NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
14
annum from its funds for a period of five years to each province,
and with this amount the provinces are required to set up a
disease investigation staff. During the year under report, definite
proposals with details of the estimate of cost for working out the
scheme in this Presidency were drawn up and forwarded to the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research for acceptance. As at
present proposed, the scheme will be given effect to in this pro-
vince from April 1933 and it is intended that the investigation
officer to he appointed will continue the work of the Special
Rinderpest Officer on the termination of his post at the end of
March 1933. The investigation officer will also undertake the
investigation of other important animal diseases requiring
elucidation.
(d) Research Work at the Madras Veterinary
College
Laboratory.
27. The following items of research work were in progress in
the Pathological and Parasitological sections of the Laboratory
attached to the Madras Veterinary College.
28. Anthrax.—Minor
laboratory experiments were undertaken
by Mr. V. Krisknamurti Ayyar after his taking charge of the
Pathological section in connexion with the study of the methods
of infection and immunity against Anthrax with a view to plan
out a scheme for research in that direction.
29. Pseudo-fowl
pest (Ranikhet
disease).—Further
study on
pseudo-fowl pest was in progress during the year under the
guidance of Mr. K. Kailasam Ayyar. Transmission experiments
were continued and the vaccine was tested to a large extent in the
field. The results obtained from its use are reported to be
excellent, but further investigation is required, in view of the
conflicting accounts received from elsewhere, before a definite
pronouncement can be made.
30. Trypanosomiasis.—The
study of the morphology of the
small trypanosomes of domesticated animals was continued. Two
visits, one in May and the other in July 1931, were made by the
Lecturer in Parasitology to Ranipet and Kaveripakkam in North
Arcot district in connexion with an outbreak of Surra. It was
found that the latter place contained a large number of flies and
most of them harboured Crithidia in the gut and rectum. Some
flies were caught in the cattle market in Ranipet and these were
also found to be infected with Crithidia. The Crithidia were
injected into laboratory animals and some of the flies were fed on
a calf. All these animals remained healthy for a period of two
months, when they were discharged. Attempts were made
without success to keep some of the flies alive for further experi-
ments. Our knowledge of the flagellates of Tabanids in this
country is limited and, so far back as 1909. Patton described the
life cycle of a species of Crithidial parasite in the intestinal tract
of Tabanus holarius and another Tabanus species (vide Arch fur
Protistenkunda Band XV 1909) and not much work has been done
15
on this subject since that date. The Crithidia obtained from
Tabanids at Ranipet and Kaveripakkam seem to conform to the
description given by him, but the post-flagellate stage has not
been observed. It may be that development had not advanced far
enough to show these forms. It is interesting to note that of over
20 male Tabanus dissected, none of them showed Crithidia, while
those females fed on blood showed the infection. Attempts were
made to culture these Crithidia without success. A comparative
study of these Crithidia and the cultural forms of the large
trypanosomes of cattle (Trypanosoma theileri) shows that the
curves of the percentage measurements of both of them are almost
identical). It is premature to opine at this stage, whether these
Crithidia are the developmental forms of Trypanosoma theileri,
till biological experiments on calves are made.
It was observed that a large number of cases of Trypanosomi-
asis occurred during the hot weather, and that in one area at
least the number of Tabanus was greatest during the hot weather.
This fact is interesting because it seems to be contrary to the view
that Trypanosomiasis is a disease found during or after rains.
Very little information concerning the time of the year these flies
abound in different districts of this Presidency exists and from the
few observations made in Madras (Guindy) and in the Ranipet area,
it would seem open to question that they appear just before and
during the rains in this part of the Presidency.
The transmission of Surra in laboratory animals with Conorhi-
nus rabrofasiata has been taken up recently, the results of which
will be made available later. Naganol was supplied in a few cases
of Trypanosomiasis for treatment in the mufassal and the results
were satisfactory.
31. Piroplasmosis—(i) Babesia bigemina.—Some
transmission
experiments of Babesia bigemina were done with Ornithodorus
savignyi without success. A large number of ticks were dissected
and smears from their gut and salivary glands were stained and
studied. It was observed that Piroplasms remained in the gut
for two days and then disintegrated.
(ii) Babesia
mutans.—Four
calves of the Chintaldevi
Cattle Farm were successfully treated with Trypaflavine.
The
number of injections given to each calf varied from 3 to 5 and in
all these cases, blood smears were received periodically, and they
were found free of parasites in about 4 to 6 weeks. Ticks collected
from all these cases proved to be Hyalomma ægyptium.
(iii) Babesia canis.—Transmission
experiments with Orni-
thodorus savignyi proved a failure. A few infected ticks were
dissected from time to time but no developmental forms were
observed. Two cases were treated at the Rayapuram dispensary
with Trypaflavine (5 c.c. of 1 per cent solution intravenously).
In one case, piroplasma reappeared even after two injections of
Trypanblue, but after one injection of Trypaflavine they dis-
appeared, and the dog remained healthy. One of the dogs had
2
16
Hepatazeon canis in addition to Piroplasma, but the Trypaflavine
had no action on the Hepatazoa.
(iv) Babesia gibsoni.—This
disease appeared in the hounds
of the Madras Hunt again this year and three cases were success-
fully treated with Novarsenobilion. This drug is a very satis-
factory one to use in such cases, and the following table shows
the number of positive cases treated at the Hunt Kennels. The
number of injections varied from 1 to 4 according to the needs of
the case: —
Year.
1927-28
1928-29
1930-31
1931-32
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
...
...
...
...
Number
of cases
treated.
3
4
1
3
Number
recovered.
9
3
1
3
Slumber
died.
1
1
...
...
32. Trematode Cercrice.—From
January to the end of Decem-
ber 1931, fresh water molluscs, Planorbis exustus and Linmœa
lentiola were collected from the Spur Tank, Egmore, each month
in order to study the incidence of the various cercariæ. Eleven
species of cercariæ were obtained in all, out of which 3 happened
to be undescribed hitherto. A report on this and the description
of the three new ones found will be published shortly. The life-
history of most of these is not known. Three varieties of cercariæ
were fed to animals and their adults obtained. Papers dealing
with these experiments have been sent for publication.
(e) Anatomical
Findings.
33. The following findings with reference to certain blood
vessels of the fore limbs of a pony were recorded in the Anatomy
section of the Madras Veterinary College: —
Right fore-limb.—The
formation of the supra carpal arch
was, as usual, but the small metacarpal artery instead of termi-
nating below the carpus by forming the sub-carpal arch, was found
continuing down the metacarpus as the internal posterior interros-
seous metacarpal artery. The large metacarpal artery communi-
cated with this internal posterior interrosseous metacarpal artery
by a large branch. The usual lower unnamed branch of the large
metacarpal artery was wanting but was compensated for by a
branch from the external digital artery.
Left limb.—A large branch (supplying muscular branches
to the deep flexor muscle and continued as the articular branch of
the carpus) was found arising from the posterior radial artery a
little above the lower third of the radius and this branch gave off
a small branch (at its origin from the posterior radial) which with
the ulna formed the supra carpal arch. The division of the
posterior radial artery into large and small metacarpal arteries
was found about 1½ inches below the level of the formation of
the supra carpal arch. The two usual unnamed branches of the
large metacarpal artery were found wanting.
17
The small metacarpal artery contributed towards the forma-
tion of the sub-carpal arch (by giving off a small branch at the
usual level), then continued down the metacarpus, received a large
communicating branch from the large metacarpal artery and
divided below this point of communication into two nearly equal
branches which took the place of (external and internal) posterior
interosseous metacarpal arteries. A branch from the external
digital artery behaved in a manner similar to the lower unnamed
branch of the large metacarpal artery.
34. The presence of the urachus was met with in a two-year
old bull calf (demonstration subject). This urachus was found
connecting the vertex of the bladder to the umbilicus. In another
subject (a six-months old heifer calf) the urachus was still
present.
V.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
35. There has been a considerable decrease in the mortality
of cattle from contagious diseases during the year, the total num-
ber of deaths reported being 56,634 as against 99,890 of the pre-
vious year. The districts which suffered most during the year
were Ganjam, Kurnool, Guntur and Nellore. As in previous
years rinderpest has been responsible for about 50 per cent of
the total mortality from contagious diseases, although the inci-
dence of this disease in the Presidency as a whole, has been milder
during the year in comparison with the previous year.
The total number of reports of cattle diseases received and
attended to, by the staff was 3,956 and 3,442 respectively, as
against 5,664 and 4,726 respectively of the previous year.
Seventy-one reports were made against village officers for slack-
ness in reporting outbreaks of contagious diseases or for irregular
maintenance of mortality registers.
36. Under the existing practice, the village munsifs maintain
cattle mortality registers and report outbreaks of cattle diseases,
both to the Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of this depart-
ment and Tahsildars simultaneously. The Tahsildars consolidate
the outbreak reports received from the village munsifs and send
copies of the consolidated reports to the Touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons concerned and the District Veterinary Officers.
The village munsifs also send in every month abstracts from the
mortality registers maintained by them to the Tahsildars who
transmit them to the Collectors. The Collectors compile in their
offices, the figures received from the Tahsildars and send a consoli-
dated return for their respective districts to the Director of
Veterinary Services every month. These mortality returns are
further compiled in the office of the Director of Veterinary
Services into Presidency figures.
During the year under report, the Retrenchment Committee,
while making suggestions for retrenchment in this department,
recommended that the higher Revenue officers might be relieved
of a considerable amount of work connected with the submission
3
18
of outbreak reports and preparation and submission of monthly
mortality returns and that the information required by this
department, could be obtained by prescribing a simpler form of
return for infectious diseases only which could be sent by village
officers direct to the District Veterinary Officers or the local
Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
This suggestion of the Retrenchment Committee was consi-
dered in detail and I have, in consultation with the District
Veterinary officers and the Special Rinderpest Officer, come to
the conclusion that the present practice with regard to the main-
tenance of mortality registers by village munsifs and reporting
of outbreaks through the Tahsildars should continue, as it ensures
proper control of the work of the village officers by the higher
Revenue officials, which seems to be essential. With regard to
the compilation of monthly mortality statements, I was not of
the opinion that any change in the present system was desirable.
I have informed Government accordingly since the close of the
year and their orders are awaited.
37. Most of the municipalities which adopted the by-laws
relating to the control of animal diseases and the maintenance of
cattle mortality registers, continued to work the by-laws satis-
factorily and recorded outbreaks and mortality promptly.
38. Rinderpest.—The
incidence of rinderpest in the Presi-
dency as a whole during the year has been less than in previous
years and this is to be attributed in some measure to the exertions
of the officers and the staff of this department, and the preventive
measures adopted by them. It also seems definitely established
that the peak of the ' wave ' has been reached and it is expected
that the incidence of rinderpest will not materially increase again
for two or three years. There is a remarkable fall in the number
of deaths reported from this disease during the year, the figures
for the two years 1931-32 and 1930-31 being 28,412 and 59,323
respectively. With the exception of Guntur and Kurnool districts
where the deaths have been 5,563 and 5,711 respectively, there
have been no serious outbreaks or heavy mortality elsewhere.
The number of outbreaks in which inoculations were under-
taken during the year was 902 as against 1,452 in the previous
year. The total number of inoculations performed during the
year against rinderpest by the serum simultaneous method and
serum alone method was 113,566 and 759 respectively as against
147,880 and 1,136 of the previous year. The fall is due to the
smaller number of outbreaks received and attended.
Two hundred and fifty-seven cases of rinderpest were treated
with Cresol and Carbolic acid and two cases with Lugol's solution
in the Madras Circle, but the results in most of the cases have
been reported as not encouraging. Cases of rinderpest treated
with intravenous injections of iodine in the early stages of the
disease, in the Madanapalle Circle were reported to have res-
ponded
19
39. Anthrax.—The
number of deaths from this disease report-
ed during the year was 4,734 as against 4,983 in the previous
year. One thousand seven hundred and ninety-four animals were
inoculated with anti-serum as against 148 animals of the previous
year.
40. Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—There
were severe outbreaks
of this disease in some of the districts during the year and it was
possible, partly owing to the diminished severity of rinderpest,
to take prompt preventive measures with the result that the num-
ber of deaths from this disease during the year was 6,145 only as
against 7,104 in the previous year. Twenty-four thousand three
hundred and seventy-seven serum inoculations were performed
against this disease as against 8,078 of the previous year.
41. Black-quarter.—There
has also been an appreciable fall
in the mortality from this disease during the year, the figures for
the two years 1931-32 and 1930-31 being 5,358 and 8,416. As
against 18,605 of the previous year, 18,112 inoculations were
performed against this disease during the year as follows: —
Serum alone
Aggressin alone
Sero-aggressin
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
5,817
353
11,942
Four young animals (3 bulls and 1 heifer) protected against
black-quarter with aggressin at the Hosur Cattle Farm in Septem-
ber 1931, died of the disease in. December 1931. An investigation
into the mortality revealed that the deaths were due to failure
to confer protection from faulty aggressin.
42. Foot-and-mouth
disease.—The number of deaths from this
disease reported during the year was 1,753 as against 1,828 in the
previous year. The treatment of this disease by chemotherapy was
tried in about 70 cases with satisfactory results in many of them.
This treatment could not be tried in several cases as the disease at
the time of attendance had passed the initial stage. The results
cannot, therefore, be considered to be entirely satisfactory.
43. Bovine Lymphangitis.—Fifty-four
cases of Bovine Lym-
phangitis were treated with vaccine prepared at the Madras
Veterinary College.
44. Glanders.—There
were no outbreaks of Glanders and
Farcy during the year under report. One pony in the Bellary
Circle and 82 horses in the Madras City were tested for Glanders
and Farcy, but none gave a positive result.
45. Trypanosomiasis.—Twenty-five
cases
were
confirmed
microscopically for this disease during the year, 14 being
equines. Of these, 6 ponies were destroyed under the Glanders
and Farcy Act.
Treatment with Nagonal (Bayer 205) was tried in a few
cases during the year with satisfactory results.
Three cattle
which were given an injection of Antimonium tartaratum were
20
completely cured, the parasites in two of the cases having com-
pletely disappeared.
A pony which was also treated with an
injection of Antimonium tartaratum followed by three injec-
tions of Nagonal at intervals of a week, completely recovered.
46. Nasal Granuloma.—Two
hundred and forty-six cases of
this disease were met with during the year and most of these were
successfully treated with Antimonium tartarate. Antimosan
treatment was tried in one case with satisfactory results.
47. Piroplasmosis.—This
disease was confirmed in 61 cases,
23 for Babesia bigeminum, 36 for Theileria mutans and 2 for
Babesia canis. Several cases of B. Bigeminum were treated with
intravenous injection of trypanblue with good results.
48. Strangles.—There
were a few outbreaks of this disease
among ponies during the year and 35 cases were treated.
49. Kumri.—Twelve
cases of this disease were detected
during the year.
50. Coccidiosis.—This
disease was confirmed in 7 cases.
51. Sheep-pox.—There
were a few outbreaks of this disease
(hiring the year and most of them were promptly attended. In
an outbreak in the Coimbatore Circle 40 sheep were ovinated, but
in most of the other cases this could not be done as the animals
had already been affected before attendance, and as there were no
fresh attacks. Lugol's solution was tried as a preventive measure
in a few cases in the Bellary Circle with apparently satisfactory
results.
52. Rabies.—This
disease was confirmed in 132 animals.
Confirmation was not sought for in 30 cases. Seventy-one animals
were given anti-rabic treatment in the several veterinary institu-
tions in the Presidency.
53. Poultry
diseases—(i) Fowl cholera.—Outbreaks
of fowl
cholera occurred in certain places in the districts of East Goda-
vari, North Arcot and the Nilgiris and they were promptly
attended to. Forty-nine fowls were protected with fowl cholera
vaccine.
(ii) Pseudo-fowl-pest.—Outbreaks
of this disease were
reported from the Calicut, Coimbatore, Madura, Vellore, Madana-
palle, Bellary and Madras Circles. The Madras Veterinary
College laboratory has been preparing and supplying a vaccine
for use against this disease for some time to the staff of this
department, Native States and private bodies on requisitions. In
the Coimbatore Circle alone where 372 fowls were protected with
this vaccine during the year, it is reported that the results were
encouraging in the majority of cases. In the Madanapalle and
Bellary Circles where 70 and 86 birds respectively were protected,
the results reported were not so encouraging, and in certain cases
a sufficient immunity was not conferred. The total number of
birds protected with this vaccine as per reports received so far is,
1,341. Of these 174 are reported to have died but the results in
21
most of the other cases have been satisfactory. As regards the
174 deaths most of these occurred within a week or ten days of
vaccination. It is possible, therefore, that some at least of these
were done during the period of incubation. Further investigation
is necessary in this disease.
54. Skin diseases.—Milk
therapy (sterile milk injections),
was tried in several cases of skin affections during the year, and
the results in most of these cases were encouraging. In a few
oases confirmed for Mange, however, milk therapy was reported
not to be effective. It would seem that while subcutaneous injec-
tions of milk may exert a beneficial effect in some conditions of
the skin, e.g., eczema, it does not, as is to be expected, affect
parasitic skin diseases.
55. Other contagious diseases.—The
following are the other
important contagious diseases dealt with during the year: —
Stringhlt—About 57 cases were treated with injection of
Lugol's solution of iodine with beneficial results in most of the
oases.
Tuberculosis—This disease was confirmed in one cow.
VI.—HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
56. The total number of veterinary institutions at the end of
the year was 114 including those attached to the Madras Veteri-
nary College and the Cattle Farms at Coimbatore, Hosur and
Chintaldevi, but excluding the private institutions at Vizianagram
and Pithapuram, as against 118 at the end of the previous year.
The decrease in the number is due to the closure at the end of
the year of the dispensaries at Udipi, Sivakasi, Battuvaripalli
and Kandukur as a measure of retrenchment and for the reason
that the work turned out was disappointing.
Three new dispensaries were sanctioned during the year under
report at Tirupati, Tadepalligudem and Tenkasi, but in view of
the prevailing financial stringency, Government subsequently
withdrew the sanction for these dispensaries. The Raja's hospital
at Parlakimedi and the Uthumalai Estate hospital at Veerakera-
lampudur were also closed during the year by their respective
managements with a view to economize expenditure.
Permanent hospital buildings were completed at Rajapalai-
yam, Kurnool and Nandyal and the dispensaries at these places
were moved int6 the new buildings during the year. With regard
to the veterinary dispensary, Rajapalaiyam, the panniar of the
place had been good enough to construct the main hospital build-
ing at a cost of about Rs. 2,600 and also to contribute a sum of
Rs. 400 towards the construction of the dressing shed, as a free
gift to the institution.
The total number of in- and out- patients treated in the several
veterinary institutions in the Presidency during the year was
193,506 as against 168,270 of the previous year. There was also
an appreciable increase in the number of cases supplied with
4