NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
21
and the Clinical Laboratory and of these 120 were positive.
The following are the parasites recorded :—
(1) Sarcoptes ..
(2) Psorptes ..
(3) Demodex ..
(4) Cnemidocoptes
(5) Ringworm ..
(6) Negative ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
Total ..
Parasitologioal
Section.
36
6
15
2
8
226
293
Clinical
Laboratory.
42
1
10
..
..
201
254
(d) Worms.—Sixty-three specimens of worms including
cysts were examined. Several cases of infestation with spiro-
cerca were recorded from dogs of this Presidency especially in
the Madras fox hounds. During the year under report a
generalized infection with cysticercus cellulosæ was observed
in a dog.
(e) Ectoparasites.—Nineteen specimens of ectoparasites
were examined in the Parasitological section and one in the
Clinical Laboratory.
(f) Four specimens of urine were examined in the
Parasitological section and eight in the Clinical Laboratory.
(g) Others.—Three in the Parasitological section and
two in the Clinical Laboratory.
Collection of parasites.—About 250 bottles of worms were
collected in the Parasitological section during the year from the
animals on which post-mortem examinations were conducted in
the college and also from animals specially destroyed for the
collection of worms. Among the collection of worms made
during the year the following rarer specimens were seen and
recorded:—
(a) Echinococcus granulosa.—This parasite was recorded
in five dogs during the year.
(5) Heterophyes Heterophyes.—This worm which was
hitherto not recorded in India was found in two dogs.
(c) Rictularia species.—Two females of this genus were
collected from the small intestines of a dog.
(d) Echinorynchus species.—This worm was received from
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Cannanore, and it is reported
to have been passed by a hen.
(e) Hypoderma bovis larvæ.—These larvæ were collected
from a yak and sent by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon,
Ootacamund.
22
(C) Clinical Laboratory.
A Clinical Laboratory was opened from 9th July 1928 with
a view to facilitate the immediate examination of smears and
scrapings, etc., received from the different wards of the college
and in order to give practical training to the final year students
in the examination of such materials. Work in this section is
done in the morning hours only. The Senior Laboratory
Assistant working in the Parasitological section was in charge
of this laboratory. For the sake of convenience and to avoid
repetition the specimens examined in this laboratory have been
shown with those of the Parasitological section.
V.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN THE MADRAS CITY.
During the year under report, 2,212 horses were inspected
by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon on Glanders work during
his systematic tour and 375 on arrival at the railway stations
and harbour. Of these, 134 were tested with mallein sub-
cutaneously, and none gave a positive reaction. The city was
free from any of the scheduled equine diseases during the year.
Imported cases of rinderpest were detected during the first
and last quarter of the year and prompt preventive measures
were taken. Seven hundred and twenty-nine head of cattle
were given protective serum by the serum alone method.
Seven cases of anthrax were met with of which five were
sporadic cases and in one outbreak 22 head of cattle were given
anti-anthrax serum. Foot and mouth-disease was prevalent
throughout the year. One hundred and eighty-six cases were
given treatment; two bulls of the Corporation A Depot were
injected with Lugol's solution of iodine and the process of its
administration was explained to the Veterinary Officer of the
Corporation for his further trials. Nineteen cases of trypano-
somiasis were dealt with in the B Depot. Cases of fowl cholera
were noticed in Nungambakkam and six birds were given
double vaccination and the premises were thoroughly disinfected.
No further cases were reported.
Serum simultaneous inoculation camps were held in the
S. P. C. A. compound attached to the college and 189 animals
were protected by this method against rinderpest.
VI.—RESEARCH.
(a) The following items of research conducted by M.R.Ry.
M. R. V. Panikkar Avargal in the Parasitological section of
the laboratory were in progress during the year under report:—
Theileriasis.—From a systematic examination of blood
smears from bovines, it has been found that theileria mutans
are quite common especially among the young stock of the
23
Presidency. So far the parasite seems to be harmless. With a
view however to find out a suitable drug to cleanse the blood of
this parasite, drug treatment was adopted in some cases and the
results show that trypanblue (both Casella and Merck) is of no
value for this purpose.
Trypanosoma theilerii.—Five cases of trypanosoma theilerii
were recorded from bovines during the year. Dogs, guinea-
pigs, and white rats were found to be uninoculable with this
parasite, but it was found that this parasite was transmissible
to bovines. The first and the only record of this parasite in this
Presidency was in 1909 by M. Valladares.
Treatment for anchylostomiasis.—Investigation regarding
the treatment of hookworm in dogs is in progress, and we are in
a position to state that carbon tetrachloride is a very efficient
drug for the treatment of anchylostomiasis in dogs.
Anchylostomes in dogs.—For the purpose of finding out the
species of anchylostomes met with in dogs of this Presidency
systematic collection of anchylostomes from dogs is being made
and studied. So far only A. caninum and A. brazilience are
the only two species met with.
Taenia echinococcus.—It has been remarked time and again
that adult worms are rare in dogs though the cystic stage of the
parasite is found to be very common in the lung and liver of
cattle and sheep. In this connexion it may be of interest to
note that during this year as a result of our investigation, we
were able to collect the adult worms from five dogs. Feeding
experiments with hydatid scolices are being undertaken to find
out the probable hosts for the adult parasites.
Trypanosomes.—For studying the adhesion phenomena with
a view to distinguish the different species of trypanosomes
occurring in horses and cattle of this Presidency, the available
strains of trypanosomes from these animals are being collected
and maintained in the laboratory animals.
Treatment of piroplasmosis.—Available cases of piroplasmosis
in cattle and dogs are being treated with drugs and the results
recorded.
(b) A summary of the different items of research work
conducted in the Pathological section of the laboratory by
M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurti Ayyar Avargal is given below :—
(1) Bovine lymphangitis.—Research into the causal
organism of bovine lymphangitis was continued during the year.
4
24
Research so far made indicates that the causal organism of
bovine lymphangitis is very closely allied to B. pestis. Lesions
quite identical with those described by the Advisory Committee
appointed by the Secretary of State for the investigation of
plague in India as chronic or resolving plague lesions in rats
were experimentally produced in guinea-pigs by inoculations
into them of the organism of bovine lymphangitis as well as
direct materials from natural lesions.
An interesting piece of information was also gathered as
regards the endemicity of this disease in the Madras Presidency.
This was based upon the information furnished by the Deputy
Superintendents of the Madras Civil Veterinary Department in
1918 to Mr. F. Ware, the present Director of Veterinary
Services, Madras, in response to a circular issued by him then
and also from the list of places from which materials have been
received for examination from time to time between 1922—
28 at the Madras Veterinary College Laboratory.
The data so far collected when compared with those
obtained in respect of plague show that in the districts where
plague is endemic, bovine lymphangitis is very rare if at all
prevalent and in places where bovine lymphangitis is endemic
plague has been found to be very rare. Outside the Madras
Presidency, cases of bovine lymphangitis have been reported
in Calcutta while there has been none in Bombay.
So striking is the endemic distribution of the two diseases
that its significance cannot be overlooked or explained away as
a strange coincidence. It is considered that this strange
endemicity of bovine lymphangitis might be due to the parti-
cular vectors as transmitters of the disease and that if the
organism of bovine lymphangitis is found by further obser-
vations to be identical with bacillus pestis, this finding may
probably lead to the elucidation of problems connected with
plague. Specimens of natural and experimental lesions as well
as cultures of the organism and smears were exhibited to the
members of the Medical and Veterinary Research section of the
sixteenth session of the Indian Science Congress held in January.
As regards the treatment of this disease, vaccine which
was reported upon as efficacious, in the last report was continued
be used by the staff with beneficial results.
(2) Nasal granuloma in cattle.—Rhinosporidium was
recorded in a bullock in growths removed from the nasal cavity
to while streptothrix was recorded in seven cases.
(3) Poultry disease.—An epidemic among crows and
poultry was noticed in some of the districts in this Presidency.
25
Experiments conducted with available materials have so far not
revealed anything definite as regards the nature of the infection.
(4) An outbreak among fox hounds of the Madras Hunt
Club.—An epidemic started towards the end of December last
among the fox hounds which was of a very acute character, of
very short duration terminating fatally in the majority of cases.
The chief symptoms noticed were : an icteric condition of the
visible mucous membranes, punctate hæmorrhages in the lips,
discoloration of the urine, conjunctivitis, complete loss of
appetite and a pendulous condition of the abdomen due to an
effusion of a sanguineous fluid. There was no temperature
reaction and the course varied from a day to a fortnight.
The post-mortem lesions presented by all the hounds that
succumbed to this disease were all identical with one another in
the majority of: its respects but differed in some cases in very
minor particulars.
Icteric condition of the visible mucous membranes with
punctate hæmorrhages in the lips and subcutis being more
marked in the region of the flank and the middle region of the
sternum, sanguineous effusion in the thoracic and abdominal
cavities, hæmorrhages into the intestines more especially into the
jejunum and ileum, petechial hæmorrhages in the bladder charac-
teristic changes in the liver and the kidney both being pigmented
yellow, punctate haemorrhages in the lungs and simulating
the so-called butterfly appearances so characteristically de-
scribed as prominent lesions in leptospiral infections as well as
in the epicardium formed some of the most important lesions.
Inoculations of blood from hounds suffering from the
disease as well as from the liver of those that died made into
guinea-pigs caused their death, and in these, lesions identical
with those due to leptospiral infections were found. In one of
the inoculated guinea-pigs that succumbed to this disease as the
result of inoculation leptospira could be demonstrated in the
liver emulsion.
(5) Contagious abortion.—Cases of abortion continued to
occur in Chintaldevi, Hosur and Coimbatore farms. Veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeon G. R. Viswanathan was deputed to
collect materials from one of the aborted cases on 9th January
1929 from Chintaldevi Cattle Farm. Agglutination tests
conducted with the sera of those aborted during the year have
not given any positive results to B. abortus Bang.
Compliment fixation tests conducted with the antigen used
for Wasserman reaction was tried by the Professor of Pathology
26
in collaboration with the Director, King Institute, Guindy, and
positive weak results were obtained in two of the cases. Owing
to the heavy work entailed in this section further repetition of
either of these tests or examination as to the elucidation of the
cause of such abortions could not be proceeded with.
VII.—MANUFACTURE.
(a) Rinderpest virus production.
The rinderpest virus production started towards the close
of last year, was continued from the beginning of April till
20th June 1928, but was subsequently discontinued.
Again about the middle of September virus production was
started under the supervision of the Professor of Pathology
with the object of ensuring a regular supply of virus for carry-
ing out serum simultaneous method of inoculation against
rinderpest in this Presidency. Temporary sheds, an incine-
rator, and a post-mortem shed were erected and a regular supply
of virus to the staff was commenced from 1st October. The
animals used for this production consisted of both buffaloes and
oxen and in order to keep up the virulence of virus alternations
of passages were made as often as necessary. The experience
gained show that by such a passage the virulence of the virus
can be maintained without deterioration and that it has also not
suffered in any way by transit to different centres, as the
reports from the Circle officers as well as the results following
upon the serum simultaneous method of inoculation showed.
It has also been noticed that the majority of the calves
which were collected for the purpose within the City of Madras
have proved very susceptible to this passaged virus and 122
calves succumbed to infection within the usual time, showing
temperature, vesicles and diarrhœa. The systematic daily
examination of blood smears from each of the calves proposed
to be utilized for the production of the virus was undertaken as
far as possible commencing from three days prior to its infection
with rinderpest and was continued up to 72 hours after the
virus was drawn. The infection of Theileria mutans was
detected in the blood of 135 calves out of 216 examined, but as
such infected virus was not found to exercise any harmful
effects in the animals inoculated, no restrictions to the issue of
such virus were imposed. Intercurrent affections such as
resuscitation of P. bigeminum were observed in 28 cases;
presence of Trypanosomes in two cases; Microfilaria in two
cases, and these animals were not utilized for virus production,
Coccidia were detected in nine cases. From 1st October to
27
31st March the total number of specimens examined amounted
to 4,021, while the number of post-mortems held on the car-
casses of calves that died was 158.
The quantity of virus drawn from each animal each time is
given a separate number and a sample of each is subjected to
strict examination for bacterial contamination before issue.
From 1st October to 24th March 1929, 154,045 c.c. of virus
were prepared which covered 258 brews of which 119,175 c.c.
of virus were issued to the staff on their indents which
numbered 506. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred
in one of the calves utilized for rinderpest virus production
and in that connexion the issue of virus had to be stopped from
24th March 1929 until the close of the year.
(b) Animal supplies.
The number of animals purchased from 1st October to 31st
March was 214 calves of which 78 were buffalo calves, one
sheep and five goats, and the number that remained alive on
the roll on 31st March in this section was one healthy buffalo
calf and five others used for experiments with bovine lym-
phangitis.
VIII.—MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Propaganda.
In order to bring home to the minds of the public the
importance of paying prompt attention to the outbreak of
diseases among animals and the measures they have to adopt in
their eradication, a beginning was made during the course of
the year to prepare suitable popular stories of educative value.
The first of the stories which was prepared by the Professor of
Pathology was on "how man and animals become infected
with anthrax and how it can be prevented."
The story depicts what actually happens in villages when
animals die of infectious diseases, the manner in which they
are disposed of, how Chamars who are usually concerned with
their disposal, cut open the carcasses without the knowledge of
the grave danger arising therefrom and disseminate infection
and how. during the course of such a process one of them
contracts infection accidentally and eventually dies. The
import into the tanneries of infected materials which are offered
for sale by these Chamars and the spread of infection to large
numbers of bales of non-infected skins gathered in the tanneries
is also dealt with and the story ends with the arrival of a
Veterinary Doctor on the scene who explains to the people in
the village, the disease from which the animals have died and
28
the several features of the disease, relating to the mode of
infection, spread and prevention.
The whole story is illustrated by lantern slides prepared
from photographs, most of them taken, of men who were made
to act the different parts with suitable captions at intervals
based on cinema lines.
The preparation of charts, specimens and lantern slides
depicting important cattle diseases met with in this Presidency
and diseases communicable to man from animals were also
proceeded with during the year.
(b) Exhibitions and Shows.
1. As usual the College participated in the Health and
Baby Week Show held in January when different exhibits of
scientific and popular interest were arranged by the Professor
of Pathology and his staff. Every evening a lantern show
was held in front of the stall itself and popular lectures were
given.
2. An exhibition showing the different pathological lesions
of interest both from the medical and the veterinary point of
view was held in the college laboratory when members of the
Medical and Veterinary Research section of the last Indian
Science Congress were invited to attend. In that connexion
a lantern demonstration on anthrax was given to these
members by M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurti Ayyar Avargal, in the
college central hall.
IX.—FINANCE.
The receipts under the different heads during the year
under report are given below :—
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students' fees .. ..
Hospital collections . .
Shoeing forge . .
..
Other sources .. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
Total . .
RS. A. P.
2,450 0 0
7,384 12 6
2,036 13 7
1,762 2 9
13,633 12 10
The expenditure of the college under the several heads is
detailed below:—
1. Teaching and research staff
2. Hospital
3. Shoeing forge
Total
..
..
..
..
RS.
A. P.
65,259 13 0
15,568 5 1
1,388 12 0
17,933 12 5
1,00,150 10 6
29
X.—GENERAL.
M.R.Ry. V. Krishnamurti Ayyar Avargal was on deputa-
tion to Haffkine Institute, Bombay, from 4th May 1928 to
24th May 1928 in connexion with work on bacteriophage. He
served as one of the members of the University Commission
appointed by the Madras University for inspecting and report-
ing on the working of the Agricultural College.
The following papers were read by M.R.Ry. V. Krishna-
murti Ayyar Avargal at the Indian Science Congress held in
Madras last January:—
(1) A preliminary note on the characters of the causal
organism of bovine lymphangitis and its relationship to B.
pestis.
(2) Studies in bovine lymphangitis. Further observa-
tions.
(3) Treatment of Johne's disease by intravenous injection
of formalin solution.
XI.—PROGRESS MADE IN GIVING EFFECT TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION
ON AGRICULTURE.
No specific recommendations of the Royal Commission on
Agriculture pertaining to the Madras Veterinary College were
given effect to, during the year under report.
T. J. HURLEY,
Acting Principal, Madras Veterinary College.
27th May 1929.
30
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE I
CIRCLE, CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT,
VIZAGAPATAM, FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.
I.—ADMINISTRATION.
1. East Godavari, Vizagapatam and Ganjam districts
including the Agency tracts attached to them formed the juris-
diction of the I Circle till 1st July 1928, when, consequent on
the formation of the VII Circle, the plain taluks of the East
Godavari district were removed from the I Circle and added on
to the II Circle.
2. M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal held charge
of the Circle from 1st April to 16th November 1928 and I was
in charge for the rest of the year.
3. M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal was on tour
for 104 days and inspected the veterinary institutions at Pola-
varam, Berhampur, Russellkonda, Vizagapatam, Parvatipur,
Bobbili, Anakapalle, Vizianagram and Bhadrachalam, in
detail, and also the veterinary dispensary, Polavaram, in non-
detail, for the second time. He paid a surprise visit to the
veterinary dispensary, Anakapalle.
He also inspected the offices of the Touring Veterinary Assist-
ant Surgeons of Berhampur, Russellkonda, Aska, Vizagapatam,
Parvatipur, Narasapatam, Polavaram and Bhadrachalam, in
detail, and also of Palakonda, in non-detail.
While at headquarters, he visited the veterinary hospital,
Vizagapatam, frequently to render help and give advice in the
treatment of animals.
He visited Sompeta and Ichapur to find out whether the
places were suitable for opening veterinary dispensaries. He
selected a building for the location of the veterinary dispensary,
Anakapalle, and sites for the construction of permanent buildings
for the veterinary institutions at Anakapalle and Polavaram.
He attended the veterinary Conference which was held at
Madras during the year under report.
4. I toured for 73 days and inspected, in detail, the veteri-
nary institutions at Chicacole and Parlakimedi and the offices
of the Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons at Palakonda,
31
Tekkali, Koraput, Vizianagram and Russellkonda. Non-
detail inspections of the Veterinary institutions at Parvatipur,
Polavaram, Berhampur, Russellkonda, Bobbili and Vizianagram
and of the offices of the Touring Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons of Polavaram, Berhampur, Aska and Parvatipur
have been done by me.
I visited Jeypore and Grunupur to find out whether they
were suitable for the opening of Veterinary dispensaries and
selected buildings at Jeypore and Tekkali for the location of
a Veterinary dispensary.
I attended the Veterinary Hospital, Vizagapatam, almost
daily during my stay at headquarters and rendered professional
aid to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge. When
in camp every opportunity was taken to render similar aid to
the staff and to demonstrate the use of Burdizzo castrator to
them and to the ryots.
5. Mr. A. K. Mitra, Officer on probation in the Madras
Veterinary Service, was posted to this circle to undergo train-
ing under M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampath Ayyangar Avargal, who
took him to Coimbatore, when he was transferred there.
6. During the year, 1,353 animals were inoculated by serum
simultaneous method against rinderpest in this circle.
II.—EXECUTIVE STAFF.
7. On the 31st March 1929, there were in all 26 Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons attached to this circle, 12 in charge of
Veterinary institutions, including the men in charge of the two
private institutions, 12 in charge of touring billets and two
leave reserve. Of the two leave reserve, one has been on long
leave and the other is the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon whose
services have been lent to the Raja of Kallikota. There was
no casualty among the staff in this circle during the year.
(a) Hospitals and Dispensaries.
8. One Veterinary institution was newly opened on 31st
March 1929 at Tekkali, during the year, making the total
number of institutions at the end of the year to be 12, including
the two private ones. The institution at Tekkali is at present
located temporarily in a small Government building.
9. Suitable buildings for the Veterinary Hospitals at Parvati-
pur and Bhadrachalam are under construction during the year.
10. The total number of cases treated and the total number
of castrations performed in the Veterinary institutions of this
circle were 12,600 and 1,768 as against 21,106 and 1,736
respectively of the previous year.
5