NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
5
however, the good work done by the veterinary assistant surgeons
has come under such favourable notion that a scheme is now on
hand to double the number of touring assistants in each subdivision.
The cultivator who has to suffer under existing conditions very
severe losses through outbreaks of contagious and infections dis-
eases will, when this scheme is introduced, be better protected
than ever before. Even when this proposed increass is taken
into account, there is still very great room for improvement. In
the more thickly populated areas, additional officers paid by
Government will be required, but no matter how much the State
may help, zamiadars and co-operative societies, and especially the
latter, should employ their own veterinary assistants and in this
way bring help to a wider circle. The roll of Government should
be to control contagious diseases and to leave the other diseases
to private management.
19. Including the foot and mouth disease cases, which Alone
number more than 75,000, 149,257 animals were affected, and
out of these 30,737 died, against 91,492 attacks and 28,655 deaths
respectively in the year 1921-22. Pour thousand five hundred
and six outbreaks were attended by veterinary assistant surgeons
against 3,380 of the previous year.
EQUINE.
20. Glanders.—This disease was not reported during the year.
21. Anthrax.—One case occurred at Patna among the horses
of the Bodyguard.
22. Surra.—Twenty-one cases (13 died naturally, and 8 des-
troyed) occurred in the district of Patna, Saran, Muzaffarpur,
Santal Parganas and Singhbhum. A sum of Rs. 225 was paid
as compensation.
23. Other contagious diseases.—Six deaths were recorded
of which four were due to tetanus.
BOVINE.
24. Rinderpest.—Rinderpest
was reported in all districts
except Angul, severe losses being reported from Manbhum,
Hazaribagh, Patna, Gaya, Santal Parganas, Purnea and Ranchi.
Altogether 22,365 deaths were brought to notice out of 54,617
animals attacked in 3,033 outbreaks, as compared with 22,936
deaths and 59,222 attacks in 1921-22.
25. The disease broke out in Patna in May 1922, and subsid-
ed in July, to re-appear in September, in a more virulent form,
which continued up to the end of February, 1923. It lingered
on in Bankipur for about nine months, inspite of the special
6
measures taken by the subordinate staff under the supervision of
the Deputy Director. It was responsible for a considerable
mortality among the cattle of the Taylor breed which are more
susceptible to infection than country stock. Four hundred and
twenty-five cattle died out of 685 affected in the course of the
outbreak. One thousand one hundred and fifty inoculations
were performed including those reinoculated. A detailed report
of this outbreak has been submitted to Government.
26. Rinderpest of a severe type appeared in the Giridih sub-
division of Hazaribagh district, where the infection is said to
have been introduced by herds of buffaloes passing towards
Bengal, from our mora westerly districts and from the United
Provinces. It lasted for nearly eight months from August 1922
to March 1923, causing the loss of 1,143 animals out of 2,518
affected. Altogether 5,836 cattle were saved by inoculation ;
four veterinary assistant surgeons attended the outbreak.
27. Another severe outbreak was reported in Purnea, the
disease having been introduced by local cattle returning from the
grazing grounds in Nepal. It spread to all than as of the Sadr
subdivision. Eight hundred and forty-seven cattle died.
28. The great difficulty in dealing with the Patna outbreak
was the opposition displayed by the cattle owners who would
not have their animals done. " Serum alone " inoculation
undoubtedly does leave something to be desired, but it is the best
method of dealing with the disease under the conditions prevail-
ing in India. The " simultaneous " method would be more
beneficial to the country, and an endeavour will be made to
extend it this year to selected villages. The movement of
susceptible cattle into areas where the disease is of low virulence,
thereby rejuvenating the disease and thus increasing its
virulence is, I feel certain, the cause of its being continued
through the decades.
29. Until the cattle disease question, as it affects the whole
of India, is taken up as one big scheme directed by a professional
head with his headquarters with the Imperial Government, little
progress can be made, and much money will be wasted on the
efforts of the provincial Governments, no matter how effective
they may be in keeping disease in check in their own provinces.
Legislation is required, but it should he applicable to the whole
of India.
30. Foot and mouth disease.—As noted above, this disease
was more widespread than in the previous year. It affected very
large numbers in the Santal Parganas, and in Cuttack, Puri,
7
Balasore, Angul and Sambalpur. Altogether 2,034 outbreaks
were reported, against 1,039 in the year 1921-22. Seventy¬
five thousand two hundred and twenty-four animals were
attacked and 480 died, as compared with 24,599 attacks and
214 deaths of the previous year.
31. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—Hæmorrhagic
septicæmia
was reported from all districts. It was more virulent than in the
previous year. The highest mortality, viz., 1,306 deaths, was
recorded in Patna, where the disease broke out simultaneously
with rinderpest and lasted for a considerable time. Next in
importance were the districts of Cuttack, Ranchi and Gaya with
914, 847 and 550 deaths respectively. Altogether 7,444 deaths
were brought to notice out of a total number of 10,092 cattle
affected in 1,351 outbreaks, as compared with 4,39 deaths out
of 6,404 cattle attacked in 1921-22. One thousand and forty¬
nine outbreaks were attended by the veterinary assistant surgeons.
32. Black Quarter.—Black quarter occurred in four districts,
viz., Saran, Muzaffarpur, Santal Parganas and Cuttack, the
total number of casualties being 98. Nine outbreaks were
reported against 102 of the previous year, and all of them were
attended. The disease was diagnosed microscopically in eight
instances.
33. Anthrax.—Anthrax
occurred in Gaya, Bhagalpur,
Cuttack, Sambalpur, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Palamau, and Singh¬
bhum against the same number of districts in 1921-22. One
hundred and thirty-eight deaths were brought to notice out of 219
cattle affected in 25 outbreaks, as compared with 139 deaths
and 240 attacks during the previous year. All outbreaks were
attended and the disease was diagnosed microscopically.
34. Other contagions diseases.—Two hundred and twelve
deaths were recorded under this head, which includes 92 deaths as
due to bovine surra and the rest to parasitic diarrhoea and other
unidentified causes. Seventy-nine deaths from bovine surra were
reported in Muzaffarpur alone, and there appears to be no doubt
that it is much more widespread and is the cause or contributing
cause of more deaths during certain seasons than is at present
suspected. A more frequent reference to the laboratory by the
Veterinary assistant surgeons will help greatly in mapping out
affected areas.
CANINE.
35. Rabies.—Forty-five deaths from rabies were reported
during the year against seventy-seven in 1921-22.
8
TABLE III.
INOCULATION.
36. It is satisfactory to be able to record that the number of
inoculations is steadily increasing, as will appear from a perusal
of the statistics in table III for the year under report. One
hundred and fifty-nine thousand three hundred and twenty-five
cattle were protected against the different contagious diseases,
as compared with 123,387 in the year 1921-22, and 92,030 in
1920-21. There has been an appreciable increase in the number
of cattle inoculated in the districts of the North Bihar range
where this form of treatment was not previously very popular.
This can be put down entirely to the energy displayed by the
staff under Captain Riley's direction. Opposition to its intro-
duction was offered as in previous years in the districts of Patna,
Bhagalpur and the Santal Parganas; elsewhere inoculations were
carried out without any great difficulty. Personal supervision
by the inspecting staff and closer co-operation with the depart-
ments of agriculture and co-operative societies should yield even
better results in the future.
37. Rinderpest.—Inoculations
against rinderpest were carried
out in all districts except in Balasore and Angul. Altogether
113,190 cattle were protected by the "serum alone" method
in 834 outbreaks, compared with 97,948 in 1921-22. More
than 20,000 inoculations were performed in Gava, while
17,669 were done in Manbhum, 12,851 in Hazaribagh and 11,161
in Purnea. Five hundred and seventy-three inoculated cattle
died, against 536 in the year 1921-22, the death rate being
5 per cent.
38. Hæmorrhagic septicaemia.—Inoculations
against this
disease were carried out in all districts except Angul, the total
number of cattle protected being 42,729 in 245 outbreaks, as
compared with 18,950 in 135 outbreaks in the previous year.
Only 38 deaths occurred among the protected animals.
39. Anthrax.—Inoculations were performed in nine districts,
the total number protected by serum being 1,206 in 15 out-
breaks, as compared with 1,262 in the previous year. Only two
among the inoculated cattle died.
40. Black Quarter.—Two thousand and two hundred cattle
were protected by black quarter vaccine in five districts, viz., Saran,
Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Santal Parganas and Cuttack, against
5,227 protected in seven districts in 1921-22. The figure includes
523 cattle vaccinated at the Sipaya farm and 116 at the Bettiah
farm as a preventive measure. Thirteen of the inoculated cattle
died.
9
41. Supply of serum and vaccine.—The following table shows
the quantity of serum and vaccine dealt with by the department
during the year and their value at Muktesar rates :—
Serum or vaccine.
1
1. Anti-rinderpest serum
...
2.
Ditto
(old slock)
3. Anti-hæmorrhagic septicæmia
serum.
4. Anti-anthrax serum ...
5. Mallein
...
...
Cost per dose.
2
Rs.
0
0
0
0
0
a.
3
2
6
6
7
p.
0
0
0
0
6
Quantity
received.
3
Rs.
4,25,000
60,000
68,000
1,000
6
6,44,006
Value.
4
Rs.
79,687
6,250
25,500
375
2
1,11,816
a.
8
0
0
0
13
5
p
.
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rupees 91,082-2-0 including outstandings of Rs. 22,251-15-4
from the previous year were realized from local bodies and
credited to Government. A sum of Rs. 43,005-2-4 still remains
to be recovered for products received from the Muktesar labo-
ratory during the period under report. Owing to the increase in
the cost of production, all sera and vaccines were charged for at
increased rates with effect from the 1st April 1922.
42. Since October 1922, serum for the North Bihar range
was issued from the new depot at Muzaffarpur.
TABLE IV.
NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED.
43. Seventy veterinary assistant surgeons were employed on
touring duty during the year, against sixty-two in 1921-22.
This number includes the assistants in charge of the hospitals
at Ranchi, Palamau, Dumka and Begusarai. The posts of
second touring veterinary assistant surgeons for Motihari and
Purulia which the district boards agreed to take at full cost
were sanctioned and filled ; in addition, three new posts, viz.,
10
one for Patna Sadr, one for Kodarma in Hazaribagh district and
one for Daudnagar in Gaya district were created and the
officers appointed. A second touring veterinary assistant
surgeon for Singhbhum was sanctioned, but his headquarters
have been fixed temporarily at Ghatsila.
44. The district road committee, Santal Parganas, as well
as the district board, Bhagalpur, were unable to make any ad-
ditional appointments for want of funds. The former district re-
quires help urgently as it frequently appeals for our assistance.
The attention of Government is drawn to this fact in the hope
that it may see its way to bear the cost of a veterinary staff for
this large area until such time as the district finances are in a
position to support this burden. Monghyr applied for one for
the Begusarai subdivision, while Hazaribagh decided to appoint
two additional assistants to be stationed at Ramgarh in Sadr
and at Dhanwar in Giridih subdivisions. The district boards
of Patna, Gaya, Monghyr, Cuttack, Puri and Balasore have
also under consideration proposals for the appointment of addi-
tional touring veterinary assistant surgeons at Dinapur,
Warisaliganj in Nawadah subdivision, Jamui, Cuttack Sadr,
Puri Sadr and Balasore Sadr respectively. All those posts are
likely to receive sanction during 1923-24.
45. Eighty-one thousand eight hundred and eighteen fresh
cases including castrations, were treated on tour and at head-
quarters as compared with 40,824 cases treated in the year
1921-22. The large increase of 40,994 cases over the previous
year's figures is due mainly to foot and mouth disease, but
there has also been an increase of 7,306 cases of non-contagious
disease which is also satisfactory. Twenty-five thousand seven
hundred and thirty villages were visited against 19,879 in
1921-22.
TABLE V.
HOSPITALS.
46. The number of hospitals was increased from twenty-
three to twenty-six by the opening of new institutions at Hajipur,
Dhanbad and Bargarh. The hospitals at Dumka, Ranchi,
Palamau and Begusarai continued to be in charge of touring
officers. A hospital assistant was appointed at Bargarh, but in
view of the large area to be covered, it is proposed to allot five
thanas, including Bargarh, to the assistant in charge of the
hospital. Similar arrangements have also been suggested for
the stationary assistants at Purulia and Sambalpur, the cost of
travelling in their case being met by the local bodies concerned.
11
47. The new hospital buildings at Dumka and Chaibassa,
for which the local bodies each received a grant of Rs. 10,000 from
Government, as well as the buildings at Hajipur, Samastipur
and Bagaha (Bettiah) have been completed, while those at
Madhubani (Darbhanga) were under construction during the
year. The proposals for opening hospitals in different parts of
the Purnea district did not materialize as the board was unable
to provide the funds. In Shahabad, the buildings at Sasaram
were completed, but no progress has been made towards the
erection of small hospitals in Buxar and Bhabua; the Puri
district board has revived the question of building a hospital
at Sadr, and also put up fresh proposals for another hospital at
Khurda, but the question of funds has not yet been decided.
Khurda being a Government estate has a legitimate claim for a
subsidy from provincial revenues. In any case there is urgent
need of assistants in the Orissa division, and it is hoped that
Government will help the local bodies in some material way.
The hospital at Dinapur is not completed, but it will be
handed over before the rains. It is hoped to have the small
hospital at Giridih taken in hand during 1923-24. Owing to
want of funds the district boards of Gaya, Saran, Cuttack,
Purnea and the road committee of the Santal Parganas could
not construct any of the additional hospitals of which mention
was made in last year's report.
48. Thirty thousand four hundred and ten fresh patients
were treated at the hospitals during the year, as compared with
27,526 in 1921-22 showing an increase of 2,884 patients. In
addition to the above, 676 castrations were performed, and
6,663 cases not brought to the hospitals were supplied with
medicines against 644 and 8,176 respectively in 1921-22.
TABLE VIII.
BREEDING OPERATIONS.
49. Fifty-five stud bulls were maintained in the districts
against 41 in 1921-22. The district board, Darbhanga, purchased
six-bulls at an average price of Rs. 135 each; while one bull was
supplied to the Muzaffarpur veterinary hospital by the Bettiah
Raj in exchange for one desi bull returned. One Montgomery
bull was also presented to the Saran district board by the local
people. The stud bull maintained at the Begusarai hospital was
returned to the Sipaya farm as unserviceable.
50. The cattle show at Niazipur was not held, as the district
board, Shahabad, refused to supply the funds necessary to meet
12
the expenses and prize money. The bulls however remained in
charge of their keepers who expressed their gratitude at what
Government had done for them.
51. The whole of the cattle breeding question requires
revision ; I believe it will be absolutely impossible to get ordinary
local bodies to take up the question properly, unless Govern-
ment makes it compulsory. From April 1st next, the Agricul-
tural Department will take over control of cattle breeding mainly
as it affects milk supply for the towns. Attention has, however,
been directed to the necessity of keeping in view the predilection
and prejudices of cultivators in these parts for grey cattle with
a minimum of loose skin at the sheath and dewlap, at the same
time endeavouring as far as possible to grade up for milk. It
will be a slow process and costly but it will be worth it all, if the
Council can be induced to vote the money and private enter-
prise be stimulated, for without the latter no progress of a lasting
character can be expected.
TABLE IX.
CATTLE FARMS.
52. The Bettiah Raj Farm.—The herd is composed of
selected cows from the local breed, as well as heifers brought
from Sipaya and stud bulls imported from the Punjab.
53. At the end of the year, the herd consisted of 3 bulls, 37
cows, 46 bull calves under three years, 40 heifer calves of the
same age and 13 buffalo bulls or a total of 139 animals.
54. During the year, 19 bull calves and 21 heifer calves were
born, 1 desi bull was purchased from Sipaya at Rs. 175, and 12
buffalo bull calves were obtained from the Punjab at a total cost
of Us. 997. As regards casualties, 1 bull calf, 2 heifer calves
and 1 cow died of non-contagious diseases, 47 rejected animals
were sold by auction for Rs. 1,409, and 5 farm-bred bulls and
10 buffalo bulls were distributed to tenants on the estate.
55. Eight heifers were transferred to the herd. The unkeep
of the farm cost Rs. 17,364 against Rs. 18,580 in the year 1921-22.
The farm was inspected by the Deputy Director, North Bihar
range.
56. Government Cattle Farm, Sipaya.—At the end of the
year the herd at Sipaya consisted of 3 stud bulls, 25 cows, 63 male
and 45 female calves one to four years old, 3 buffalo bull calves,
and 62 work bullocks, or a total of 201 animals, as against 369 of
the previous year. The health of the cattle was satisfactory on
13
the whole ; but 7 cattle died from black quarter ; the causes of
death in these cases being attributed to the reaction set up by the
vaccine.
57. The upkeep of the farm cost Rs. 32,458, against
Rs. 55,046 in 1921-22. Receipts under different heads such as sale
of animals, produce, etc , amounted to Rs. 8,259, against Rs. 3,310
of the previous year.
58. As a result of the report of the Agricultural Committee,
this farm as a cattle breeding station is to be disbanded, a step
which will put back for an indefinite period the formation of the
desi herd of dual purpose animals of which the herd at Sipaya was
to be the nucleus. Cattle improvement cannot be carried out
without selection and it is disheartening that the work already
accomplished on lines which have proved so effective in Europe
should now bo nullified. If the work was appreciated and
encourged by influential and rich zamindars, especially those of
the Hindu religion, the task of cattle improvement would be easy,
but more often than not it is this class who frequently fail to
recognize that it is in their interests that this work is being carried
on. In spite of these set-backs, the subject is one of the very first
importance to the country, and it is hoped that these few lines
will catch the eye of some one who will use his influence to get
the Council to recognize that money spent on the improvement of
cattle by building up herds, is money spent in the very best
possible manner, and will eventually be returned to the country in
better live-stock.
TABLES X, XI, XII.
(Blank.)
TABLES XIII and XIV.
59. The particulars of the principal fairs and shows are given
in the above tables. There is nothing of importance to record.
Prices of cattle and live-stock generally are still high and they
show very little tendency to fall. Seventeen thousand eight
hundred and eight cattle were booked by the Bengal and North-
Western Railway to the Eastern Provinces during the year.
PROVINCIAL ESTABLISHMENT.
60. There has been no change in the establishment of
provincial service officers except that the Assistant Director,
14
Rai Sahib P. N. Das was on training at the Muktesar laboratory
from the 3rd July, and that his post remained vacant. Babu N.
Chattarji, Assistant Director, North Bihar range, still continues
to be temporary, his present term expiring on the 31st August
next. As the services of this officer are necessary for the efficient
administration of the range, it is hoped that the post will be made
permanent; a formal application to this effect has been submitted
to Government. The work of this officer was satisfactory
throughout the year.
TABLE VII.
SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
61. The number of veterinary inspectors was ten as in 1921-22,
but one additional post on Rs. 100 per mensem was sanctioned
with effect from the 1st April 1923. Of these officers, three are
employed in the North Bihar range and seven in South Bihar,
Chota Nagpur and Orissa.
62. The number of staff veterinary assistants was increased
from five to six with effect from the 1st April 1923, and of these,
two were allotted to the North Bihar range and four to the
southern ranges. Only three posts could be filled. The number
of reserve veterinary assistant surgeons was nine as in the
previous year, viz., three for the North Bihar range and six for
the other ranges. Three additional posts were however sanc-
tioned with effect from the 1st April 1923. The vacant posts of
staff and reserve veterinary assistants will be filled in 1923-24.
63. The laboratory at Muzaffarpur was opened from the 1st
April 1923, and from that date another laboratory assistant was
appointed. There will thus be two assistants of this class in
the department, while another is in training to proceed to
Cuttack as soon as that range has been opened.
64. Eighty-eight veterinary assistant surgeons were on the
roll on 1st April 1922, including the assistant employed by the
Bettiah Raj. Sixteen new graduates joined the department
during the year, the total being 104. Of this number, two
veterinary assistant surgeons died, two were dismissed, one was
discharged, and the services of one were dispensed with, one
(Babu B. B. Chowdhury) was on deputation as kheda officer
at Angul, while five acted as leave reserve. There were therefore
92 veterinary assistant surgeons in districts at the end of the
year, of whom 22, including the Raj veterinary as istant surgeon,
were employed in hospitals and 70 on touring duties.