NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
116
7. One case of surra in a mare was examined by me and
destroyed at Saidapet, compensation having been paid.
Another case of surra reported by the Principal, Madras Veteri-
nary College, was investigated with the result that the affected
animal was not brought back to Saidapet but it was disposed
of in Madras City.
8. The slaughter-house at Conjeeveram was inspected and
necessary instructions for the improvement of the building
were given.
9. During February 1931, the Hon'ble Minister visited
the dispensary at Conjeeveram inspected the site selected
for constructing permanent buildings.
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
10. On 31st March 1931 there were 17 Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons in all, in this district, including two probationers.
No casualty occurred during the year under report.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
11. A new dispensary was opened at Chidambaram on
5th October 1930 thus bringing up the number of hospitals
and dispensaries to two and seven respectively.
12. There was a marked increase in the number of both
in-and out-patients treated and castrations performed during
the year, viz., 13,598 as against 10,442 of the previous year.
The institution at Conjeeveram has done very good work dur-
ing the year and the one at Tiruvallur has shown a decided
improvement. The institutions at Cuddalore and Tindivanam
have shown a slight increase but there has been a slight fall
in the institutions at Saidapet, Chingleput and Kallakurichi,
the fall at Kallakurichi being marked. The work in the in-
stitutions at Peravallur and Chidambaram could not be
compared as the latter was opened during October 1930 and
the former during January 1930.
13. Three hundred and seventy-three castrations were
performed during the year as against 237 of the previous year
and of the former, 249 were done with Burdizzo's castrator.
14. Three hundred and forty-four cases were supplied
with medicines but not brought to the institutions and a
considerable decrease is noticed under this item when com-
pared with the figure for the last year, which is very
desirable.
15. The sites for the construction of hospital buildings at
Chingleput and Conjeeveram have been finally selected and
estimates for the latter have been received. Every endeavour
will be made to have the matter pushed through.
Plate No. 4.—A VIEW OF THE VETERINARY DISPENSARY, TIRUVALLUR, DURING WORKING HOURS
117
16. Owing to the prevalence of rinderpest, the Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Veterinary
Dispensary, Chingleput, attended to the outbreak reports of
Chingleput taluk till 27th April 1930. The Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Veterinary Dispensary,
Kallakurichi, continued to attend to the outbreak reports of
Kallakurichi taluk throughout the year. The Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Veterinary Dispensary,
Tiruvallur, was attending to the outbreak reports of Tiruval-
lur taluk from the beginning of the year till 10th July 1930
when he was temporarily exempted for six months. Since
13th February 1931 he has been permanently exempted from
touring work as the institution showed considerable progress
during the period of temporary exemption. The Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Veterinary Dispensary,
Chidambaram, was exempted temporarily from attending to
the outbreak reports.
17. The members of the Visiting Committee visited the
Veterinary Dispensary, Tiruvallur, on several days and sug-
gested proposals for the improvement of the same.
(b) Touring establishment.
18. On 31st March 1931 there were six permanent tour-
ing billets, one having been opened at Conjeeveram on 27th
April 1930. The second Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
attached to the Veterinary Hospital, Saidapet, attended
to the outbreak reports of Saidapet taluk as usual. There
was one additional Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in Conjee-
veram taluk from 1st April to 26th April 1930.
19. The staff have performed 1,573 castrations as against
822 of the previous year. Out of the former, 1,518 were
done by Burdizzo method.
20. There is a considerable decrease in the number of con-
tagious cases treated during tours and a perceptible increase
in the number of non-contagious cases treated, as is seen
from the comparative figures furnished below :—
1929-30 .. ..
1930-31 .. ..
Contagious
cases
treated.
1,660
536
Non-conta-
gious cases
treated.
1,658
2,313
Castrations
performed.
822
1,573
The fall in the number of contagious cases treated is
due to the gradual subsidence of the diseases.
118
21. The headquarters of the Touring Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeon, Villupuram, was moved to Tindivanam in
February 1931 as the latter station is more central.
22. In connexion with the identification of the prevail-
ing ticks in the Madras Presidency, the Touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons, Cuddalore and Conjeeveram, were re-
gularly sending once a month ticks found on bovines, to
the Principal, Madras Veterinary College.
III.—CONTAGEOUS DISEASES.
23. Rinderpest.—The disease continued to prevail in both
the districts but it was more severe in Chingleput district.
The total number of reports received was 216 as against 799
reports of the previous year. Of these, 19 only were left
unattended, some for want of time, some for want of progress
reports and others due to the subsidence of the disease. The
staff were able to carry out only 13,812 inoculations by
"serum simultaneous" method as against 32,423 of the pre-
vious year. The decrease in the number was due to the fact
that with rare exceptions, the inoculations were conducted only
in the infected areas and that too wherever the ryots were will-
ing to submit their cattle for the purpose. Only four inocula-
tions by "serum alone method" were conducted in the two
districts. There were 13 deaths among the animals in-
occulated by "serum simultaneous method," eight due to
reaction, four due to the animals having been in incubative
stage, and one due to natural causes.
Treatment of rinderpest cases with cresol and carbolic
acid was undertaken by the staff during the year, but the
results were not encouraging.
24. The Cattle Disease Act was in force in South Arcot
district till the middle of July 1930. The provisions of the
Act were not enforced in Chingleput district during the year.
25. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—Out of 232 reports re-
ceived, 158 were attended. The remaining 44 reports could
not be attended to either for want of progress reports or due
to the subsidence of the disease. Three thousand one hundred
and eighty-one inoculations by "serum alone method" were
carried out against the disease during the year with a morta-
lity of three bovines only. Last year, 189 reports were re-
ceived and 2,404 inoculations were done against this disease.
The outbreak was severe and widespread in Chingleput dis-
trict while it was mild in South Arcot.
26. Foot-and-mouth disease.—Sixteen reports were re-
ceived and 12 were attended. For want of progress reports
and time the remaining four were not attended. Forty-nine
119
cases were treated by Chemotherapy and Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon T. A. Ratnaswami Ayyar who treated the cases re-
ports that the sufferings were reduced to the minimum.
27. Anthrax.—Forty-four out of the 76 reports received,
were duly attended. The remaining 32 reports were not
attended to either for want of progress reports or due to the
subsidence of the disease. Neither vaccinations with Austra-
lian Spore Vaccine nor inoculations with serum were con-
ducted. The Chingleput district alone reported 59 outbreaks.
28. Black quarter.—Twenty-nine reports were received
and 21 attended. As the disease subsided in some and as
progress reports were not received in others, eight reports
were left unattended. No inoculations were conducted
against this disease either for want of confirmation or due to
subsidence of the outbreaks when the concerned Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons visited the infected areas.
29. Sheep-pox.—Only two reports were received of which
one was attended. The other was lodged as the disease
subsided.
30. Tick fever.—In the name of tick fever two reports
were received from Chingleput district and they were not
attended to for want of progress reports and time. However,
a few cases of bovine piroplasmosis were observed in the
veterinary institutions and they were treated with trypan-blue.
The results were satisfactory.
31. Other diseases.—Thirty-five miscellaneous reports
were received in all and thirteen of them were attended.
The others could not be attended to either for want of progress
reports or time. Most of the reports attended to were not
of a contagious nature.
32. Surra.—One case of surra in a mare at Saidapet and
another in a pony at Madurantakam were confirmed micros-
copically and both the animals were destroyed under the Act.
33. Rabies.—Twenty-one cases of rabies were noticed by
the staff. Confirmation was sought for only in fifteen cases
by sending the brains to the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor.
Twelve of them were declared positive and the rest incon-
clusive.
34. Anti-rabic treatment.—Anti-rabic treatment was given
to five dogs—two at Cuddalore with Mullford's vaccine and
three at Saidapet with Coonoor vaccine. Of the latter only
one received the full course of treatment.
120
35. Pseudo-fowl-pest.—There was an outbreak of pseudo-
fowl-pest in Chingleput district and the staff did their best to
attend to the sick ones. Some fowls were vaccinated against
the disease with vaccine obtained from the Madras Veterinary
College.
36. Bovine lymphangitis.—Some cases of bovine lymphan-
gitis were treated with vaccine obtained from the Madras
Veterinary College and it proved to be effective.
37. Strangles.—Strangles were reported among jutka
ponies both in Cuddalore and Tiruvallur. In the latter place
auto-vaccine was tried with successful results.
IV.—MISCELLANEOUS.
38. Criminal poisoning.—No post-mortem certificates were
issued by the staff. However, three post-mortems were con-
ducted on carcases said to have been dead of food poisoning
but the Chemical Examiner to whom the food materials were
sent has declared that he found no poison in the materials.
39. Malicious injury.—Nineteen certificates were issued
of which 17 were granted on lawful requisitions from the police
and the other two were granted to private parties. The
accused were fined in seven cases including one private, five
cases including one private were compromised, two were not
proceeded with, four were not disposed of and the accused in
one was acquitted.
40. Government live-stock.—The calves and the laboratory
animals of the King Institute, Guindy, the Government bullocks
at the Cattle Farm at Palur, Pallakuppam, District Jail,
Cuddalore, and Senior Certified School, Chingleput, the breed-
ing bull of the District Board at Ambattur, the conservancy
bullocks of the Sembiam Union and the animals of the Aziz-
nagar Settlement were all attended to by the respective
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons whenever their services were
requisitioned for. The breeding bull stationed at Veterinary
Dispensary, Conjeeveram, was as usual supervised by the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge of the institution.
41. Meat inspection.—The municipality at Cuddalore con-
tinued to utilize the services of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
in charge of the local hospital for slaughter-house inspection.
He examined 5,667 carcases during the year. The munici-
pality at Conjeeveram availed of the services of the Veterinary
121
Assistant Surgeon in charge, Veterinary Dispensary, Conjee-
veram, for inspecting the local slaughter-house from 1st
February 1931 on a monthly remuneration of Rs. 15. During
the two months he examined 2,842 carcases.
42. Fairs and shows.—The annual and weekly cattle fairs
were duly attended to by the respective staff and the provisions
of the Cattle Disease Act were enforced in the four annual
cattle fairs held in South Arcot district.
43. Propaganda work.—Lantern lectures with anthrax
slides were delivered in Mailam cattle fair with the help of
a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon from the Madras Veterinary
College. In addition, the staff have both during their tours
as well as during congregations like jamabandi, health week
exhibitions, fairs, etc., lectured to the people assembled on
the various contagious diseases of cattle, the methods of pre-
venting them and did castrations by Burdizzo method. Leaf-
lets were freely distributed during such lectures to the ryots.
44. Bacteriological cases.—The staff sent 161 specimens
to the Madras Veterinary College for microscopical examina-
tion, of which 66 were declared positive and the rest negative.
One hundred and fifty-one specimens were examined by the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of Veterinary Hos-
pitals, Cuddalore and Saidapet, which have been provided
with microscopes and 33 of them only were declared positive
for various diseases.
45. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.—
Only 10 cases were remanded to the Veterinary Dispensary,
Tiruvallur, during the year. The Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
in charge, Veterinary Dispensary, Conjeeveram, granted
certificates in the case of 30 animals chargesheeted by the
police for cruelty.
46. Lethal chamber.—All the lethal chambers in this juris-
diction were periodically inspected by the respective staff and
reports forwarded to the authorities concerned through this
office.
V.—GENERAL REMARKS.
47. Livestock export.—No animals were exported from
Porto Novo or Cuddalore during the year.
48. Village officers.—Nine village officers were complained
against by the staff for slackness in reporting the prevalence
of contagious diseases.
16
122
49. The municipalities at Saidapet, Chingleput, Conjee-
veram, Villupuram and Cuddalore have all maintained cattle
mortality registers and furnished regularly monthly state-
ments.
50. Levy of fees.—Admission fees continued to be levied
in Veterinary Hospitals, Saidapet and Cuddalore, during the
year. This is said to have affected the attendance in the
former to some extent whereas it had not this adverse effect
in the latter.
51. Office staff.—The work of the office staff continued
to be satisfactory.
H. C. SAMPATH AYYANGAR,
District Veterinary Officer, Madras.
123
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE DISTRICT
VETERINARY OFFICER, TRICHINOPOLY, FOR THE
YEAR 1930-31.
I.—ADMINISTRATION.
This report relates to the Trichinopoly circle comprising
the two districts of Trichinopoly and Tanjore. In the begin-
ning of the year under report Mr. W. J. D'Costa held charge
of this circle till 25th April 1930 when he was transferred to
Vellore. M.R.Ry. G. Krishnaswami Mudaliyar Avargal held
charge of this circle from 26th April 1930 till the afternoon
of 23rd June 1930 when he was relieved by me. I held charge
of this circle during the remaining part of the year.
2. During the period when Mr. W. J. D'Costa was in
charge of this circle, he was on tour for six days. He inspec-
ted the Veterinary Hospital, Tanjore, once in detail.
3. M.R.Ry. G. Krishnaswami Mudaliyar Avargal spent
24 days in camp. He inspected the Veterinary institutions of
Trichinopoly and Tiruvarur and the touring billets of Trichino-
poly, Tiruvarur, Tiruturaipundi and that of the Additional
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Tiruturaipundi, once in detail.
He visited Mayavaram and Mannargudi and selected rented
buildings for the location of the Veterinary Dispensary at
Mayavaram and for opening a Veterinary Dispensary at
Mannargudi.
4. I was on tour for 152 days from July 1930. The
remaining veterinary institutions and touring billets were
inspected by me twice during the year including those
mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 supra.
5. I visited the Headquarters Hospital almost daily while
at headquarters and rendered necessary help in operations and
treatment of cases.
6. During the year under report, on the whole 14,198
cattle and 176 sheep and one deer were immunised against
rinderpest by the serum simultaneous method. I attended
to several outbreaks of rinderpest in which inoculations were
performed and conducted sero-aggressin inoculation of cattle
against black quarter.
124
7. The Veterinary Dispensary at Lalgudi was moved to
another rented building which was selected by me. I selected
a site for the construction of the permanent building for the
Veterinary Dispensary at Mayavaram.
8. The District Veterinary Office was inspected by the
Director of Veterinary Services, Madras, in the month of
August 1930.
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
9. The total number of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in
this circle at the close of the year was 21. Twelve were in
charge of veterinary institutions including the second Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeon attached to the Veterinary Hospital,
Trichinopoly, seven in charge of touring billets and two on
leave.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
10. A Veterinary Dispensary was opened at Mannargudi
on 1st September 1930, thus bringing up the number of institu-
tions to eleven. The number of in and out-patients treated at
the veterinary institutions of this circle during the year under
review was 17,206 as against 15,103 of the previous year.
Thus, there is an appreciable increase in the number of in
and out-patients treated during the year. The total number
of cases supplied with medicines but not brought to the
institutions was 365 as against 481 of the last year. One
thousand two hundred and ninety-one major and 1,440 minor
operations were performed at the veterinary institutions of this
circle. The number of castrations performed at the institu-
tions of this circle during the year was 625 as against 446
of the previous year, showing an increase. Of this number,
516 were done by the Burdizzo castrator.
11. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons P. S. Kuppusami and
P. Margabhandu are commended for good work during the
year.
12. The following works have been carried out during
the year:—
(a) Veterinary Hospital, Trichinopoly.—(1) Construc-
tion of cattle ward for eight animals, (2) conversion of four
horse stalls into a dressing shed with tap arrangements,
(3) construction of quarters for three menials and (4) construc-
tion of compound wall on the northern side.
(b) Veterinary Hospital, Tanjore.—Improvements to the
compounder's quarters and extension of the drain.
125
(c) Veterinary Hospital,
Kumbakonam.—Construction
of a water-trough with a feeding channel.
(d) Veterinary Hospital, Negapatam.—Completion of
the construction of permanent buildings for the veterinary
institution. The dispensary was shifted to the newly con-
structed buildings on 16th December 1930.
(b) Touring Staff.
13. One touring billet was opened on 26th April 1930 with
headquarters at Tiruvarur. The headquarters of the Touring
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Musiri, was changed from
Musiri to Kulitalai on 9th November 1930. Two additional
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were posted with headquarters
at Mannargudi and Tiruturaipundi due to the prevalence of
rinderpest and the posts were subsequently abolished.
14. Castrations.—The total number of castrations done by
the touring staff of this circle was 1,263 as against 232 of the
previous year. Of these castrations, 1,241 were done by the
Burdizzo castrator.
15. Contagious diseases.—The touring staff treated 1,416
cases of contagious diseases as against 2,586 of the previous
year. The fall was due to the fact that the outbreak reports
of rinderpest received during the year was 447 as against 856
of the previous year.
16. Non-contagious diseases.—Two thousand five hundred
and nineteen cases were treated for non-contagious diseases by
the touring staff of this circle as against 1,381 of the previous
year.
17. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons D. John and P. Daniel
deserve special mention for good work done during the year.
III.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
18. Rinderpest.—Four hundred and forty-seven reports
were received during the year. Four hundred and thirty-five
reports were attended to. The disease was severe in Kulitalai
taluk of Trichinopoly district and Negapatam, Mannargudi,
Tiruturaipundi and Nannilam taluks of Tanjore district.
19. The Madras Cattle Disease Act was enforced in the
taluks of Tiruturaipundi, Pattukkottai, Arantangi and Mannar-
gudi of Tanjore district. It was put in force during the cattle
126
fairs held at Samayapuram in Trichinopoly district and at
Neerathanallur in Tanjore district. There were no prosecu-
tions under the Act.
20. Fourteen thousand three hundred and seventy-five and
13 cattle were protected by serum simultaneous and serum
alone methods respectively against rinderpest by the itinerating
staff of this circle during the year.
21. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—Forty-six reports were
received by the touring staff of which 44 reports were attended
to. Seven hundred and eighteen inoculations were done against
this disease. The disease prevailed in a mild form.
22. Anthrax.—The number of reports received by the
staff was seven of which six were attended to. No inoculations
were performed against this disease during the year.
23. Black quarter.—The touring staff received 109 reports
of which 88 were attended to. Three hundred and fifty-three
inoculations by the serum alone method and 289 inoculations
by sero-aggressin method were performed against this dis-
ease by the staff of this circle. The disease prevailed severely
in Perambalur and Udayarpalaiyam taluks of Trichinopoly
district.
24. Foot-and-mouth disease.—Three reports were received
by the touring staff of which two of them were attended to.
The disease was very mild during the year.
25. Some of the outbreak reports of the abovementioned
diseases were not attended to as the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons were engaged in inoculation work.
26. Rabies.—Nineteen cases were confirmed by the Direc-
tor, Pasteur Institute, Coonoor. Seventeen dogs were treated
with anti-rabic vaccine by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in
charge of Veterinary Hospital, Trichinopoly.
27. Glanders.—Nil.
28. Trypanosomiasis.—One pony and one mule were
destroyed under the Act, the smears being positive.
29. Epizootic lymphangitis.—Nil.
30. Kumri.—Only one case was diagnosed as such by the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge of Veterinary Hospital,
Kumbakonam.
31. Sheep-pox.—Nil.
32. Piroplasmosis.—Five cases of piroplasmosis, viz.,
Babesia bigemina in one bullock and two cows and Babesia
bigemina and Mutans in a bullock and Babesia bigemina and
Theileria mutans in a bull-calf were confirmed during the year.