NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
55
36. The care of the two breeding bulls of the Agricultural
department stationed at the Veterinary dispensaries at Maya-
varam and Conjeeveram was handed over to this department
during the year.
37. Meat inspection.—The municipalities of Kumbakonam,
Tanjore, Nellore, Cuddalore and Tiruvalur utilized the services
of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons throughout the year; and
the meat inspection work in Veukatagiri town was assigned to
the local Veterinary Assistant Surgeon from 1st October 1928.
One thousand one hundred and ninety-seven cattle and 92,171
sheep and goats were duly certified during the year by the staff.
Seven cattle and 146 sheep were partly condemned. Eight cattle
and 606 sheep were wholly condemned for various reasons.
38. Fairs and shows.—All the annual cattle fairs held
during the year in my jurisdiction were attended to by the
subordinate staff.
39. Propaganda work,—The second Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Saidapet and the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in
charge, Veterinary dispensary, Negapatam, participated in the
Health and Baby Week celebrations held at Saidapet and
Negapatam, respectively. They delivered lantern lectures on
cattle diseases at these functions.
40. Investigation and Research.—A dozen bullocks of the
Negapatam Municipality were reported to be getting fits
occasionally, the frequency and intensity of the attacks
increasing during hot weather and diminishing during cold
weather. This condition was reported to be prevailing for the
past two years. During my visit to Negapatam, 1 inspected
the bullocks and came to the conclusion that the attacks were
due to dietetic errors. The municipality was advised, and they
effected a change in the feeding of the bullocks and no recur-
rence of the attacks is reported to have occurred since the
change.
41. Bacteriological cases.—Three hundred and fourteen
specimens were submitted to the Principal, Madras Veterinary
College, for microscopical examination of which 113 were
declared to be positive.
42. S.P.C.A Cases.—During the year only one S.P.C.A.
case was remanded to the infirmary at Tiruvallur.
43. Lethal chambers.—The lethal chambers at Saidapet,
Conjeeveram, Chingleput, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Kumbakonam,
Nellore, Sembiam and Villupuram were inspected by the
8
56
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons for the quarter ending 31st
March 1929 and the reports were duly forwarded to the con-
cerned authorities.
V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
44. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of institu-
tions at Cuddalore and Negapatam granted certificates in respect
of the livestock exported from the ports of Cuddalore, Porto
Novo and Negapatam. The verification certificate in respect of
animals exported from Adirampatnam was granted by the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge, Veterinary Dispensary,
Tiruvalur, during the absence of the touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Tirutturaipundi.
45. Forty-five village officers were complained against by
the staff for their negligence in reporting outbreak reports of
cattle diseases or for not maintaining the cattle mortality
registers properly.
46. The introduction of by-laws relating to the maintenance
of cattle mortality register and reporting of outbreak of conta-
gious diseases worked satisfactorily during the year in the
municipalities of Saidapet, Chingleput, Conjeeveram, Cuddalore
and Nellore. The by-laws are not in force in Villupuram
Municipality; and the Chairman, Municipal Council, Villu-
puram, promises to enforce it during June 1929.
47. The posting of a Personal Assistant to this office
was sanctioned from 1st May 1928 and Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon G. Krishnaswami Mudaliyar was appointed. On his
transfer to the Agricultural College, Coimbatore, Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon G. Theophilus was selected to fill up the
vacancy.
48. The staff on the whole worked satisfactorily.
MADRAS,
25th May 1929.
W. J. D'COSTA,
Acting Officer in charge, IV Circle,
Civil Veterinary Department.
57
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION
REPORT OF THE
V CIRCLE, CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT,
COIMBATORE, FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.
I.—ADMINISTRATION.
1. In the beginning of the year under report, this circle
comprised of five districts, viz., Coimbatore, The Nilgiris, Salem,
Malabar and South Kanara. From 3rd July 1928, its terri-
torial jurisdiction was reduced to four districts, Salem being
included in the VII Circle, that has been newly formed.
2. The following officers held charge of this circle during
the year owing to leave, and transfers :—
M.R.Ry. K. Kylasam Ayyar Avargal held charge from 1st
April 1928 to 17th April 1928, when he availed a month's
privilege leave, and again from 18th May 1928 to 22nd August
1928 when he went to the United Kingdom on study leave.
Mr. W. J. D'Costa acted from 18th April 1928 to 17th
May 1928.
M.R.Ry. K. S. Nayar Avargal, was in charge from 23rd
August 1928 to 20th September 1928, when he was transferred
to the Madras Veterinary College.
M.R.Ry. T. S. Alagappa Pillai, Personal Assistant in this
office, officiated from 21st September 1928 to 23rd November
1928, when he was transferred to Vellore to act as Officer in
charge, VII Circle.
M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal held charge
from 24th November 1928 to 23rd March 1929, when he availed
leave for two months.
M.R.Ry. A. K. Mitra Avargal, Officer on probation, was
in charge from 24th March 1929 to 29th March 1929, when he
was transferred to hold charge of Bellary Circle.
M.R.Ry. T. S. Alagappa Pillai, Personal Assistant, was in
charge on the 30th and 31st March 1929.
3. M.R.Ry. K. Kylasam Ayyar Avargal was on tour for 54
days, inspected the institutions at Gobichettipalayam and Erode,
and the offices of the touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of
Ootacamund, Gudalur and Erode. He organized and conducted
serum-simultaneous inoculations against Rinderpest at Ootaca-
mund, and at the Hosur Cattle Farm, and sero-Aggressin
vaccination against black-quarter at the Pattagar's Farm,
Palayakottai; inspected the Government animals at Nanjanad.
Potato Farm; attended the outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease
58
at the Wellington Dairy Farm, and inspected a pony at Telli-
cherry and declared it to be a case of 'Surra'. He continued to
visit the headquarters hospital frequently, and also attended the
departmental "Provincial Officers' Conference held in Madras in
August 1928.
4. Mr. W. J. D'Costa was on tour for 21 days; inspected
the Veterinary dispensary, Pollachi; visited Palayakottai, and
arranged for black-quarter inoculation there, and actively
immunised some Government cattle at the Hosur Farm.
5. M.R.Ry. K. S. Nayar Avargal toured for 13 days; investi-
gated an outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease at Ootacamund
and Coonoor; conducted serum-alone method of inoculation
against Rinderpest on the animals at the Wellington
Dairy Farm; inspected the Veterinary institutions at Palghat
and Tiruppur, and inspected the veterinary dispensary building
and adjoining sites proposed to be acquired. He visited the
local hospital, while at headquarters.
6. M.R.Ry. T. S. Alagappa Pillai was on tour for 11 days
and inspected the field work of the touring Veterinary Assist-
ant Surgeon, Tiruppur and Erode, and that of the additional
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Satyamangalam; and conducted
serum-simultaneous inoculations against Rinderpest at Tholam-
palayam in Coimbatore district. His name was gazetted only
in the month of November, hence he could only tour for a few
days.
7. M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal, spent 72
days in camp, inspected in detail all the veterinary institu-
tions, and touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, except
the touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons of Gudalur and
Kollegal; conducted serum-simultaneous inoculations at the
Agricultural College Farm, Coimbatore, and on the animals
purchased by the Ceylon Government from the Pattagar of
Palayakottai. He attended an outbreak of Rinderpest at the
Ootacamund Municipality, and actively immunised the animals
of the Municipal Dairy against Rinderpest. He attended a
meeting of the officers of the Co-operative department at
Erode; inspected the animals of the Nanjanad Potato Farm;
treated Foot and Mouth cases at the Imperial Dairy, Wellington,
with Lugols' solution of iodine. He also attended the annual
cattle fair at Kulgunda in South Kanara district. He acted as
a member of the Board of Examiners for post-graduate course
examination held at the Madras Veterinary College. He
visited the local veterinary hospital, while at headquarters and
visited the veterinary hospital at the Agricultural College,
Coimbatore. One horse was malliened at Cannanore dispensary
by him, and the test was negative.
59
8. M.R.Ry. A. K. Mitra Avargal and M.R.Ry. T. S. Ala-
gappa Pillai made no tour during the period they acted as Circle
officers in March 1929. All the institutions and touring
billets could not be inspected twice during the year in detail
owing to the Circle Officers being engaged in organizing serum-
simultaneous inoculation camps consequent on the prevalence of
Rinderpest in this circle.
A Personal Assistant was sanctioned to this office during the
year and M.R.Ry. T. S. Alagappa Pillai was appointed and he
joined duty on 13th June 1928.
II.— EXECUTIVK STAFF.
9. At the close of the year there were 16 Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons in charge of institutions including the second
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Veterinary hospital, Coimbatore;
13 in charge of touring billets, one on leave, one on reserve
and one probationer which makes a total of 32 hands. During
the year under review no Veterinary Assistant Surgeon under-
went pest-graduate course at the Madras Veterinary College.
Two Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were deputed to the Forest
department to relieve the Assistant Inspectors proceeding on
leave. A compounder's post was sanctioned for the Veterinary
Dispensary, Palghat, as a temporary measure for one year from
1st April 1928 and it was filled on 13th July 1928. This has
since been made permanent.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
10. There were 15 institutions under the control of this
department at the end of the year in this circle. No new
institution was sanctioned during the year.
11. The total number of cases treated, and castrations done
in the institutions during the year was 26,831 as against
24,556 in the last year, which means an increase of 2,275 eases
in all, for the four districts now comprising the V Circle. The
institutions at Coimbatore, Dharapuram, Agricultural College,
Coimbatore, Calicut and Palghat have contributed considerably
towards the increase. There was a fall in the number of cases
treated at Veterinary dispensary, Pollachi, owing to the
decrease in the number of S.P.C.A. cases remanded to the institu-
tion. There was a slight fall of attendance in the institutions at
Erode and Tiruppur which calls for no remarks. The decrease
at Veterinary Dispensary, Putttr, was due to the absence of the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge, on outbreak attendance
duty, away from headquarters for about 46 days during the
year as against one day in the previous year.
60
12. S.P.C.A.—There were 1,471 cases remanded to the
institutions for treatment under the S.P.C.A. Act during the
year as against 1,722 of the previous year, thus showing a fall
of 215 cases. Inspite of this fall, Coimbatore district continu-
ed to keep the lead in the number of S.P.C.A. eases remanded
for treatment. The fall in the number of cases remanded at
Pollachi has caused this office to address the District Magistrate
on the subject.
13. Buildings.—The building for the Circle office, the con-
struction of which was put in hand during the year, would be
available for occupation before July. Sanction has been accord-
ed for the construction of quarters for the Circle Officer.
14. At the Coimbatore hospital the compound wall on the
northern and western sides have been raised by providing
barbed wire fencing over the existing walls.
15. Government have sanctioned the construction of a
compound wall on the southern side and improvements to the
latrine at Veterinary hospital, Erode.
16. At the Veterinary hospital, Tiruppur, the quarters of
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge and a well for the
hospital have been completed, but not handed over by the
Public Works Department.
17. Pour additional kennels for dogs were constructed
during the year at the Veterinary hospital, Ootacamund.
18. At the Veterinary hospital, Calicut, a compound wall
on the southern side was put up. The improvements to the
quarters of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at Calicut have
been sanctioned.
19. Government have sanctioned the construction of an
operation shed, a waiting and dressing shed, compound wall,
quarters for the compounder and menials, a gram-boiling room,
and certain improvements to the quarters of the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon at the Veterinary hospital, Coonoor.
20. The proposals regarding acquisition of the dispensary
building and site at Palghat are under correspondence.
21. All the institutions in this circle have done good work
during the year as in the previous year.
(b) Itinerating Staff
22. At the close of the year there were 13 touring billets in
this circle. The Veterinary Assistsnt Surgeon in charge of
Veterinary dispensary, Puttur, continued to attend to outbreak
reports of contagious disease in Puttur taluk in addition to his
61
dispensary work. The post of the touring Veterinary Assist-
ant Surgeon, Mangalore, though sanctioned last year, was
filled only in January 1929 owing to want of hands. No new
touring billet was sanctioned during the year.
23. A comparative statement of the cases treated and castra-
tions performed on tour is given below. There has been an
increase under each head during the year :—
Year.
1927-28 .. ..
1928-29 .. ..
Cases treated.
Contagious
diseases.
2,496
4,289
Non-contagious
diseases.
2,554
2,701
Castrations.
556
619
24. Castrations—Burdizzo method.—Out of a total of 1,208
castrations performed both in the institutions and on tour, 355
were done by Burdizzo castrator, and it is hoped, that this
method will become more popular.
III.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
25. Rinderpest—prevailed in almost all the districts, the
most severely affected being Malabar, South Kanara and Coim-
batore.
26. Out of 515 reports of this disease received as against
277 of the previous year, 199 were attended to by the staff,
five were pending at the end of the year, and the remaining
were not attended to, because the outbreak had subsided.
27. The Cattle Disease Act was in force throughout the year
in the Nilgiris. In the Walluvanad taluk of Malabar district,
the Act was enforced for a period of four months from 23rd
October 1928.
28. In parts of the Nilgiris, and Wynaad taluk of Malabar
district, the task of combating outbreaks of Rinderpest still
continues to be difficult owing to the ignorance, and apathy of
the ryots, and semi-wild nature of the cattle. It is hoped that
this difficulty will be overcome in course of time.
29. Fourteen thousand seven hundred and eighty-two inocu-
lations by serum-simultaneous method in 152 outbreaks, and
17,115 inoculations by serum-alone method in 158 outbreaks
were done during the year as against 2,031 inoculations by
serum-simultaneous method, and 26,805 by serum-alone
method of the previous year. Inoculations could not be
undertaken in all the outbreaks attended, owing to want of
serum and virus in some cases, the disease having subsided in
some, and unwillingness on the part of the owners in the rest.
62
30. In connexion with an outbreak of this disease in Oota-
camund Municipality during February 1929, a hospital pound
was opened within municipal limits in charge of the touring
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Ootacamund. He lodged a
complaint with the Taluk Magistrate, Ootacamund, under section
4 of the Act against the owner of a sick animal for failure to
give due notice. The result of the complaint is not known.
31. A notable feature in connexion with the control of
Rinderpest during the year is that a comparatively largo
number of inoculations by serum-simultaneous method was done.
But for the failure of supply of serum on more than one occa-
sion, the number of inoculations would have been larger still.
32. Additional touring men were posted temporarily at
Valparai and Satyamangalam of Coimbatore district, and at
Walluvanad of Malabar district to cope with the outbreaks.
33. Anthrax,—Twenty-six reports of this disease were
received during the year as against 53 of the previous year, and
fifteen reports were attended to, and the others were not
attended to either for want of time, or the disease having sub-
sided. Most of the outbreaks being of a sporadic nature,
inoculation could be done only in one outbreak when 54 animals
were protected by anti-serum.
34. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.— Out of the 22 reports
received during the year, 17 were attended to, one was pending
and the rest were not attended to, owing to the disease having
subsided. No inoculations were done against this disease as the
outbreaks had subsided at the time of attendance.
35. Black-quarter.—Twenty-nine reports of this disease were
received during the year and all except three, were attended to.
One thousand seven hundred and twenty-six inoculations
against this disease in five outbreaks were done by serum-
alone method and 832 by sero-aggressin method. Inoculations
could not be undertaken in all the attended outbreaks as the
disease subsided at the time of attendance. The disease was
not severe.
36. Foot-and-mouth disease.—Out of 158 reports received,
112 were attended to, one was pending at the close of the year
and the remaining forty-five could not be attended to as the
staff were busy with Rinderpest outbreaks. Treatment with
Lugols' solution was tried in two outbreaks but the results were
not very pronounced.
37. Ralies.—Of the eighty-one cases suspected of this
disease twenty-eight were confirmed and in the rest confirma-
tion was not sought for. Seventeen dogs were given anti-
rabic treatment at the veterinary institutions, of which three
63
died of other diseases within three months, and the others were
reported to be doing well. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
in charge of Veterinary dispensary, Tellicherry, reported that
15 patients—three bovines, eight canines and four ovines were
admitted in the dispensary for bites from dogs or jackals
suspected to be rabid. The anti-rabic vaccine treatment could
not be undertaken as the owners were poor and the animals
were not worth the treatment. The owners were advised to
give "Indigo blue" for ten days in feed or in water. It would
appear that none of these developed rabies subsequently.
38. Glanders.—There was no case of this disease. One
horse suspected was malliened and proved negative at the
Cannanore Veterinary Institution.
39. Surra.—Out of two cases suspected at Tellicherry, one
was confirmed as such. The pony was destroyed under the
Act and the owner was paid compensation.
40. Kumri.—Two cases were diagnosed as such,
41. Fowl pest.—There was an outbreak at Mangalore. The
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge reported that
Tr. Iodine has had some effect in curing some cases. There
was another outbreak at Palghat which was investigated into
by M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal, and he was of
opinion that the outbreak was one of Pseudo-fowl pest.
42. Piroplasmosis.—Seven bullocks and one cow were suc-
cessfully treated with intravenus injection of trypan blue
cassalla brand at the Coimbatore Hospital.
43. Demodex Folliculorum.—One dog was treated success-
fully with Aricyl and Odelyn by the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon in charge, Veterinary Hospital, Coimbatore.
44. Coccidiosis.—Seven specimens from cattle suspected
were examined by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge,
Veterinary Hospital, Coimbatore, and all proved positive.
45. Bovine Lymphangitis.—At the Veterinary Dispensary,
Tellicherry, one bullock was successfully treated with three
injections of vaccine supplied by Madras Veterinary College.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS.
46. Bacteriological.—Ninety-five specimens were submitted
by the staff to the Madras Veterinary College Laboratory for
examination. In addition to these, specimens were examined
by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge of District Head-
quarters hospitals from eases of their own institutions, and also
from the stall in the mufassal, in urgent cases.
9
64
47. Criminal poisoning.—Two post-mortem examinations
were made on Police requisition, and the viscera sent to the
Chemical Examiner. The result was, that in one, no arsenic was
found and in the other, no poison was detected.
48. Malicious injury.—Certificates were granted for 34 cases
of which, five ended in conviction, three in acquittal, four in
compromise and four were pending at the end of the year. Of
the remaining, the results are not known in nine, and no action
was taken in the rest.
49. Meat Inspection and Municipalities.—Ootacamund and
Coimbatore municipalities continued to have whole time Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeons for meat inspection work. In all
other municipalities except Mangalore, Tellicherry, Pollaehi
and Dharapuram meat inspection work was done by the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of the Veterinary
institutions.
50. Fairs and shows.—The annual cattle fairs at Kulgunda
in South Kanara district and at Kizhur in Malabar were held
and the Cattle Disease Act was enforced in those places. An
outbreak of rinderpest occurred in the Kulgunda cattle fair and
1,635 cattle were inoculated by serum-alone method. This
prompt action caused the disease to subside immediately.
Annual cattle fairs were also held at Tiruppur and Pudupalayam
of Coimbatore district where the Act was not enforced. No
shows were held during the year.
51. Lethal chamber.—Lethal chambers for the destruction
of dogs have been constructed at Calicut, Tellicherry, Palghat,
Pollachi and Kotagiri in addition to those already in existence
at Mangalore, Cannanore, British Cochin, Tiruppur and Coonoor.
52. Livestock.—The Government Livestock at Naduvattam,
Wellington, Nanjanad, Ootaeamund Government Botanical
gardens, Cinchona plantations at Doddabetta, Pattambi,
Parappa, Kasaragod, Neeleswaram, and Taliparamba were in-
spected by the respective Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
53. The executive staff had to complain against 23 village
officers for slackness in reporting outbreaks of diseases promptly.
M. ANANTNARAYAN RAO,
Acting Officer in charge, V Circle,
Civil Veterinary Department, Coimbatore.
21st May 1929.