NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
15
The Deputy Commissioner reports that cattle owners appreciate the
importance of early reporting of disease and segregation of animals.
MANDALAY DISTRICT—
Rinderpest was not reported in this district during the year.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was present in the district and resulted in a
mortality of seven head.
Anthrax.—One death was recorded in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner records that the Cattle Disease Rules are
not well understood particularly in regard to the necessity for segrega-
tion of infected cattle.
LOWER CHINDWIN DISTRICT—
Rinderpest.—Outbreaks of this disease occurred in February 1930 in
Salingyi township resulting in 18 deaths. The epidemic is still pro-
ceeding. Three hundred and eighty-two cattle were immunised with
anti-rinderpest serum. The Deputy Commissioner reports that the
staff and inoculation equipment was insufficient to deal with the out-
break in the early stages.
The disease is reported to have spread from Myaing township in the
Pakôkku district.
Extensive inoculation of animals was being arranged at the close of
the year and additional Veterinary staff had been drafted in to assist in
suppressing the outbreak.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was endemic in the district and resulted in
one death.
Anthrax.—Mention is made in the returns of deaths in elephants
belonging to Timber Firms from this disease but no details are given.
The Deputy Commissioner reports an improvement in reporting
mortality but indicates that the Cattle Disease Rules are not well carried
out in this area.
UPPER CHINDWIN DISTRICT—
Rinderpest.—No deaths from this disease were recorded during the
year.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was reported from all the townships
except Mawlaik, Mingin township suffered most but casualities were
few. The disease is reported to have spread to Mingin from Kani in
the Lower Chindwin District.
Anthrax.—In July 1929, an outbreak occurred in Mingin among
elephants resulting in a mortality of 32. One death occurred in Kalewa,
20 buffaloes contracted the disease in Mingin and Paungbyin with fatal
results.
Surra.—A few cases were reported from Mawlaik (Pantha) and
Homalin townships and caused much disorganisation of transport work.
16
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was reported from Paungbyin. (No details
recorded.)
The segregation rules are generally understood by the headmen of
the district and mortality is promptly reported.
The system of registration of cattle deaths was introduced into the
district a year ago.
(2) SHWEBO SUB-CIRCLE.
SHWEBO DISTRICT—
Rinderpest—
Anthrax—
Surra —
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia—
No cases recorded during the year in
the district.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease.—Severe outbreaks were recorded during
the year but no details are given.
The Deputy Commissioner reports that the Cattle Disease Rules
are generally understood and applied.
KATHA DISTRICT—
Rinderpest occurred in May in Mogôk, Thabeikpin and Indaw
townships resulting in a mortality of 439 head.
Serum inoculation was carried out in the Indaw outbreak 3,445 being
immunised by this method.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was widespread throughout the district
and resulted in 36 deaths.
Anthrax.—Twenty deaths occurred in Katha, Indaw and Kawlin
townships of which 15 occurred in the last named township. Eighteen
cases occurred in this township during the previous year. The
incidence of this disease here will be investigated in the future.
Surra.—Eleven fatal cases were reported from Wuntho, Kawlin and
Banmauk townships.
Segregation rules are generally understood in the district by the
headmen and cattle owners.
BHAMO DISTRICT—
Rinderpest outbreaks occurred in all the townships of this district
resulting in a mortality of 636, mostly buffaloes. The disease was
attributed to infected cattle imported from Yunnan. Serum inocula-
tion was carried out in 5,854 animals.
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease—
Anthrax—
Septicæmia
Hæmorrhagica—
Blackquarter—
No details recorded.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
17
Surra occurred in all townships in the district and resulted in a
mortality of 103 head in eleven outbreaks.
The rules for the registration of cattle deaths are not applied in this
district and the recorded mortality is merely an estimate of cattle
deaths.
Segregation measures were successfully applied to prevent spread
into other districts.
MYITKYINA DISTRICT—
Rinderpest.—Outbreaks of this disease occurred in Myitkyina town
and neighbouring villages in November and was finally controlled in
January. One hundred and seventy cattle died as a result of this
disease. Serum inoculation was carried out on 2,691 cattle.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease occurred in Myitkyina and Mogaung
townships. One death from this disease was recorded.
Anthrax.—Sporadic cases are reported in the Veterinary Records
but no details are given.
Septicæmia Hæmorrhagica occurred in Myitkyina township resulting
in 3 deaths.
Surra.—One hundred and forty-nine fatal cases of Surra are recorded
in the mortality returns out of a total of 150 affected animals (horses and
mules).
Epizootic Lymphangitis.—Four cases occurred among equities in the
Military Police lines and were confirmed microscopically.
The registration of cattle deaths was not satisfactory and the figures
given in the returns are merely an estimate. The enforcement of
segregation of diseased animals was attempted but in this district it is
recognised that there are great difficulties in carrying out the Cattle
Disease Rules.
GENERAL REMARKS ON CONTAGIOUS DISEASE IN THE
NORTHERN CIRCLE.
Rinderpest.—Outbreaks occurred during the year in Bhamo, Katha,
Myitkyina and Lower Chindwin districts resulting in a total recorded
mortality of 1,266.
Serum inoculation was carried out on a total of 12,372 cattle in the
circle.
The outbreaks in the Shwebo Sub-Circle were brought under control
by serum inoculations and segregation measures but the outbreak in
the Lower Chindwin was giving cause for anxiety at the end of the
year. This is due to the fact that there have been no serious outbreaks
of rinderpest in this district for the last eight years and the general
herd immunity has been lowered in consequence rendering the animals
more susceptible.
2
18
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
In the Katha and Myitkyina outbreaks considerable trouble was
encountered in controlling the disease as many of the infected herds
belonged to Indians who would not carry out the Cattle Disease Rules
regarding reporting of disease and segregation measures. The inocula-
tion measures were resented.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease.—The disease was most severe in Katha,
Shwebo and Lower Chindwin districts but the mortality was not great.
Anthrax occurred in the Upper and Lower Chindwin areas among
elephants and buffaloes. A few sporadic cases were reported from
Myitkyina district. A severe local outbreak occurred in the Upper
Chindwin district, which requires future investigation.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia occurred in Mawlaik and Myitkyina
districts in sporadic form with a low rate of mortality.
Surra.—The losses from Surra in Katha, Bhamo and Myitkyina
areas in transport animals of the Military Battalion is receiving
consideration. Battalion Veterinary Assistants will be instructed at
Insein in the method of inoculation with Bayer 205 and Tartar Emetic
for the prevention of this disease, as soon as arrangements can be made
and it is hoped that this treatment will aid in reducing the excessive
annual mortality from this disease in the Northern districts.
(e) Arakan Sub-Circle.
(Separate charge under office of the Director of Veterinary Services.)
AKYAB DISTRICT—
Rinderpest was present from June-December in the following town-
ships during the year :—
Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Myohaung and Buthidaung.
The total mortality from the disease was 1,299.
The outbreaks were controlled by serum inoculation and segrega-
tion measures, about the end of December.
Seventeen thousand four hundred and ninety-seven cattle were
inoculated with anti-rinderpest serum during the year. Additional staff
was sent from Burma to aid in controlling the disease which died
out completely in March. Supplies of serum were adequate this year
but to ensure that sufficient supplies are available in the event of a
future epidemic arrangements will be made for the erection of a
small cold storage for serum at Akyab.
The heavy mortality in the outbreaks is attributed to the large
number of low grade animals, the indolence of their owners and the
lack of suitable housing accommodation or sufficient grazing.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was present in practically every township
and resulted in the deaths of 122 animals.
Anthrax.—This disease was recorded from all townships in the
district. Three hundred and thirty-seven deaths are recorded from
Maungdaw township out of a total mortality of 639. In the absence of
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
19
confirmation by microscopical examination of smears these figures must
be accepted with some suspicion but the position requires urgent
investigation which will be arranged for as soon as possible.
Segregation rules do not appear to be widely understood in this
district and segregation is difficult to carry out. The Deputy Com-
missioner reports that the position in this respect is slowly improving.
KYAUKPYU DISTRICT—
Rinderpest.—Local
outbreaks of this disease occurred in Myebon and
An, resulting in 11 deaths. The other townships including the island of
Cheduba remained free from the disease.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease was endemic throughout all the townships
in the district and resulted in the deaths of 32 head of stock.
Anthrax.—Deaths
from this disease occurred in Ramree and
Myebon causing a total mortality of 12. The incidence of this disease
will be investigated simultaneously with the outbreaks in Akyab district.
The reported recovery of 6 animals from this disease indicates that the
clinical diagnosis was not reliable.
SANDOWAY DISTRICT—
Rinderpest.—No
cases of the disease were recorded during the year,
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease was present in one village in the Sandoway
township, 54 cattle being affected but no deaths occurred. The disease
was introduced by traders bringing cattle from Ramree township for
sale in Bassein and Henzada districts.
Anthrax.—This
disease occurred in 10 villages in the Sandoway
township, 4 villages in the Taungup township and 4 villages in Gwa
township during the year. Twenty deaths are recorded.
Blackquarter.—This
disease occurred in a few villages in Gwa
township, eleven deaths being recorded in young cattle.
Cow-pox.—Nine cases of this disease occurred in the district but
no details are given. None of the cases were fatal.
Segregation rules are reported to be generally understood in this
district and applied in cases of outbreaks.
GENERAL REMARKS ON CONTAGIOUS DISEASE IN
ARAKAN SUB-CIRCLE.
Rinderpest.—During
the year the disease was epidemic in Akyab
and energetic measures for segregation and immunisation of cattle
became necessary in order to control the disease.
The efforts of the departmental and district officers were successful
and by the end of the year mortality from the disease had ceased.
Sandoway was free from the disease throughout the year.
20
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Seventeen thousand four hundred and ninety-seven cattle were
inoculated with anti-rinderpest serum which in consequence of the
results in the recent epidemic has become very popular with the cattle
owners. Segregation rules are not well understood and are difficult to
enforce owing" to (1) the individual ownership of land in different
villages and the resulting interference with farming operations, (2) the
practice of common grazing grounds for stock with inefficient cattle
herds.
The position is slowly improving and rewards have been made to
headmen for their assistance in carrying out the Cattle Disease Rules
with promising results.
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease was endemic throughout two townships
in the district and resulted in a total mortality of 154 head.
Anthrax.—The
incidence of this disease in Arakan from the returns
submitted indicates a very serious position. A total of 671 deaths are
recorded from this disease and efforts will be made to get confirmation
of cases which occur in the future.
If these prove to be Anthrax prophylactic measures will be adopted.
In view of the doubts which exist at present in connection with
diagnosis the existing figures cannot be accepted as an accurate index
of the incidence of the disease.
The absence of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia from Arakan may be
noted in this connection.
Cow-pox and Blackquarter.—A
few cases of these diseases occurred in
one township in the district. The former is a benign disease but the
outbreak of the latter in Gwa township requires to be further
investigated to confirm the diagnosis and to institute prophylactic
measures to prevent spread.
SECTION III-THE INCIDENCE OF CONTAGIOUS
DISEASES IN THE STOCK OF THE PROVINCE
DURING THE YEAR.
(a) DISTRICT REPORTS.
The calculation of the amount of contagious disease during the year
is based on the mortality returns submitted by district officers and this
information is supplemented by outbreak reports received from the
District Veterinary Staff. The former records are compiled from the
entries in the cattle death registers by village headmen who are in the
first instance responsible for the diagnosis given. This diagnosis is
frequently amended subsequently on inspection of the counterfoils in
the Register by the Veterinary staff but it is then too late to make any
alterations in the district records and discrepancies therefore occur
between the District and Veterinary records in the occurrence of
diseases.
As the incidence of contagious disease is based on deaths only it
follows that the mortality percentage will have a very considerable
effect on the margin of error present.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
21
Thus the incidence of Foot-and-Mouth disease appears to be less
than that of Rinderpest or Anthrax in the returns on account of the low
death rate although it is actually the disease which has the highest
incidence in the Province.
This inaccuracy of diagnosis which cannot be corrected until the
Veterinary education of the village headman is on a higher level than at
present, contributes very considerably to the factor of error in the
records.
The recording of mortality by means of death registers maintained
by the village headmen is not practised throughout the entire Province
and the returns from some of the districts in Northern Burma are
approximate estimates only.
Rinderpest assumed epidemic proportions during the year in Akyab,
Amherst, Thatôn, Bassein, Insein, Meiktila, Myingyan, Pakôkku,
Yamèthin, Katha, Bhamo and Myitkyina. The disease was widely
distributed throughout the Province and outbreaks occurred in 26 out
of 36 districts.
The total mortality recorded was 6,472.
This represents a very considerable decrease from the previous year's
recorded deaths of 22,061 and indicates that control measures were
applied with a fair degree of success and also that cattle in the Province
during 1929-30 possessed a very high degree of natural immunity.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease.—Mortality from this disease was recorded
from 27 districts but very few districts escaped the disease. The death
rate in foot and mouth disease is very low and many district returns
recorded outbreaks of the disease which were not accompanied by any
mortality.
Severe epidemics occurred in Akyab, Thatôn, Bassein, Myaungmya,
Thayetmyo and Katha. The total mortality recorded was 860 against
a recorded mortality of 1,788 of the previous year.
Anthrax.—The disease is reported to have occurred in 27 districts
but in some of the outbreaks there is considerable doubt that Anthrax
was the actual disease causing the mortality. A heavy death roll is
recorded from Akyab, Sandoway, Amherst, Thatôn, Mergui, Bassein,
Myaungmya, Insein, Tharrawaddy, Magwe, Thayetmyo and Katha.
The total mortality for the year was 1,444 compared with a mortality
of 1,515 of the previous year.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was reported from 5 districts and resulted
in a total mortality of 96. The previous year's returns show 184 deaths.
Blackquarter.—One case only was definitely recorded from Mandalay
district during the year.
In connection with these three foregoing diseases it is pointed out
that as the symptoms are similar in many respects and as it has been
recognised in the past that the three diseases have not been accurately
differentiated in the headman's reports, it has been customary to
22
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
bracket them in the mortality returns. This procedure must be
continued until microscopic diagnosis by examination of blood smears
made from the carcases can be introduced as a routine procedure.
Surra.—Outbreaks of this disease were reported from seven districts.
Severe mortality is recorded from Pakôkku, Katha, Bhamo and
Myitkyina.
Deaths totalled 284 during the year. The previous year's death
record was 66. The most severe outbreaks occurred in Military Police
lines.
The disease in the northern districts where the greatest increase has
occurred will receive the attention of the department.
Glanders.—One case was recorded during the year in the districts.
The occurrence of the disease in the Rangoon Municipal area is
recorded in a report by the Municipal Veterinary Officer, which is
included in the indices.
Epizootic Lymphangitis.—This disease is limited to the Myitkyina area
and results in sporadic outbreaks in equines of the Military Police. The
disease is present among the equines used for border trade with China.
SECTION IV.—MEASURES FOR THE CONTROL
OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS.
(a) PREVENTIVE INOCULATION.
Rinderpest.—The number of animals inoculated with anti-rinderpest
serum during the year was 72,038 as compared with 106,478 during the
previous year.
Inoculations were carried out in the various circles as follows:—
South-Eastern ... ... ...
South-Western ... ... ...
Central ... ... ...
Northern ... ... ...
Arakan Sub-Circle ... ...
20,066
6,124
15,979
12,372
17,497
A feature has been made in previous years in the Annual Report of
the number of deaths following Rinderpest inoculation and to the
uninitiated the figures may be interpreted to represent mortality actually
caused by the inoculation of anti-rinderpest serum. It is pointed out
that as serum immunisation is always done during an outbreak of the
disease many sick animals or those in the incubative stage of the disease
are inoculated which may succumb later to the natural disease.
The serum is inocuous on injection except in rare cases and deaths
after inoculation must be regarded as the result of continuation of the
outbreak.
The very rapid cessation of deaths from the disease which usually
follows after serum inoculation indicates that the serum obtained from
Muktesar is of very high titre and the authorities there are to be
congratulated on the remarkable efficacy of their product.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1930.
23
Double inoculation. (serum-virus method) was used for the immunisa-
tion of six selected bulls for breeding purposes at Akyab. The
inoculations were done at Insein. The dose estimated the previous
year was given and the results were successful.
Anthrax.—The vaccine prepared against this disease at the Insein
Laboratory was used in experimental work in field tests on elephants,
cattle and buffaloes with successful results. The vaccine was available
for field inoculations in general practice just before the conclusion of
the year and issues were to timber firms for the inoculation of elephants
in anthrax-infected areas. Information on this inoculation is given
under the Research Section of this report.
Surra.—Negotiations were in progress at the end of the year for
the training of Military Police Veterinary Assistants in the curative and
preventive treatment of surra in equines by inoculation of proprietory
preparations of Arsenic and Tartar emetic.
(b) CATTLE DISEASE RULES.
The application of the Cattle Disease Rules in the districts has been
commented upon by many Deputy Commissioners. Although the
general opinion expressed indicates that the rules are understood and
adhered to in cases of outbreaks, the reports by the Veterinary Inspec-
ting officers show that unless under the closest supervision, for which,
under present circumstances the Veterinary Department is unable to
provide staff, the efficient application of the rules for segregation and
control of movements of animals in the presence of an outbreak of
contagious disease is the exception rather than the rule. In the
majority of cases this is due to a lack of appreciation by the cattle
owners of the benefits to be derived from these control measures and
in this respect the subordinate Veterinary Staff have failed in one of
the most important of their functions.
Inoculation by the "serum alone" method in Rinderpest can only
be relied upon to assist in cleaning up a local outbreak. If free
movement of susceptible animals continue, the disease will be spread
very rapidly and the task of stamping out the outbreaks will be
enormously increased.
Under present conditions "stand
still"
measures in the outbreak are of primary importance and until the cattle
owners realize that this is to their own advantage the cost of Rinderpest
control will continue to be a heavy annual charge on the funds of the
Province. This question of increasing the Veterinary knowledge of the
cattle owners will receive a prominent place in the work of the depart-
ment in the future, but it is realised that task will be a protracted one.
The work of control of importation of disease from adjoining terri-
tories was continued throughout the year by Veterinary Assistants
stationed in the main overland cattle routes. Considering the