4
This staff are mainly working to protect cattle against Rinderpest. During
the year under report mass vaccination of cattle against rinderpest was
undertaken in the districts of Burdwan, Bankura, Midnapore, West Dinajpur,
Darjeeling, Birbhum, Murshidabad and 24-Parganas along the main routes
of cattle movement and in cattle markets. The total number of cattle
protected against rinderpest during the year was 1,158,085. The figure is
promising no doubt, but this section had to operate under difficult circum-
stances for the unsympathetic attitude of the owners of cattle for their
ignorance about the benefit. Moreover, this section could not be manned
to its full strength due to sanction of the set-up not being received.
Besides the above work this section in collaboration with the District
Veterinary Officer, Poultry, and the District Veterinary staff protected
15,150 fowls against fowl pox, 10,933 fowls against ranikhet and 1,605 fowls
against fowl cholera (Reference Table No. III).
Research Section.
The Research Section is under the supervision of the Assistant
Director of Veterinary Services and the main function of the section
is to manufacture Goat Tissue Vaccine for protection of cattle against
rinderpest.
Sri M. B. Menon (now deceased) held charge of the Veterinary Research
Institute and control of the sub-section at Kurseong throughout the year
under report except for the period from the 3rd May 1948 to the 2nd July
1948 when he was on leave and when Sri B. B. Chakravarti officiated in
the vacancy in addition to his own duties as Officer-in-charge, Poultry
Research Institute. Mr. Menon was on tour for 10 days during the year
for investigation of a very severe outbreak of verminous Bronchitis amongst
pigs at Ghoom and for inspection of the sub-section at Kurseong. During
the year under review the Research Institute supplied the required quantity
of Goat Tissue Vaccine for West Bengal, as well as met the demand of this
product from the Province of Assam and Tippera State. The research to
increase the yield of Goat Tissue Vaccine by incorporation of other tissues
from goats was carried on with no satisfactory result. Investigation works
into Helminthic diseases of obscure nature like Amphistomiasis in cattle,
sheep and goats and Microfilariasis in horses and into Protozoan diseases,
such as Thilariasis and Sarcosporidiasis in cattle were carried on. Symptoms
simulating those of Surra were detected in horses due to the presence of
Microfilaria in blood. Examination of specimens (blood smears, stool, etc.)
sent from different districts of West Bengal were carried on and diagnosed
and results communicated with all promptitude.
Poultry Research.
At the time of partition of Bengal all the instruments and appliances
belonging to this section were removed to East Bengal. This section could
not be equipped with necessary instruments and appliances during the year
under report and as such Ranikhet Disease Vaccine could not be manu-
factured. The supply was maintained by indenting vaccines in lump from
the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar. Sri B. B. Chakravarti
held charge of this section for the period under report.
Treatment of Diseases,
Contagious Disease.—Table II will show the number of deaths
from contagious diseases and other causes in detail. In furnishing a short
review of the toll taken by various contagious diseases in West Bengal