NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
24
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
difficulties which are encountered in carrying out these duties and the
lack of power which is vested in the officers stationed at the frontier
post the work, judging by results, was carried out very efficiently.
The existing Cattle Disease Rules which were mainly devised tor
the control of Rinderpest require to be extended in order to cover all
the epidemic diseases which are present in Burma, but it is recognised
that Cattle Disease Rules without the machinery for applying them
would not bring about an increased measure of success in the control
or prevention of contagious disease. The introduction of cattle disease
from India which was reported during the year indicates the necessity
which exists for examination of all animals which arrive at the ports
by a Government Veterinary Officer.
At present the only restrictions which are capable of being applied
are contained in Agricultural Department Notification No. 3, dated the
10th February 1922, and refer only to ruminants and swine. Other
animals from any port (with the exception of British ports) are
allowed to land and to be delivered to the consignee without
Veterinary examination or quarantine. In this respect Burma occupies
an exceptional position among the countries of the world but which
from a State Veterinary point of view is fraught with grave risk.
The "Diseases of Animals Act" referred to in last year's report
which was contemplated for Burma to replace or augment the existing
rules will, it is understood, be considered by a Veterinary Committee
to be appointed this year by the Imperial Research Council for the
purpose of drafting an All India Act for the control of animal diseases.
Deputy Commissioners and Veterinary Officers refer on many
occasions on the difficulty in securing an available site for a segregation
area in many villages and to the scarcity in Lower Burma of available
ground near the villages for cattle grazing. The despatch of cattle to
common grazing grounds at some distance under the supervision of
inefficient herds is an important factor in the spread of contagious
disease and it is proposed to investigate this problem of village grazing
grounds when a sufficient staff is available.
SECTION V.—NON-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES-
WORK OF THE SUBORDINATE STAFF.
(a) Treatment of Animals.—The
total number of non-contagious
diseases treated during the year by Veterinary Inspectors amounted to
92 and by Veterinary Assistants to 80,491--an average of 3 cases per
Veterinary Inspector and 414 per Veterinary Assistant. The principal
duty of the subordinate staff is to visit villages, to make enquiries from
the headmen and cattle owners regarding the presence of disease in the
village, to advise them as to the precautionary measures to be taken in
case of outbreaks, to treat ordinary ailments of cattle, and to verify the
entries in the cattle death registers maintained by the village headmen.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
25
The main function of the Inspector is to inspect and check the work of
the Veterinary Assistants under his control. In addition to this he has
to take charge of inoculation parties in cases of outbreaks of diseases
and supervise and direct the work of the Assistants who are placed
under him on inoculation duty. Treatment of animals does not form a
part of his routine duties and this accounts for the small number of
cases treated by Inspectors during the year.
(b) Mortality Returns.—The
village headman in every village is
required to maintain a register which is periodically checked by the
subordinate veterinary staff and in which are recorded deaths of cattle
diagnosed according to the information furnished by villagers and cattle-
owners. At the end of each month or less frequently he submits
counterfoils to the Township Officer concerned who compiles a return
and forwards it to the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commis-
sioner in turn compiles a statement for his district and forwards it to the
Deputy Director of Veterinary Services of the Circle. This officer then
prepares a mortality return for his circle and submits it to the Director
of Veterinary Services with his monthly report. These statements and
reports under present conditions arrive at the office of the Director of
Veterinary Services very late, in certain cases the delay varies from two
to four months, and are of little value except for statistical purposes.
Measures to expedite the submission of these monthly mortality reports
are at present under consideration.
SECTION VI.—DISPENSARIES AND HOSPITALS.
There are in the province one Veterinary Hospital at Insein and
four Veterinary Dispensaries at Pegu, Prome, Myingyan and Pakôkku.
Inscin.—The total number of new cases treated during the year
amounted to 2,759 of which 2,754 were out-patients and 5 in-patients.
The number of cases treated at the Veterinary Hospital, Insein, gives
an average of 7'6 per day. The principal specific diseases observed
were rinderpest,
foot-and-mouth disease, trypanosomiasis, rabies,
necrobacillosis, acariasis, ankylostomiasis, streptothricosis, distemper and
fowl cholera. Non-specific diseases met with include diseases of the
digestive, respiratory, generative, urinary, skin, eye, ear and nervous
systems and ordinary wounds.
Veterinary Dispensary, Pegu.— Four thousand one hundred and six
cases were treated during the year, giving an average of 11.2 cases
per day. Of the number of cases treated 1,508 were from Municipal
and 2,598 from rural area.
Veterinary Dispensary, Prome.—Two
thousand seven hundred and
eighty-six cases were treated during the year giving an average
of 7.6 cases per day. Of the number of cases treated 2,218 were
from
Municipal and 568 from rural area. The dispensary at
Prome was taken over by the Municipality from the District
26
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Council in April 1929. During the latter part of the past year diffi-
culties have arisen in connection with payment of the maintenance
charges for this dispensary, the Municipality being of the opinion
that its existence and expense were not justified. The dispensary
remained open in charge of a Veterinary Assistant to the end of the
year. Negotiations in regard to its future are still in progress.
Veterinary Dispensary, Myingyan.—The total number of cases treated
amounted to 3,176 giving an average of S'7 cases per day. Of the
number of cases treated 2,043 were from the Municipal and 1,133 from
the rural area.
The dispensary is situated in a building in the heart of the town
hired for ten years at Rs. 35 per mensem. It has accommodation for
four in-patients.
The provision of stocks for dressing animals is necessary and will be
provided during the coming year. The animal owners have appreciated
the new site as evidenced by the increase in the number of in-patient
cases, viz. 409 as compared with 85 of last year.
Veterinary Dispensary, Pakôkku.— The total number of cases treated
during the year was 2,218 giving an average of 6.0 per day. Of the
number of cases treated 1,073 were from Municipal and 1,145 from rural
area.
As a result of failure on the part of the Pakôkku Municipality to
make any contribution towards the maintenance of the dispensary the
District Council objected to the treatment of sick animals brought from
the Municipal limits. During the latter part of the year the District
Council removed the restriction and allowed general treatment of sick
animals.
General.—The opening of a dispensary at Yenangyaung was
requested during the year by the newly formed branch of the Society
for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. At the suggestion of the Deputy
Commissioner, the Burma Oil Company at Yenangyaung have under-
taken to find a suitable site for a dispensary and to pay all charges
required for the maintenance of it. The Department is unable on
account of shortage of staff to provide the permanent professional
services of an Assistant but is prepared to assist in supervising the work
of the dispensary when opened.
SECTION VII.—VETERINARY EDUCATION.
(a) INSEIN VETERINARY SCHOOL STAFF.
The post of the Principal of the Veterinary College at Insein still
remains vacant but proposals for filling it are now under consideration.
The College is at present under the control of the Deputy Director of
Veterinary Services, South-Eastern and South-Western Circles, Insein.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
27
At the commencement of the year there were thirteen students on the
roll, all in Class 'C.' The final year examination was held towards the
end of May 1929. Eleven students passed the examination and arrange-
ments were made to re-examine the two students who failed to secure
a pass at the first test. The second test was held in July at which both
were successful. The passed students numbering thirteen in all have
been given appointments in the department.
Three Refresher Courses for the Veterinary Assistants were held
during the year. The first course extended over a period from 22nd
April to 31st July 1929 and was attended by eighteen Veterinary
Assistants. The second course extended from 15th August to the 30th
November 1929 and was attended by fourteen Veterinary Assistants.
The third course commenced on the 2nd January 1930 and ended on
the 2nd April 1930, eighteen assistants attended the course. Both oral
and written examinations were held at the conclusion of each course.
(b) INSTRUCTION IN VILLAGES BY FIELD STAFF.
The Veterinary Superintendents, Inspectors, and Veterinary Assis-
tants continued to deliver lectures and hold demonstrations on Veterinary
matters as usual in the villages.
Under instructions from the Director of Agriculture and Officer-in-
charge of the Civil Veterinary Department, Veterinary Superintendents
inaugurated a system of lectures at pagoda festivals. The results were far
from encouraging and it is considered these Veterinary lectures should
for some time to come be confined to the Agricultural and Co-operative
Conferences.
The Veterinary Superintendent, Meiktila, delivered a course of
lectures and gave demonstrations to the students of Government
Agricultural Farm, Mahlaing.
(c) GENERAL.
Training of Veterinary Jemadars, Burma Military Police.—During
the
year two Veterinary Jemadars from the Eastern and Western Battalions
were trained at the Research Laboratory, Insein, in the diagnosis of
diseases which come under the Glanders and Farcy Act, 1899. Certifi-
cates of competency were issued to these Veterinary Jemadars on
completion of their course.
Training of Class II Service in Rinderpest Double Inoculation
Work.—
A short course of lectures and demonstrations in Rinderpest Double
Inoculation work for officers in Class II Service was arranged and given
at the Insein Research Laboratory in the beginning of this year,
28
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
SECTION VIII.-VETERINARY RESEARCH
LABORATORY, INSEIN.
(a) STAFF.
The Research Laboratory was under the direction of the following
officers during the year for the periods indicated:—
Mr. D. T. Mitchell, M.R.C.V.S. ...
Captain Idle, M.R.C.V.S. ...
Mr. D. T. Mitchell, M.R.C.V.S. ...
Mr. Bhattacharjee, M.R.C.V.S. ...
April.
May to October.
October to January.
January to March.
Two Veterinary Inspectors and one Veterinary Assistant were
employed in the Laboratory as technical assistants with an office staff
of one temporary clerk.
(6) ROUTINE WORK.
During the year 937 blood and organ smears were received from the
districts of which 202 showed the presence of contagious disease and
735 were negative.
The positive smears are classified as follows:—
—
(1)
Anthrax
Epizootic Lymphangitis ...
Surra
Blackquarter ... ...
Piroplasmosis ...
Cattle.
(2)
11
3
1
1
Horses.
(3)
2
5
146
Elephants.
(4)
32
1
Total.
(5)
45
5
150
1
1
202
Approximately one-third of the total smears received were submitted
by the Veterinary Assistants the balance being sent by the Timber
Firms and Military Police.
(c) RESEARCH WORK.
Identification of internal parasites of stock in Burma was initiated
by Mr. Bhattacharjee from material collected in the Rangoon Municipal
Slaughter House and specimens from the School Museum. The follow-
ing species were examined and identified:—
Nemalodes.
1.
2,
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Ascaris Viluli
... ... ...
Hæmonchus Contortus ... ...
Anchylostoma Caninun ... ...
Oesosphagostomum Columbianam ...
Oesosphagostomum Inflatum ...
Strongylus Pulmonalis ... ...
Trichocephalus Affinis ... ...
Spiroptera Sangænulenta ... ...
Cattle.
Cattle, sheep and goats.
Dogs and cats.
Sheep and goats.
Cattle.
Cattle.
Cattle.
Dogs.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
29
Nematodes—concld.
9.
10.
11.
Filaria Labito papillosa ... ...
Filaria œculi (Larvæe of above) ...
Filaria Immitis ... ...
Cattle.
Horses.
Dogs.
Cestodes.
1.
2.
3.
Tænia alba ... ... ...
Dipylidin Caninun ... ...
Cysticercus Tennuicollis ... ...
Cattle, sheep and goats.
Dogs.
Sheep.
Trcmalodes.
1.
2.
Distoma ... ... ...
Amphistoma Conicum ... ...
Sheep.
Cattle and goats.
It is proposed that this work will be continued by Mr. Bhattacharjee
when opportunity permits and the results will be published in a Depart-
mental Bulletin.
Rinderpest.—A strain of rinderpest was maintained in cattle at the
Laboratory for part of the year in anticipation of being able to introduce
the Serum-Virus method of protective inoculation in the districts. This
was not found possible owing to administrative and technical difficulties
A small lot of 6 bulls being sent to Arakan on a breeding improvement
scheme were immunised succssfully at the request of the Director of
Agriculture by the Serum-Virus method.
The maintenance of a strain of Rinderpest in Burmese cattle was
found to be a very difficult problem owing to the relatively high
immunity of these cattle and it was only possible to keep the strain
going with the aid of cattle purchased from jail herds where the
animals had been bred under disease free conditions. As the supply of
these animals is too limited to meet the demands when the method is
introduced into practice an enquiry was initiated to ascertain if cattle
susceptible to rinderpest were available in any part of Burma or
adjoining islands from which a constant supply could be arranged.
This investigation was in progress at the close of the year. A guaran-
teed supply of susceptible cattle is essential for the serum-virus method
of rinderpest immunisation.
Anthrax.—Experimental
work on animals to ascertain the safety
and protective value of the Anthrax Vaccine prepared at the Insein
Laboratory was carried out during the year. The test animals included
elephants, cattle, buffaloes and sheep.
Preliminary tests were made
on sheep and cattle at the Laboratory.
Tests on the safety of the vaccine in elephants were conducted on
19 animals belonging to Timber Firms during May and July and as the
results were promising a crucial test was arranged in December in
elephants at Shwenyaungbin near Tonngoo on six elephants and two
goats offered by the timber firms. These experiments were successful
and demonstrated that the vaccine was safe to use and conferred a
very strong immunity to the disease (injection of virulent cultures) one
month after inoculation.
30
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
It was decided to issue the vaccine for general inoculation of
elephants in the areas where anthrax occurs annually and a series of
demonstrations were arranged during March to instruct members of
the firms concerned in the technique of the inoculation procedure.
The arrangements were expedited in order to allow of vaccination
being carried out in the rest period during the hot weather. Two
thousand eight hundred and ten doses of vaccine were issued for
elephants up to the end of March.
An experimental batch of twelve buffaloes in the Pyinmana area and
60 cattle at the Agricultural College Farm, Mandalay, were inoculated
under jungle conditions and gave satisfactory results.
The details of these tests are in the course of publication as an
interim report in a Departmental Bulletin.
Remarks.—Owing to the frequent changes in staff at the Research
Laboratory it was not possible to arrange a satisfactory programme of
Research work during the year. Captain Idle who was in charge
during the early part of the year had in addition charge of the Veterinary
School and the South-Eastern and South-Western Circles.
The purchase of the stores and equipment from England for the
Laboratory which has been under consideration for some time was
unfortunately not arranged for during the year and arrangements must
be made early in the coming year to ensure that the necessary equip-
ment will be available when the additional Research Staff is appointed.
SECTION IX.—REORGANISATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
The reorganisation proposals outlined in last year's report were
given further consideration during the year under review and after a
considerable amount of discussion and correspondence have been
submitted to Government.
Veterinary College.—It is anticipated that this sanction will be
accorded in time to allow of the Insein Veterinary College being opened
for training of students about the middle of the year. As no students
have been recruited in 1927 the urgency of commencing the training of
a batch of students in Veterinary Science to fill vacancies which will
occur during the next few years will be apparent. The appointment of
lecturers for the first year training is being arranged for.
Class I Service.—It is proposed to recruit two Veterinary Graduates
to this service early in the coming year to fill the vacant posts of
Principal of the College and Research Officers, The candidates will
possess European qualifications and if possible have training in
Laboratory technique and academic teaching. The recruit to the
Research appointment will be required to specialise in field research
work in problems connected with diseases of working animals.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
31
Clerical Staff.—Additional
clerical assistance having been found
essential for circle officers and the central administrative office, Govern-
ment will consider proposals during the coming year for increasing the
clerical staff of the department. It will then be possible to release
Veterinary Assistants now employed in office routine work for their
legitimate Veterinary duties in the. districts. Under present conditions
the work of the senior officers of the department is considerably
handicapped by routine office duties and delays in submission of
department reports to the Central Office are being constantly experi-
enced. This is not compatible with efficient working of the department.
The suggestion that the departmental officers should take over the
statistical side of reporting cattle mortality which was referred to in
last year's report could not be given effect to on account of the absence
of sufficient clerical assistance. Even with the addition of one clerk to
each circle which is contemplated in the immediate future this work
could not be attempted. This section of the work in each circle office
would constitute a full time job for one clerk and unless this can be
provided it is not intended that the work shall be transferred from the
district headquarters.
SECTION X —REMARKS ON THE YEAR'S WORK
AND PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE.
1. Contagious Diseases.—The contagious diseases met with in stock
in Burma during the year constitute a somewhat formidable list. The
majority are susceptible to preventive measures and were it possible to
introduce, efficiently, the known methods of dealing with them, the
mortality could be very considerably reduced in the next few years.
Foot-and-Mouth disease under conditions prevailing in Burma may be
regarded as a disease which will continue to give trouble for many
years to come. It is not preventable by inoculation methods and the
virus persists for lengthy periods in infected animals. Immunity from
a natural attack is of relatively short duration.
The total mortality from contagious diseases during the year under
review shows a marked improvement on the preceding year. The
returns show a drop in mortality from 25,639 to 9.327 and while this is
due in particular to the drop in mortality from Rinderpest in Arakan
during the current year it will be noted from the comparative mortality
return that, with the exception of the Central Circle, there has been a
decided reduction throughout the province in the mortality from
contagious diseases.
It must, however, be pointed out that this decrease in mortality is
not altogether due to the efforts of the Veterinary staff but is to a large
extent due to the raising of the general immunity which in the case of
Rinderpest in particular rapidly follows after an epidemic has passed
32
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
through the herds. While this naturally acquired immunity lasts, the
risk of a recrudesence is decreased for some years, but in the absence
of active infection this immunity is slowly lost rendering the animals
(with the calves born in the interval) again susceptible. This was the
position which was present at the end of the year in the Lower
Chindwin area where no Rinderpest is reported to have occurred for
approximately eight years. So long as movements of cattle into or out of
an infected area cannot be prevented effectively; such outbreaks are
bound to recur and the disease will spread rapidly in the early stages
of the epidemic.
Until, therefore, regulations for the control of such movements of
animals are available and can be put into operation with the assurance
that they will be carried out efficiently, the task of eradication of
Rinderpest from the Province as a whole cannot be contemplated.
Even the elimination of the disease from local centres under present
conditions is not unattended with disadvantages.
Unless the animals
in the area are protected by natural and artificial barriers limiting
movements of animals from the outside, the task is an impractical one as
virulent out breaks are certain to recur at three or four yearly intervals.
Nature at present balances immunity against infection and with the intro-
duction of the serum-virus method of immunisation in actual outbreaks
of the disease nature will be assisted to build up a strong natural immu-
nity which will persist and be effective in reducing annual mortality
from the disease. Complete eradication to be successful requires to be
associated with efficient segregation in its widest sense.
Scrum-Virus Inoculation for Rinderpest.—Proposals
for the intro-
duction of this method of active immunisation into general practice
were submitted to Government and sanctioned for use of the method in
areas where the disease exists.
When Laboratory staff has been recruited the method will be
introduced under village conditions in selected areas and gradually
extended throughout the Province. Preference will be given in the
first instance to draft animals used between districts or villages and the
immunisation of these will be encouraged in order to minimise the risk
of spread of the disease in the village tracts and from district to
district.
Arrangements have been made to indelibly mark the immunised
animals so that by a tattoo "number, letter" combination on the inside
of the ear so that they can be recognised as immunised and their
history traced at a subsequent date.
In connection with outbreaks of Anthrax reported in the Province
mention has already been made of the doubts regarding the accuracy
of the diagnosis in many cases. The failure of the Veterinary Assistants
to procure material for laboratory diagnosis in these outbreaks is
difficult to understand. In spite of the large number of cases reported