NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
11
very satisfactory to note that none of these diseases except
haemorrhagic septicaemia was reported in Saran. The districts
of Cuttack and Puri maintained complete freedom from rinder-
pest as in the previous years while the mortalities in Saran,
Champaran, Puri and Angul were kept low. The condition of
Sambalpur was however most unsatisfactory. Except black-
quarter all other diseases were reported in it. On account of
its peculiar position having States on all sides and an inade-
quate staff employed by the local authority this district has
become a constant source of infection to live stock and the
sooner some special measures for controlling diseases are taken
the better. The Assistant Director, Veterinary Services, Orissa,
has recommended an increase of staff and adoption of quaran-
tine measures. While an increase in subordinate veterinary
staff is essential and can be effected forthwith provided funds are
available, it is not so easy to place a quarantine measure in
a district like Sambalpur. It is now for the Government of
Orissa to consider what measures should actually be adopted.
The greatest mortality was recorded in the Santal Parganas and
next to that were Sambalpur and Hazaribagh.
47. Taking into account the five diseases noticed above,
altogether 5,403 outbreaks were brought to light during the year
and in those outbreaks, out of a total number of 178,236 animals
attacked, 9,794 died, as compared with 4,158 outbreaks, 122,840
attacks and 14,539 deaths recorded in the year 1934-35. It is
very encouraging to note that in spite of an apparent increase
in the number of both outbreaks and seizures which was mostly
due to the affection of foot and mouth disease, the number
of deaths reported was less by 4,745. During the year greater
attention was paid to miscellaneous other diseases especially to
the Ranikhet disease, with the result that in addition to the
mortalities reported above, 1,682 deaths were also recorded,
compared with 160 only in the previous year. 12 deaths were
recorded under the head " Equine" as well.
48. Of the total number of 5,403 outbreaks under head
"Bovine" 4,636 were attended by the staff which gives a per-
centage of 85.8 attendances against 86 in 1934-35. Goat Virus
work and attendance at rural veterinary dispensaries again
account for the small decrease. It is impossible to effect any
further improvement in the attendance of outbreaks unless the
subordinate staff is sufficiently increased.
12
49. The statistics of the outbreaks, seizures, deaths, etc.,
according to the area and live stock of each range are shown
in the following table :—
Range.
North Bihar ..
Central ..
Orissa ..
Area in
square
mile.
20,457
33,844
28,864
83,165
Live stock.
10,094,441
10,120,105
9,089,537
29,304,083*
No. of
outbreaks
reported.
582
2,053
2,768
5,403
No. of out¬
breaks
attended.
581
1,874
2,181
4,636
No. of
animals
affected
in out-
breaks.
9,160(a)
41,798(b)
127,278(c)
178,236
No. of
deaths
recorded
in out-
breaks.
1,419
5,091
3,284
9,794
*The figures are according to the census of 1930.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Inclues 6,167 cases of foot and mouth disease.
Do.
Do.
31,761
121,390
ditto.
ditto.
50. Reporting of diseases.—Reporting of diseases by the
police and other agencies continued to be as good as in the
previous year.
During the year under report 147 chaukidars were either
rewarded or recommended for rewards for doing good work to the
department while 19 chaukidars were either punished or reported
for punishment for failing to carry out their duties satisfactorily.
Equines.
51. Glanders and Farcy.—No case of Glanders or Farcy
was reported during the year.
52. Dourine.—Dourine was also not reported.
53. Anthrax.—Equine anthrax appeared in the Nazarganj
estate stables (Purnea) affecting 1 Bhutia pony which succumbed
to the attack. Prompt action having been taken by the
veterinary inspector and veterinary assistant surgeon, no
further case occurred and the owner of the estate was satisfied
with the results.
54. Surra.—Two deaths from equine surra were reported
in Palamau district and one in the Santal Parganas.
55. Other Equine Contagious Diseases.—Strangles.—
Twenty-two animals suffered from the disease in Saran, Cham-
paran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Sambalpur but none of them
died. As in the previous year, this disease was not reported
in the Central Range.
13
Tetanus.—Only 6 deaths from equine tetanus were reported
in 4 districts, viz., Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur (South)
and Gaya.
Rabies.—One death from equine rabies occurred in the
district of Muzaffarpur.
Bovine.
56. Rinderpest.—During the year heavy mortalities from
rinderpest were recorded in the districts of Santal Parganas,
Hazaribagh and Sambalpur. The disease broke out in a severe
form in the jurisdictions of the Pakaur, Godda and Deoghar
veterinary dispensaries of Santal Parganas and also in the
jurisdictions of the Ramgarh, Koderma and Giridih veterinary
dispensaries of Hazaribagh district. Altogether 1,246 outbreaks
of rinderpest were reported, and in them, out of a total number
of 14,080 animals attacked, 6,427 died, as compared with 1,666
outbreaks, 21,171 attacks and 10,531 deaths recorded in the year
1934-35. There has been an all round appreciable decrease in
the statistics of rinderpest compared with the figures of the
previous year which is very satisfactory. The large amount of
protection given against rinderpest by the goat tissue vaccination
may have, to some extent, contributed to this general decrease.
57. Foot and mouth disease.—The foot and mouth disease
was still more widespread during the year and particularly in
Orissa Range where the number affected rose to 121,390. All
the districts of the province were affected but fortunately the
death rate being very low, only 129 animals died, out of a total
number of 159,318 attacked as compared with 95,984 attacks and
143 deaths recorded in 1934-35.
58. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.—The disease haemorrhagic
septicaemia was reported in all districts of the province but was
most prevalent in the districts of Cuttack and Balasore
recording 537 and 300 deaths respectively. It also caused high
mortalities in Gaya and the Santal Parganas. Altogether 605
outbreaks were brought to notice and in them, out of a total
number of 3,448 animals affected, 2,609 died, compared with
584 outbreaks and 2,448 deaths in the year 1934-35.
59. Blackquarter.—Nineteen outbreaks of blackquarter
were reported affecting 63 animals and out of these, 51 died,
against 16 outbreaks and 73 deaths recorded in the previous
year.
60. Anthrax.—Forty-six outbreaks of bovine anthrax were
reported during the year and in them, out of a total of 404 attacked,
14
235 animals died, as compared with 44 outbreaks and 246 deaths
recorded in the year 1934-35. Heaviest mortalities were recorded
in the district of Santal Parganas. A report on the occurrence
of these outbreaks was submitted regularly every month to the
American Consul General.
61. Other contagious diseases.—344 deaths of bovines were
recorded under the head " Other contagious diseases " against
922 deaths of the preceding year. Out of these, 63 deaths were
caused by parasitic diarrhoea in Muzaffarpur and Purnea, 38 by
ephemeral fever in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga and 22 by
bovine surra in Palamau, Sambalpur and Singhbhum districts.
The figure also includes five deaths from rabies in bovine and
three deaths from Johne's disease; the diseases of which the
remaining animals died, could not be diagnosed.
The liver fluke disease of which an account was given in the
previous year's report, re-appeared from time to time in
Muzaffarpur district and 416 cases were reported resulting in
48 deaths. As grass in the low-lying area was suspected to be
the cause of spread of the disease, the Deputy Director, North
Bihar Range, made an experiment by feeding some cattle
purchased for the purpose, on grass taken from the affected area
but no definite conclusion could be arrived at.
Other animals.
62. Others.—1,682 deaths were recorded under this head
against 160 recorded in the year 1934-35. The large increase
noticed in this instance is satisfactory, being the result of
investigation carried out systematically in respect of the ailments
of smaller animals, specially those of fowls. The figure
comprises (1) 57 deaths from canine rabies in dogs, (2) 1,583
deaths of fowls from Ranikhet disease, (3) 2 deaths from
tetanus, (4) 29 deaths of sheep from strongylosis and (5) 11
deaths from other unknown diseases.
The disease strongylosis, mentioned above, occurred in
a flock of sheep at Jaintpur, district Muzaffarpur. Out of
60 animals affected, 29 died; the outbreak was ultimately
brought under control.
Preventive inoculations.
63. During the year the staff paid still greater attention
to immunisation of cattle by all the prescribed methods of inocu-
lation and it is due to their unfailing energy that the record
number of 576,011 animals could be protected showing an
15
increase of 259,239 over the previous year's figure 316,772.
The work was undertaken in 649 outbreaks against 784 in the
year 1934-35 and altogether 240 deaths were recorded among
the inoculated number showing a percentage of 04. In addi-
tion, 80 equities were also protected with anti-anthrax serum
and anthrax spore vaccine.
64. Owing to a very large number of animals protected
with goat tissue virus the local bodies received further relief
in (meeting) the cost of inoculations and as such no special
difficulties arose on the score of funds during the year. As is
evident, the average cost per inoculation further decreased from
Re. 0-1-9 to Re. 0-1-3.
65. Of the total number 184,981 inoculations were per-
formed in the North Bihar Range, 236,563 in the Central and
154,550 in the Orissa Range. The details of the work accord-
ing to each district and disease are shown in Table III.
66. Rinderpest.—Protection was given against rinderpest
by two different methods, viz., by "Serum alone" and by goat
tissue virus.
(a) "Serum alone" method.—Altogether 76,559 animals
were protected by the "Serum alone" method as compared
with 94,888 done in the year 1931-35. Only 138 deaths were
recorded among the inoculated, showing a percentage of .18
death. Of all districts, the largest number of 11,335 inocula-
tions were done in Gaya. Next to that, Hazaribagh with 9,120
inoculations. No inoculations under this head were performed
in the three districts Cuttack, Balasore and Puri.
(b) Goat tissue verus method.—It is most gratifying to
note that though the subordinate veterinary officers, specially
the touring staff were charged with multifarious duties, they
could manage to immunise 445,282 animals with goat tissue
virus as compared with 163,134 done with goat blood and tissue
virus in the year 1934-35. During the year under report the
work was carried out in all the districts with tissue virus only
and although this is the second year of the experiment, protec-
tion could be given to 24,776 animals in actual outbreaks. Out
of this latter number, 22,282 were done by the Central Range
staff. Only 92 inoculated animals succumbed to the disease or
its complications.
Considering the huge amount of work
done the casualties must be considered very low.
67. Of the total number, 144,678 inoculations were done
in the North Bihar 162,886 in the Central and 137,718
16
in the Orissa Range. Taking the case of particular districts,
Gaya again stands first with 41,563 inoculations, Darbhanga
second with 37,100 and Shahabad third with 30,312. In the
Orissa Range the greatest number 22,081 were protected in
Ranchi, and next to that 22,001 were done in Angul.
It is also a noteworthy feature that the total number
included 36,837 buffaloes of which 15,005 were protected in the
North Bihar Range and 21,832 in the Central.
The (Veterinary) Disease Investigation Officer's work under
this head consisted entirely in experiments and will be mentioned
in its proper place.
68. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.—Protection with haemorr-
hagic septicaemia serum was given, during the year, to all
districts with the result that 30,593 animals were inoculated
in 138 outbreaks as compared with 83,491 done in the preceding
year. In addition to the " Serum alone" method, the staff
also protected 15,485 animals with the hæmorrhagic septicæmia
vaccine, the total number protected with serum as well as
vaccine being thus 46,078. Of the total number inoculated,
only 9 animals died, the death rate amounting to .02.
69. Anthrax.—Altogether 5,443 animals were given
protection with anti-anthrax serum as compared with 6,343 done
in the year 1934-35. The work was undertaken in 32 out-
breaks in the districts of Gaya, Shahabad, Bhagalpur, Santal
Parganas, Palamau, Purnea, Cuttack, Puri, Manbhum and
Singhbhum. The number includes 23 equines protected in
Purnea and 57 at Jamshedpur, district Singhbhum.
70. Blackquarter.—During the year 2,729 animals were
protected in 18 outbreaks against 4,575 done in the year
1934-35. All the different methods, viz., "Serum alone",
"agressin", "serum and agressin" and "Vaccine", were
employed, and the result was highly satisfactory, in as much as
not a single death took place among the inoculated.
71. Supply of sera and vaccines.—Sera and vaccines
valued at Rs. 45,857-3-0 including the cost of bottles and
boxes 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 exercised in the expenditure of serum and vaccine and
the head office which keeps the account, took the necessary
steps to settle the accounts with the customers. Out of the
17
total sum of Rs. 57,537-5-5 due to the Muktesar Institute,
a sum of Rs. 34,284-3-4 was recovered from the local bodies
and other customers and credited to Government, leaving a
balance of Rs. 23,253-2-1 outstanding on the 1st April 1936.
The total realisations included the Government grant of
Rs. 2,076-3-0 which was made to the District Board of
Hazaribagh. Taking into account all supplies made up to the
31st March 1936, a sum of Rs. 19,596-5-3 remained due from
the local bodies at the end of the year.
Number of Animals Treated.
72. It has been pointed out more than once in the pages
of the annual report of the department and elsewhere that
further success is impossible to attain unless the subordinate
staff is sufficiently strengthened. It was hoped that the local
authorities would come forward in a body for at least one more
touring veterinary assistant surgeon for their respective
districts in consideration of the relief given in the cost of
serum but if the experience gained during the last two years
is to be taken as a guide, prospects are not bright for any
further increase. Only two District Boards, Patna and Cuttack
have up to date accepted a post each for Bakhtiarpur and
Cuttack sadr, in addition to the one of Tikari accepted by the
District Board, Gaya, in the year 1934-35. That the department
is rendering most valuable services to the raiyats needs no
further demonstration. The working of the rural veterinary
dispensaries together with the latest development of goat virus
amply justifies the statement. Now that the new campaign
of cattle-breeding operations is making further demands on
the activities of the department, it is fully time the local
authorities rose to the occasion and saw that their district
veterinary work did not suffer to any serious extent. It is to
be regretted that the District Board, Champaran, have not
yet seen their way to the appointment of two more touring
assistants although resolved to do so two years ago. The
Assistant Director, Veterinary Services, Orissa, in his annual
report for the Orissa Range has made a long complaint
that his subordinate staff was most inadequate and that an
immediate increase in the number of touring veterinary assistant
surgeons is required for Puri, Balasore and Sambalpur.
I
entirely agree with the Assistant Director.
73. Work of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.—The total
number of patients treated by veterinary assistant surgeons
during the year on tour as well as at headquarters was 433,011,
3
9 DVS
18
as compared with 364,831 patients treated in the year 1934-35
This shows a substantial increase of 78,180 patients. Of the
total number 72,680 animals were treated for contagious
diseases, 251,713 were treated for non-contagious diseases and
the remainder 104,807 were castrations. According to ranges
136,539 patients were treated in North Bihar, 159,671 in the
Central and 136,801 in Orissa Range. In addition, 9,435 old
cases were treated, and in the Orissa Range, 39,911 foot and
mouth disease patients were supplied with medicines.
74. Rural veterinary dispensaries.—There were 139 rura
veterinary dispensaries on the 1st April, 1935. The number was
increased to 144 dispensaries at the end of the year under report.
Of these, 56 dispensaries worked in the North Bihar, 54 in
the Central and 34 in the Orissa Range.
The growing
popularity of these dispensaries can easily be judged from the
fact that altogether 151,704 patients including 40,678 castrations,
were treated at them compared with 123,075 patients treated
in 1934-35 and 100,730 in 1933-34 showing an increase of
28,629 and 50,974 patients respectively over the figures of the
previous two years. These figures are included in the total
number of patients shown in Table IV.
75. Altogether 58,257 villages were visited by the touring
veterinary assistant surgeons during the year against 56,960
visited by them in the year 1934-35 which also shows an
increase of 1,287 villages.
Veterinary Hospitals.
76. There was no change in the number of veterinary hospitals
(33) as in previous year (1934-35). Out of these, 1 hospital
was maintained by the Bettiah Raj and the two at Jamui and
Dinapore were in charge of touring veterinary assistant surgeons.
77. Construction and repair of veterinary hospitals and
dispensaries.—Construction and repair of veterinary hospitals
and dispensaries damaged by the earthquake received further
attention from the local bodies concerned. The work of
reconstruction of the Motihari, Madhubani, Samastipur and
Purnea veterinary hospitals was taken up and either completed or
nearing completion at the end of the year. The District Board,
Muzaffarpur, considered the question of rebuilding the local
veterinary hospital on approved lines. Sites were selected
for the veterinary dispensaries at Jainagar, Phulpras and Bihpur.
The Patna City Municipality have, under their consideration,
the question of removing the Bankipur veterinary hospital to
19
a more spacious site. During the year, the District Board,
Shahabad, constructed two rooms and two sheds for the
Barhampur and Bikramganj veterinary dispensaries, while the
District Board, Gaya, built quarters for the touring veterinary
assistant surgeon, Warsaliganj. Proposals for the construction
of fresh veterinary dispensary buildings at Barh and Bihar
according to type plans, were also approved by the District
Board, Patna.
78. Number of patients treated.—99,326 in and out-patients
were treated at the 33 veterinary hospitals maintained during
the year as against 93,587 treated in 1934- 6, an increase of
5,739 patients which is satisfactory.
In addition, 21,743
castrations were performed and 22,346 patients not brought
to the hospitals, were supplied with medicines, compared with
19,330 castrations and 13,324 patients supplied with medicines,
in the year 1934-35. The steady progress in the work of the
hospitals shows how they are gaining in popularity.
79. Of the total number of 99,326 regular patients, 51,268
were treated at the 14 hospitals of the North Bihar Range,
30,307 at the 11 hospitals of the Central Range and 17,751 at
the 8 hospitals of the Orissa Range. The figures for castrations
were 13,472 for North Bihar, 6,370 for the Central and 1,901
for Orissa Range.
CHAPTER IV.
Breeding Operations.
80. Control of Live-stock Improvement.—The Breeding
operations at the Patna Cattle Breeding Farm were controlled by
the department. A pure bred herd of Tharparkar bulls and cows,
in addition to cross bred animals (Shahahad with Tharparkar)
is maintained. The main object of this farm is to produce
suitable general utility animals to meet local demands to a
certain extent. During the year, 4 bulls (3 Tharparkar and
1 cross bred) were supplied to the local bodies free and 4
also were sold to the public.
81. Stud bulls.—In addition to the above, 41 stud bulls
maintained by Government and local bodies at the veterinary
hospitals and dispensaries were also supervised by the depart-
ment. Most of these bulls were of Hissar, Montgomery and
Tharparkar breed (the last named being obtained from the
Patna Farm). Their condition was, on the whole, satisfactory,
and their services were in great demand, 2,419 cows were
20
served by these bulls during the year. 4 casualties having
occurred, the number at the end of the year was 37. The
details of their distribution are shown in Table VIII.
82. Castration.—The department has been doing the work
of castrating animals, chiefly scrub bulls as an aid to the
improvement of cattle since its inception, and it is satisfactory
to note that though the number done each year is very small
compared with the total live-stock of the province, a steady
improvement in the figures is being maintained. During the
year 122,852 bulls and bull calves were castrated by the staff
as compared with 110,034 and 96,222 done in the previous
two years 1934-35 and 1933-34 respectively. In addition, they
also castrated 7,509 animals under the heads " Equines" and
"Others". Of the total number of 130,361 castrations, 57,206
were performed in the North Bihar, 49,887 in the Central and
23,268 in the Orissa Range. To facilitate this work, it is of
the utmost importance that a separate castration staff is
employed under the department. A scheme to this effect has
recently been submitted to Government.
CATTLE FARM.
Patna-Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm.
83. Farm Manager, Babu N. N. Ghose was in charge of
the Farm from the 19th April, 1935 to the 17th November, 1935
during the absence on leave of Mr. E. T. Davis, I.V.S., Principal
of the Bihar Veterinary College; the latter officer supervised the
work of the Farm for the remaining period of the year.
84. On the 1st of April, 1935, the farm herd consisted of
106 desi cows, 105 Tharparkar cows, 78 Tharparkar bull calves,
103 Tharparkar heifer calves, 89 cross-bred bull calves, 45
cross-bred heifer calves, 67 draught bullocks, 14 Tharparkar
bulls, 2 cross-bred bulls and one pony or a total of 610 animals.
During the year 48 Tharparkar bull calves, 47 Tharparkar heifer
calves, 45 cross-bred bull calves and 41 cross-bred heifer calves, or
a total of 181 calves were born on the farm, raising the total to 791.
Out of this number there were 10 casualties, 153 animals were
sold, 3 Tharparkar bulls and 1 cross-bred bull were distributed
free to some of the local bodies in the province, and 11 animals
were sent to Pinjrapole, leaving the total strength of the herd at
613 as per Statement A. The average number of cows in milk
during the year was 112.