NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
4
under ordinary conditions. The next procedure was to try to use Spleen
Tissue Vaccine. Nothing was known of the use of this outside labora-
tory experiments. Its efficacy has been established and its cost is
approximately 1/50 that of A. R. Serum method. As a result of this
work Bengal secures the credit for being the pioneer province to use
virus alone inoculation in face of the disease and (2) in the use of
Spleen Tissue Vaccine for the control of rinderpest.
21. It was found that this tissue vaccine could be prepared at
headquarters, placed in sealed ampoules and kept in cold storage ready
for issue to district officers as required. It was demonstrated by that
it retained its potency for 30 days in cold storage and for 6 days after
issue from cold storage under field conditions. The vaccine was issued
to the districts in lieu of serum as quickly as Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons could be trained in its use. Some Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons were trained directly by Mr. Menon who attended the out-
breaks with them. Veterinary Inspectors were also trained in this
way and then required to attend outbreaks within their own circles and
instruct the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons under them. In this way
some twenty-eight thousand animals were protected with tissue vaccine
up to the close of the year. The results have been most favourable. In
practically all cases outbreaks were promptly checked and there were
no cases of disease recurring amongst vaccinated animals. The
immunity conferred by this method is of long duration. It is similar
to that conferred by goat blood virus which has been personally tested
and found to be solid at the end of two years.
Part I.—Veterinary Instruction.
22. The propaganda work of this department has aroused great
interest amongst all classes of people. Five hundred and sixty-five
calls were registered during the year as against 521 in the previous
year. These calls were received from various bodies, official and non-
official, interested in the rural welfare work of the country. The staff
sanctioned for the purpose, however, consists of an officer and a peon.
As the funds under head "Travelling allowance" are very limited, the
tours of the officer had to be curtailed to the great disappointment of
the officials and members of the general public. More workers and
still more funds are therefore necessary to do full justice to the vast
work that lies before us in this province.
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
23. The year on the whole was a comparatively healthy one for the
livestock of the province, the total number of deaths reported being
22,674 as against 24,884 in the previous year. Table II gives the
figures for each district in detail.
24. On a reference to the figures it will be seen that the most
striking decrease was under the head "Rinderpest." There was how-
ever a substantial increase in the death rate from Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia and other contagious diseases, under the bovines, during
the year.
5
Equine Diseases.
25. Glanders.—With the exception of the districts of Darjeeling
and Rangpur the province was practically free from this disease. The
outbreak in the district of Darjeeling was confined to six pack ponies
in the Government Cinchona Plantation at Mungpoo. Two ponies and
one mule belonging to the Military Department and suspected to be
suffering from this disease were brought at Lebong from Tibet and
tested with Mallein by the D.A.D.V.C. and destroyed.
A sum of Rs. 177-8 was awarded as compensation for the compulsory
destruction of seven animals under the Act.
26. Anthrax.—Only one case was reported from the Regimental
Stables at Mymensingh, Prompt action was taken to stamp out the
disease.
27. Surra and dourine.—No cases were reported during the year.
28. Other contagious diseases.—The loss under this head was twelve
as against two in the preceding year. Of this number ten occurred in
the Murshidabad district but no details thereof are available.
Bovine Diseases.
29. Rinderpest.—During the year under report there has been con-
siderable abatement in deaths from this disease and very few districts
were seriously affected, the total loss on this account being 14,064 as
against 16,694 in the previous year. In all cases in which reports were
received in time usual preventive measures including the recent Goat
Tissue Vaccination were adopted with gratifying results. The districts
which suffered very badly were Jessore, Khulna and Rajshahi. These
three districts were responsible for more than 50 per cent. of the total
loss in this province.
30. Foot and mouth.—Caused 1,101 deaths as against 445 in the
preceding year. The mortality was highest in the district of Malda,
where 559 deaths occurred. As usual, deaths from this malady were
confined to young stock or old, weak and decrepit animals.
31. Hæmorrhagic septicaemia.—Five thousand two hundred and
seventy-eight animals succumbed to this disease as against 3,320 in the
previous year. The highest mortality from this source was recorded
in the district of Khulna where 2,182 animals died. Inoculation was
undertaken with success to prevent the spread of the disease after the
diagnosis had been confirmed by Bacteriological Examination.
32. Blackquarter.—Appeared in ten districts of this presidency.
In Murshidabad and Rangpur the outbreaks were fairly widespread.
Altogether 266 animals died as against 119 in the previous year.
Inoculation with "Blackquarter Aggressin" in the majority of these
outbreaks was undertaken with satisfactory results.
33. Anthrax.—Reports of outbreak were received from eleven dis-
tricts, the total loss under this head being 329 as against 310 in the
preceding year. The outbreak was rather severe in the district of
Mymensingh where 86 animals died.
6
34. Other contagious diseases.—As usual details are not available
and little reliance can be placed on figures which show a great increase,
being 603 as against 348 in the previous year.
35. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—These include
rabies and distemper in dogs, fowl cholera and cases of suspected
poisoning, etc. Considerably lower mortality is noticed under this head,
the loss being 1,010 as against 3,638 in the preceding year.
Table III.—Preventive Inoculation.
36. Table III gives details of the number of inoculations and
vaccinations performed during the year.
37. Inoculation and vaccination campaigns were organised in 683
outbreaks and 1,55,298 animals were protected as against 1,91,172
animals inoculated in 748 outbreaks during the previous year. The
decrease in the number of inoculations is due partly to the less pre-
valence of outbreaks of rinderpest as noted in paragraph 29 of this
report. Details of animals protected are given below :—
Rinderpest ..
Hæmorrhagic septicæmia ..
Anthrax ..
Blackquarter ..
Total ..
1933-34.
1,35,392
16,583
1,713
1,610
1,55,298
1932-33.
1,75,634
12,902
2,520
116
1,91,172
38. A reference to the figures above will show that out of 1,35,392
animals protected against rinderpest in 1933-34, 1,03,123 were by the
Serum Alone Method, 3,158 by Serum Virus Method, 199 by Goat Blood
Virus Method and 28,912 by the New Goat Tissue Vaccine Method.
This last-mentioned method has yielded excellent results. Its applica-
tion is being extended as fast as possible with the staff available. The
two outstanding points in favour of this method are that the protection
given lasts for two years at least and the cost is but a fraction of that
of the Serum Alone Method.
39. Besides the above figures 349 inoculations against rinderpest
by the Serum Alone Method were performed in Calcutta and its suburbs
by the staff of the Bengal Veterinary College.
40. The death rate amongst the inoculated and vaccinated cattle
was negligible, being 885 in all or 0.6 per cent. for the whole province.
41. A sum of Rs. 23,023-14 was paid to the Director of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research at Muktesar for the supply of sera
and vaccines during the year.
7
Table IV.
42. Table IV shows the number of animals treated and castrated
at headquarters and in the mufassal by the Itinerant Veterinary Assis-
tant Surgeons in charge of Veterinary Stores. It also includes the
work done in the interior by the Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
in charge of dispensaries.
43. During the year there were 106 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
working in the mufassal of whom 73 were purely Itinerant and 33 in
charge of dispensaries, who toured in the interior either at fixed periods
ox when necessity arose. In addition to the inoculation and vaccination
work noted in paragraph 38 of this report these officers visited 16,068
villages and treated 1,52,673 cases as against 16,587 villages and
1,75,228 cases, respectively, in the preceding year. The decrease in
the number of villages visited and cases treated is due to the restrictions
imposed on the tours of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons by certain
District Boards in this province. Some of these officers also inspected
cattle pounds in their jurisdiction, and submitted reports to the local
authorities regarding hygienic condition and supply of food and water
to the animals impounded.
44. The number of scrub bulls castrated by the staff during the
year shows a satisfactory increase, being 3,193 as against 1,945 in the
previous year. This will indicate that every opportunity is now being
utilised by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons to push on with this
essential work for cattle improvement, although the number is
infinitesimal in view of the numbers yet remaining to be done.
Table V.—Hospitals and Dispensaries.
45. Table V gives the details of the working of the hospitals and
dispensaries, which numbered 49 as against 48 in the previous year.
The increase in number is due to the opening of a new dispensary at
Satkania, during the year.
46. The total number of in and out patients treated at these
institutions was 77,808 and 12,162 cases were supplied with medicines
as against 81,255 and 19,727 cases, respectively, in the previous year.
The decrease is attributed to the general healthy condition of cattle in
this province as referred to in paragraph 23 of this report as well as,
in some instances, to Veterinary Assistant Surgeons having to be
granted leave without substitute owing to paucity of men in the
Reserve.
47. A shed for outdoor patients has been constructed at Shahzadpur
by the District Board of Pabna.
48. The District Board of 24-Parganas have sanctioned the neces-
sary cost for the removal of the Veterinary Stores at Alipur to a more
prominent site.
49. The Veterinary Dispensary at Lalbagh was transferred during
the year to a central site at Jiaganj and the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon in charge provided with necessary quarters. The accom-
modation is the gift of Rai Bahadur Surendra Narain Singh, Chairman
of the District Board of Murshidabad, to whom the thanks of the
department are due for his liberality and public spirit.
8
50. A Veterinary Dispensary with quarters for the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon was under construction at Siliguri during the year.
51. The need for a dog ward in the Veterinary Hospital at Dacca
has been felt for many years and a sum of Rs. 1,654 was raised by
public subscription for the construction of a suitable building for the
purpose. The Divisional Commissioner, Dacca, contributed in this
connection, a sum of Rs. 100 from his discretionary grant. Mr. Gossip,
the Livestock Expert, Bengal, took an active part in the matter of
collection of this sum.
52. The Veterinary Dispensary at Gopalganj was provided with a
tube well by the District Board of Faridpur this year.
53. The construction of a Veterinary Dispensary with quarters for
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge was completed at Satkania
by the District Board of Chittagong in February 1934.
54. A dog operation room attached to the Veterinary Hospital at
Chittagong was constructed this year by the Dog Show Committee of
that station and a sum of Rs. 50 was received as contribution from the
Commissioner of the Chittagong Division from his discretionary grant.
towards its equipment.
55. The construction of a Veterinary Dispensary with officer's
quarters at Hatiya in the district of Noakhali is reported to be in
progress. It is also reported that the cultivation of Napier grass in
the compound of the Veterinary Hospital at Noakhali is giving satis-
factory result.
Part III.—Breeding Operations.
56. The number of stud bulls kept by Government and local bodies
rose from 258 in the previous year to 385 in the year under review.
Table VIII shows the distribution of these animals in the various parts
of the province.
57. The breeding operations are in charge of the Agricultural
Department but the question of improvement of the breed of cattle has
continued to engage the attention of this department as usual. Persis-
tent efforts are being made by the departmental officers to impress on
the minds of cultivators and owners of cattle generally the advantage
of and the urgent need for care in the breeding and management of
cattle.
58. The premium bull system introduced by the Agricultural
Department has worked very satisfactorily wherever tried but the
number of bulls issued to different districts is so small that an exten-
sion of this system is very urgently needed for an appreciable improve-
ment of cattle in this province.
Fairs and Shows.
59. Tables XIII and XIV give particulars of the fairs and shows
held during the year.
9
60. All these fairs were visited by the departmental officers who
delivered lectures to the people present on veterinary matters, and
explained to them the methods of treatment of disease and the manage-
ment of cattle.
61. Lantern slides were displayed at the fairs attended by the
Propaganda Inspector.
Bull Breeding and Rearing Farms.
62. Three such farms were in existence in this province during the
year, one at Kalimpong, another at Rangpur and the third at Manipur
in Dacca. The first is managed by St. Andrews' Colonial Homes while
out of the two which belonged to Government, the one at Rangpur has
been closed down as a measure of retrenchment.
Table IX, which is intended to show the working of these farms,
is left blank, vide the report of the Livestock Expert incorporated in
the annual report of the Director of Agriculture, Bengal.
63. Manipur.—There was an outbreak of rinderpest on the farm,
which carried away 15 head of unprotected cattle before inoculation.
All preventive measures were however undertaken and 28 animals were
protected by Serum Alone Method and 77 by Goat Tissue Vaccine, out
of which two calves died. There was another outbreak of Anthrax, in
which 74 animal's were inoculated to check the spread of the disease.
64. Kalimpong.—The herd consists of pure Ayreshires and some
cross-breeds. The chief trouble is hæmaturia, which is under investi-
gation. The disease is enzootic in hill districts and is not unknown in
the mountainous regions of other countries.
There was an outbreak of suspected blackquarter amongst the
calves during the winter months, and thirteen of them died after an
illness of from a few hours to a day or two. Mr. Menon, the Disease
Investigation Officer, who could attend the outbreak at the last stage,
diagnosed this as blackquarter and had those which survived inoculated
and indicated precautions. No more cases have occurred.
Horse and Pony Stallion.
65. There is no horse or pony stallion in this province. Tables X,
XI and XII are therefore blank.
Part IV.—Subordinate Staff.
66. The strength of the staff employed in this province will be
found in Table VII of this report.
67. With the exception of two posts opened by the District Board
of Dacca in collaboration with the Union Boards in the Narainganj
subdivision of that district there were no additions to the cadre of
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon during the year. These two posts are a
part of the scheme for the appointment of seven additional Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons sanctioned for the Dacca Board in April 1932. The
10
Board now contemplate opening on similar lines a third post for the
Munshiganj subdivision and it is understood that a proposal to this
effect was submitted through the Collector and the Divisional Com-
missioner for the consideration of Government at the close of the
financial year.
General Remarks.
68. Hormone.—The treatment for slowness of breeding in cattle
was continued during the year under report.
Three bulls and 14 cows were treated with successful results in 52
per cent. of these cases. The high percentage of failures indicates the
need for more careful examination of the animals before treatment is
undertaken. It has been specially emphasised that this is not a cure
for pathological sterility.
69. Rinderpest.—The incidence of this disease has shown a
decrease during the year. A check was experienced during the rains,
which were exceptionally heavy. Floods limit the movement of cattle
and spread of the disease and also act as hindrance in some cases to
reports being received in time. Rinderpest is periodic in its rise and
fall. The peak appears to have already been reached and it should now
continue to decline. A graph indicating the rise and fall of rinderpest
in the last twelve years is attached.
70. Veterinary Investigation Officer.—As noted in last year's report
a Veterinary Investigation Officer was appointed in December 1932, the
post being financed by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
The work of improving anti-rinderpest inoculation had been pending
the appointment of this officer. It was fortunate that the services of
Mr. Menon were secured as he had 15 years' experience in all branches
of rinderpest work at the Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research at
Muktesar. Various experiments were accordingly undertaken in this
connection, leading ultimately to the adoption of Goat Tissue
Vaccine for rinderpest in the field.
In order to carry out this important work it was necessary to
establish a Vaccine Depot at headquarters. A suitable building belong-
ing to the Military Department was available at Barrackpore and
arrangements have been made there on a temporary basis, until March
1935. The extension of the application of Goat Tissue Vaccine will
be continued as the main item of this officer's programme during
1934-35. During this period other members of the staff will be trained
in the preparation of the vaccine and the district staff in its application
in the field. Further investigation will be carried on with regard to
(a) causes of degeneration of Bengal cattle, (b) Hæmaturia in hill
cattle, and (c) Infectious Ottorhoea in buffaloes seen in different parts
of Bengal.
71. Coat Tissue Vaccine.—The routine touring during the year had
to be restricted as my presence at headquarters was essential
to direct and develop anti-rinderpest inoculation work in Bengal.
Goat Tissue Vaccine shows great promise of revolutionising the methods
for the control of rinderpest in India and enormously increasing the
degree of control possible to achieve, but for the full benefit of this
11
improved method to be experienced it is essential that district veterinary
staff be very greatly increased so that the disease may be reported
promptly and no outbreak go unattended. Until such time as there is
sufficient staff to attend all outbreaks it is not possible for the depart-
ment to undertake protective inoculation when the disease is not
prevailing. A proposal for extra headquarters staff has been approved
by Government but for financial reasons it has not been possible to give
effect to this. A scheme for establishing a Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon under local control in each thana area in Bengal has been
submitted by me for the consideration of Government.
72. Remarks regarding the work of the Provincial Officers, the
Subordinate and the Ministerial Staff :—
"Rai Sahib N. N. Majumdar, Assistant Director, Western
Range.—
Administered his Range with his usual efficiency throughout the year
and in addition rendered me much help with headquarters affairs. His
experience and advice were most useful in arranging for the application
of the Tissue Vaccine Alone Method of inoculation against rinderpest
in the district.
"Maulvi M. S. Chowdhuri, Assistant Director, Eastern
Range.—I
much regret to have to record the death in June of my senior Muslim
Officer. He is a great loss to the department in which he has served for
29 years.
"Babu M. P. Ghosh, Officiating Assistant Director, Eastern
Range.
—This officer officiated in the leave and subsequent death vacancy of
Maulvi M. S. Chowdhuri, in all 11 months of the year. During this
period he has justified his selection for this post carrying the duties
with efficiency and tact, devoting special attention to the development
of Dacca District Scheme for increasing the number of Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons in that district under the joint control and financial
support of the District Board and Union Boards. This may be
regarded as the first step towards the establishment of a Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in each thana area in the province. He has also
been of great assistance in applying the new anti-rinderpest treatment
in his Range."
"Veterinary Inspectors.—Babus
R. N. Bose and B. K. Shaha deserve
special commendation for the intelligence and interest they have shown
in the application on the field of the new inoculation against rinder-
pest."
"Officiating
Veterinary Inspector Babu M. N.
Majumdar.—This
officer was promoted in the vacancy caused by the promotion of Babu
M. P. Ghosh. During the ten months he showed great promise of
becoming a most efficient Inspector. Unfortunately his promotion
resulted in considerable pecuniary loss and he reverted to his substan-
tive post of Stationary Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Dacca, at his own
request."
"Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Babu B. N. Nandi.—Is
com-
mended for the zeal and ability he has shown in the new duties
pertaining to the Vaccine Depot, which he has undertaken in addition
12
to those of Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeon. He has benefited
greatly by bis deputation to the Muktesar Institute in a leave vacancy
there."
Assistant Directors' recommendation of Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons under them :—
The following officers have been mentioned for good work by the
Assistant Directors, Western and Eastern Ranges :—
Western
Range.
1. Babu C. H. Sen Gupta, Darjeeling.
2. Babu J. C. Majumdar, Bankura.
3. Babu J. K. Bose, Ranaghat, Nadia.
4. Babu L. M. Roy Chowdhuri, Alipur.
5. Babu S. C. Bose, Khatra, Bankura.
Eastern
Range.
1. Babu M. R. Sen Gupta of Dacca Sadar.
2. Maulvi Wajed Ali of Tangail, Mymensingh.
3. Babu J. C. Das Gupta of Netrokona, Mymensingh.
4. Babu M. L. Datta of Chittagong.
5. Babu N. C. Sen Gupta of Barisal.
"The Office.—I regret I cannot record complete satisfaction with
the office work during the year. Under existing conditions it will
never be possible to have the work efficiently done and up to date, as
we are hopelessly understaffed. The position has been rendered still
more difficult by the breakdown and consequent absence of various
members of the staff on sick leave. The staff as a whole have done
their best."
P. J. KERR, I.V.S.,
Director, Civil Veterinary
Department,
and
Veterinary Adviser to the Government of Bengal.
REMARKS—The inoculation figure for 1933-34 includes 3158 animals protected by serum simultaneous Method & 29111 by Goat Tissue Vaccine.
REFERENCE Upright figures indicate deaths reported.
Italic
„
„
inoculations performed.