7
44 .A sufficient supply of Serum has been received during the year. The number
of doses received in comparison with previous years in shown below :—
Rinderpest
Anthrax
Hærnorrhagic Septicæmia
1920-21.
176,000
6,000
3,000
1919-20.
89,000
9,000
4,000
1918-19.
36,000
10,000
4,000
1917-18.
1,27,000
6,000
Nil
1916-17.
117,000
6,000
5,500
45. During the year the pay of the Veterinary Assistants was raised from Rs. 45—
10/5—75 to Rs. 50—10/5—100 and the Veterinary Inspectors' pay from Rs. 100—5—175 to
Rs. 100—10—200. The maximum fixed travelling allowance of Veterinary Assistants
has also been increased from Rs. 25 to Rs. 30.
46. It has been noted that a total number of 25 cruelty cases were sent by the Ma-
gistrates to the Veterinary Hospitals at Gauhati, Silchar and Shillong for treatment.
This is a very small number in comparison with the large number of cruelty cases in
which no action is taken. The amount of cruelty which is inflicted on animals in this
province is very great; much of this is due to the ignorance and apathy of the people,
but a good deal is deliberately inflicted. By example and precept the Department is
endeavouring to show to cattle-owners the value of greater care and attention to
all animals and it is hoped that in time the cases of gross neglect which are brought
to hospitals and dispensaries will become fewer.
The Veterinary Assistants' services are utilised more and more for examining
and reporting on maiming case9 which have been observed by the police.
47. Manipur State suffered from a severe outbreak of Rinderpest during the year
and a large number of cattle died. The disease began to spread along the cart road
into the Naga Hills. On the advice of the Department the Deputy Commission-
er, Naga Hills, stopped all movement of cattle from the road into the interior and
from village to village with the satisfactory result that the disease was confined to
the road and one or two adjacent villages. This was a good lesson, showing the value
of isolation and of stopping the movement of cattle. It is interesting to note that
this year in Upper Burma the outbreaks of Rinderpest have been more extensive
and serious than in any year since 1905. From Upper Burma the disease was
evidently spread to Manipur.
The Veterinary Department leaflets have been sent to Manipur for translation
and distribution there.
48. One of the necessary factors in any scheme for the general improvement of
cattle is the castration of all the weedy and undesirable bulls. During the year one
Burdizzo's castrator was obtained and demonstrations on this method of castration
were given in various places. The operation has several advantages, one being that
no wound is made, so there is no trouble of daily dressing and no risk of wound
contaminations. This method should therefore overcome some of the objections and
difficulties previously met with.
49. Forty-four deaths were reported from cattle poisoning during the year.
Seven cases were confirmed after post-mortem examination and 13 cases were
confirmed by the Chemical Examiner to the Government of Bengal : arsenic was
found in each case. Eight casss of poisoning were reported amongst the inoculated
animals from Nazira. No confirmation could be made, as the matter was not reported
to the Veterinary Assistant in time. In Mangaldai the Veterinary Assistant suspected
poisoning in about 60 cases, but no opportunity was given to confirm this by examina-
tion.
50. The Veterinary Inspector, Surma Valley, reports that the fodder problem in
the Surma Valley, specially where large areas go under water- is a most serious one.
This has a direct influence on the general health of the cattle whose vitality is so
reduced for want of sufficient and proper feeding that they fall easy victims to
disease. 1 quite agree with the Inspector's remarks and can only add that as the
physical conditions of the country cannot be altered, it is only suitable for buffaloes
and most unsuitable for cattle.
51. The Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner of Assam visited the Veterinary
Hospitals at Silchar, Kohima, Mangaldai, Goalpara and Barpeta. The Director of
Land Records and Agriculture, Assam, inspected the dispensaries at Dhubri, Jorhat,
Sylhet, Silchar, Hailakandi, Nowgong, Barpeta and Dibrugarh.