NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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81. Goat Virus Inoculation.—The "Goat Adapted Virus"
method of protection against rinderpest as outlined before, was
employed in 17 districts, the total number thus protected being
34,63,0, as compared with 340 done in 6 districts in the year
1932-33. This is in addition to 108 animals of the Patna Cattle
Breeding Farm protected during the year by the college staff.
In North Bihar Range, altogether 226 head of cattle
including 94 buffaloes were immunized in 5 centres, viz. at
Deoriah, Parsa, Darbhanga Raj, Bodhsadghari and Jaintpur.
The operations at Parsa were supervised by the Disease Investi-
gation Officer. Inoculation at two other centres, Madhubani and
Jainagar goshalas, was arranged for but could not be performed
owing to the earthquake which occurred just before commence-
ment of the work. The second retesting of 90 animals inoculat-
ed in 1932-33 could not also be carried out owing to an out-
break of foot and mouth disease which rendered the animals too
weak for the purpose. The Range Officer was unable to follow
up his winter programme of goat virus inoculation in North
Bihar on account of the earthquake.
Inoculation of cattle by goat virus method was carried
out in all the districts of the Central Range commencing from
November, 1933 till March, 1934. The work was done by the
veterinary inspectors in their respective circles and by the
Disease Investigation Officer in the districts of the Santal Parganas
and South Bhagalpur. Altogether 21,638 animals were protected
in 169 villages and the results were satisfactory.
In the Orissa Range, greater efforts were made for the
introduction of goat virus inoculation with the result that 12,766
cattle were protected in 6 districts. The inoculation, as well as
local production of the virus were supervised by the Range
Officer himself in the districts of Cuttack, Puri and Balasore,
otherwise the work was either carried out or supervised by the
subordinate staff, such as the veterinary inspectors, the staff and
the local veterinary assistant surgeons. The result of inocula-
tion in this range was very encouraging, while the cost of
inoculation as calculated by the Range Officer amounted to from
4 to 6 pies only per animal.
Further improvement of this inoculation by adopting goat
tissue virus and similar processes is in contemplation, and the
question as to whether any of these materials can be conveniently
prepared at the Bihar and Orissa Veterinary College so as to
meet the requirements of the province is being considered.
Arrangements are also being made to obtain some sets of tattoo-
ing forceps with the figures and inks, with a view to marking
inoculated animals and testing and recording the results of the
method as it progresses,
16
82. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—Steady improvement is
being maintained in the protection of cattle against hæmorrha-
gic septicæmia as will appear from the fact that 61,820 cattle
were protected by the serum and vaccine, as compared with
45,830 done in 1932-33 and 42,017 in 1931-32. This work was
undertaken in all districts and in 260 outbreaks, the largest
number of 12,212 cattle being protected in Gaya. Only 3
among the inoculated animals died, the death-rate being about
.005 per cent against .03 of the previous year.
83. Anthrax.—The total number of animals protected with
serum against bovine anthrax was 2,466 as compared with 5,188
done in 1932-33. The work was undertaken in 18 outbreaks, viz.
14 in the Central Range and 4 in the Orissa Range. 4 deaths
occurred among the inoculated showing a percentage of .16.
39 horses were also protected against equine anthrax in
2 outbreaks.
84. Black Quarter.—Protection against black quarter was
given by all up-to-date methods, viz., serum alone, aggressin alone
and serum and aggressin simultaneously in 24 outbreaks, the
number of cattle protected being 5,533, as compared with
6,565 clone in 28 outbreaks during 1932-33. No death occurred
among the inoculated animals.
A new product, black-quarter vaccine, was issued from the
Muktesar Institute during the year, and it is now in use.
85. Supply of sera and vaccines.—Sera and vaccines to the
value of Rs. 44,069-4-0 were obtained during the year from the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, and the
Branch Serum Institute, Izatnagar, for supply to the customers
through the different serum depots of the Department. The
Range Officers indented for sera or vaccines to the bare require-
ments of the districts, and these were utilized to the best
advantage, and as promptly as possible. The local bodies using
the Muktesar products were greatly relieved by the reduction in
prices of some of the products and cleared up their outstandings
for the previous years to a great extent.
Out of a total amount of Rs. 83,170-10-9 due to the
Muktesar Institute, a sum of Rs. 68,188-5-4 including the
Government grant of Rs. 2,327-0-6 paid to the district board,
Hazaribagh, was recovered from the customers and credited to
Government, leaving Rs. 14,982-5-5 as outstanding on 1st
April 1934.
86. A sum of Rs. 8,777-15-0 was outstanding against the
local bodies and other consumers for the supplies made up to
31st March 1934. Out of this sum, more than half, i.e.
Rs. 4,685-1-6, has also been paid by the time the report was sent
to the press from their current year's budget.
19
96. Construction and repair.—As noted in a previous
paragraph, no new construction could be undertaken, on the
contrary, owing to the damages caused by the earthquake to the
existing hospitals in North Bihar and certain areas of South
Bihar along the Ganges, the district boards concerned will be
required either to make substantial repair to, or reconstruct
most of the buildings damaged. At some places in North Bihar,
even the existing sites of the hospitals are likely to be condemned
which will necessitate putting up fresh buildings on new sites.
The furniture and equipment of many hospitals and dispensaries
was also damaged by the earthquake and is being replenished by
the local authorities.
97. Number of patients treated.—The total number of in-
and out-patients treated in the 33 hospitals was 91,527 as
compared with 83,273 patients treated during 193:2-33. This
shows an increase of 8,254 patients over the previous year's work.
In addition, 17,335 castrations were also performed, and 12,774
oases though not brought to the hospital, were supplied with
medicines, against 16,558 and 14,648 respectively in the year
1932-33.
Out of the total number, 44,415 patients were treated in
14 hospitals of the North Bihar Range, 30,733 in 11 hospitals of
the Central and 16,379 in 8 hospitals of the Orissa Range.
CHAPTER IV.
Breeding Operations.
98. Control of livestock improvement.—According to the
policy adopted by Government, the control of breeding opera-
tions at the Patna Cattle Breeding Farm is vested in the Civil
Veterinary Department. The department also supervised the
maintenance of the stud bulls at the veterinary hospitals.
Although good bulls for breeding purposes could be produced
at the Patna Farm and Government were pleased to fix Rs. 50
as the minimum price of a bull for persons within the province,
the demand from the public has so far been practically nil in spite
of advertisement. Even the district boards for whom these bulls
are available free of charge have been slow in their response, as
during the year under report, only 6 bulls (4 to Darbhanga
and 2 to Palamau) could be distributed to the boards against 8 of
the previous year. There is however some demand for bullocks
produced on the farm and in consequence, the bull calves for
which there is no sale, are being sold after castration.
The Madhubani municipality purchased 4 Tharparkar bulls
during the year at Rs. 50 each.
20
99. Stud bulls.—There were 40 stud bulls at the different
Veterinary hospitals on 1st April 1933. During the year 4 bulls
(including 1 purchased by district board, Muzaffarpur, for
Rs. 300) were obtained making the total 44. Out of these, 2 bulls
died, 4 were sent to 1 injrapoles and 2 were made over to two
gentlemen by the Balasore district board for maintenance,
leaving the number at 36 at the close of the year. There
appears to have been a downward tendency in the number of
these bulls. Unless the local authorities take greater interest
in the improvement of their local breeds, the timeworn practice
of keeping stud bulls at veterinary hospitals and thereby having
constant professional advice for them from departmental officers
will come to an end.
100. Castration of scrub (bulls.—The work of elimination
of scrub bulls and also castration of bull calves for draught
purposes continued as before with the result that as many as
96,222 bulls and bull calves were castrated during the year by
the subordinate veterinary staff as compared with 58,469 done
in the year 1932-33. The increase of 7,753 castrations in
one year is satisfactory. Cut of the total number, 3S,442 bulls
were castrated in the North Bihar Range, 39,632 in the Central
Range and 18,148 in the Orissa Barge. In addition, 210
equines and 6,007 other animals were also eastiated against 203
and 5,754 respectively done in 1D32-33. The figures are included
in the number of patients shown in Tables IV and V.
Cattle Farm.
Patna Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm.
101. Staff.—Farm Manager, Babu N. N. Ghose, was in
charge of the farm from 8th April 1933, to 30th June 1933, in
the absence on leave of Mr. R. T. Davis, I.V. S., Principal of the
Bihar and Orissa Veterinary College who, on return from leave,
supervised the work of the farm for the remaining period of
the year. The strength of the farm staff remained unchanged
during the year under report except that the posts of the Oil
Engine and Tractor Driver and the Ford Van Driver were
temporarily vacant.
102. Livestock.—On the 1st of April 1933, the farm herd
consisted of 114 desi cows, 64 Tharparkar cows, 57 Tharparkar
bull calves, 86 Tharparkar heifer calves, 113 cross-bred bull
calves, 62 cross bred heifer calves, 52 draught bullocks,
7 Tharparkar bulls, 1 cross-bred bull and 1 pony, or a total of
557 animals. During the year, 32 Tharparkar bull calves,
25 Tharparkar heifer calves, 51 cross-bred bull calves and
52 cross-bred heifer calves, or a total of 160 calves were born on
17
87. The scheme for the realization of inoculation fees from
the owners of cattle in the district of Muzaffarpur over and above
the budget provision was approved by Government, and adopted
by the district board. The board was, however, not in a position
to give effect to it owing to the earthquake disturbance. The
same scheme was also adopted by the Darbhanga district board,
but that board also could not introduce the system due to the
same reason.
88. Rates of sera and vaccines.—The present report covers
the first year of the reduction in the rates of some of the
Muktesar products including anti-rinderpest serum. It is not yet
time to take stock of the net effect of this change on inoculation
work but it is anticipated that within the next two or three years,
this reduction added to the amount saved by the extension of goat
virus inoculation, will leave enough money out of the allotment
for sera and vaccines at the disposal of each local body for
them to be able to effect further improvement of veterinary relief
in the interior, e.g. by appointing additional veterinary staff and
thereby offording greater facilities for the protection of livestock.
Number of animals treated,
89. The position with regard to creation of additional posts
of touring veterinary assistant surgeons remained practically the
same as in the year 1932-33. The disaster brought about by the
earthquake has probably rendered it worse for some of the local
bodies, viz. those in North Bihar. For want of funds no new po6t
could be created during the year, but the district board, Gaya,
have given the lead by agreeing to revive the post of touring
veterinary assistant surgeon, Tikari, out of the savings in their
budget allotment for sera and vaccines. This post was abolished
by the board some years ago owing to financial difficulties.
After further consideration, the district board, Monghyr,
resolved to maintain the two posts of additional touring veteri-
-ary assistant surgeons at Jamui and Begusarai pending the final
decision of the question of administration by Government. These
posts were therefore not abolished during the year.
90: Construction of dispensaries.—Construction of no new
dispensary building was undertaken by any of the local bodies.
It is however a matter of great regret that almost all the veteri-
nary hospitals and dispensaries in the North Bihar Range as well
as those in Patna, South Monghyr and South Bhagalpur including
the quarters of the veterinary assistant surgeons have been
damaged by the earthquake, some of them, viz. those at Muzaf-
farpur, Motihari, Siamarhi, Laheriasarai, Monghyr, etc., very
severely, thus calling upon the district boards to either materially
repair, or reconstruct them, in the course of the next few years.
3
4DVS
18
Construction of temporary sheds by the local bodies to accom-
modate some of these institutions in urgent cases commenced
during the year.
91. Work of veterinary assistant surgeons.—Though the
normal activities of the department in the North Bihar Range
were greatly hampered as a result of the earthquake for the last
two and half months, the number of animals treated by veterinary
assistant surgeons on tour, at headquarters, at held veterinary
dispensaries and at such other centres as fairs and shows, farms,
goshalas, etc., rose to 321,644 from 260,906 treated in the year
1932-33. This increase was due mainly to the popularity which
the field veterinary dispensaries have gained within so short
a time. In addition to the above, 35,074 old cases were also
treated by the staff. The total number, 321,644, consists of 85,110
castrations, 48,041 cases treated for contagions diseases and
190,493 treated for non-contagious diseases.
92. During the year, the touring veterinary assistant surgeons
visited altogether 53,604 villages as compared with 54,551 in
1932-33. The decrease noticed here is accounted for by closer
attention paid to the work of the field veterinary dispensaries and
to some extent, by the earthquake.
The details of the work according to each range and each
district are given in Table IV.
93. Field veterinary dispensaries.—There were 138 field
veterinary dispensaries at the beginning of the year. During the
year, 6 new dispensaries were opened while 10 old were closed,
leaving 134 dispensaries at the end of the year. Of these, 53
dispensaries were working in the North Bihar Range, 49 in the
Central Range and 32 in the Orissa Range.
94. The amount of popularity the field veterinary dispen
saries are gaining every day needs but little comment when it is
considered that in only the second year of their formation, 100,730
animals were treated as compared with 76,313 treated in 1932-33.
The opening of these centres at important places has given great
impetus to the working of the department, and I entirely agree
with Major Riley, that unless the touring staff is increased, it
will shortly become very difficult for the department to cope with
the demands of the cultivators. The strain on the present staff has
already reached its climax.
Veterinary hospitals.
95. Number of hospitals.—There was no change in the
number of veterinary hospitals, the same 33 hospitals continuing
to function as before. The number includes one hospital
administered by the Bettiah Raj and 2 (viz., Dinapur and Jamui)
in charge of touring veterinary assistant surgeons.
23
A new Morris Light Van was purchased in January 1934,
for delivering milk in the Bankipur town and is doing good
work.
The two oil engines, one for crushing grains and the other
for irrigation work are also in good working order.
111. Revenue and expenditure.—The total revenue of the
farm amounted to Rs. 53,681-2-10 including Rs. 24,174-5-3
(the estimated receipts) on account of fodder produced, while
the total expenditure was Rs. 48,241-6-9 including Rs. 3,448
being the price paid for a Morris Light Van and also Rs. 2,680
being the price paid for 8 Tharparkar cows but excluding the
payments made by the Public Works Department for buildings.
The details are shown in Table IX. The revenue has gone down
due to the rate of milk having been further lowered from 10 lbs.
to 12 lbs. per rupee, and also for the reason that the Patna
Medical College Hospital reduced their requirement of milk
from 600 to 400 lbs. per diem from 20th January 1934, and loss
of custom due to the earthquake.
Horse Breeding.
112. Breeding of horses is not undertaken on any systematic
basis, and no horse or pony stallion was maintained in the
province during the year.
Fairs and Shows.
113. The subordinate staff attended ail the important horse
and cattle fairs and shows held in the province. Mr. Malik
visited the Sonepur and Purnea City fairs, and at the latter fair,
purchased a Bhutia pony for the Raj Kishore of Ratu. He also
selected and purchased some ponies for the Bastar State at
Sonepur fair. Continued economic depression was responsible
for a smaller number of animals being presented for sale and for
lowering their prices. All possible help was given by the staff
to the fair committees and lantern lectures were delivered at the
principal fairs, such as Sonepur, Bettiah, Purnea, Khagra,
Dharamgunj, etc.
114. At the twenty-two principal fairs and shows 211,701
animals of all descriptions were presented for sale showing
a decrease of about 33,000 animals compared with the previous
year's figures. The details of these animals and their average
prices, etc., are shown in Tables XIII and XIV.
115. As far as statistics could be collected from the Bengal
and North-Western Railway authorities, 4,331 animals consist-
ing of bullocks, cows and buffaloes were booked from stations on
Sonepur district to various places during the year, as compared
with 4,472 animals booked in 1932-33.
24
CHAPTER V.
Provincial Establishment.
116. There was no change in the personnel or jurisdiction of
the superior officers of the department except that Mr. M. I.
Malik, Special Officer, went oft four months' leave on average
pay from the 23rd May 1933 and First Grade Veterinary
Inspector Babu Jagat Lal Bose officiated for him.
CHAPTER VI.
Subordinate Establishment.
117. The number of veterinary inspec ors in charge
of circles continued to be 13 as in the previous year. The only
important change consisted in Babu J. L. Bose being appointed
Officer in charge of the North Bihar Range for four months and
his place at Purulia being filled by staff veterinary assistant
surgeon Maulavi S. B. Ahmad. Another inspector, Babu M. M.
Banerji, was transferred from the Central to the North Bihar
Range vice Babu H. K. Roy, transferred from that range. There
was no change among the staff and reserve veterinary surgeons
except that one of the reserve assistants was withdrawn from
the Orissa Range and attached to the Central Range.
In addition, transfers of certain veterinary assistant surgeons
either within the range or from one range to another, were
effected, and some were also given grade promotions. Second
staff veterinary assistant surgeon Bahu J. Mahanti on completion
of his post-graduate course returned to duty in the North Bihar
Range in December 1933. Only one new graduate, viz.,
Babu B. Tirkey, who held a Government stipend, was recruited
to the cadre during the year.
At the end of the year, the subordinate cadre of the
department consisted of 13 veterinary inspectors, 6 staff veteri-
nary surgeons, 12 reserve veterinary assistant surgeons, 2
laboratory assistants and 127 district veterinary assistant
surgeons (viz. 32 stationary and 95 touring) and their distribu-
tion according to the ranges was as follows:—
Range.
North Bihar ...
Central ...
Orissa ...
Total ...
Veterinary
inspector.
4
5
4
13
Laboratory
assistant.
1
...
1
2
Staff
veterinary
assistant
surgeon.
2
2
2
6
Reserve
veterinary
assistant
surgeon.
4
5
3
12
Hospital
veterinary
assistant
surgeon.
14*
9
9
32
Touring
veterinary
assistant
surgeon.
29
41
25
95
* Includes one post under the Bettiah Raj.
21
the farm against 146 calves born in the previous year, and
8 Tharparkar cows with 2 male calves and 5 female calves were
purchased, and 1 draught bullock was received from the
Veterinary College Laboratory raising the total to 733. Out of
this number, there were 13 casualties, 99 animals were sold and
1 Tharparkar bull and 5 cross-bred bulls were distributed free to
some district boards in the province, leaving the total strength
of the herd at 615 at the end of the year, as shown in Statement A,
The average number of cows in milk during the year was 100
against 90 in the year 1932-33,
It will be seen from Statement A that 16 Tharparkar heifers
of which 1 came with her mother and 15 were born at the farm,
were drafted into the herd and their average milk yield was
about 12 lbs. per head per day.
The 11 Tharparkar heifers drafted to the herd during the
year 1932-33 became dry and their average milk yield was 10 to
12 lbs. per head per day daring their first lactation period.
103. 108 animals were vaccinated against rinderpest by goat
virus alone method with satisfactory results. The animals of the
farm were also protected against hæmorrhagic septicæmia and
black quarter as usual. The health of the animals was good
throughout the year.
104. Supply of breeding bulls.—5 cross-bred and 1
Tharparkar bulls were distributed to the district boards free of
cost as follows:—
District board, Palamau ... ... ...
District board, Darbhanga ... ... ...
Total ...
2
4
6
The farm also sold 4 Tharparkar bulls at Rs. 50 each to the
Madhubani municipality.
105. Milk and milk products.—The total milk yield during
the year was 327,390½ lbs. or an average of 9 lbs. per cow per
day, against 279,094 lbs. during the previous year, or an increase
of 48,296-½ lbs. during the year under report. The average milk
yield per cow in the previous two years was 8.7 lbs. each.
The total quantity of milk sold during the year was
299,507½ lbs. as against 238,072 lbs. during the previous year,
and 336 lbs. 1 oz. of cream and 242 lbs. and 10 oz. of ghee were
also sold during the year. Out of the balance of 27,883 lbs. of
milk, 8,000 lbs, were lost in pasteurising, measuring and bottling,
etc., 14,960 lbs. of milk were separated for cream and ghee and
the remaining 4,923 lbs. were fed to the calves.