NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
8
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPT., BURMA,
the infected area, while the Third Superintendent also visited the
district frequently directing operations. I also visited the district
during the year.
The only other district in Upper Burma in which the mortality
recorded was over a thousand was Yamethin. The number of deaths
reported during the year was 1,024, of these 419 occurred in the
Yamethin and 405 in the Pyawbwè townships. One Veterinary
Inspector and two Assistants were posted in the Pyinmana Subdivision
on special duty.
The Deputy Commissioner remarks, " The serious outbreaks of the
disease during the year are said to be due to bad rains. "
Minor outbreaks also occurred in the Taungdwingyi, Myothit and
Natmauk townships of the Magwe District.
Anthrax.—The
highest mortality recorded during the year was from
the Upper Chindwin, Pakôkku and Myingyan Districts where the losses
were 200, 142 and 117 respectively.
Foot-and-mouth Disease.—Katha
and Minbu were the only districts
where it prevailed to any extent during the year (with very slight
mortality).
Veterinary Inspectors, 11.— Mandalay 1, Meiktila 1, Yamethin l,
Minbu 1, Magwe 1, Bhamo 1, Shwebo 1, Sagaing 1, Mônywa 1,
Pakôkku 1, and Katha 1.
Special duty, 2.—Yamôthin, Upper Chindwin.
Veterinary Assistants,
93.
North-West Border Division
Mandalay Division ...
North-East Frontier Division
Total ...
District.
38
35
10
83
Reserve.
5
2
...
7
Frontier.
...
2
1
3
Flying
Column.
...
...
...
...
Special duty, 11.— Viz., Mandalay Division 7 and North-West Border
Division 4.
SHAN STATES.
8. Southern Shan States.—Excepting
the North-Eastern Subdivision
the States may be said to be more or less free from ravages of contagious
cattle diseases.
In the North-Eastern Subdivision Rinderpest is
reported to have killed over 800 cattle during the year.
Sixteen deaths from Surra and 65 from Anthrax are also reported
from the same Subdivision.
Segregation
Rules.— Only one breach of these rules, viz., for
slaughtering diseased cattle, was reported in the North-Eastern
Subdivision, which at the time of report was still pending.
In May there was a severe outbreak of Swine-fever in the newly
established Pig Farm, Southern Shan States Produce Company. The
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1924.
9
Company's European manager and his staff took stringent measures,
preventing the spread of the disease, but practically the whole of their
live stock (some 400) were lost.
Veterinary Assistants.—The
strength of the Veterinary Assistants at
the beginning of the year was fifteen. One Assistant, Maung Kyauk Sein,
stationed at Yawnghwe, died in September and one Ai Yawt of Kēngtūng
was removed for misconduct, thus leaving thirteen Assistants in the States
at the close of the year posted as noted below :
Western Subdivision ...
Central Subdivision
...
North-Eastern Subdivision ...
Yawnghwe Subdivision ...
South-Eastern Subdivision ...
Kēngtūng Subdivision ...
Karenni Subdivision ...
Kalaw ...
Namhkok ...
Samka ...
Taunggyi ...
Loilem ...
Mong Hsu ...
Mong Kung ...
Mong Nawng ...
Yawnghwe ...
Mong Nai ...
Mawkmai ...
...
...
Maung No.
Maung Nyun.
Hsu Pin Nya.
Saw Nyun.
Maung Kyaw Hla.
Maung Kyaw Zan.
Maung Ba.
Hsang Htun.
Maung Myo.
Maung Po Tu.
Maung Po Yawk.
Hkam Mat.
Maung Waing.
At the close of the year the Assistant Superintendent of the North-
Eastern Subdivision found that Maung Hsan Htun in Veterinary charge
of Mong Nawng State had inflicted fines amounting to Rs. 50 under the
Cattle Disease Act and had demanded Rs. 100 from a villager. Enquiry
is pending.
Commenting on the work of Veterinary Assistants and the reliability
of the reports and statements submitted by them, the Assistant
Superintendent, Western Subdivision, writes : " . . . .
This
criticism should not be taken as particularly against the present local
Veterinary Assistants ; it applies very generally and means a fault of the
organisation and inspection, a regular pre-arranged tour programme, to
be broken only on urgent summons to an epidemic, with the Veterinary
Assistant putting up a report of cases countersigned by a local headman
seems to be the only way of getting any value from this service in local
conditions at ordinary times."
The Assistant Superintendent, Central Subdivision, observes, "To
get full benefit from Veterinary Assistants expert supervision is essential.
The staff is paid for by nine States and the Assistant Superintendent is
in general control, but obviously he can no more check work in detail
than he can supervise accouchements by the trained midwives whose
returns also come through him. Apparently expert supervision is not a
favoured policy, but it will only be when good Veterinary Inspectors
constantly tour and check the work of Veterinary Assistants as in
Hsipaw that full value will be received for money spent."
Veterinary
School, Taunggyi.—The
school was in charge of
Veterinary Inspector Maung Po Ku. My predecessor, Mr. Cameron,
2
10
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPT., BURMA,
inspected the school in May and remarks that " the pupils gave evidence
of careful instruction, but the Inspector is greatly handicapped by lack
of various facilities."
There were eight students under training ; only one from Mong Nai
is stipendiary; the others are paid by their respective States.
9. Northern Shan States.—Rinderpest was reported from three States
North Hsenwi, Hsipaw and South Hsenwi, the mortality recorded
however was very small (460).
Anthrax is said to have accounted for 136 deaths, all in the North
Hsenwi State.
Tawngpeng State was reported to be free from any disease through-
out the year under report.
Some seventy deaths from Surra and 8 from Glanders are reported
during the year.
Segregation Rules.—The Superintendent remarks that " the working
of the rules was on the whole satisfactory. There was, however, an
offence against the rules in Hsipaw State which was suitably dealt
with."
Veterinary Staff.—On the 1st of April there were one Veterinary
Inspector and eleven Assistants employed in the States. One Assistant
was posted to Mong Mit State during the year, but after serving less than
five months he proceeded on medical leave in September. To fill this
vacancy a boy from this State has been sent to Taunggyi Veterinary
School for training.
Two boys, one from Hsipaw and the other from Tawngpeng State,
are still under training at the Taunggyi School and as noted elsewhere
another lad sent from the Hsipaw State for a higher course in the
Veterinary School at Insein was invalided and returned to the States
during the year.
The Superintendent states that " the Veterinary Staff at Hsipaw,
North Hsenwi and South Hsenwi States have again done a good year's
work."
Towards the close of the year the distribution and number of
Veterinary Staff was as noted below :—
Inspector
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Maung Tha Dun Zan
1. Maung Po Aung
2. Maung E
3. Maung Kyaw Dwe
4. Maung Tun
5. Maung Po Ba
6. Maung Ba Shin
7. Maung Tun
8. Maung Sein Nyi
9. Maung Hkun Ko
10. Maung Maha In
11. Maung Hkun Yi
12. Maung Pan Sing
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Hsipaw.
Hsipaw.
Hsipaw.
Hsipaw.
Nawnghkio.
Mong Long.
Momeik.
Kutkai.
Kutkai.
Kutkai.
Kutkai.
Mongyai
Mongyai.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1924.
11
(2) Other Contagious Diseases.
10. The diseases noted below were reported and confirmed by
microscopical examination in the Laboratory :
Piroplasmosis—177 cases, vis. from Rangoon, Insein, Pegu, Prome,
Tharrawaddy, Minhla, Toungoo, Thayetmyo, Allanmyo, Gangaw, Yaw,
Pyaungshoo, Katha, Sabainago, Shwebo, Kinclat, Madaya, Swa,
Pyinmana, Bhamo, Shwegu, Mansi and Moo.
Trpyanosomiasis—107.
Rangoon, Gyogon, Ywama,
Kamayut,
Nyaunglebin, Prome, Nattalin, Henzada, Pantanaw, Gangaw, Banmauk,
Wuntho, Shwebo, Homalin, Mawlaik, Mônywa, Budalin, Falam,
Patheingyi, Pyinmana, Taungdwingyi, Minbu, Ngaphe, Myitkyina, Hopin,
Mogaung, Bhamo, Mopein, Momauk, Lashio, Taunggyi and Loimwe.
Reports received from the following districts record deaths from
Surra as under :—
Pinlebu 4, Kalemyo 6, Maymyo 2, Kamaing 6, but no confirmatory
diagnosis was made in the absence of blood smears.
Anthrax—40.
Rangoon, Insein, Prome, Tharrawaddy, Toungoo,
Bassein, Amherst, Mergui, Pakôkku, Gangaw, Yaw, Mogôk, Wetlet,
Ye-u, Mawlaik, Kalewa, Pyinmana, Pyawbwe, Bhamo, Mopein, Minesat
and Moo.
Haemorrhagic Septiceamia—10. Insein, Nyaunglebin, Tharrawaddy,
Toungoo, Bassein, Henzada, Moulmein, Gangaw, Mônywa and Mawlaik.
Charbon Symptomatiue—1.
Pyawbwe.
Glanders—4. Insein, Pakôkku and Natmauk.
Epizootic Lymphangitis—1.
Minbu.
Strangles—3. Tharrawaddy, Shwebo and Myingyan.
Swine fever—1.
Kalaw.
Ankylostomes—78. Insein, Rangoon, Tharrawaddy and Toungoo.
Filariasis—16. Insein, Rangoon, Toungoo and Katha.
Ascariasis—7. Insein and Rangoon.
Demodex Mange—8. Insein and Rangoon.
Sarcoptic Mange—17. Insein.
(3) Preventive Inoculation.
Table III.
11. Inoculation operations were carried out in nine districts in
Lower Burma, viz. Insein, Hanthawaddy, Rangoon, Pegu, Tharrawaddy,
Toungoo, Ma-ubin, That8n and Amherst ; and seven in Upper Burma,
viz., Shwebo, Lower Chindwin, Upper Chindwin, Meiktila, Yamethin,
Magwe and Myitkyina.
In all some 36,182 animals were inoculated, the highest number of
cattle so treated in any one district being 12,761 at Yamethin. The
12
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPT., BURMA,
number of cattle reported to have died after inoculation was 178, i.e.
49 per cent.
In the Amherst District the Deputy Commissioner remarks that
" inoculation was carried out as extensively as possible and 2,998 heads
of cattle were injected with good results. In the Kawkareik, Mudôn
and Kyaikmaraw townships and in some parts of the Kya-in township
people began to realize the advantages of inoculation and the operation
is becoming more popular."
Conditions prevailing in the Upper Chindwin District, where the
losses of cattle from Rinderpest have been so heavy, have been noted
elsewhere in this report, and to these may be added the difficulty of
transport of serum and of maintaining a sufficiency on the field during
the outbreak, hence it is not surprising to find that the number of cattle
inoculated in that district amounts to 656 only.
In the Thanatpin township of the Pegu District the Subdivisional
Officer reports that " inoculation did not seem to be popular amongst
cattle owners " whereas in the Pegu township inoculation is reported
to have " successfully checked an outbreak which threatened to be
severe in cattle belonging to the rubber plantation near Mahazedi
Pagoda."
In the Daik-u township of the same district during an outbreak at
Yenawthaung, the villagers, who are mostly Karens, are reported to
have given every assistance to the Veterinary Assistants and " very
willingly " brought forward their cattle for inoculation and as a result
the " outbreak was stamped out immediately."
In the Bhamo District the Deputy Commissioner remarks with
respect to inoculation that " there is still some hesitation when inocula-
tion is proposed. This reluctance to inoculation will disappear in time."
Excluding the School staff and pupils, two Deputy Superintendents,
fourteen Veterinary Inspectors and 75 Veterinary Assistants were
employed during the year on serum inoculation duty.
(4) Other Diseases.
12. Reported deaths from other causes total 77,863 as shown in the
following table :—
Arakan Division
Rangoon Division
Pegu Division
Irrawaddy Division
Tenasserim Division
... ...
... ...
... ...
...
...
... ...
Total ...
8,986
8,140
15,446
20,222
10,481
63,275 (Lower Burma)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1924.
13
North-West Border Division ...
Mandalay Division ... ...
North-East Frontier Division ...
Total
6,776
7,297
515
14,588 (Upper Burma)
(5) Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries.
Table V.
13. Excluding the Hospital at Insein there, were four dispensaries
working during the year, viz., one each at Myingyan, Pakôkku and
Prome opened in 1921, and one at Pegu opened in 1922.
Myingyan dispensary heads the list of animals treated with 2,562,
Pegu coming next with 1,761 cases, and as anticipated, the experiment
of establishing a dispensary at the latter place has, I consider, been
amply justified.
The Pakôkku dispensary did not show quite such a satisfactory
result, some 294 cases only being treated during the year.
With regard to the dispensary at Prome, the Deputy Commissioner
remarks : " The Veterinary Dispensary in spite of its short existence
is justifying itself. Roughly over 50 cattle are treated monthly
* * * It is hoped that the dispensary will in course of time get
better known in the district and will be made more use of than at
present."
This branch of usefulness of the Department has not been developed
in this Province to the extent it has in India, where in 1920 there were
536, being one at nearly every headquarters station, and the results
from the four above mentioned dispensaries warrant me recommending
that others should be started in many of the larger towns of the
Province. Besides providing for the actual treatment of animals they
serve as centres of information regarding animals generally, and arouse
interest in their care and treatment. To get the full benefit from one
of these places, however, sufficiently roomy quarters should be
obtained, where, if proving successful, stables and other necessary
buildings can be provided.
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
14. The services of the Officer-in-charge of this branch were
retained by the Agricultural Department.
This important work was carried out under the Director of
Agriculture by a member of the Indian Veterinary Service.
I attended the Cattle Shows at Meiktila, Mandalay, Allanmyo and
Rangoon for the purpose of judging in the cattle classes.
14
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPT., BURMA,
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
Tables IV &
VII.
15. Veterinary Inspectors.—Their strength during the year under
report is shown in the table noted below :—
Veterinary
Inspectors.
(1)
Lower
Burma.
Upper
Burma.
Shan States
Total ...
Strength
on 1st
April
1923.
Permanent.
(2)
7
7
2
16
Acting.
(3)
5
4
...
9
Appoint-
ed during
the year.
Permanent.
(4)
1
1
...
2
Acting.
(5)
...
...
...
...
Total.
Permanent.
(6)
8
8
2
18
Acting.
(7)
5
4
...
9
Casual-
ties
or Pro-
motion.
Permanent.
(8)
...
...
...
...
Acting.
(9)
...
...
...
...
Transfer, etc.
Permanent.
(10)_
-2
Leave.
+ 1
Trans-
fer.
+ 1
Return-
ed from
leave.
-1
Trans-
fer.
+ 1
From
leave.
...
+3-3
Acting.
(11)
-1
Rever-
sion.
+ 1-1
Trans-
fer.
-1
Rever-
sion.
-1 + 1
Trans-
fer.
...
+ 2-4
Strength on
31st March
1924.
Permanent
(12)
8
8
2
18
Acting.
(13)
4
3
...
7
Total.
(14)
12
11
2
25
The Inspectors in Lower Burma visited 2,207 villages and attended
49 outbreaks ; on an average each Inspector was out 195.45 days on
tour.
In Upper Burma the Inspectors toured for 274*27 days on an average,
visited 2,427 villages and attended 100 outbreaks during the year.
The Inspector in the Northern Shan States was 222 days on tour and
visited 274 villages.
The Inspector in the Southern Shan States visited 56 villages,
attended 17 outbreaks and was 84 days out.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1924.
15
16. Veterinary Assistants.—The annexed table shows the distribution
and strength at the beginning and close of the year :—
Veterinary
Assistant.
(1)
Lower Burma
Upper Burma
Strength on 1st April
1923.
(2)
District
...
86
Reserve
...
6
Frontier
...
1
Flying Column
6
Office
...
2
School
...
1
Total
... 102
District
...
80
Reserve
...
9
Frontier
...
2
Total
...
91
Grand Total ... 193
Appoint-
ed
during
the
year.
(3)
3
1
...
7
...
...
11
3
...
...
3
14
Total.
(4)
89
7
1
13
2
1
113
83
9
2
94
207
Casual-
ties
or Pro-
motion.
(5)
-3
...
...
...
...
...
- 3
-1
...
...
-1
-4
Transfer.
(6)
+ 9 -2
+ 2 -4
+ 1 -1
-6
+ 1
...
+ 13—13
+ 5 -4
+ 1 -3
+ 1
+ 7 -7
+ 20-20
Strength
on 31st
March
1924.
(7)
93*
5
1
7
3
1
110
83†
7
3
93
203
* Including three Assistants acting as Veterinary Inspectors.
† Including four Assistants acting as Veterinary Inspectors.
Fourteen passed pupils were given appointments during the year,
11 to Lower and 3 to Upper Burma.
Two resigned the service, one in August and the other in April as
they did not wish to be transferred to another district. One Assistant
stationed at Paukkaung, Prome District, was removed in August for
falsifying his diary, while a fourth posted at Ponnagyun, Akyab District,
retired in December after over 29 years' service. This Assistant was in
indifferent health for some time.
Twenty Assistants were sent on special duty during the year, 7 in
Lower Burma, viz., Amherst 5, Bassein 2, and 13 in Upper Burma, viz.,
Upper Chindwin 5, Yamethin 4, Meiktila 3, Magwe 1. Average period
spent by each on special duty being 83'75 days.
The Assistants in Lower Burma spent on an average 208.03 days on
tour, visiting 20,161 villages and attending 999 outbreaks.
In Upper Burma they visited 19,892 villages, were out on an average
211.97 days and attended 1,157 outbreaks.
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
17. Cattle Disease.—The only district where cattle plague was parti-
cularly virulent during the year was the Upper Chindwin. For the past
four years this district has been very unfortunate in the losses amongst
its live stock, as some 37,630 cattle are estimated to have died from
Rinderpest alone during this period.
16
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPT., BURMA,
Both my predecessor and I have visited the scenes of outbreaks as
also the Third Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent.
There
is no doubt that the District Officers have had a very trying time but
their efforts may be said to have been rewarded as the disease has
practically died out from the district.
The Deputy Commissioner
remarks that " agricultural operations which were affected by want
of plough cattle are becoming normal again in the townships affected in
previous years."
The district is also rather unfortunate in its comple-
ment of Veterinary Assistants as may be seen from the Deputy Commis-
sioner's remarks, " Maung Ba Thein, Veterinary Assistant, who was
suspected of corruption has been transferred out of the district. Maung
Po Sein, a senior Veterinary Assistant, is charged with falsifying
his diaries while on special duty in Homalin Township. He has also
been charged for preferring claims for expenses twice for the same
month. The matter is under inquiry. Inspector Maung Po Ba and
Veterinary Assistant Maung Ba Wi were frequently ill and did not do as
much work as they might have. Some of the Veterinary staff in the
Paungbyin township are reported to have been dilatory in supervising
segregation. This district is not popular with men from elsewhere who
are unwilling to work here."
The Deputy Commissioner further observes that " the need of a
separate Inspector for the Upper Chindwin is also felt, who could
go out immediately an outbreak is reported and supervise the work
of the Assistants.
At present he usually has to be summoned from the
Lower Chindwin and arrives only when an outbreak has started
to spread. Proposals have been made for training local men at the
Veterinary School for appointments in this district, and it is hoped that
some will be selected for training this year."
I need not say that
I fully endorse the Deputy Commissioner's views and the subject will be
kept in mind when the next selection of pupils is made.
In Lower Burma a satisfactory decrease from last year's figures
of some 6,812 deaths from Contagious Diseases has been recorded, viz.,
3,799 from Rinderpest, 2,332 from Anthrax and 681 from Foot-and-Mouth
disease. From the Upper Burma Districts, however, the mortality from
the same causes shows a slight increase to that recorded last year, i.e.
1,915 deaths from Rinderpest, and 236 from Anthrax.
Towards the close of the year a slight recrudescence of Rinderpest is
reported from the Yamethin District.
For the purpose of preparing concisely arranged statistics bearing
upon matters connected with the live stock industry of the Province,
the services of an additional clerk were temporarily engaged, and as the
result of two months' labour charts were completed showing in tabular
form the following records from the year 1900 onwards :—
(1) Cattle Census (from Season and Crop Report of Burma).
(2) Number of deaths from Cattle Plague.
(3) Number of deaths from Foot-and-Mouth disease.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1924.
17
(4) Number of deaths from Anthrax and Blackquarter.
(5) Total recorded cattle mortality due to Contagious disease.
These tables show the figures for each individual district.
In addition, nine other charts were drawn up showing by means of
graphs, according to divisions, the information correlated above.
By aid of these charts, the incidence of contagious disease in any
year and in any district, the mortality therefrom, and the total cattle
population, may be seen at a glance.
These graphs also clearly demonstrate the cycles of virulence of the
above mentioned contagious diseases. Cognisance of these periods is of
great importance inasmuch as it enables one to foretell when a parti-
cularly virulent outbreak is likely to occur, and by taking reasonable
precautions beforehand one should be enabled to minimise the unfortu-
nate losses always attendant upon such outbreaks.
18. Segregation Rules.—The
consensus of opinion of District
Officers with regard to the working of the rules is that they are under-
stood and followed by cattle owners and headmen, the Deputy Commis-
sioner, Bhamo, remarking that " even the Kachins are falling into line "
and the Deputy Commissioner, Prome, that " There has been a
satisfactory decrease in the cattle epidemics during the year, partly due
to segregation of the cattle affected immediately the outbreak was
detected in any locality." The only adverse reports are received from
the Upper Chindwin District, the Deputy Commissioner reporting
that " as people do not realize the importance of segregation, many
had to be fined by the headmen for failure to segregate cattle ; one
headman was also fined for not reporting an outbreak of Rinderpest in
his tract."
The Subdivisional Officer, Mawlaik, states that " many headmen are
still ignorant of the segregation rules and supervision of segregation by
Veterinary Inspector and Veterinary Assistants was carried out in a
perfunctory manner."
As in the past, very explicit instructions have been issued to all
officers of the Department that every suitable opportunity is to be taken
to explain these rules, not only to village headmen but to villagers
themselves, and it is to their influence and that of other District Officers
that we must look to break down the barriers of ignorance and
prejudice.
In the Amherst District the rules are said " to have been enforced in
all cases of outbreaks and many segregation camps were established.
Several prosecutions were instituted against cattle owners for breach of
the rules. Five headmen were rewarded in recognition of their
excellent work in the suppression of cattle disease."
I consider this a move in the right direction, and it might with
advantage be introduced into other districts, where cattle owners may still
be hesitating as to the utility and value of segregation. In addition to such
rewards to Thugyis and Headmen, 1 would go so far as to suggest that