NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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66. Supply of Sera and Vaccines.—Sera and vaccines
to the value of Rs. 44,347-9-0 were obtained during the year
from the Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar
and the Branch Serum Institute, Izatnagar, for supply to
different customers through the serum depots of the department.
Strict economy was maintained in the expenditure of serum and
the account was kept at the head office as before.
67. During the year, the question of adjustment of the
serum account was considered by Government in the Finance
Department, and it was decided that customers instead of
depositing the cost under an " Advance " head, should credit
the same to the head, " Veterinary Receipts " under XXIV—
Agriculture, while provision should be made by the department
for the total receipts from the Muktesar Institute under the
head, 34—Agriculture—Contingencies—Miscellaneous (non-
contract). According to this decision, a sum of Rs. 90,000
based on the district board budget estimate, was provided in the
departmental budget for 1935-36. In this connection, Govern-
ment were also pleased to authorise the Director, Veterinary
Services, to write off, as irrecoverable, charges on account of
sera and vaccines lost, or discarded owing to loss of potency,
up to Rs. 500 in one item.
68. Out of a total amount of Rs. 59,326-2-5 payable to the
Muktesar Institute, a sum of Rs. 45,549-3-0 including the
Government grant of Rs. 2,199-2-6 paid to the district board,
Hazaribagh, was recovered from the consumers and credited
to Government, leaving Rs. 13,776-15-5 still due by the Depart-
ment to the Muktesar Institute as on 1st April 1935. The
amount due on the same date from the local bodies and other
customers stood at Rs. 9.441-2-9 for all supplies made up to the
31st March 1935.
69. Cost of inoculation.—As was anticipated, the cost
of inoculation has already greatly declined. Though it will
yet take some time to get at the complete figures for making
a proper comparison, it is easy to note the difference even now
under the head of rinderpest, between the years 1933-34 and
1934-35. By adding together the cost of anti-rinderpest serum
and that of the goat blood and tissue virus used, it is found
that the cost per inoculation which amounted to Re. 0-3-21/3 in
the year 1933-34, came down to about Re. 0-1-9 only in 1934-35.
With the further reduction of the price to Re. 1-2-0 per
ampoule of goat tissue virus which will henceforth be used more
extensively, the cost of protection of animals against rinderpest
will practically be negligible for a local body, compared with
the cost of inoculation by anti-rinderpest serum.
20
Number of animals treated.
70. Except the revival of the post of touring veterinary
assistant surgeon at Tikari which was sanctioned by Govern-
ment, no other new post could be created during the year.
The district board, Patna, have, however, approved of the
creation of the post of 2nd touring veterinary assistant surgeon
for the subdivision of Barh and agreed to locate the dispensary
at Bukhtiarpur. The proposal is now under the consideration
of Government. A proposal for the appointment of a touring
veterinary assistant surgeon by the municipality, Madhupur
(Santal Parganas), is also under consideration, while the
district board, Champaran, have resolved to appoint two
additional touring veterinary assistant surgeons for that dis-
trict. All the wealthier district boards of the province were
approached to create new posts of touring veterinary assistant
surgeons out of their savings in the budget provisions for
serum, and it is understood some of them are considering the
question in earnest. As the matter is of vital interest to
livestock owners, it is hoped that those boards which can afford
to allot funds, will do their best to expedite their proposal
and relieve this Department of its present strain without delay.
Nothing further has yet been heard regarding the proposed
abolition of the two posts of additional touring assistants at
Jamui and Begusarai in the district of Monghyr but the
headquarters of the 2nd assistant of Jamui have since been
shifted to Jhajha (East Indian Railway) with a new veterinary
dispensary opened there.
71. Construction of dispensaries.—The district board,
Cuttack, have sanctioned a proposal for the construction of a
set of quarters for the touring veterinary assistant surgeon at
Jagatsingpur. The work is expected to be finished during
1935-36.
72. Work of veterinary assistant surgeons.—In spite of
curtailment of certain activities early in the year in conse-
quence of the disastrous earthquake in North Bihar and some
parts of the South Bihar Range, altogether 354,831 patients
were treated by the veterinary assistant surgeons on tour, at
their headquarters and at field veterinary dispensaries, and at
such other centres as the fairs and shows, agricultural farms,
goshalas and the Bihar Light Horse camp of exercise, as
compared with 321,644 patients treated in the year 1933-34,
an increase of 33,187 patients. In addition, 33,268 old cases
were treated, while 70,107 cases mostly of foot and mouth
disease were supplied with medicines.
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73. Of the total number of 354,831 fresh patients, 31,906
were treated for contagious disease, 225,583 for non-contagious
disease, and 97,342 as castrations; according to ranges, 115,239
patients were treated in the North Bihar, 139,444 in the
Central and 100,148 in the Orissa Range.
74. The touring veterinary assistant surgeons visited
56,970 villages during the year against 53,604 visited by the
same number of assistants in 1933-34, which shows an increase
of 3,366 villages contributed mainly by the North Bihar and
Central Ranges. Details of the work under all heads are
shown in Table IV.
75. Field Veterinary Dispensaries.—During the year 31
rural veterinary dispensaries were opened and 26 were closed
leaving 139 working at the end of the year against 134 in
1933-34. Of these, 57 worked in the North Bihar, 50 in the
Central and 32 in the Orissa Range. This is only the third
year of their existence but their popularity was so great that
as many as 123,075 animals were treated at these dispensaries,
compared with 100,730 treated in the previous year which
shows an increase of 22,345 patients. The strain on the present
staff necessarily increased. Attention of local bodies is again
drawn to the absolute need of an increase in the touring staff
with a view to maintain efficiency through these useful
institutions.
Veterinary Hospitals.
76. The same 33 veterinary hospitals as in the previous
year, continued to work throughout the year under report.
The number includes 1 hospital maintained by the Bettiah Raj,
while Jamui and Dinapore hospitals were still in charge of
the touring veterinary assistant surgeons.
77. Construction and repair.—None of the District
Boards have been able to undertake the construction of any
new hospital. The District Boards in the North Bihar Range
with the exception of Motihari hospital which was repaired
during the year, are now considering the question of perma-
nent repair or reconstruction of the buildings damaged by the
earthquake. It is however gratifying to note that the local
authorities in the Central Range have already completed this
work.
78. Number of patients treated.—During the year, 93,587
in and out patients were treated at the 33 veterinary
hospitals, as compared with 91,527 treated in the year 1933-34,
which shows an increase of 2,060 patients treated. In
addition, 19,330 castrations were performed, and 13,324
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patients not brought to the hospitals, were supplied with
medicines, against 17,335 castrations done and 12,774 patients
supplied with medicines during 1933-34. Of the total number
of 93,587 patients, 45,720 were treated at 14 hospitals of the
North Bihar Range, 31,603 at 11 hospitals of the Central
Range and 16,264 at 8 hospitals of the Orissa Range The
figures for castrations were 11,117 for North Bihar, 6,261 for
the Central and 1,952 for Orissa Range. The other details
are shown in Table V.
CHAPTER IV.
Breeding Operations.
79. Control of livestock improvement.—The department
maintained and controlled livestock improvement on the
Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Patna. This is a dual
purpose breeding centre, its activities being mainly directed
towards producing Tharparkar cross-bred animals, in addition
to pure Tharparkar born and reared on the farm. From the
sale list it appears that people have a greater liking for
bullocks and cows than for bulls. During the year how-
ever, 4 bulls (1 Tharparkar and 3 cross-bred) were supplied
free to the local bodies in accordance with the scheme, while
11 bulls and bull calves, Tharparkar as well as cross-bred, were
sold to the public.
80. Stud bulls.—The department also supervised the
maintenance of the stud bulls at the veterinary hospitals which
numbered 31 at the end of the year, against 36 in 1933-34.
The district board, Muzaffarpur, obtained 2 more bulls from
the Sabour Agricultural Farm. Altogether 9 casualties
occurred. The distribution of the bulls according to the
districts is shown in Table VIII.
81. Castration of bulls.—The work consisted in elimination
of scrub bulls and also ordinary castration of calves for
draught purposes. It was carried on with greater energy
during the year, as the total number rose to 110,034 bulls
and bull calves, compared with 96,222 done in the previous
year. There was therefore an increase of 13,812 during the
year under report. Of the total number, 47,605 castrations were
performed by the subordinate staff in the North Bihar Range,
43,200 in the Central Range and 19,229 in the Orissa Range.
In addition to the above, the staff also emasculated 205 equines
and 6,433 other animals, against 216 and 6,007 respectively, of
the previous year.
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Cattle Farm.
Patna Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm.
82. Staff.—Farm Manager, Babu N. N. Ghosh, was in
charge of the Farm from 12th April 1934 to 13th November
1934 when Mr. R. T. Davis, the permanent officer in charge,
acted as Director. Mr. Davis supervised the work of the farm
during the remaining period of the year.
83. Live Stock.—On the 1st of April 1934, the farm herd
consisted of 112 desi cows, 86 Tharparkar cows, 62 Tharparkar
bull calves, 98 Tharparkar heifer calves, 116 cross-bred bull
calves, 62 cross-bred heifer calves, 59 draught bullocks, 11
Tharparkar bulls, 8 cross-bred bulls and 1 pony, or a total
of 615 animals. During the year, 54 Tharparkar bull calves,
37 Tharparkar heifer calves, 46 cross-bred bull calves, and
46 cross-bred heifer calves, or a total of 183 calves were born
on the farm, against 160 calves born in the previous year,
raising the total to 798. Out of this number, there were 16
casualties, 164 animals were sold, 1 Tharparkar and 3 cross-
bred bulls were distributed free, and 1 old desi cow and 3 old
Tharparkar cows were sent to the Pinjrapole, leaving the
total strength of the herd at 610, at the end of the year as
shown in Statement C. The average number of cows in milk
during the year was 111.
Eighty-three animals were vaccinated against rinderpest by
goat virus alone method, and another 12 animals were done by
goat tissue virus method during the year. The work was
carried out by the laboratory staff of the Veterinary College
and the result was satisfactory. The animals of the farm
were also inoculated against hæmorrhagic septicæmia and
black quarter as usual. There was a severe outbreak of foot
and mouth disease during the year affecting 350 animals for
which extra help was obtained from the department.
84. Supply of breeding bulls.—Of the 3 cross-bred and
1 Tharparkar bulls supplied free, the District Board, Patna,
received 2, Chapra 1 and Veterinary College 1 for the hospital
attached to it. One cross-bred bull was sold to Madhupur
municipality and another of the same stock to the Superinten-
dent, East Indian Railway Collieries, Giridih, at Rs. 50 each.
85. Milk and milk products.—The total milk yield during
the year was 391,464 lbs. or an average of 9.8 lbs. per cow
per day, against 327,390½ lbs. in the year 1933-34, or an
increase of 64,073½ lbs. during the year under report. The
average milk yield of the country cows was 7.6 lbs. per head
per day, and that of the Tharparkar cows was 11.2 lbs.
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All the country cows were purchased in the year 1927 and
have become old, and consequently, the milk yield is gradually
decreasing. Some of the Tharparkar cows are also on the old
side. The total number of Tharparkar cows in milk through-
out the year was 55 of which 28 were purchased, and their
average daily milk yield per head was 11.6 lbs.; the remaining
27 were born on the farm and drafted into the herd, and their
average daily milk yield per head was 12 lbs.
86. The total quantity of milk sold during the year was
357,0943/4 lbs. against 299,507½ lbs. during the previous year
showing an increase of 57,5871/4 lbs. In addition to the sale
of milk, 531 lbs. of cream and 348 lbs. 14 ozs. of ghee were
also sold during the year. Out of the balance of 34,3691/4 lbs. of
milk, 8,500 lbs. were lost in pasteurising, measuring and
bottling, etc., 21,520 lbs. were separated for cream and ghee
and the remaining 4,2491/4 lbs. were fed to the calves.
87. Cultivation.—The total area of land cultivated by the
farm was 336 acres, in addition to which 166 bighas 10 cottahs
and 7½ dhurs were leased out for a year at a rental of Rs. 1,718.
Out of this amount, a sum of Rs. 1,062-14-6 was realised during
the year and credited to Government. Endeavours are being
made to realise the remaining Rs. 655-11-6 at an early date.
Crops, such as juar, oats, khesari, gram and berseem,
etc., were grown on the farm. The total outturn of the
monsoon and rabi crops was 83,781 maunds 16 seers including
green fodder and bhusa (chaff) to the value of Rs. 25,838-13-6
as per Statement D, while the expenditure on cultivation
during the year, was Rs. 10,667-9-9.
88. The cultivation of berseem which was started during
the year 1933-34 under the orders of the Director, Veterinary
Services, Bihar and Orissa, proved to be an extremely good
fodder for the milch cows as it increases the milk yield consi-
derably and is taken by the animals with great relish. During
the year under report, 4 acres of berseem were cultivated at
the farm, and in the course of one year, 6 cuttings were
received and fed to the animals. The total outturn was
2,685 maunds worth Rs. 1,342-8-0, whereas the expenditure
including the seeds, was Rs. 336-14-0 only. From the above
it would appear that it is a profitable, as well as useful fodder
crop, and can be grown at less expenditure. The Farm
Manager has been instructed to cultivate berseem over a larger
area.
89. Irrigation.—The supply of water for irrigating the
farm land was quite inadequate as in the previous years, and
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the matter was brought to the notice of Government bv
Mr. Davis. To tide over the situation it was proposed that
the farm should be allowed the use of the tube-well existing
on the Camp Jail for a certain part of the year. To be of any
benefit to the rabi crops the tube-well should be worked for
the farm at least for four months from November to February
when the supply is required, and not from March to June as
recently sanctioned by Government. A revised proposal to
this effect has since been submitted.
90. Buildings.—The Public Works Department made
some repairs to the farm buildings damaged by the earthquake.
91. Plant and machinery.—The old Worthington pump
was replaced by a new one which has been working quite
satisfactorily. The pasteurisation plant has also been working
fairly well, while the rest of the implements, such as ploughs,
harrows, etc., are in order. Some of the parts which were worn
out were replaced. The Morris Tight Van purchased in
January 1934 for delivering milk in the Bankipore town has
been doing good work, and the two oil engines are also in good
working condition.
92. Revenue and Expenditure.—The total revenue of the
farm amounted to Rs 60,789-2-11. including Rs. 25,838-13-6
(the estimated receipts) on account of fodder produced. while
the total expenditure was Rs. 52,166-7-0, excluding the pav-
ments made by the Public Works Department for buildings.
The details are shown in Table IX.
Horse Breeding.
Nil.
Fairs and Shows.
93. All the important horse and cattle fairs and shows
in the province were attended by the staff, and of these,
Jaintpur, Hardi, Sonepur, Purnea City, Khagra and Singhes-
war fairs were attended by Mr. Malik also. The condition of
the animals was, on the whole, good but two unfortunate events
occurred, one at Sonepur and the other at Singheswar. An
epidemic with symptoms of colicky pain and diarrhoea broke
out among the horses at Sonepur fair and was responsible for
36 deaths out of 116 animals attacked. The disease was
suspected to be grass poisoning as it quickly disappeared on
withdrawal of the suspected grass from the rations. Prompt
action attended with appropriate treatment was taken by the
staff under Mr. Malik's personal supervision. The (Veteri-
nary) Disease Investigation Officer was also deputed to the
outbreak.
4
11 D. V. S.
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94. The other event was the panic created at Singheswar
fair by the sudden illness of two elephants when the mela was
in full swing. On receipt of this information from the Dis-
trict Magistrate of Bhagalpur the (Veterinary) Disease Investi-
gation Officer was sent to Singheswar, while Mr. Malik also
proceeded there. Of the two sick elephants, one had already
died, and the other which was beyond all hope of recovery,
also succumbed. A third elephant was also reported to have
been ill, but as it was taken away, the information could not be
confirmed on enquiry. The post-mortem examination held by
Mr. Malik did not reveal any lesions for arriving at a
definite diagnosis. The death of the two elephants was
probably due to heat stroke.
95. Of the 22 fairs and shows on the list, the Sitamarhi
fair was not held during the year. Altogether 259,954
animals were presented for sale, as compared with 211,707 in
the year 1933-34. The average price per bullock, cow and
buffalo was on the increase. The details of the fairs and
shows are given in Tables XIII and XIV.
96. According to the figures supplied by the District
Traffic Superintendent, Bengal and North-Western Railway
Company, Limited, 3,811 bullocks, 883 buffaloes and 223 cows,
or a total of 4,917 animals were booked by rail to various
places from stations on Sonepur district of the said Railway
The number for the previous year was 4,331.
CHAPTER V.
Establishment.
Provincial.
97. There was no change in the personnel or jurisdiction
of superior officers of the department the same 3 officers,
Messrs. Malik, Sen and Chattarji having been in charge of
their respective ranges throughout the year.
Subordinate.
98. The number of veterinary inspectors was 13 as before.
An important change was effected during the year in regard
to the appointment of staff veterinary assistant surgeons.
Government were pleased, on my recommendation, to limit the
appointment to a period of three years, with the option allowed
to the Director, Veterinary Services, of extending the same
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in special cases. In consequence of these orders, out of the
six staff veterinary assistant surgeons, four, viz. Maulavi S. B.
Ahmad and Babus J. Mahanti, P. Gartia and D. Dey who
had more than three years' service as staff, reverted to the
district cadre, their places being filled by other assistants
transferred from the districts. Another staff veterinary
assistant surgeon, Babu S. D. Narayan would also revert shortly
on the same ground. Maulavi S. B. Ahmad officiated as inspector
in place of Babu S. R. Bagchi granted leave. Laboratory
Assistant, Babu J. N. Mukharji (Cuttack) was transferred to
act as Laboratory Assistant at the Bihar and Orissa Veterinary
College (Patna) vice Babu P. Panda who was appointed
Laboratory Assistant at Cuttack.
99. Mutual transfers of some veterinary assistant surgeons
either within the Range, or from one Range to another, for
convenience of work were also effected, and some were given
grade promotions. One of the veterinary assistant surgeons,
Babu S. K. Mukharji, resigned, while the services of two
others, Babus S. P. Das and B. Tirkey were dispensed with
for unsatisfactory work. It is regretted that the department
also sustained loss in the untimely death of another capable
veterinary assistant surgeon, Babu M. Upadhya who had put
in more than 11 years' service. Only 1 veterinary graduate,
Maulavi M. A. Jabbar, who was a cruelty inspector, was
recruited to the department during the year.
100. At the close of the year, the subordinate staff of the
department consisted of 13 veterinary inspectors, 6 staff
veterinary assistant surgeons, 2 laboratory assistants, 12 reserve
veterinary assistant surgeons and 126 district veterinary
assistant surgeons, viz. 31 stationary and 95 touring.
CHAPTER VI.
Laboratories.
101. The arrangement of the laboratory work continued
to be the same, i.e. the work for the North Bihar and Orissa
ranges was carried out at the range laboratories respectively
at Muzaffarpur and Cuttack, while that for the Central Range,
the Bihar and Orissa Veterinary College and the (Veterinary)
Disease Investigation Officer, at the College Laboratory.
Arrangements were also made during the year for the (Veteri-
nary) Disease Investigation Officer and the Special Officer in
charge of the Central Range to diagnose diseases in a room
attached to the Director's office at Patna.
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102. During the year altogether 1,459 smears including
blood, faeces, pus, urine were received and examined at the
above laboratories with the result that diseases were diagnosed
in 520 instance as follows : —
Anthrax 28, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia 12, Blackquarter 3,
Trypanosomiasis 3, Piroplasmosis 22, Fowl Cholera 4, Mange
15, Johne's Disease 2, Strangles 7, Theileriasis 9, Coccidiosis
65, Anæmia 16, Aseariasis 22, Strongylosis 36, Filariasis 1,
Ankylostomiasis 52, Nematode infection 125, Cestode infection
2, Rabies 5, Distomatosis 9. Aniscoytosis 9, Tuberculosis 1,
Equine Surra 1, Bovine Surra 13 and miscellaneous 58.
The number of slides sent to the laboratories further
decresea partly due to greater care having been taken in
obtaining the smears from actual cases, and partly because
the year was still healthier. The loss in the number of
smears and specimens was, however, more than compencated
as the percentage of the number which proved positive, rose
to 35.6 from 26 of the previous year.
Investigation of Diseases.
103. Investigation of diseases and their treatment with
various special methods were undertaken in all the three ranges
of the department.
104. Special treatment of rinderpest by Kaolin and
Cyllin undertaken in the previous year, was continued, with
the result that out of 4,325 cases treated in the Province,
3,199 were cured, while 1,097 animals died, the percentage
of deaths being about 25.
105. Work of the (Veterinary) Disease Investigation
Officer.—The work of immunisation of cattle against rinderpest
by goat virus alone method undertaken by the (Veterinary)
Disease Investigation Officer in 1933-34 was continued by him
during the year under report.
(A) Goat blood virus inoculation:—
(i) Determination of a safer dose for buffaloes.—In view
of the severe reactions and the rather higher mortality of
1.83 per cent recorded among buffaloes inoculated with goat
blood virus, an experiment was carried out to determine a
safer dose of the virus for buffaloes than the present dose of
1 c.c. 20 buffaloes were selected and grouped into 5 each.
The 4 groups were then inoculated with 1 c c.,½ c.c, 1/4 c.c,
and 1/8 c.c, respectively of blood virus obtained from a goat
at the height of a rinderpest reaction. In all, 15 animals
reacted but no variation in the degree of reaction was seen in
any of the groups, in as much as reactions of the greatest