NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
26
Vaccine.—During the year under report 82 doses of vaccine
were prepared for the treatment of different disease conditions
and supplied to the staff of which 37 doses were for the treat-
ment of Bovine lymphangitis alone. Reports received of the
treatment of Bovine lymphangitis vaccine go to confirm the
previous findings that the vaccine has a beneficial effect on the
animals treated.
Contagious abortion.—This condition continues to be pre-
valent among cows belonging to the agricultural farms of this
Presidency. Fifty-five samples of sera were examined during the
year. Serum from one of the cows, namely, that of cow No. 210
from the Agricultural College Farm, Coimbatore, was found to
give a high positive agglutination reaction against B. abortus
Bang and definitely indicated that it was infected with
B. abortus Bang. This is the first authenticated case in this
Presidency and the results obtained here were confirmed by the
Director, Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
None of the sera from other cases gave positive results against
B. abortus and so far no satisfactory conclusions have been
arrived at as to the cause of frequent abortions.
(b) Parasitological Section
M.R.Ry. M. R. V. Panikkar Avargal continued to be in
charge of this section during the year under report except from
27th December 1929 to 15th January 1930, when he was on
leave during which period, the Senior Lecturer, Mr. Sundara-
nathan acted for him. The Senior Laboratory Assistant
Surgeon was attached to this section to assist the officer in
charge.
The following table shows the number of specimens received
and examined in this section including those that were received
in the Clinical Laboratory.:—
(1) From the staff of the Civil Veteri-
nary Department
..
(2) From the Corporation of Madras.
(3)
Do.
Wards of the College . .
(4) Do.
Forest Department
(5) Do.
Agricultural
Depart-
ment .. .. .. ..
(6) Do.
Coorg Government . .
(7) Specimens received from the
College wards and examined at
the Clinical Laboratory ..
Total ..
1928-29.
560
135
2,161
8
..
..
1 ,635
4,499
1929-30.
465
161
1,463
2
21
2
2,164
4,278
27
The following table shows the classified list of specimens
received and examined during the year including the Clinical
Laboratory:—
(1) Piroplosma canis
(2)
Do.
gibsonii
(3)
Do.
bigemina
(4)
Do.
equi
(5) Theileria species
(6) Trypanosomes
(7) Tuberculosis
(8) Anthrax ..
(9) Hæpotozoon canis
(10) Spirochætes
(11) Hæmoproteus
(12) Microfilaria
(13) Cocci and postmortem invaders
.. (14) Fæces ..
..
(15) Scrapings ..
(16) Worms
(17) Ectoparasites
(18) Urine ..
(19) Others
(20) Negative ..
Total
No.
72
1
32
1
95
41
2
3
11
6
44
7
12
964
805
62
11
83
13
2,013
4,278
(Helminthic
infection was
detected only
in 571).
(Parasitic in-
fection was
detected only
in 178).
(c) Clinical Laboratory.
Owing to the absence of the Senior Laboratory Assistant
on leave on medical certificate for 7 months, the work was
carried out by Veterinary Assistant Surgeon G. R. Viswa-
nathan of the Pathological section. Students were posted to
work in the Clinical Laboratory in batches and were given
training in the examination of morbid materials for clinical
diagnosis.
V.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN THE MADRAS CITY.
During the year under report, 2,548 horses were inspected
by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon on glanders duty during
his systematic tour, and 127 on arrival at the railway stations
and harbour. Of these 194 were tested with mallein sub-
eutaneously and none gave a positive reaction.
28
The city was during the year free from any of the scheduled
equine diseases.
Rinderpest was prevalent in isolated areas in the Triplicane
division during December 1929 and also in some of the
Corporation cattle depots.
As the serum simultaneous method of inoculation could not
be conducted in view of the difficulty of isolation and un-
willingness on the part of the owners to keep the cattle off
work during the period of immunization, the serum alone
method of inoculation was resorted to and this had to be
repeated at intervals until the disease abated. This had also to
be resorted to in cases of cattle of the Corporation depots, in
some cases owing to the difficulty of keeping them from work.
Systematic immunization by the serum simultaneous method
of inoculation of cattle belonging to the Madras Corporation
and private bodies and owners was undertaken this year by the
staff of the College but later during the year the work of
immunizing cattle of the Corporation was taken over by the
Corporation Veterinary Officer. Every assistance was, however
rendered to this officer and he was also permitted to use the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stable for the
work.
The total number of cattle protected against the disease by
the serum alone method was 669 while by the serum simul-
taneous method. 152. These figures include the animals
belonging to the Madras Corporation immunized by the
Corporation Veterinary Officer.
Anthrax.—There were two outbreaks of Anthrax during the
year under report and the diseases was stamped out. Eighteen
equines and 243 bovines were protected against the disease.
Foot-and-mouth disease, occurred in different parts of the
city in December last. Different cattle yards were inspected
by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon on glanders duty and
advice as to the treatment and preventive measures to be
adopted was given to cattle owners. An outbreak of trypano-
somiasis occurred among the hounds of the Madras Hunt Club
and the whole pack was put through a course of "Bayer 205"
by the staff of the College with very satisfactory results.
Twenty-two head of cattle of the Government House dairy
were tested with tuberculin with negative results; 25 horses
belonging to the Body Guard and 25 ponies remanded to the
College by the Magistrate were malleined in addition to those
done in the city.
29
VI—RESEARCH.
(a) Pathological Section.
1 Bovine Lymphangitis.—A further study of the causal
organism of bovine lymphangitis was made during the year by
M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurti Ayyar Avargal. He was on depu-
tation to the Haffkine Institute, Bombay, to make a parallel
study of this organism with B. pestis. Strains of cultures
isolated at Madras as well as pathological lesions removed from
calves infected with the disease and preserved intact were taken
by him to the Institute. The same type of organism as record-
ed by him previously was again isolated. The organism of
bovine lymphangitis was found to respond to certain cultural
tests employed at the Haffkine Institute for the isolation and
identification of B. pestis and the difference between the two
was that the organism of bovine lymphangitis appeared
to be a slower grower and nitrite producer than B. pestis.
Agglutination tests were also conducted against this organism
with antiplague serum prepared from sheep at the Institute by
immunisation with cultures of B. pestis and which agglutinated
against it in 1 in 16. The strains tested consisted of two of
those isolated at Madras and two at the Institute. These tests
were controlled along with the laboratory strain of B. pestis.
The serum was found to agglutinate completely in 1 in 16
against all the strains of the organisms of bovine lymphangitis
and B. pestis equally well. Pneumonic lesions of the type
described in the Manchurian epidemic of human plague were
also reproduced in calves infected with bovine lymphangitis.
2. Rhinosporidiosis.—Cases of rhinosporidiosis in cattle have
already been reported. A case in a horse was detected during
the year in growths purported to have been removed from the
nostrils and sent in by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in
charge of the Veterinary Dispensary, Mayavaram. This is the
first case in a horse recorded in India.
A portion of the specimen of materials was sent to Professor
Ashworth of the University of Edinburgh who was kind enough
to confirm the findings.
3. Incidence of carcinoma among animals.—During the year
37 cases of epithelioma were recorded in cattle and 7 in other
animals. It is hoped that further study of this condition and
its endemic distribution may lead to important results in the
elucidation of the cancer problem.
4. Passing of bloody urine by cattle in the Nilgiris.—Cases
of this kind have been reported in the herd kept in the Welling-
ton Dairy farm and elsewhere in the Nilgiris and for purposes
30
of investigation a cow suffering from the disease was sent to the
College for observation and report. The cow was kept under
observation from 8th April 1929 to 21st April 1929 and on
post-mortem it was found that the bladder showed numerous vil-
lous-like outgrowths more prominently noticeable at the fundus.
The appearance of the section cut from the growth was
suggestive of carcinoma.
5. Poultry diseases.—An outbreak occurred in the city
among poultry and birds, and the symptoms exhibited appeared
to correspond to those of Pseudo fowl pest. The mortality was
heavy. Investigation was undertaken by M.R.Ry. K. Kailasam
Ayyar Avargal, and certain transmission experiments were
carried out by him. A study of the lesions set up artificially
with infective materials was in progress during the year and the
suitability of using liver and spleen emulsion in the matter of
immunising is being experimented on.
(b) Parasitological Section.
Injections of antimonium tartaratum and trypanblue were
tried in five cases of microfilaria and nine cases of piroplasma
bigeminum respectively which were detected by the Pathologi-
cal section in calves used for rinderpest virus production. All
the cases of microfilaria except one died. Similar injections
were given in five cases of theileriasis without any effect.
Of two dogs, one cat and three pups that were fed towards
March 1929 with hydatid scolices, echinococcus granulosa were
detected in a dog and a pup, both of which died in April 1929.
No further experiments in this direction were attempted during
the whole of the year under report.
(c) Anatomy Section.
During the course of dissection, the Lecturer in Anatomy,
Mr. H. N. Chelva Ayyangar, met with deviations in the horse
in certain anatomical relationships, the finding of which has
not hitherto been recorded. These findings form the subject-
matter of a separate paper and therefore are not discussed here.
(d) Rinderpest virus production.
This work continued to be done under the supervision of
M.R.Ry. K. Kailasam Ayyar Avargal. A regular and syste-
matic production of virus was maintained throughout the year
except for a period of a month from 9th February 1930 to 12th
March 1930 when it had to be suspended owing to an outbreak
of foot-and-mouth disease. This was stamped out and normal
production was resumed on 12th March 1930.
31
The animals used for virus production consisted of a buffalo
and bull calves and the virulence of the virus was maintained
by the alternation of passages between them. A sample of the
virus manufactured at this laboratory was sent to the Director,
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, at his
request, and the report received from him showed that the virus
was found to be virulent.
Some difficulty was experienced in the matter of obtaining
a regular supply of calves and to overcome this, trials were made
of calves used as vaccine lymph producers at the King Institute,
Guindy, after their discharge, for virus production. The results
of observations recorded showed that they can be used with
equal advantage and there has been no deterioration whatever
in the potency of virus, provided suitable alternations of pas-
sages were made from time to time.
The majority of calves now used for the purpose are drawn
from this source, while every now and then, as occasion
demanded, calves were purchased locally.
The calves are stationed in temporary thatched sheds and it
is essential that more permanent accommodation capable of
being thoroughly disinfected is provided as early as possible.
It is hoped that this will be done in the near future.
During the year under report, 467,675 c.c. of virus were
prepared, which covered 577 brews, of which 383,700c.c. were
issued to the staff on their indents, of which 1,595 were
received.
The presence of theileria mutans was detected in the blood
of 158 calves out of 530 examined and with other inter-current
affections in 33 more. No restrictions were imposed on the
issue of theileria infected virus to the staff. Other inter-current
infections such as resuscitation of piroplasma bigeminum either
alone or associated with theileria or trypanosomiasis were found
in 43 calves. Trypanosomiasis was detected in 16 and microfi-
laria in 6 cases and these were not utilized for virus production.
From 1st April 1929 to the end of the year, the total number
of specimens examined for virus production amounted to 10,444
as against 4,021 of the previous year and 459 post-mortems
were conducted on the carcases of calves.
(b) Animal Supplies.
The number of animals purchased from 1st April 1929 to
31st March 1930 was 548 calves of which 112 were buffalo
calves, seven sheep and four goats. The number of calves that
remained on the roll on 1st April 1930 was 18.
32
VII.—MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Propaganda.
A cinema apparatus and two sets of films one depicting
National Horse Breeding Industry in India and the o
"Sheep dipping and eradication of ticks" were purch
during the year at a cost of Rs. 3,010-5-0.
During the year under report, the work of preparing s
able lantern slides depicting parasitic diseases such as T
saginata, T. solium, T. echinococcus and D. caninum
entrusted to M.R.Ry. M. R. V. Panikkar Avargal, office in
charge, Parasitological section and it is in progress.
(b) Exhibition and Shows.
Additional charts, slides and diagrams for propaganda
were prepared during the year in the pathological sec
There has been a great demand from the different Dis
Veterinary officers for materials for exhibition at the se
cattle shows and fairs in the different parts of the Presid
These demands were met as far as possible. On the requi
of some of the District Veterinary Officers, Assistants
deputed from the pathological section on a few occasions
deliver popular lectures illustrated by lantern slides.
As usual, the College took part in the Health and B
Week show organized by the Corporation and also in t
National Health and Baby Week in February 1930, w
different exhibits of scientific and popular interest w
arranged by the staff of the Pathological section under t
supervision of M.R.Ry. K. Kailasam Ayyar Avargal.
It is gratifying to record that the College was awarde
silver medal and that the exhibits were very much apprec
by the public.
VIII.—FINANCE.
The subjoined statement shows the receipts and expend
under different heads during the year 1928-29 and 1929-3
Receipts.
(1) Students' fees . .
(2) Hospital collections.
(3) Shoeing forge . .
(4) Other sources . .
1928-29.
RS.
2,450
7,384
2,036
1,762
13,633
A.
0
12
13
2
12
P.
0
6
7
9
10
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
33
Expenditure.
(1) Teaching
and
research staff . .
(2) Hospital . . . .
(3) Shoeing forge . .
(4) Other expenses . .
RS.
65,259
15,568
1,388
17,933
1,00,150
A.
13
5
12
12
10
P.
0
1
0
5
6
RS.
73,051
20,306
1,237
22,455
1,17,050
A.
2
3
2
10
1
P.
2
1
0
1
4
The increase in expenditure was attributable to several items,
i.e., appointment of additional staff to the laboratory, the con-
tinuance of rinderpest virus production almost throughout the
year as against about five months in the previous year, purchase
of cinema films and cinema apparatus, purchase of ambulance
cart, fire buckets and extinguishers, and increase in the number
of stipendiaries in class B.
IX.—GENERAL.
M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurthi Ayyar Avargal was on depu-
tation at the Haffkine Institute, Bombay, and worked in the
Institute from 6th April 1929 to 22nd April 1929 in connexion
with bovine lymphangitis.
He attended the Indian Science Congress at Allahabad and
read a paper before the Medical and Veterinary Research
Section on "An outbreak of leptospiral jaundice among the
Madras hounds". He delivered at this Congress a public
lecture on "Prevention of cattle disease as a factor in the
agricultural prosperity of India" which was well attended.
Lantern slides depicting several diseases prevalent in India and
the mode of prevention and treatment were also screened on the
occasion.
During the year the following papers of M.R.Ry.
V. Krishnamurthi Ayyar Avargal were published in the transac-
tions of the Far-Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine,
Seventh Congress, Volumes II and III and in Volume I of the
Scientific papers of the Civil Veterinary Department, Madras.
(a) Transactions of the Scientific Congress of the Far-
Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, Seventh Congress :—
(1) Rhinosporidiosis in cattle.
(2) A preliminary note on the incidence of Anthrax
infection in industrial materials, such as hides, skins, etc., with
special reference to the possibility of the source of such infec-
tions.
5
34
(b) Scientific papers of the Civil Veterinary Department,
Madras, Volume I:—
(1) A note on the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma
among cattle in the Madras Presidency.
(2) Occurrence of cysticercus cellulosæ in dogs.
(3) A case of arterio-sclerosis of the kidney in a
bullock.
(4) The treatment of Johne's disease by the intravenous
injection of formalin.
The Principal and staff were engaged during the year in the
preparation of a syllabus for the different subjects of the new
curriculum and these have been sent to the Director for
approval.
The chemical laboratory for the teaching of practical
chemistry according to the new curriculum has been completed
and is ready for use.
The different accessory buildings sanctioned at the College
such as cattle-weighing shed, improved operation theatre, motor
shed, and a shed for the horse-drawn ambulance cart which was
purchased by the College during the year, were either com-
pleted or nearing completion.
Work connected with extensions to the laboratory and the
new hostel was commenced towards the end of the year.
The quarterly inspection of the City Police horses and
stables was conducted regularly.
During the year Government approved the deputation of
the Principal or a gazetted officer of the College nominated by
him to the Madras Medical College every year to give instruc-
tion to the students of the B.S.Sc. and Health Officers' classes
on "Diseases of animals in relation to public health".
M.R.Ry. K. Kailasam Ayyar Avargal was deputed by the
Principal for the purpose.
35
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
VIZAGAPATAM CIRCLE FOR THE YEAR 1929-80.
I.––ADMINISTRATION.
1. East Godavari Agency tracts, Vizagapatam and Ganjam
districts formed the jurisdiction of the first circle till 31st July
1929, when consequent on the formation of five new circles, the
jurisdiction was limited to the districts of Vizagapatam and
Ganjam.
2. Mr. C. Venkataratnam Chetti was in charge of the first
circle throughout the year. He toured for 173 days. All the
Veterinary institutions and all the touring billets were inspec-
ted twice except the Veterinary Dispensary, Jeypore (newly
opened on 1st August 1929), Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Parvatipur, and the Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon, Aska (billet was vacant from 24th March 1929 to
11th November 1929) which were inspected once in detail. He
paid a surprise visit to the Veterinary Dispensary at Anaka-
palle
3. He attended the Veterinary Hospital, Vizagapatam,
frequently during his stay at headquarters and rendered pro-
fessional 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 and to demonstrate the use of the Burdizzo castrator
to them and to the ryots.
He visited Narasapatam and Chodavaram to find out
whether the places were suitable for opening veterinary dis-
pensaries and selected a building for the location of a veterinary
dispensary at Jeypore. He inspected sites at Jeypore for the
construction of permanent buildings.
4. During the year 7,890 animals were inoculated by serum
simultaneous method against rinderpest in this circle
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
5. On the 31st March 1930, there were in all 27 Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons attached to this circle, 11 in charge of
veterinary institutions including the men in charge of the 2
private institutions, 11 in charge of touring billets, and 2
36
leave reserve. Of the two in leave reserve, one was on long
leave and the other Veterinary Assistant Surgeon's services have
been lent to the Raja of Kallikota. In addition to the above
there were three probationers. M R.Ry. B. Lakshmanaswami
Nayudu, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, who was on long leave
died during the year under report.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
6. One veterinary institution was newly opened on 1st
August 1929, at Jeypore during the year making the total
number of institutions at the end of the year eleven including
the two private ones. The institution at Jeypore is at present
located in a rented building.
7. Government buildings for the Veterinary Dispensary at
Parvatipur were constructed and the dispensary was moved to
the new buildings on 13th January 1930.
8. The total number of cases treated and total number of
castrations performed in the veterinary institutions of this circle
were 12,628 and 1,682 as against 10,706 and 1,650 respectively
of the previous year.
Of the 1,682 castrations 1,099 were done by Burdizzo
method.
In addition 1,633 cases which were not brought to the
institutions were supplied with medicines.
9. There was an increase in the amount of work done in all
the institutions except those at Berhampur, Vizagapatam and
Parvatipur. 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 charged as in the case of animals belonging to rich people
according to the new scale of fees introduced from 1st April
1929.
Secondly to the levy of toll-gate fees every day in respect
of every animal brought to the hospital for treatment. The
Chairman, was however pleased to waive the tax in the case of
animals brought for treatment from 1st April 1930.
Thirdly to the prevalence of rinderpest and other diseases
in the Berhampur taluk in certain months in the year.
Owing to frequent change of incumbents and to the intro-
duction of fees there was a fall at the Veterinary Hospital,
Vizagapatam also.