NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
36
The calf tested with Walker's vaccine got an attack of
rinderpest and died. Out of three calves which were employed
to test Kelser's vaccine, two calves had to be destroyed on
account of foot-and-mouth disease and one calf did not show
any reaction. Of the three calves inoculated with Boynton's
vaccine, two did not show any reaction and one was destroyed
on account of foot-and-mouth disease.
Transmission experiments in sarcoma and carcinoma.—
These experiments were undertaken to see if sarcoma in dogs
and carcinoma in bovines could be transmitted by any of the
methods described below.
Six dogs in batches of three each were selected. A piece
of growth obtained from a case of " Cancer Penis " micros-
copically diagnosed as Round Celled Sarcoma was made into
an emulsion and injected intravenously into one dog, sub-
cutaneously into the second, while portions of the growth were
implanted under the skin of the third dog. After a short
time, these dogs died owing to other causes and post-mortem
examination revealed no traces of sarcomatous taint in any
one of them. A second batch of three dogs was taken and
the material obtained in the same way as described above was
injected intravenously into one clog, subcutaneously into
another to which a small portion of the growth was also
implanted under the skin. Scarification of the skin and root
of the penis was done in respect of the third dog. The
experiment is proceeding.
Carcinoma in bovines.—Six calves were used for this
experiment. Two calves were injected intravenously with the
carcinomatous material, two subcutaneously and a small piece
of growth was implanted under the skin. One calf received
the material subconjunctively into the eye, while the material
was scarified into the eye of another. These are now under
observation.
(b) Parasitology Section.
M.R Ry. M. Anantanarayana Rao Avargal was in charge
of the experiments and investigations undertaken in this
section.
Trypanosomiasis.—1. The trypanosomes found in the
domesticated animals in this Presidency can be said to be of
two kinds, the small and the large one. The former is met
with in cattle, horses, dogs and elephants, and the latter in
bovines. The strains of these excepting the one from ele-
phants, were kept going in small animals and studied with a
37
view to find out the relation between the different strains. The
study of the adhesion phenomenon of these strains has shown
that these three strains are identical. This small trypanosome
is Trypanosoma evansi and is the cause of surra in horses,
cattle, dogs, etc. The strains maintained in the laboratory
died out rapidly for some reason or other. It is proposed to
continue the study with fresh materials. Attempts were made
to culture these trypanosomes on various media without
success so far. Transmission experiments with ornithodorus
savignii proved to be negative and presumably this parasite
is not a vector in the spread of this disease.
As regards the large trypanosome, T. theileri, which was
found once in a bull belonging to the Corporation of Madras,
the sick animal showed symptoms simulating those of piro-
plasmosis and died in about a week's time. Blood from this
bullock was inoculated into two healthy calves and these
developed the trypanosomes in five days' time, but no piro-
plasms were seen. This shows that the bull had no piroplasms
in its blood and apparently it died of the heavy infection of
these large trypanosomes. From the inoculated calves cul-
tures of these trypanosomes were obtained easily in blood and
broth mixture. It was rather difficult to obtain sub-cultures.
These cultures were found to be non-infective when adminis-
tered orally or subcutaneously to other calves. To study
the incidence of this kind of trypanosome in calves, blood
from all calves used in the rinderpest virus production camp
was cultured. Only one calf out of 84 tested showed
trypanosomes in culture though its blood was negative when
examined under the microscope. Judging from this, the
percentage is very small, but it is probable that the percentage
may be found to be higher if a systematic examination of
blood from cattle from various localities in this Presidency is
done. It has been noted that these trypanosomes multiply
in the gut of Stomoxys calcitrans, but unfortunately, no trans-
mission experiments could be done owing to the loss of these
experimental flies caused by the attack of ants. The experi-
ment could not be repeated as one of the experimental calves
died and in the other the infection had disappeared completely.
No developmental forms were seen in Ornithodorous savignii
and it failed to transmit the disease. Linognathus vituli was
likewise found to be a non-vector. This trypanosome was not
inoculable to laboratory animals.
2. The study of Trypanosoma indicum of the squirrel
(S. palmarum) and T. lewisi of the black rat was undertaken
with a view to observing the adhesion phenomenon so that
38
the same phenomenon could be better interpreted on the strains
of T. evansi. Their cultural characters were studied. It was
noted that some characters of the large trypanosome of cattle
simulated those of T. indicum and T. lewisi. T. indicum of
the squirrel was found to be uninoculable to the black rat and
vice versa. The cultures of T. indicum when injected sub-
cutaneously to a squirrel were infective. In the cultures that
appeared metacylic, trypanasomes were present which
perhaps accounted for the infection.
3. Treatment of trypanosomiasis.—Naganol (Bayer 205)
was used in naturally infected animals. In all cases the
trypanosomes disappeared from the blood in 24 hours and no
relapse was observed. As regards re-infection with trypano-
somes after treatment with naganol, it was observed that
though white rats could not be re-infected even after three
months, a dog was successfully re-infected within 75 days
after treatment. It is not possible to say at this stage if there
is any immunity conferred on an animal cured of this disease.
If immunity does exist, it seems to be of no value in certain
class of animals which are naturally prone to this disease.
Naganol has sterilized squirrels and black rats of their
trypanosomes.
A map of the Presidency is appended showing the places
from which trypanosomes have been reported in domesti-
cated animals. The map cannot be said to be complete.
Though it may seem that the surra areas are isolated, the dis-
continuity of distribution is probably more apparent than
real owing to the absence of reports rather than the absence
of disease.
Piroplasmosis.—During the year, many cases of B.
bigeminum were available for experiments, but all of them
were from the rinderpest virus production camp and most of
them died of rinderpest during experiments. The study of
the life history of B. bigeminum was begun, but it had to be
given up owing to the calves dying of rinderpest before larvæ,
etc., of the ticks used, had had time enough to finish their
meal on the blood of these animals.
2. Blood smears from sheep were obtained from the
slaughter-house with a view to find out the presence of protozoa
in them. 11 per cent of them showed a small piroplasm. It
is proposed to do more work on this subject during the ensuing
year.
3. During the year, in addition to the 15 cases treated
with trypanblue, three cases of B. bigeminum were treated
39
with " Asuntol ", a Bayer's product. One case was dis-
charged cured and two others, in the blood of which the
parasites disappeared, subsequently died of rinderpest. Out
of the cases treated with Trypanblue (Merck's brand) in ten
cases the piroplasm disappeared, in three cases they persisted
and in the rest no opinion could be given because the calves
died of rinderpest within a day or two after the injection.
Asuntol appears to be superior to trypanblue in its action
on the piroplasm, but it is comparatively costly. It is interest-
ing to note that a calf 15 days old died of the effects of P.
bigeminum in Amalapuram village. It is generally supposed
that young calves withstand the effects of this piroplasm, but
this appears to be an exception.
4. Babesia (Theileria) mutans.—During previous years,
trypanblue and antimony tartrate were tried without success
in the treatment of animals showing these parasites in their
blood. During this year, trypaflavine, one of Bayer's products
was used in treating two cases, one a country-bred heifer and
the other a pure-bred Ayrshire bull calf newly imported. The
former had an acute form of the disease with a persistent high
temperature, anæmia, etc. This animal, after three injections,
improved considerably though its blood was not completely
free from the parasites. The Ayrshire bull calf developed
this parasite during active immunization against rinderpest.
It was given two injections of trypaflavine and was apparently
cured. It seems that this drug is effective in this infection.
Further trials are under contemplation.
Assistance was rendered to the District Veterinary Officer,
Madura, in finding out the presence of B. mutans in cattle
in Kodaikanal. One hundred and forty slides were examined
for him and 38 showed the parasites. Perhaps it may be
safely said that this parasite is the commonest among all other
blood parasites in cattle in this Presidency.
5. Microfilariasis.—Trypanblue, Naganol and antimony
tartrate were tried without effect on some calves showing
microfilariæ in their blood.
Trematode Cercariæ.—The study of cercariæ in fresh water
snails was begun in January 1931. So far, ten kinds of
cercariæ have been found in the mollusca from the Spur Tank,
Egmore. Some of these have been described by Sewell (1922)
in his valuable Memoir " Cercaria Indicæ ". Two new
cercariæ have been obtained and are under study. Some of
the cercariæ were fed to suitable animals and the adults
obtained. Cercariæ No. 2 of Madras gave adult Paramphis-
toma cervi and carcariæ No. 29 of Sewell gave fischœderius
40
elongatus when fed to calves. While searching for parasites
during post-mortem examination of a stray dog, one echinos-
tome was obtained from its intestines. It is believed to be
the first time that an echinostome has been recorded in a
dog in Madras. A large number of limea acuminata obtained
from the same tank were found to be infected with echinos-
tome cercariæ. These were allowed to encyst in other snails
and were then fed to a dog. From this dog adult echinostomes
were obtained. It was also observed that these cercariæ encyst
in the region of the gills in fresh water fish " Barbus Stigma ".
It is said that a species of echinostome produces fatal enteritis
in dogs. Further experiments are in progress.
Furco cercariæ of schistosoma spindalis were identified
and fed to a calf. These cercariæ were obtained only from
Plamorbis exustus. The calf showed adult parasites in its
mesenteric veins and none in the liver which is a matter of
some interest.
Attempts were made to study the life history of F. gigantica
and gastrodiscus secundus, but the ova failed to hatch owing
to fungus infection.
Identification of the collection of Helminthes, etc., in the
museum is in progress. It is interesting to record that in a
bottle, dated 1923 there were a few diplophylidium nolleri
skrajabin, 1924, collected from a cat. This parasite has not
been reported from this part of the country. Another tape-
worm which appears to be an undescribed one is under
investigation. A sample of this specimen has been sent to
Professor Leiper, London School of Tropical Medicine, for
his opinion.
A paper on " Heterrophyes indicum ", a new species from
the dog and one on " some observation on trypanosomiasis
in the Madras Presidency " were read during the session of
the All-India Veterinary Conference held at Bangalore in
December 1930, presided over by Col. O. Olver, Animal
Husbandry Expert with the Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research.
VII.—MISCELLANEOUS.
Propaganda, Exhibitions, Shows, etc.
The College took a prominent part in the propaganda work
to make known to the public in general and to the agriculturists
41
and animal-owners in particular, the activities of the depart-
ment by means of charts, diagrams, lantern lectures, etc.
A Veterinary Assistant Surgeon from the College was deputed
to
(1) the Missionaries' Conference held at Kodaikanal,
(2) the Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition at Chit-
toor, and
(3) the Annual Cattle Fair and Festival, Mailam.
As usual, the College participated in the Annual Health
and Baby Week Exhibition held in the S.I.A.A. grounds under
the auspices of the Corporation of Madras.
Besides the completion of four sets, each consisting of 200
magic lantern slides for supply to the District Veterinary
Officers, for exhibition in the agricultural motor van touring
in their districts, cattle fairs and shows and other public
gatherings, 241 slides and captions were also prepared. As
many as 100 prints were taken for propaganda work. The
work of preparing and supplying each District Veterinary
Officer with a set of magic lantern slides is under proposal.
M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurti Ayyar Avargal attended the
Indian Science Congress held at Nagpur during the year.
M.R.Ry. K. Kailasam Ayyar Avargal delivered a course
of lectures to the students of the B.S.Sc. and Health Officers'
classes on " Diseases of animals in relation to Public Health "
at the Madras Medical College.
The quarterly inspection of the City Police horses and
stables were carried out and advice given as and when required.
VIII.—FINANCE.
The receipts and expenditure under the different heads for
the years 1929-30 and 1930-31 are as shown below :—
Receipts.
(1) Students' fees ..
(2) Hospital collections.
(3) Shoeing forge ..
(4) Other sources
..
Total ..
1929-30.
Rs.
3,705
6,633
2,236
1,456
14,031
A.
0
13
1
14
13
P.
0
6
0
9
3
1930-31.
Rs.
8,090
4,875
2,188
1,824
16,977
A.
0
12
0
0
12
P.
0
6
0
1
7
6
42
Expenditure.
(1) Teaching and re-
search staff ..
(2) Hospital .. ..
(3) Shoeing forge ..
(4) Other expenses ..
Total ..
1929-30.
Rs.
73,051
20,306
1,237
22,455
1,17,050
A.
2
3
2
10
1
P.
2
1
0
1
4
1930-31.
Rs.
89,635
16,520
1,214
26,128
1,33,498
A.
1
2
12
13
13
P.
6
9
0
0
3
The increase under receipts from students' fees is accounted
for by the larger number of paying students and by the
recovery of about Rs. 3,390 from those graduates who have
been released from their obligation to serve this Government.
Under expenditure, the increase is due to the introduction
of the revised curriculum and supply of furniture to the
laboratory extensions, etc.
IX.—GENERAL.
His Excellency Lieut.-Col. the Right Hon'ble Sir George
Frederick Stanley, P. C., G.C.I.E., C.M.G., Governor of Madras,
paid a visit to the College during the year and spent some
time in going round the wards, the museum and the laboratory
and expressed his appreciation of all that he saw, the other
distinguished visitors being the Hon'ble Mr. P. T. Rajan,
Minister for Public Works and Col. A. Olver, Animal
Husbandry Expert with the Government of India.
A paper entitled " Animal diseases in relation to public
health " by Messrs. T. J. Hurley and K. Kailasam Ayyar was
read at the Health Conference held at the Moore Pavilion
presided over by the Surgeon-General with the Government
of Madras.
The new surgical block was completed during the year. A
shoeing forge, a covered manure pit and a common room for
students were built and the new hostel and the extensions to
the laboratory were nearing completion at the end of the year.
K. KAILASAM AYYAR,
Lecturer-in-charge.
43
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE DISTRICT
VETERINARY OFFICER, VIZAGAPATAM, FOR THE
YEAR 1930-31.
I.—ADMINISTRATION.
1. This administration report relates to the Vizagapatam
Circle comprising the districts of Vizagapatam and Ganjam.
2. I was in charge of this circle throughout the year.
3. I toured for 173 days. All the veterinary institutions
and all the touring billets were inspected twice except the
touring billet at Koraput, which was inspected once in detail.
The touring billet at Narasapatam was inspected thrice during
the year.
I attended the Veterinary Hospital, Vizagapatam, frequently
during my stay at headquarters, and rendered professional
aid to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge, and also
gave necessary advice in the treatment of animals. When in
camp every opportunity was taken to render similar aid to
the staff. Every opportunity was taken to tour in the interior,
visit villages and to carry out propaganda on the lines indi-
cated in the Head Office R.O.C. No. 391-A/30, dated 27th
August 1930, besides inspecting the field work of the touring
staff. The staff was also given guidance as to their movements
in the villages and of the methods to advertise better the
activities of the department.
I inspected the sites at Tekkali, Anakapalle and Jeypore
for the construction of permanent buildings.
I inspected sites at Anakapalle along with the Special
Officer, Anakapalle Municipality, at his request for the
construction of lethal chamber.
I selected a site at Koraput for the construction of an
elephant shed, and quarters for the attendants of the elephants
along with the Executive Engineer, Koraput division, and the
District Superintendent of Police, Jeypore district.
I attended the Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition at
Dharakola of Aska taluk along with the Touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Aska, and the Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Berhampur.
44
4. During the year 3,092 animals were inoculated by the
serum simultaneous method against rinderpest in this circle.
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
5. On the 31st March 1931, there were in all twenty-live
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons attached to this circle, eleven in
charge of veterinary institutions including the men in charge
of the two private institutions, twelve in charge of touring
billets and two on leave reserve. Of the two on leave reserve
the services of one veterinary assistant surgeon have been lent
to the Raja of Kallikota.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
6. The veterinary dispensary at Jeypore is located in a
rented building and the question of constructing permanent
buildings is under contemplation.
7. The total number of cases treated and total number of
castrations performed in the veterinary institutions of this
circle were 13,227 and 1,551 as against 12,628 and 1,682
respectively of the previous year.
Of the 1,551 castrations 1,310 were done by Burdizzo
method.
In addition, 1,371 cases which were not brought to the
institutions were supplied with medicines.
8. There was an increase in the amount of work done in
all the institutions except those at Berhampur, Parlakimedi
and Vizagapatam. The fall at the Veterinary Hospital,
Berhampur, was due to the following reasons :—
Firstly to the wrong notion entertained by the middle
and poorer classes that the animals sent to the hospital for
treatment are also similarly charged as the rich in accordance
with the new scale of fees introduced from 1st April 1929,
but now every effort has been made by the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon to dispel such wrong notions.
Secondly to the levy of toll-gate fees every day in respect
of every animal brought to the institution for treatment. The
levy of toll-gate fees was done away with from 1st April 1931.
This change may have some effect on the progress of the
institution in the near future.
The decrease in the number of out-patients admitted,
castrations performed, and the daily average attendance during
the year at Veterinary Hospital, Parlakimedi, was attributed
to the fact that the permanent compounder, whose services
45
were dispensed with by the Raja Sahib of Parlakimedi, is treat-
ing cases, and also doing castration work in the town as well
as in the surrounding villages.
Owing to frequent change of incumbents and to the
introduction of fees there was also a fall at the Veterinary
Hospital, Vizagaptam.
9. During the year under report the following additions
and improvements were made or were under construction :—
Veterinary Hospital, Vizagaptam.—A pucca operation
shed, a microscopical room, and compound wall on two sides
were completed during the year under report.
New gate shutters were also provided during this year.
Special repairs to the dispensary building, and paving
the floor of the horse ward with vitrified bricks were completed
and improvements and repairs to the combined block of
compounder's and servants' quarters and store room were in
progress during the year under report.
The usual annual repairs were effected to the quarters of
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon.
Veterinary Dispensary, Chicacole.—The special repairs
pending execution for a long time were completed.
Improvements to the dispensary buildings were sanc-
tioned and taken up by the Public Works Department but
they have not yet been completed during the year.
Veterinary Dispensary, Tekkali.—A temporary thatched
waiting and operation shed was constructed during the year.
Veterinary Hospital, Parlakimedi.—A new store room,
which is in continuation of the main building, has been
constructed during the year.
Veterinary Hospital, Berhampur.—As there was a
provision this year to put in glazed shutters in the other window
of the store room, the above improvement was carried out
by the Public Works Department authorities. As suggested
by the Director of Veterinary Services, Madras, during the
inspection of the hospital, a ramp was made to the operation
shed between the two pillars to enable lame animals to walk
into the shed more easily.
Block of kennels.—The wooden trellis work pertaining
to them as well as all the wooden work, such as doors, windows,
shutters, etc., were repainted this year.
46
(b) Itinerating.
10. On the 31st March 1931 there were 12 Touring
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons attached to this circle. One
touring billet was newly opened on 1st May 1930 at Bobbili
for Bobbili, Salur and Parvatipur taluks.
11. The headquarters of the Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Russellkonda Agency, attached to the Special Assist-
ant Agent, Russellkonda, was changed from Russellkonda to
Ghumsur-Udayagiri. The office of the Touring Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Ghumsur-Udayagiri, was opened on the
forenoon of 6th September 1930 at Ghumsur-Udayagiri. The
office of the Touring Veterinary Assistant Suregon, Russell-
konda Agency, was closed on the afternoon of 4th September
1930.
12. A comparative statement of the work done by the
touring staff during the years 1929-30 and 1930-31 is given
below :—
Year.
1929-30
..
1930-31
..
Inocu-
lations by
serum alone
method.
220
134
Serum
simul-
taneous in-
oculations
against
rinderpest.
7,890
3,092
Contagious
cases
treated.
4,374
2,096
Non-
contagious
cases
treated.
4,294
6,460
Castra-
tions.
767
1,940
The fall in the number of contagious cases treated is due
to—(1) some touring billets were left vacant for want of leave
reserve men, and (2) the number of epidemics was also less
than last year. The fall in the number of inoculations per-
formed was due partly to the smaller number of outbreak
reports received and partly to the reluctance of the people in
places where the epidemic prevailed to submit their animals
for inoculation.
Of the 1,940 castrations, 1,701 were performed by the
Burdizzo castrator.
The Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Veteri-
nary Dispensary, Anakapalle, was exempted from the touring
work from 21st January 1931 and Anakapalle taluk was added
to the jurisdiction of the Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeon,
Vizagapatam, from that date.
III.—CONTAGIOUS CASES.
13. Rinderpest.—During the year 276 outbreaks were
reported as against 866 of the previous year, of which 260 were
attended to; the rest were not attended for want of time or
progress reports. I attended to some outbreak reports along