NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
7
officer has been at work for only nine months during this year. It is
early yet to give any definite opinion on the results achieved,
since it is impossible for one man to do full justice to the vast work
that lies before him in this Province. The attention of this officer was
mainly devoted to those districts where big cattle fairs or important
conferences were held. He visited and gave lectures at the following
places:— Nekmurd, Alwakhawa, Dham-dhemi, Haripur, Bochaganj,
Gopinathpur, Badarganj, Kachookata, Barobhita, Panga, Darwani, Hili,
Fulchari, Khaga, Falakata Khasmahal, Saidpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram,
Gaibandha, Naldanga, Bogra, Santahar, Bolpur, Krishnagar, Nalhati,
Uttarpara, Bhadrakali, Jalpaiguri, Rangpur and Mymensingh. He was
also in charge of the work on the Demonstration Train.
A cinematograph apparatus was purchased towards the close of the
year, which will now be brought into use. Difficulty was experienced
in obtaining suitable films and also in getting a reliable engine to
supply electricity in places where this is not available. Portability was
essential in addition to reliability.
The efficacy of cinema demonstration in propaganda work is well
established and it is hoped that the value of our demonstration will
be greatly enhanced by this new acquisition.
12. In the Eastern Range the Itinerant Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons continued to attend the primary schools and impart
instruction to the boys regarding care, rearing, feeding, housing and
the usefulness of cattle.
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
13. There has been a marked increase in the mortality of animals
from contagious diseases during the year, the total number of deaths
reported being 15,933 as against 13,848 in the preceding year. Table
II gives the figures for each district in detail. The increase in
mortality is attributed to the prevalence in a greater degree of
Rinderpest,
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia, Foot and Mouth and
Blackquarter during the year.
Equine Diseases.
14. Glanders.—The Province was practically free from this
disease except Midnapore, where only two cases of death occurred.
A sum of Rs. 55 was awarded as compensation in one case for the
destruction of an animal under the Act.
15 & 16. Anthrax and Dourine.—No cases were reported during
the year.
17. Surra.—Was prevalent only in the Darjeeling district and
caused the death of 36 pack ponies in the hills. Two of these animals
were slaughtered and a sum of Rs. 80 awarded as compensation to the
owners thereof. The other animals died before diagnosis was
confirmed. The outbreak was started by the importation of a new
pony from the plains affected with the disease.
8
18. Other diseases.—Three cases were recorded under this head as
against five in the previous year, but no details thereof are available.
Bovine Diseases.
19. Rinderpest—was prevalent in all the districts and caused the
death of 10,183 animals as against 8,806 in the preceding year. The
loss was particularly severe in the districts of Bakarganj, Tippera,
Noakhali and Midnapore. These four districts claimed nearly 41 per
cent. of the total loss under this head.
Inoculation campaigns were organised as soon as possible after the
receipt of information regarding the outbreaks and necessary steps
were taken to impress upon the cultivating classes the necessity of
disinfection, segregation and burial of carcasses to check the spread
of the disease in the interior.
20. Foot and Mouth.—Twenty districts reported the existence of
this disease, the mortality being estimated at 581 as against 281 in
the previous year. Deaths from this malady are usually confined to
young stock, or old and decrepit animals. This disease, although not
so fatal as others, is a cause of considerable loss to the agricultural
community.
21. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—With the exception of Tippera all
the districts were more or less affected, and the aggregate mortality on
this account was 3,590 as against 3,158 in the previous year. The
outbreaks were rather severe in the district of Chittagong, where 423
animals died as against 199 in the previous year.
22. Blackquarter.—Of the 397 deaths that were recorded under this
head 109 occurred in Birbhum and 95 in Nadia. Preventive inoculation
was undertaken and 2,268 animals were protected against this disease
in both these districts.
23. Anthrax.—Occurred in nine districts and took a toll of 169
animals as against 262 in the preceding year.
24. Other contagious diseases—are reported to have caused the
death of 170 animals as against 497 in the previous year.
25. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—Eight hundred
and two fatal cases were reported under this head. This includes cases
of rabies, distemper, piroplasmosis and various other parasitic
diseases other than those detailed above.
Table III.—Preventive Inoculations.
26. Table III gives the number of inoculations performed in this
Province during the year under report.
27. There were altogether 704 outbreaks in which inoculation
could be undertaken and 142,761 animals were protected as against
122,675 animals in 596 outbreaks during the preceding year. There
has thus been an appreciable increase in the number of cattle inoculated
due, as has already been stated, to the prevalence in a greater degree of
9
Rinderpest, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia and Blackquarter during the
year. Details of inoculation are given below :—
Rinderpest ... ...
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia ...
Anthrax ... ...
Blackquarter ... ...
Total
1929-30.
110,043
29,298
747
2,673
142,761
1928-29.
93,489
27,226
1,333
627
122,675
28. In addition to the above figures 552 animals were inoculated
in Calcutta and its suburbs by the Glanders Staff of the Bengal
Veterinary College. A further batch of animals numbering altogether
1,417 was protected by the Serum Simultaneous method as per details
given below :—
Name of Serum Simultaneous Inoculation Centre.
Manipur Agricultural Farm (Dacca) ... ...
Kamrangar Char and Nilkhet (Dacca) ... ...
Barisal Hospital ... ... ...
Patharghata (Barisal) ... ... ...
Khepupara (Barisal) ... ... ...
Rangpur ... ... ...
Total ...
Number of
animals
inoculated.
51
64
11
1,026
205
60
1,417
29. The number of deaths amongst the inoculated cattle—Serum
Alone method—was 762 in all or 0 .5 per cent. of the total.
30. A sum of Rs. 48,840-15 was paid to the Director of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, on account of cost of sera
and vaccines during the year.
Table IV.
31. Table IV deals with the work done by the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons both at headquarters and in the interior. It also
includes the work done in the mufassal by the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons in charge of Dispensaries.
32. Altogether 98 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were at work in
the mufassal, of whom 69 were purely Itinerant and the rest Itinerant
and Stationary, who toured in the interior when required to do so.
Besides doing the inoculation work referred to in paragraph 27 of this
report, these men visited 16,581 villages and treated 129,406 cases as
against 16,733 villages and 131,564 cases, respectively, in the preceding
year. They also inspected cattle pounds in their jurisdiction and
attended chaukidari parades and impressed upon the chaukidars the
necessity of reporting promptly outbreaks of cattle disease in the
interior.
10
Hospitals and Dispensaries.
33. Table V shows in detail the working of the Hospitals and
Dispensaries in this Province.
34. Two Veterinary Stores.—One at Kharagpur and another at
Naogaon were raised to the status of Dispensaries, thus bringing the
total number of such institutions to 46 as against 44 in the preceding
year.
35. The total number of cases treated during the year both as
in and out-patients was 63,118, and 16,240 cases were supplied with
medicines as against 60,606 and 9,353 cases, respectively, in the
previous year.
36. The Serum Cellar in the Mymensingh Veterinary Hospital was
completed in the beginning of the year, but it is reported that water
in the rainy season accumulates in the Cellar which hampers the work
of the same. A dog ward and quarters for the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon at Sadar were under construction in this Hospital
during the year.
37. The District Board of Faridpur have constructed dispensaries
with quarters for the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons at Gopalganj and
Rajbari during the year.
38. At Barisal the construction of an operation theatre, the
installation of a Kelvinator Cabinet for cold storage of Serum, the
acquisition of land for the grazing of stud bulls and the training of bulls
in ploughing and carting were under the contemplation of the District
Board and it is hoped that some of these schemes will materialise in
the course of the current year.
39. The District Board of Chittagong have acquired land for the
Veterinary Dispensary at Satkania, but nothing has been done to
construct a dispensary as yet.
40. The District Board of Noakhali have raised the land acquired
for the Veterinary Dispensary at Hatiya by re-excavating the tank
during the year.
41. The District Board of Tippera have sanctioned a sum of Its. 500
for the construction of a dog kennel in the Veterinary Hospital at
Comilla.
42. The tank in the compound of the Government Veterinary
Hospital at Dacca was re-excavated and the compound levelled and
dressed during the year.
43. The Hospital at Naogaon with quarters for the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon was completed and opened during the year. A
Serum Cellar at the Sadar Hospital was also constructed by the
District Board of Rajshahi.
44. The District Board of Dinajpur have completed the
construction of menials' quarters at the Sadar Hospital, and have
sanctioned the construction of Dispensaries with quarters for the
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons at Thakurgaon and Balurghat.
45. The District Board of Pabna have sanctioned and passed an
estimate for the construction of Dispensary buildings at Pabna and
Serajganj. The District Board of Malda have also sanctioned the
construction of a Serum Cellar at the headquarters station of the
district.
11
46. The District Board of Rangpur took up the work of construction
of the Veterinary Dispensary at Dimla at the end of this year and have
further sanctioned the cost of adding an additional room to the Sadar
Veterinary Hospital at Rangpur.
47. One stud bull was presented to the Managing Committee of
the Veterinary Hospital at Chinsura by the Mohunt of Guptipara in
the Hooghly district.
48. The Raja of Tajhat has also been pleased to make a free gift
of land for the Veterinary Dispensary at Saidpur in the Rangpur district.
49. Cooch Behar.—It is most gratifying to see that the long-felt
want of a suitable hospital in Cooch Behar is met in the improvement
scheme for that town. Her Highness the Maharani and the Vice-
President of the Regency Council are complimented on the thorough
manner in which this matter has been taken up. The new hospital, in
course of erection, fitted with up-to-date appliances, water and
electricity and cold storage for sera, situate in a spacious compound,
with quarters for both Stationary and Itinerant Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons will be a cerdit to the state and a lasting monument to the
keen interest they have taken in animal welfare.
Part III.—Breeding Operations.
50. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls maintained in the
Province during the year. Of the total number of 153 bulls, 42 are
the property of Government, while 111 are maintained by the local
bodies.
51. There is a great shortage of breeding bulls in this Province.
The resources at the disposal of the Cattle Improvement Committee
should be greatly increased so that a tangible beginning may be made
towards the solution of this problem.
Fairs and Shows.
52. Tables XIII and XIV show the particulars of the horse and
cattle fairs in Bengal.
53. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and Inspectors attended most
of these and helped in the judging of animals for the distribution of
prizes and whenever possible gave necessary advice to the raiyats
regarding veterinary matters.
54. There are at present 48 big cattle fairs in Bengal, where about
a lakh and a half of cattle besides fifteen to twenty thousand of other
animals (horses, camels, sheep and dogs) are brought for sale each year
from different parts of India, mostly outside Bengal. The proprietors
of these melas derived a net profit of about Rs. 80,000 this year, which
is considerably below the profit of a normal year. In this connection
it should be borne in mind that these melas are a source of contagious
diseases of animals in Bengal. If these melas can be properly
controlled by the officers of this Department, the number of outbreaks
might be considerably lowered and thereby expenditure on serum
curtailed. The cost of dealing with these outbreaks falls on
Government and the District Boards.
The measures needed to control this is a Contagious Diseases of
Animals Act to—
(a) prevent sick cattle being moved from one place to another.
12
(6) prevention of the sale of sick cattle;
(c) prevention of melas in places where diseases is already
prevailing; and
(d) dissolution of melas if there occurs any outbreak of serious
nature in the course of the melas or in places near about.
Some of the proprietors have commenced to pay a nominal
contribution at one anna per animal sold, which goes to the District
Boards now, but in view of the fact that these melas are the sources of
cattle disease and that serum charges are no longer borne by the local
bodies, I suggest some contribution, say four annas per animal sold,
should be realised in equal shares from the dealers and the proprietors
and paid to Government every year. In return for this Government
might supply a special Veterinary Assistant Surgeon to attend during
the whole mela and a temporary camp dispensary for treatment of
clinical cases: also serum if required for contagious diseases.
This matter is now engaging the attention of the Husbandry Wing
of the Board of Agriculture.
Bull Breeding and Rearing Farms.
55. Three such farms were at work in this Province during the
year: one at Kalimpong, another at Rangpur and the third at Dacca.
The first is managed by St. Andrew's Colonial Homes and the last two
by the Agricultural Department.
56. Rangpur.—Altogether 35 animals died of
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia and Blackquarter, which broke out amongst farm cattle
during the year. There was also one case of death from Pnuemonia
and three from other general diseases.
The health of the cattle on this farm has been causing considerable
anxiety.
Since the regular application of the Serum Simultaneous inoculation
loss from Rinderpest has been completely stopped.
Inoculation to
protect the cattle from Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia has not been so
successful and the continued recurrence of this disease on the Farm
after inoculation is now under enquiry with the Director of the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
The young
stock was protected from Blackquarter with Aggressin and the result
was satisfactory.
57. Dacca.—The health of the adult stock was fair. Two animals
died of John's disease and two deaths occurred from worms and two
from accidents. There was an outbreak of malignant worts which
caused general debility amongst calves attacked. It is satisfactory
to note that since February last all stock show a great improvement in
general health including calves, which are now reported to be in good
condition.
58. Kalimpong.—Apart from one Jersey cow which died of
Pneumonia shortly after her arrival from Calcutta, the health of the
Ayreshire herd and crossbred animals has been good during the year.
The disease Hæmaturia still causes some loss on the Farm and in
the district.
Two animals were brought to the Bengal Veterinary
College for investigation in collaboration with the Director of the School
of Tropical Medicine. Valuable information was acquired, but so far
the cause has not been traced. Further research in this matter is
13
necessary. Both animals eventually died while under observation.
Thanks are due to the authorities of the Kalimpong Homes for
presenting these animals for investigation, and to the Director of the
School of Tropical Medicine for placing the help of his Expert Staff at
our disposal.
Horse and Pony Stallion.
59. There was no horse or pony stallion in this Province. Tables
X, XI and XII are therefore blank.
Part IV.—Subordinate Staff.
GO. Table VII shows in detail the staff employed on Veterinary
work in this Province.
61. The post of Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeon for the
Serampore subdivision was opened during the year, and so also the post
of Propaganda Inspector which has been sanctioned by Government
temporarily for two years. Two additional posts of Itinerant
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in the Burdwan district were however
abolished owing to the financial stringency of the District Board.
62. Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Babu S. K. Chowdhury, who
was on deputation to Muktesar, returned to this Province in October
last. The services of Babu N. C. Sen, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
of Perojpur, were placed temporarily at the disposal of the Director of
the Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, for employment
as Veterinary Inspector there. Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Babu
J. C. Majumdar, was placed on foreign service under the C.S.P.C.A.,
but his services were terminated at the close of the financial year.
General Remarks.
63. Demonstration Train.—This has proved a valuable means of
stimulating interest in the activities of the Departments which have
made use of it for purposes of propaganda. The train this year started
from Parbatipur and visited 16 centres in the metre gauge section of
the Eastern Bengal Railway. At each station there was an Information
Bureau where visitors discussed Veterinary matters freely with the
officers of the Department.
Altogether about two lakhs of people
witnessed the Demonstration and attended the lectures, which were
highly appreciated.
64. Free supply Of serum.—The year under report has been
noteworthy in that funds have been provided to give effect to the
propsal for the free supply of sera to District Boards. This has been
made retrospective to April 1927. the year in which administrative
approval was given. In spite of this concession great difficulty has
been experienced in collecting arrear debts on this account prior to the
above date. It is hoped that District Boards will devote more money
now to Veterinary improvements. The Veterinary Staff is still greatly
under strength being 63 short of the full sanctioned cadre. There are
still district headquarters in which there are no hospitals and
subdivisions lacking dispensaries. Suitable quarters for Itinerant
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons are still few and far between and in
the matter of house rent, where quarters are not provided much remains
to be done. Wherever electricity is available I propose Boards should
install Cold Storage Cabinets for storage of serum. This will do much
14
to accelerate the supply of sera to the seat of outbreaks of disease and
prevent considerable loss due to sera deterioration as a result of
prolonged exposure to high temperature.
65. The various recommendations put forward by the Royal
Commission on Agriculture in regard to diseases of live-stock and their
control have all been considered by Government. Most of these should
be brought into effect as soon as financial and other circumstances
permit. There are however many obstacles to be overcome in order
to bring the Departmental cadre up to anything like the strength
recommended, chief among these being lack of funds and the difficulty
of obtaining recruits of the right type in sufficient numbers.
The
wide margin now existing between the cadre recommended by the
Commission and that at present is worthy of notice. The question of
legislation in connection with the control of contagious diseases is
another matter which requires careful consideration as it involves the
necessity of co-operation of all Provinces throughout India.
66. Assistant Directors.—The Assistant Directors worked well
throughout the year and achieved much useful work in spite of the
difficulties of the time. I have pleasure in acknowledging their able
and loyal assistance.
67. Veterinary Inspectors.—Under similar difficulties
the
Inspectors carried out their duties satisfactorily.
68. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.—Special commendation is made
of the work of the following officers: —
Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Babu M. N. Majumdar.
Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Babu S. K. Chaudhuri.
Western
Range.
Babu K. C. Gupta, Dinajpur.
Babu S. N. Chakravarty, Balurghat.
Babu J. C. Majumdar, Kurigram.
Eastern
Range.
Babu N. C. Sen Gupta, Dacca.
Babu S. L. Das Gupta, Brahmanbaria.
69. Office.—The office staff worked hard and managed as well as
can be expected under the present handicap of shortage of men and in
cramped quarters. I regret the death of one of the junior clerks, Babu
Bonbehari Banerji, son of my late Head Assistant, who had made a
promising start in the office.
The work increases annually and it is hoped that funds will be
available to increase the staff proportionately.
P. J. KERR,
I.V.S.,
Director, Civil Veterinary Department, and
Veterinary Adviser to the Government of Bengal.
CALCUTTA :
The 18th July 1929.
16
TABLE
Showing number off deaths from contagious
Province.
1
Burdwan .. ..
Birbhum .. ..
Bankura .. ..
Midnapur .. ..
Hooghly .. ..
Howrah .. ..
24-Parganas .. ..
Nadia .. ..
Murshidabad .. ..
Khulna .. ..
Jessore .. ..
Rajshahl .. ..
Dinajpur .. ..
Pabna .. ..
Bogra .. ..
Malda .. ..
Rangpur .. ..
Darjeeling .. ..
Jalpaiguri .. ..
Cooch Behar .. ..
Dacca .. ..
Mymensingh .. ..
Bakarganj .. ..
Faridpur .. ..
Chittagong (Including Hill
Tracts) .. ..
Tippera .. ..
Noakhall .. ..
Total ..
Equines.
Glan-
ders.
2
..
..
..
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
2
Anth-
rax.
3
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Surra.
4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
36
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
86
Dourine.
5
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Other
conta-
gious
diseases.
6
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
8
Total.
7
..
..
..
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
87
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
41
Rinder-
pest.
8
600
270
595
760
61
10
648
242
186
666
62
118
654
68
101
600
446
6
266
60
89
280
1,857
93
16
1,029
1,008
10,188
Foot
and
mouth
disease.
9
..
..
7
27
12
..
..
30
115
..
..
41
17
48
..
22
3
18
9
10
9
3
2
6
..
18
180
4
581
17
diseases amongst animals during the year 1929-30.
Bovines.
Hæmorr-
hagic
septi-
cæmia.
10
201
87
55
175
166
10
107
224
152
274
117
241
81
67
26
14
180
31
57
34
108
330
331
59
423
32
3590
Black-
quarter.
11
39
100
85
7
..
..
..
95
4
..
..
6
..
5
..
..
35
12
..
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
..
397
Anth-
rax.
12
..
..
38
..
34
..
17
..
..
..
..
..
..
6
..
..
16
1
7
..
..
..
33
..
..
..
18
169
Other
conta-
gious
diseases.
13
14
..
82
12
..
..
..
..
16
..
..
26
..
..
..
1
7
6
..
14
2
9
9
..
..
25
..
170
Total.
14
754
466
812
991
203
29
772
591
422
940
169
430
752
173
217
027
696
72
330
127
208
633
1,730
158
437
1,234
1,057
15,090
Others.
Rabies.
15
6
..
..
3
..
..
..
..
..
4
..
..
..
6
..
..
7
2
..
..
7
2
..
..
8
..
..
40
Dis-
temper.
16
11
..
..
21
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
7
..
3
8
1
..
..
..
..
..
..
2
..
..
64
Fowl
cholera.
17
6
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
215
..
..
21
364
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
608
Other
conta-
gious
diseases
18
..
..
47
13
..
..
..
..
..
..
11
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
16
..
..
7
..
..
93
Avian
Dip-
theria.
19
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
7
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
7
Total.
20
23
..
47
37
..
..
..
..
1
4
11
..
..
228
..
3
36
874
2
..
7
17
..
..
12
..
..
802