta, Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geon, Sylhet,
(11) Maulavi Sajidur Reza Laskar, Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Shaistaganj,
PART V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
49. Table XIV(a) shows the expenditure of the Department.
The total expenditure during the year was Rs. 1,70,434 including
the expenditure incurred by the Local Boards in connection with
veterinary charges, against Re. 1,81,667-0-7 in the previous year.
50. The Local Boards in Assam incurred the following ex-
penditure in connection with veterinary charges. These figures
are furnished by the Local Boards :—
Veterinary Instruction
Subordinate establishment
Hospitals and dispensaries
Breeding operations
...
Fairs and shows ...
...
...
...
...
…
Rs. a. p.
.......
60,472 0 0
11,837 0 0
302 0 0
89 0 0
Of the sum of Rs. 302 spent under breeding operations Sib-
sagar Local Board spent Rs, 295 and South Sylhet Local Board
spent Rs. 7.
PART V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
51. This report completes the end of 25 years of work by the
Civil Veterinary Department in Assam.
12
52. This Department praticatty stairtei from zero in -1907,
when ten Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were recruited and
posted as follows :—2 in Sylhet, 2 in Goalpara, 2- In special duty
on the Shillong-Gauhati road, 2 in "Darrang, 1 in Slbsagar and 1
in Lakhimpur. There was previously a temporary staff of 3 Vete-
rinary Assistant Surgeons under a private practitioner employed
by the Surma Valley Tea Association. At that time there were
no veterinary hospital or dispensary, no office, laboratory or
serum depôt.
58. At first there was great opposition to the inoculation of
cattle but this opposition- has been gradually broken- down. It is
curious to note that one factor which helped to break down this
objection was the injection of large numbers of the people them-
selves, in the treatment of kala- azer. It was during this time
(1923) that the intravenous injection of tartar-expetic was tried
in animals and found to be of value in the treatment of Nasal
Granuloma. It is still! the only treatment for this disease.
54. Assam was the first province to try out the Burdizzio's
Castrator and we remain one of r the most foremost-provinces in
carrying out this important work which is. necessary and essen-
tial in the scheme for-cattte improvement-. At first there was
much opposition to its use from many unexpected quarters but
gradually these objections have been overcome and now it is
appreciated.by all cattle owners By this method. the- problem
of the sterilization of weedy bulls is being solved. The castra-
tions have now risen to seventeen thousand which is very satis-
factory especially when the small number of Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons employed is considered.
55. In combating Rinderpest we have not yet been able to
introduce the serum simultaneous method except on Government
farms. But we have adopted a method of infecting all inocu
lated animals with a mixture of saliva and urine from the sick
which has given better results than the serum- alone method.
This method saves re-inoculation which was formerly sometimes
necessary ; it also gives the advantage that the weedy and useless
animals need-not he inoculated. Further. investigation- into this
question of immunising cattle against Rinderpest still necessary
and is being carried out when opportunities arise. The ideal
method would be the use of a vaccine which would be simple,
efficient and cheap and where serum would not be required. The
attenuation of the Rinderpest Virus by passage through goats
may lead to this.
13
56. In regard to Surra recent discoveries were promptly
adopted and animals can now be saved if the disease is discovered
in time and the animal is not emaciated and weak. Horses
exposed to infection can also be protected.
57. The Department has now treated successfully a large
number of cases of Anthrax in bovines by intravenous injection
of Arsenic. We are not aware that this treatment has as yet
been generally adopted in other parts of India.
58. The work of the Laboratory has been greatly increased
due to the routine examination of fæces, first from the cattle at
the Government farms and second from Government elephants.
It has been found that for treatment to be successful, the presence
of parasites, e.g., the stomach worm of cattle and a hook worm of
elephants must be diagnosed early and before clinical symptoms
such as anæmia and dropsy are shown.
59. During these twenty-five years, the Department has
gained the confidence of the public and every year a greater
demand is made for its service. Unfortunately this demand can-
not always be fully met owing to the limited number on the cadre.
60. It is of interest to note that up to date no case of tuber-
culosis in cattle has been observed or reported. This satisfactory
condition is probably due to the open air life the cattle live
during the day and being housed in open sheds during the night
It is satisfactory to know that the province is at present free from
a disease of cattle which causes considerable loss, anxiety and
expense to other countries.
61. During the year under review the general progress in
veterinary work was continued and the standard maintained.
Contagious diseases-in animals were not so prevalent or severe
and consequently less inoculation work was required.
62. An adequate supply of serum was received from the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
The following table shows the doses of the various Sera re-
ceived during the last 5 years : —
Serum.
1
Anti-Rinderpest ... ...
Anti-Anthrax ... ...
Anti-Hæmorrliagic Septicæmia ...
1931-33.
2
62,000
3,000
2,000
1930-31.
3
1,50,000
2,000
...
1929-30.
4
1,50,000
3000
5,000
1928-29.
5
...
6,000
1,000
1927-28.
6
1,05,000
2,600
...
14
63. The number of cruelty and maiming cases examined
and reported on during the year under report and previous
years is as follows : —
1
Number of cruelty cases examined …
Number of maiming cases examined. …
Number of attendance at court to give evidence...
Number of cases convicted … …
1931-32.
2
240
145
94
217
1930-31.
3
189
193
115
158
1929-30.
4
308
225
177
295
1928-29.
5
360.
261
183
265
My remarks on this subject in the previous years still hold
good. It is regretted that little improvement is shown in the
greater care and welfare of all domestic animals. Large num-
bers of animals still come to hospitals and dispensaries with
severe wounds showing gross ill-treatment and neglect. Care-
lessness, ignorance and lack of sympathy amongst the general
population is responsible for this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
64. During the year under report the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons observed 415 cases of suspected poisoning amongst
cattle of which 409 died. This year the following circles showed
the largest number, viz., 131 cases in Habiganj, 90 in Maulvi-
bazar, 85 in Shaistaganj and 69 in Nalbari all of which died
except one in Nalbari. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeons,
Habiganj, Maulvibazar and Shaistaganj suspected the local cha-
mars and threatened to report them. The villagers were advised
to bury or slash the skins of the dead cattle and not to allow the
chamars to take them, No further cases of poisoning occurred
after this action. In the previous year there were 42 cases of
suspected poisoning amongst cattle of which 40 died. Shaista-
ganj circle showed the largest number, viz., 24 all of which died.
65. One horse and 12 dogs were treated with Anti-Rabic
Vaccine supplied from the Pasteur Institute, Shillong. In the
previous year one elephant, one horse and 34 dogs were treated
with Anii-Rabic Vaccine successfully.
66. The campaign for the castration of weedy bulls was
continued during the year and for the fourth successive year
showed a great increase. The total number of castrations rose
15
to 17,374 against 12,532 in the previous year. This year one
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (Maulavi Muhammad Brizish Qua-
der, Nowgong) castrated 949 animals and 4 others passed the
600 mark which wa3 the highest individual number last year.
67. The number of outbreaks of Surra was again few and
little opportunity was found to continue the treatment by Bayer
205 which proved so successful two years ago.
68. During the last two years, the attention of the Depart-
ment has been drawn to the heavy mortality amongst poultry.
Fowl cholera and fowl pox have always been more or less preva-
lent at certain seasons of the year and have caused a considera-
ble number of deaths. The recent and much heavier mortality
seems to ho due to a new disease which has been spreading over
India and found its way to Assam. It is known by several
names—Newcastle disease, Ranikhet disease, Fowl Pest and
Doyle's disease. At present there is no known method of cure or
Preventive inoculation. In an outbreak, prompt segregation
of the healthy in batches on clean ground is recommended. All
diseased birds should be promptly destroyed and buried and the
place thoroughly disinfected, the disease has been reported
from the Khasi Hills and Sibsagar.
This year, in an outbreak of fowl cholera, 175 birds were
inoculated after which the disease disappeared.
69. The question of grazing grounds and their further
extension is so often under discussion that a few remarks from
the veterinary aspect may not be out of place.
Public grazing grounds are a great danger to the cattle popu-
lation because it is there that contagious and parasitic diseases
get their best chance of spreading. Contagious diseases acquired
in the common grazing grounds are responsible for a great part
of the high death rate. These diseases are Rinderpest, Anthrax,
foot-and-mouth disease, etc.
No less fatal but acting more slowly and insidiously are the
parasitic diseases which make animal useless for work or for
milk. These infected animals die slowly and all the time they
are infecting the pastures so that the healthy become infected
and they in their time slowly go the same way. Every
grazing ground is well stocked with these useless, emaciated,
dying animals. If they could be got rid of there would be
more food and better food for the healthy. Cattle owners who
16
wish to keep their stock fit and healthy must avoid grazing on
these common grounds. The alternative is to have a private
grazing ground, grow fodder crops and keep only a limited num-
ber of healthy animals.
70. The work of all the Veterinary Inspectors was carried
out satisfactorily. It is regretted that their inspection work had
to be curtailed to effect economy in expenditure. For this
reason work of many Veterinary Assistant Surgeons has been
inspected twice or thrice instead of four times. It is hoped that
circumstances will allow of the full number of inspections being
made in the future, otherwise the standard of work cannot be
maintained.
71. Office Staff.—During the year the staff carried out the
clerical work in a satisfactory and competent manner under the
direction of the Head clerk (Maulavi Muhammad Eunus).
72. The Department wishes to thank the district officers.
members of the Local Boards and private gentlemen who have
taken an interest in veterinary work and the general welfare
of cattle. We wish that there were more men who would see the
great opportunities that are possible for the enrichment and
improvement of the country and people by the possession of
better, healthier and more useful cattle.
W. HARRIS,
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Assam.
17
TABLE II
Showing number of deaths from contagious diseases amongst animals during the gear 1931-32.
Province.
1
Cachar ... ... ...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Khasi and Jaintia Hills ... ...
Lushai Hills ... ... ...
Goalpara ... ... ...
Knmrup(a) ... ... ...
Darrang ... ... ...
Nowgong ... ... ...
Sibsagar ... ... ...
Lakhimpur ... ... ...
Garo Hills ... ... ...
Naga Hills ... ... ...
Sadiya Frostier Tract ... ...
Total ...
Equines.
Glanders.
2
1
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
1
Anthrax.
3
…
10
...
...
1
1
2
10
17
4
...
...
…
45
Surra
4
…
6
...
...
2
...
...
15
...
11
...
...
…
34
Dourine.
5
…
…
…
...
…
...
…
…
...
...
…
...
...
...
diseases.
6
…
4
...
…
14
46
28
5
119
37
…
...
...
283.
Total.
7
1
20
…
…
17
47
30
30
166
52
...
...
...
363
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
8
1,185
711
…
…
859
427
722
1,000
3,345
1,697
133
428
...
10,507
Foot-and-
mouth
disease.
9
108
5.75
10
...
689
252
536
150
303
479
...
...
25
3,118
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
10
83
562
…
30
215
109
106
50
496
239
42
...
…
1,932.
Black quarter.
11
…
...
2
...
20
4
...
5
...
13
...
...
…
44
Anthrax.
12.
155
134 17
...
115
72
27
100
94
279
...
...
...
993.
18
Province.
1
Cachar ...
...
...
Sylhet ... ... ...
Khasi and Jaintia Hills ...
Lushai Hills ... ...
Goalpara ... ...
Kamrup(a) ... ...
Darrang ... ...
Nowgong ... ...
Sibsagar ... ...
Lakhimpur ... ...
Garo Hills ... ...
Naga Hills ... ...
Sadiya Frontier Tract ...
Total …
Bovines—concld.
Other contagions
diseases.
13
...
73
...
...
213
186
137
200
815
470
...
...
…
2,094
Total.
14
1,531
2,055
29
30
2,102
1,050
1,528
1,505
5,053
3,177
175
428
25
18,688
Other animals
Rinderpest.
15
…
...
...
…
233
59
...
100
101
7
...
...
…
500
Foot-and-month
disease.
16
…
9
…
...
154
58
8
50
43
310
...
…
…
632
Hæmorrhafcic
Septicæmia.
17
…
…
...
...
42
28
...
25
54
136
...
...
…
285
Black
quarter.
18
…
...
...
...
4
15
...
...
...
6
…
…
…
25
Anthrax.
19
…
...
…
…
24
7
…
20
8
172
...
...
…
231
Distemper.
20
…
21
10
107
5
30
14
20
30
1
...
...
...
238
Babies.
21
…
13
12
…
49
36
15
25
47
13
...
…
1
210
Other
contagious
diseases.
22
…
204
…
9
123
56
31
20
34
73
...
...
...
550
Total.
23
…
247
22
116
634
289
68
260
317
718
...
...
1
2,672
Grand
total.
24
1,532
2,322
51
146
2,753
1,386
1,626
1,795
5,536
3,947
175
428
26
21,723
(a) Barpeta subdivision only. Figures of the Grauhati subdivision not received from the Deputy Commissioner.
TABLE III.
20
TABLE III
Showing results of Preventive Inoculation during the year 1931-39.
District or subdivision,
1
Silchar ... ... ... ...
Palonghat ... ... ... ...
Karimganj ... ... ... ...
Habiganj ... ... ... ...
Sunnmganj ... ... ... ...
Patacharkuchi
...
...
...
...
Dhubri ... ... ... ...
Bilashipara ... .... ...
...
Abhayapuri ...
...
...
...
Tezpur
...
...
...
...
Nowgong
...
... ... ...
Misa
...
... ... ...
Garo Dills ... ... ... ...
Naga Hills ... ... ... ...
Jorhat ... ... ... ...
Majuli
...
... ... ...
Hariani ... ... ... ...
Golaghat
...
... ... ...
Badlipur ... ... ... ...
Sibsagar ... ... ... ...
Nazira
...
...
... ...
Dibrugarh
...
...
... ...
Tinsokia
...
...
... ...
Total ... ...
Names of diseases.
2
Rinderpest
Method of Inoculation.
3
Number of outbreaks in which in-
oculation was carried on.
4
20
7
2
2 1
5
4
8
1
1
4
6
3
2
3
6
35
22
8
17
6
31
4
186
Num
whi
uninoc
of
ber of an
ch
ulated in
outbrea
imal8
lied
course
.
Equines.
5
...
…
…
…
…
…
...
…
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
… … … … …
…
Bovines.
6
348
99
30
116
40
84
161
314
14
26
216
171
46
428
42
181
917
378
319
392
126
742
89
6,837
Others.
7
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
… …
…
…
...
…
…
…
…
…
… … … … … …
...
Num
ber of an
inoculate
animals
d.
Equines.
8
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
...
Bovines.
9
540
162
163
152
170
173
298
1,078
76
28
241
312
164
248
171
60ft
1,936
812
1,496
1,349
212
2,710
65
12,998
Others.
10
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
...
…
…
…
...
…
…
…
…
…
… … … … …
…
Nu
ocul
whi
in
mbero
ated and
chdled
oeulati
in-
animal
after
on.
Equines.
11
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
...
…
...
...
...
...
…
…
…
…
… … … … … …
…
Borines.
12
12
6
2
… 3 3
4
34
…
... 6
6
5
51
12
81
28
62
19
2
60
8
393
Others.
13
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
...
…
...
…
…
…
…
…
…
… … … … … … …
…
Remarks.
14