NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Preface and General Administration.
Officer-in-charge, duration of tour, etc. ... .......
Part I.—Veterinary Instruction.
Veterinary Instruction
..
..
......
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
Contagious diseases in equines and bovines .. ......
Preventive Inoculation .. .. ......
Treatment of diseases on tour .. .. ......
Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries .. ......
Part III.—Breeding Operations.
Bovines—
Stud-bulls .. .. .. ......
Fairs and shows .. .. .. ......
Bull-breeding and rearing farms and depots ......
Equines—
Horse and pony stallions .. .. ......
Part IV.—Subordinate Staff.
Number .. .. .. .. ......
Part V.—General Remarks.
Increase of Veterinary personnel in the districts .. ....
Cattle poisoning .. .. .. .. ....
Assistant Directors .. .. .. ......
Veterinary Inspectors .. .. .. ......
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons .. .. ......
Office .. .. .. .. ......
Table
II .. .. .. ......
„ III .. .. .. ......
„ IV .. .. .. ......
„ V .. .. .. .... ..
„ VII .. .. .. .. .. ..
„ VIII .. .. .. .. .. ..
„ IX .. .. .. .. .. ..
„ XIII .. .. .. .. ....
„ XIV .. .. .. .. .. ..
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BENGAL,
For the year 1923-24.
Preface and General Administration.
Mr. P. J. Kerr, I. V. S., worked as Director and Veterinary
Adviser to Government from the beginning of the year till the 23rd
February last, when he went on leave for 8 months. On the same
date (afternoon) I assumed charge of the office of Director and continued
to work as such till the remainder of the year. Mr. Kerr's duties as
Veterinary Adviser were taken over by Mr. A. D. MacGregor, I. V. S.,
who carried them on in addition to his work as Principal, Bengal
Veterinary College, till the close of the year.
2. Owing to continued ill-health it was not possible for Mr. Kerr
to go out on frequent tours to the districts. He was therefore out in
camp for only 33 days during the year, and travelled 4,810 miles by
rail, 40 miles by road and 381 miles by steamer. He visited the
districts of Howrah, Burdwan, Khulna, Barisal, Tippera and Darjeeling
and inspected the veterinary work and advised local bodies regarding
the improvement and expansion of veterinary aid in the mufassal.
At Howrah he impressed upon the local authorities the necessity of
retaining the only Veterinary Assistant Surgeon for the district. His
representation bore fruit and the District Board ultimately withdrew
their retrenchment proposal. At Burdwan he saw the Collector and
the Chairman, District Board, on the subject of establishment of a
well-equipped hospital to be run jointly by the Board and the Munici-
pality, and steps have already been taken to secure a piece of suitable
land for the purpose. He also worked hard in connection with the
scheme for the opening of a hospital at the headquarters station of the
Darjeeling District in collaboration with the S. P. C. A. there.
In January last he visited Bombay and appeared as a witness before
the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India, on
behalf of himself and the Indian Veterinary Service Association.
3. During the five weeks that I remained in charge I stayed at
headquarters and attended office to make myself acquainted with the
needs of Veterinary Administration of this Province.
4. Assistant Director Babu Sarat Chandra Paul was in charge of
the Western Range, comprising the Presidency; Burdwan and Rajshahi
Divisions, from the beginning of the year till the 18th July last,
when he was appointed to act as a Lecturer in the Bengal Veterinary
College, a vacancy having arisen owing to the grant of leave to Rai
Sahib Dibakar De of the Bengal Veterinary Service. Further changes
were in turn necessary owing to this vacancy and Assistant Director
Babu Nripendra Nath Majumdar was transferred from the Eastern
3
Part I.—Veterinary Instruction
9. Propaganda work was carried on as usual by the staff of this
department, by distributing leaflets amongst the ryots and delivering
lectures to them on the care, management and keep of cattle. As
reported last year, the practice of talking to boys in primary schools
in Eastern Bengal by Veterinary Officers
for half an hour or so,
on animal husbandry, etc., has been greatly appreciated by the villagers
and steps are being gradually taken to introduce this system through-
out the whole Province. Unfortunately, we lack the necessary staff for
this line of work, and unless and until the extra staff asked for is sanc-
tioned, much progress cannot be expected in this direction.
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
10. There has been an increase in the mortality of animals from
contagious diseases during the year, the total number of deaths reported
being 27,389 as against 24,021 in the previous year. The increase is
attributed to the more accurate record of deaths kept by the police in
most districts and partly also to an improvement in many districts in
the reporting of the outbreaks of cattle diseases.
11. Table II shows the number of deaths for each district in detail.
The seriousness of the death rate does not appear to be realized by
the Local Bodies and it is to be regretted that a veterinary staff of
sufficient size is not provided for, which would be able to cope with the
diseases causing these deaths, and save the lives of the majority of the
cattle. Placing the value of each animal at the small sum of Rs. 10
each, it is evident that the total is well worth saving, and probably
the number of deaths is still greatly underestimated in spite of the
more accurate records.
Equines.
12. Glanders.—This disease was confined to two districts, viz.,
Murshidabad and Darjeeling. There were 4 cases of deaths as against
6 in the year previous. The most serious outbreak was at Darjeeling,
where 3 cases occurred.
13. A sum of Rs. 165 was paid as compensation for destruction
of 4 horses under the Act. This sum includes Rs. 50 paid on account
of an animal destroyed at Jalpaiguri during the previous year.
14. Anthrax.—No case was reported this year.
15. Surra.—No evidence of this disease was found during the year.
16. Dourine.—There was no loss of animals from this disease during
the year.
17. Other Contagious Diseases.—Thirteen deaths were recorded
under this head as against the same number in the previous year, but
details are not available.
Bovines.
18. The following are the most common contagious diseases in
cattle:—
Rinderpest, Foot and Mouth, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia, Blackquarter
and Anthrax, and the total number of deaths, reported from all these,
was 27,148 as against 23,743 in the year previous.
4
19. Rinderpest.—This disease was prevalent more or less in all
the districts of Bengal and was responsible for nearly 90 per cent. of
the total mortality. 24,944 deaths were reported as against 20,431 in
the preceding year. The districts, which suffered most severely, were
Rangpur, Mymensingh, Tippera, Burdwan, Nadia, Jessore, Dinajpur,
Khulna and Jalpaiguri.
The advantages of inoculation against this disease are still not
fully realized by the ryots but their knowledge is slowly progressing
and less trouble is now encountered in persuading them to adopt pre-
ventive measures.
20. Foot and mouth.—The loss from this disease was comparatively
small this year, being 136 against 520 in the previous year. Of this
number 27 occurred in the Darjeeling District.
21. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—This disease appeared in a sporadic
form in almost all the districts and 1,862 animals succumbed to it
as against 2,060 in the previous year, the highest mortality being
recorded in the district of Mymensingh where 285 animals died of it.
Preventive inoculation was carried out in the districts of Howrah,
Midnapur, Bakarganj, Chittagong, Jalpaiguri, Rajshahi, Malda, Pabna,
Hooghly and Nadia.
22. Blackquarter.—38 deaths were reported from the districts of
Bankura, Midnapur and Jessore as against 4 in the preceding year.
23. Anthrax.—This disease is reported to have caused 63 deaths in
nine districts as against 95 in the previous year. Almost all these
cases were confirmed by microscopical examination.
24. Other diseases.—105 head of cattle are reported as having
died of other contagious diseases as against 633 in the preceding year,
but as usual details are not available. This would tend to show that
the methods of diagnosing disease are improving and that knowledge
imparted at the Bengal Veterinary College, and that acquired in the
mufassal, is proving its great value.
25. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—The total number
of deaths reported was 224 as against 255 in the previous year. These
mainly include rabies and distemper in canines, diptheria in cats and
anthrax in sheep.
Table III.—Preventive Inoculation.
26. Table III shows the number of inoculations during the year.
27. Inoculation was undertaken in 1,156 outbreaks and 203,089
animals were inoculated as per details below as against 914 outbreaks
and 141,102 animals respectively of the previous year. It will thus be
seen that there has been an appreciable increase in the number of cattle
inoculated. This shows that the energy of the staff employed in the
districts in their professional capacity, and in their propaganda work,
is slowly bearing fruit, and that the confidence of the ryots in their
work is on the increase.
Rinderpest ......
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia..
Anthrax .. ..
Total..
Number of
outbreak.
1,113
38
5
1,156
Number
inoculated.
195,116
7,473
500
203,089
5
28. Besides the above figures 1,118 animals were inoculated by the
college staff in Calcutta and its suburbs.
29. The death rate amongst the inoculated was practically nil,
being 0.6 for the whole Province.
30. A sum of Rs. 64,975 was paid to the Imperial Bacteriologist on
account of the cost of serum supplied to this Province during the year.
Table IV.
31. Table IV shows the work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
in the mufassal during the year.
32. There were 63 Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeons working
in the Province and 27 Stationary Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, who
also toured in the interior when required to do so.
33. These men visited 14,571 villages and treated 75,657 cases as
against 14,438 villages and 81,986 patients, respectively, in the previous
year. The decrease in the number of cases treated is attributed to the
fact that in seats of outbreaks Veterinary Assistant Surgeons had to
spend a considerable portion of their time in doing inoculation work
referred to in paragraph 27 of this report. Some of them also visited the
cattle pounds in their jurisdiction and submitted reports to the District
Boards regarding hygienic condition and supply of food and water to
the animals impounded.
Table V.—Hospitals and Dispensaries.
34. Table V shows the working of the hospitals and dispensaries
in the Province which numbered 41 during the year.
35. The total number of patients treated at the dispensaries was
44,952 as against 53,692 in the year previous. Of these 1,947 were in-
patients and 43,005 out-patients.
The decrease is principally due to the exclusion of the Sodepur
Pinjrapole Hospital from this statement, as there was no Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon employed in it during the year and partly to the
reason given in paragraph 33 above.
36. It is reported that the Narainganj Municipality have not yet
considered the question of the reconstruction of the dispensary building
and gowkhana, although a plot of land has long ago been acquired for
the purpose. The dispensary and gowkhana are still located in their
former insanitary habitation.
37. No attempts have yet been made by the Mymensingh District
Board for the construction of out-door dispensaries with quarters for
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons stationed at the subdivisional head-
quarters of Jamalpur, Netrakona and Kishoreganj. It is hoped the
Board will kindly take early steps in this matter, as the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons find the want of suitable quarters a great trial.
38. Owing to financial stringency the building of a veterinary
hospital with quarters for the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at Dacca
has been long delayed. Government, however, have now allotted
Rs. 29,000 in the budget for the purpose and construction of the build-
ing will be commenced at once.
6
39. The want of a suitable hospital at the headquarters station of
the Faridpur District is reported to be keenly felt.
40. A sum of Rs. 280 has been sanctioned by the Municipality of
Chittagong for the construction of an observation ward for suspected
rabid dogs in the Chittagong hospital.
41. The Comilla District Board have rebuilt the operation shed,
in-patient shed and bull-shed in a systematic manner within the hospital
compound. This arrangement will undoubtedly increase the number of
patients during the current year, and greatly assist the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in the efficient carrying out of his duties besides
greatly adding to the reputation of the District Board.
42. The question of the acquisition of land for the veterinary dis-
pensaries at Chandpur in Tippera and Satkhania in Chittagong is still
under consideration of the Boards. The fact that acquisition of land
is under consideration is appreciated, and the appreciation would be
much greater, if the Boards would decide quickly that the necessity for
dispensaries was indisputable.
43. The acquisition of land for the Hatiya Veterinary Dispensary
is in progress. It has been notified in the gazette and it is expected
that the necessary land will be acquired soon.
44. A piece of land, measuring about 11-2 bighas, has been pro-
vided by the Noakhali District Board for cultivation of Guinea Grass.
Other District Boards would do well to follow the example, as the
improvement of the cattle in all districts is largely dependent on better
feeding.
45. With regard to the proposed veterinary hospital at Tangail,
the matter now rests with the Board of Revenue for the allocation of
funds for the construction of buildings from the Santosh Six Annas
Wards Estate. A suitable site has already been selected by the Col-
lector for the purpose.
46. The Veterinary Dispensary at Brahmanberia has been shifted
to the Agricultural Seed Store, and the Operation Theatre is under
reconstruction.
47. The land acquisition for the veterinary dispensaries at Kurigram
and Mahimaganj is in progress.
48. One operation shed, one pucca well and a compound fencing-
with gate have been constructed by the District Board of Rangpur
at Nilphamary dispensary. The public have also promised to contri-
bute towards the cost of construction of an in-door hospital there.
The fact that a District Board has been able to interest the public-
in veterinary work to this extent, should be carefully noted by other
District Boards, as it proves that, the usual plea of paucity of funds,
for this vitally important class of work, can be made negative by
proper representation.
49. Although land was acquired some 4 years ago for the con-
struction of a veterinary dispensary with quarters for the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon at Naogaon, nothing has yet been done by the Dis-
trict Board of Rajshahi for the construction of the buildings.
7
50. The Pabna District Board have not yet taken any steps to
construct a proper veterinary hospital at the headquarters station of
the district, although land was acquired for the purpose some 10 years
ago.
51. The District Board of Dinajpur have not yet been able to-
construct buildings for the veterinary dispensary at Balurghat,
although a piece of land was acquired by them some 4 or 5 years-
ago.
52. The District Board of Murshidabad approached the Berham-
pur Municipal authorities to join hands with them in erecting a
suitable dispensary for the town, but it is reported no decision has yet
been arrived at.
53. The District Board of Midnapur are in correspondence with
Babu Hari Prosad Das, a public-spirited gentleman of village
Muradpur in Tamluk Subdivision of that district, for the establish-
ment of a veterinary dispensary in his village. It is understood that
the aforesaid gentleman has promised to offer Rs. 3,000 and 3 or 4
bighas of land for the purpose—an example of great-mindedness that
could, with great advantage to the people of their district, be copied
by other wealthy men in Bengal.
54. A sum of Rs. 439 was paid by Government for repairs to the
hospital building at Chinsura, prior to their being taken over by the
P. W. D.
Part III.—Breeding Operation.
55. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls maintained in the
Province during the year. As usual, these are the property either
of local bodies or of Government.
56. The lack of good bulls is an immense drawback to the improve-
ment of cattle in the Province, and although several additions were
made during the year, the position is still very unsatisfactory indeed.
It is a pity that no steps have yet been taken by the Boards of such
important districts as 24-Parganas, Hooghly, Burdwan, Dacca, Faridpur,
Chittagong, Bogra, Nadia and Jessore, to maintain any breeding
bulls in their jurisdiction. Local bodies cannot have it too frequently
impressed upon them, that they should assist the ryot whenever possible,
a very efficient way of doing this being to provide funds for the pur-
chase and keep of good bulls, thus ensuring a good supply of milking
cows and working bullocks.
They can further help him by explaining to him the excellent
results obtained by selection from amongst his own village stock.
Fairs and Shows.
57. Tables XIII and XIV give particulars of the Fairs and Shows
held during the year.
58. In all these Fairs Veterinary Inspectors and Assistant Sur-
geons delivered lectures to the people on veterinary matters and
explained to them methods of treatment of disease and management
of cattle and also helped in the selection of animals for awarding prizes,
eto.
8
Great interest is shown by the people in these lectures and it is
hoped that the Department will shortly be able to greatly increase the
scope of both lectures and lantern demonstrations.
Knowledge relating to cattle breeding, feeding, etc., is in an
exceedingly backward state and is not confined to the agriculture classes.
Bull Breeding and Rearing Farms.
59. Table IX shows the working of the Farms in the Province.
60. There are two such Farms, one at Kalimpong, and another
at Rangpur. The former is managed by St. Andrews' Colonial Homes,
and the latter by the Agricultural Department.
61. Kalimpong.—The herd consists of Ayreshires, half-bred and
mixed Siris. Rinderpest appeared unexpectedly on the farm during
the year, the young stock being attacked. Vigorous measures as regards
immediate segregation and disinfection followed by inoculation had
good effect, only two animals being lost. It is noticed with satisfaction
that all the permanently protected animals have so far withstood the
disease when it appeared on the farm as well as in the vicinity.
62. Rangpur.—As stated above, this farm is under the management
of the Agricultural Department, and the strength of the herd maintained
here is 255.
63. It is reported that some animals suffered from an attack of
Tumour which is a common disease with the cattle of the district,
and that in the winter several calves were attacked with pneumonia,
11 succumbing to the disease.
Horse and Pony Stallions.
64. There was no horse or pony stallion in the Province. Tables
X, XI and XII are therefore blank.
Part IV.—Subordinate Staff.
65. Table VII shows the total strength of the subordinate staff
employed in the Province during the year.
66. As a result of the recommendations of the Retrenchment Com-
mittee three out of four posts of Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
were abolished during the year. Out of these one post was vacant
at the close of the previous year. The holders of the remaining two
posts were absorbed in the vacancies in the district cadre.
67. Two new posts in the Dacca District—one at Manikganj and
another at Munshiganj—were opened and filled up in September 1923.
68. Obituary.—One Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (Moulvi R. M.
Chaudhuri) died during the year.
69. Three unconfirmed Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, viz.,
A. H. Khan, N. N. Sur and M. L. Ghoshal were discharged during the
year for unsatisfactory work.
9
70. Out of thirteen students, who came out successful at the
final examination of the Bengal Veterinary College in 1923, only four
could be provided with posts under Government. Two more Veterinary
Graduates have also been provided for—one temporarily at Cooch Behar
and another under the Khepupara Central Bank in the district of
Bakarganj. The Regency Council, Cooch Behar, proposes to make
this temporary appointment a permanent one and recommendation has
already been made to Government to that effect.
Part V.—General Remarks.
71. Increase of veterinary personnel in the districts.—It is not
possible to finish this report, without complaining as Mr. Kerr did
last year, and as his predecessors have done before him, about the
excessively small staff expected to run the enormously important work
of this department. Tear after year, it is pointed out, that by far
the greater number of animals, which die, could be saved by a strong
and efficient veterinary service, assisted in certain ways by the general
public, and year after year matters are allowed to slide, with the result
that the Province loses vast sums of money annually from deaths due
to contagious diseases, because District Boards will not allot money
for inoculation and more men. The value of the cattle saved would
more than pay for the extra staff necessary.
Paucity of funds, as an excuse, does not commend itself to me,
because if agriculture fails, the people die, and money spent on educa-
tion, roads, buildings, etc., is lost. It is in my opinion a very short-
sighted policy to neglect the cattle of the Province, and District
Boards would be well advised to reverse the policy hitherto adhered to,
and vote all the money they can to the veterinary needs of the country.
72. Cattle poisoning—Is rife as usual and is the source of consi-
derable loss to the ryots annually. As it seems practically impossible
to detect the culprits little can be done to stop it. It is time that
certain restrictions were laid down regarding the possession of arsenic,
which is generally used by the Chamars in perpetrating this heinous
crime.
73. The following changes were made during the year in the
nomenclature of the officers of this department:—
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, to Director, Civil
Veterinary Department.
Deputy Superintendents to Assistant Directors.
Veterinary Assistants to Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
Assistant Directors.
74. Babu S. C. Paul.—Now Lecturer at the Bengal Veterinary
College has for many years been one of the props of the department,
whose loss is the College's gain.
Babu N. N. Majumdar and Moulvi M. S. Chaudhuri (offg.).—There
is no fault to be found with the way these two have carried on their
work during the short time I have been officiating.
10
75. Veterinary Inspectors.—Many of these men have not yet been
seen by me, and from reports received they are with one or two excep-
tions working satisfactorily.
76. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.—As usual there are some
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons who do not show intense eagerness in
carrying out their work, but on the whole the work is very satisfactory,
the number of inoculations done by them increases yearly and is a good
sign for the future.
77. Office.—The office work is exceedingly heavy, and all work
well under the able management of the Head Clerk, Babu M. M.
Banerjee. The necessity of increasing the staff and of better accom-
modation must be seriously considered very shortly, as the need of both
is pressing.
R. T. DAVIS, I. V. S.,
Director, Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal_
CALCUTTA;
The 23rd July 1924.