NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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expenditure of Rs. 11,200 on the construction of a veterinary
hospital at Kumbakonam, Tanjore district, was approved
by Government and it is proposed to provide funds for the
work in the budget estimate for 1927-28. Arrangements are
being made by the Public Works Department for the pre-
paration of detailed plans and estimates.
IV.—ITINERATING STAFF.
9. On the 31st March 1927 there were 13 touring officers,
inclusive of the one allotted for the new touring billet sanc-
tioned to this circle and posted to veterinary hospital, Tanjore.
10. In this connexion, it is worthy to mention that the
systematic touring that was in force till the end of May of the
year under report gave place in June 1926 of the new way of
running camp dispensaries. Most of the men hitherto em-
ployed under the old system to tour for a specified number of
days have been attached as second Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons to large institutions with the duties of only outbreak
reports attendance. Others not attached to any institution
have to do camp dispensary work in lieu of systematic touring
when no outbreak reports are received.
11. The itinerating staff performed 808 castrations as
against 1,225 of the previous year, treated 895 cases for
contagious diseases as against 1,008 of last year and 3,128
cases for non-contagious diseases as against 5,979 of the
previous year. The decrease in all these three items is mainly
due to the abolition of systematic touring.
12. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons T. P. Swaminatha
Ayyar, K. V. Raghavachari, Francis Joseph and Ganapathi
Ayyar were deputed for the serum simultaneous inoculation
work at different camps.
V.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
13. Rinderpest.—Out of 166 outbreak reports of rinder-
pest received during the year, three alone were left unattend-
ed. The disease was very severe in Chingleput district and
moderately severe in North Arcot district. 15,436 inocu-
lations by the serum alone method, as against 2,506 of last
year, were performed in the whole circle against rinderpest,
of which 14,205 and 1,131 inoculations were performed in
Chingleput and North Arcot districts respectively. Besides
this 163 inoculations were done by the serum simultaneous
method. The source of infection for the disease in Chingleput
district has been traced to Madras where there was disease
prevailing from the beginning of the year.
45
The Cattle Disease Act was enforced in the whole district
for a period of three months from 22nd December 1926 and
the cattle fairs at Pallavaram, Singaperumalkoil and Walaja-
bad were closed temporarily for a period of one month from
21st January 1927.
14. In North Arcot district rinderpest broke out in Yema-
ganapalle village in Kangundi division of Tiruppattur taluk in
September last, the source of infection being traced to a calf
brought to the village from Krishnagiri, Salem district, which
had the first attack and died. I applied to the Collector for
compulsory inoculation after the provisions of the Cattle
Disease Act have boon put in force in the area which was
readily granted, as the people refused inoculation several
times, notwithstanding the persuasions of the local Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon and the Deputy Tahsildar, Kangundi division.
Before compulsory inoculations could be undertaken, I visited
the village myself and spoke to the people and appealed to the
good sense of some of the refractory members of the village
who had superstitious beliefs about the disease and explained
to them about the benefits of the inoculations and the people
submitted their animals before compulsion could be brought
in. The whole lot of animals were inoculated and reinoculat-
ed and the disease subsided, the geographical situation of the
village with big hillocks on three sides affording no trespass
of men or cattle, having helped us a good deal in the arrest of
further spread. The Cattle Disease Act, however, continued
to be in force in the whole district to enable the Collector to
order the closure of cattle fairs whenever necessity arose, as
there was disease in Chingleput district.
15. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—With the exception of
North Arcot district the disease prevailed in the whole circle.
As many as 194 reports were received of which 169 were
attended to 8,477 inoculations were performed against this
disease during the year under report. Mortality among cattle
inoculated against this disease is negligibly small, it being 8.
1G. Blackquarter.—182 reports were received by the staff
of which 154 were attended to promptly. A major portion of
these reports were received from North and South Arcot dis-
tricts and only one from Tanjore. 548 inoculations with
' serum alone ' were performed with only 13 casualties. 67
animals were inoculated with germ-free-filtrate and 43 with
aggressin. The non-attendance in 28 outbreaks was due to
want of time or want of progress reports.
46
17. Anthrax.—46 of the 49 reports received were prompt-
ly attended to and 866 inoculations were conducted with 2
casualties only. The disease prevailed in Chingleput district
alone.
18. Foot-and-mouth disease.—26 reports were received
and all were attended to except 3.
19. Sheep-pox.—Two reports were received and were
promptly attended to.
20. Kumri.—Three cases were diagnosed by the staff
during the year.
21. Trypanosomiasis.—Six cases of surra among horses
in Chingleput district were confirmed microscopically—four
by the Madras Veterinary College authorities and two by me.
Compensation to owners was paid in two cases. One case of
trypanosomiasis in a buffalo in the Veterinary Dispensary,
Chingleput, was also confirmed microscopically.
22. Bovine Lymphangitis.—As many as 20 cases of
multiple abscesses were met with by the hospital staff in the
circle of which 12 cases were confirmed microscopically.
Treatment with auto-vaccine supplied by the Madras Veterinary
College Laboratory were tried on some cases with very
satisfactory results.
23. Rabies.—23 cases of rabies were brought to the notice
of the staff. Confirmation was sought for in 14 cases. One
case of a cow bitten by a rabid dog was afforded treatment
but the animal died the next day after the course of injec-
tions of the anti-rabie vaccine finished.
24. Other diseases.—As many as eight reports were
received by the staff for non-contagious diseases and they were
duly attended to. Of these, seven reports were clue to disease
caused by badly preserved food materials in stall-fed animals.
25. Bacteriological cases.—184 specimens were submitted
to the Principal, Madras Veterinary College, for microscopical
examination by the staff of which 63 were declared to be
positive for various diseases. The institution at Tanjore con-
tributed the largest number, viz., 47.
VI.—MISCELLANEOUS.
26. Criminal.—Post-mortem examinations were conduct-
ed on five animals suspected for criminal poisoning and
arsenic was detected by the Chemical Examiner in three cases
only and all these cases are under trial. 23 cases of malicious
47
injury were examined on the whole on lawful requisition by
the police and it was necessary to conduct post-mortem
examinations on 7 of them.
27. Government Livestock.—The Government animals in
the Agricultural Farm at Aduthurai, the calves at the King
Institute, Guindy, the Conservancy bullocks belonging to
St. Thomas' Mount Cantonment, the Government livestock of
the Borstal School at Tanjore and the municipal cattle at
Kumbakonam were inspected by the respective staff and
advice given whenever it was necessary.
The Cantonment
cattle at St. Thomas' Mount were protected six times against
rinderpest with anti-rinderpest serum.
28. Meat inspection.—The municipalities of Kumbakonam,
Cuddalore, Tiruvalur and Tiruvannamalai utilized the services
of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of veterinary
institutions located within the respective localities for meat
inspection work. The proposal to restore the meat inspection
work to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in Tanjore Munici-
pality is under correspondence.
20. Fairs and Shows.—The subordinate staff attended on
the weekly and annual cattle fairs of this circle during the
year.
VII.—GENERAL REMARKS.
30. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge of the
veterinary dispensary, Negapatam, granted certificates in
respect of the livestock exported to Straits Settlements and
Federated Malay States as usual and one-half of the fees
received was credited to the Government.
31. During the year under reference the staff had to com-
plain against 32 village officers for not reporting mortality of
cattle promptly and for not maintaining cattle mortality
registers properly.
32. The heavy work of this office due to wide jurisdiction
was lessened from 20th July 1926, the date of the opening of
the new circle. In spite of the lightness of work in this office
late clerk C. V. Raghavendra Rao was so much deficient in
his work that I was constrained to dispense with his services
with effect from 13th October 1926. The work of the
remaining clerks continued to be satisfactory.
A. J. WILSON,
Officer in charge, IV Circle,
Civil Veterinary Department, Madras,
48
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE V CIRCLE,
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, COIMBATORE,
FOR 192C--27.
I.—ADMINISTRATION.
From the beginning of the year under report until 20th
July 1926, the jurisdiction of this circle included the revenue
districts of South Kanara, Malabar, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris,
Salem and North Arcot, when, in the rearrangement clue to
the formation of an additional circle, the last named became
part of the Madras Circle.
2. I held charge throughout the year, spent 175 days in
camp, attended the Annual Cattle Fair and Pony Show at
Tiruppur, inspected all the veterinary institutions and Touring
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, conducted Blackquarter
vaccination with aggressin at the Pattagar's Farm at Palaya-
kottai, and serum simultaneous inoculation at Ootacamund,
Coonoor and at the Government Farms at Coimbatore and
Hosur. As usual, I visited pretty frequently the local
hospital during my stay at headquarters.
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
3. The strength of the executive staff at the end of the
year was 35—16 in charge of hospitals and dispensaries and the
rest in charge of itinerating and contagious disease work.
4. Three Veterinary Assistant Surgeons from this circle
took the Post-graduate course at the Madras Veterinary
College.
5. One new post of compounder for the veterinary hospi-
tal, Tiruppur, was sanctioned and filled during the year.
II (a).—HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
6. Including the dispensary newly opened at Tiruchengode
on the 25th October 1926, the number of institutions under
the control of this department was 16. The hospitals attached
to the Agricultural College, Coimbatore, and Hosur Cattle
Farm, under the control of the Agricultural Department, were
also inspected.
49
7. During the year the number of cases treated including
castration in the hospitals and dispensaries was 26,484 as
against 24,978 in the previous year, the increase being to the
credit of the institutions at Ootacamund, Coimbatore, Erode,
Tiruppur, Gobichettipalayam, Dharapuram and Krishnagiri.
There was a slight decrease at Salem, Cannanore, Calicut,
Coonoor, and Puttur as compared with the figures for the
previous year but in none of these institutions it could be
ascribed to want of popularity.
8. There has been a noticeable improvement in the matter
of remanding cruelty cases for treatment to infirmaries under
the S.P.C.A. Act, the total for the Coimbatore district being
868, an increase of 464 over the previous year. In no other
district in the jurisdiction of this circle the S.P.C.A. is so
well organised. It is not for a moment suggested that the
institutions in places without such societies, arc handicapped.
In fact, an examination of the admission registers of the
hospitals will refute the suggestion occasionally made to that
effect in some quarters.
9. The number of cases supplied with medicines but not
brought to the institutions was 649 as against 571 in the
previous year. The variations under this head need no
comment.
10. The work of remodelling and improving the in-patient
accommodation at the Veterinary Hospital, Coonoor, was
proceeded with during the year.
New type-design wards
for Bovines, Equines and Canines have been provided. In-
patient accommodation for Canines at the Veterinary Hospital,
Ootacamund, has been found to be inadequate. Proposals for
additional kennels have been submitted. An operation room
for small animals at this hospital has supplied an useful addi-
tion. A similar one for Coimbatore is under proposal. The
Tiruppur Race Club has been so good as to promise a very
liberal contribution towards the cost of its construction. The
S.P.C.A., Coimbatore, has also donated Rs. 100 towards the
same. Our thanks are due to the donors for their munifi-
cence, and personally I wish to express my gratitude to
Mr. A. R. Cox, I.C.S., for the support given to me in the
matter.
11. Proposals for the acquisition of the rented dispensary
buildings at Puttur and Pollachi, materialised during the year.
As it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable rented
7
50
buildings for the growing needs of the more progressive
institutions, the question of providing permanent habitation
requires early consideration.
12. It is gratifying to be able to record that the admissions
and average daily attendance of cases in most of the hospitals
and dispensaries have been remarkably good.
II (b).—ITINERATING STAFF.
13. In pursuance of the change in the system of work in
vogue hitherto, some of the posts of Touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons were abolished and the number of regular
touring billets was reduced from 15 to 9. In other words, of
the fifteen Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons including
the two newly sanctioned during the year, nine continued to
be, as before, on tour for 20 days in a month, treating cases
and doing castrations in villages when not otherwise engaged
with outbreaks of contagious diseases, and each of the other
six Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons was attached to a
hospital, with an average daily attendance of 30 or more
cases, to work as assistant in the hospital when not engaged in
attending outbreaks of contagious diseases. There is a second
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at the Veterinary Hospital,
Coimbatore, as the average daily attendance is over 50. In
the new arrangement he too was required to attend outbreaks
reported from the taluk.
14. A comparative statement of cases treated and castra-
tions performed by the touring staff is furnished below :—
Year.
1925-1926
1926-1927
..
..
Cases treated.
Contagions
disease.
1,436
1,606
Non-
contagious
disease.
5,168
3,376
Castrations.
1,319
659
Decrease in the number of castrations and cases treated was
anticipated, when the number of regular touring billets was
reduced ; but the fall during the year under report was not
entirely due to the new scheme. It was partly due to want of
adequate leave reserve staff. Two Touring Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons from the circle had to be lent to the Forest
department, a substitute was not available when a Touring
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon was granted medical leave for
three months and one or two Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons had to hold charge of institutions.
51
III.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
15. Rinderpest.—205 reports of this disease were receiv-
ed during the year, mostly from the districts of South
Kanara, Malabar and the Nilgiris of which 194 were attend-
ed to by the staff. 17,017 animals were protected by the
serum alone method of inoculation in 146 of these outbreaks,
including the one in Salem district, and in the others either
the people were unwilling for inoculation or the outbreaks
had subsided. Compulsory inoculation, under the Cattle Dis-
ease Act, was found necessary in all badly affected centres
of South Kanara district, the Wynad taluk of Malabar and
Gudalur taluk of the Nilgiris. Of the total number of inocu-
lations 8,242 were under this category. The source of infec-
tion has always been from the Mysore side, and the movement
of cattle and cart traffic favour the spread of the disease to
South Kanara, Wynad and the Nilgiris. Experience has
shown that a prolonged campaign of serum inoculation is
necessary to suppress the outbreaks, especially in places
exposed to re-infection.
16. There were six prosecutions under the Cattle Disease
Act—five in South Kanara and one in Gudalur—and all the
accused were punished with fines varying from Rs. 1 to 2.
The places and periods during which the Act was in force
are shown below :—
South Kanara district .. ..
Wynad taluk (Malabar district.)
The Nilgiris .. .. .. ..
Hosur taluk (Salem district) ..
1st March 1926 to 20th July
1926 and 19th October 1926
to 31st March 1927.
15th February 1927 to 31st
March 1927.
Throughout the year.
Do.
17. Serum simultaneous inoculation against this disease
with virus received from Muktesar was carried out at the
Central Farm, Coimbatore, at the owner's premises in Coonoor
and Ootacamund and at the Government Cattle Farm, Hosur.
Of the 186 protected by this method, 48 were private ani-
mals. No inoculation by this method with local virus was
possible, as inoculation by the serum alone method was en-
forced in most of the rinderpest areas.
18. Anthrax.—40 outbreaks of this disease out of the
43 reported during the year, were attended by the staff. As
this disease usually occurs in a sporadic form, the mortality
was light. In most of the outbreaks there was no disease at
the time of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon's visit and so
no inoculation was performed.
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19. Foot-and-mouth disease.—Twenty outbreaks out of the
twenty-five reported were attended. The disease, as it oc-
curred during the year, does not call for any special remarks.
20. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—There
was hardly any
outbreak worth mentioning in any of the districts of this
circle during the year. Eight outbreaks out of the eleven
reported were attended, but there was no need for inocula-
tion in any of these outbreaks.
21. Black-quarter.—This disease prevailed to a consi-
derable extent in Salem district. 110 outbreaks were attend-
ed out of a total of 144 reported.
2,884 animals were
protected by serum in actual outbreaks. Vaccination against
this disease was carried out on 345 animals at the Pattagar's
Farm at Palayakottai. 214 cattle and 188 sheep were given
aggressin and serum at the Hosur Cattle Farm. The use of
serum in outbreaks promises to be popular.
22. Septic Pneumonia.—Two reports of this disease were
received from Krishnagiri taluk, Salem district, and attended
but no investigation into the disease could be carried on as
no further cases occurred.
23. Trypanosomiasis.—A pony was found to be suffering
from surra in Coimbatore. The animal was destroyed under
the Glanders and Farcy Act and compensation was paid to the
owner.
24. Johne's Disease.—No case of this disease was report-
ed during the year. Some animals at the Hosur Cattle Farm
suspected to be suffering from the disease were tested but the
result was not conclusive.
25. Kumri.—Seven cases of this disease were recorded
during the year.
26. Piroplasmosis.—Nine cases in Bovines and six cases
in Canines met with in the hospitals were microscopically con-
firmed and treated successfully with Trypan blue.
27. Rabies.—The disease was confirmed in eleven cases.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
28. Bacteriological.—140 specimens were submitted by
the staff to the Madras Veterinary College Laboratory for
examination. There was nothing of unusual interest to re-
port. Unlike the previous year, there were very few cases of
white scour and septic pneumonia in calves at the Hosur
Cattle Farm.
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29. Criminal.—There was no poisoning reported during
the year. 50 certificates for malicious injury were given by
the staff. Of these one case was compromised, 16 ended in
conviction, 4 pending and in 29 results not known.
30. Municipal.—Ootacamund and Coimbatore munici-
palities continued to have wholetime Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons. In Mangalore, the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
in charge of the Veterinary Hospital was doing meat inspection
till July. Since then the work is being done by the Health
Officer. The services of a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon have
been lent to the Ootacamund Municipality, to take the place
of the officer deputed for training at the Bangalore Dairy
Institute.
31. Fairs and Shows.—The Cattle Fair and Pony Show
at Tiruppur and the annual cattle fairs at Mecheri and Nan-
gavalli were held during the year. The annual cattle fairs
at Kulgunda in South Kanara district and Kizhur in Malabar
were not held owing to prevalence of rinderpest.
V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
32. The executive staff had to complain against eight vil-
lage officers for slackness in reporting outbreaks of contagious
disease.
33. So long as the movement of cattle for sale and cart
traffic for trade purposes between the Mysore Province and
the adjoining British territories continue, periodical outbreaks
of rinderpest are bound to occur, and the magnitude and
duration of such outbreaks would depend upon the provision
made for combating the disease. It is a matter for consi-
deration whether a special staff under an officer for carrying
out simultaneous inoculation, with local virus, would not be
a more advantageous method of dealing with the disease.
To enable this being done effectively, the Cattle Diseases Act
may have to be suitably amended.
34. The existing system of the Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geon in charge of a dispensary with a comparatively small
daily attendance, having to attend outbreaks of contagious
diseases reported from the taluk, would appear to require
modification, for the practice of leaving the dispensary in
charge of the. attendants has not been found to be conducive
to its growth of popularity. The touring staff may be in
sole charge of this work.
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35. The relief afforded by the formation of an additional
circle at Madura, has not been appreciable. This circle is
still heavy, and the clerical staff inadequate.
36. A suitable and a permanent building for this office
has been a long-felt want. Through the kindness of the
District Collector a site has been secured in the compound
in which other public offices are located, and it is hoped that
sanction would be accorded at an early date for the construc-
tion of the building.
K. KYLASAM AYYAR,
Officer in charge, V Circle,
Civil Veterinary Department,
Coimbatore.