NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
7
Veterinary College at Belgachia. One clerk and a peon were also
appointed for him.
17. The first investigation which Mr. Menon was called upon to
make was in connection with an outbreak of equine influenza at
Bilmaria in the Rajshahi district.
18. The high mortality of calves on the Rangpur Farm was the
next thing taken up by him for investigation. He visited Rangpur
and studied the problem closely on the spot. His work was inter-
rupted as he was unfortunately compelled to go on leave for 26 days
with effect from the 28th February last, owing to the serious illness
of his wife. A quantity of material has, however, been collected by
him and work is being carried on.
19. Animals of a local dairy farm were also submitted by him
to double intra-dermal tuberculin test for detecting infection either
with tuberculosis or Jhone's disease and a few showed reaction. It
is contemplated to take up this work on a larger scale during the
coming year, to ascertain the prevalence of these diseases in Bengal.
20. His tours covered a period of 18 days and he travelled 425
miles by rail and 6 miles by road.
Part I.—Veterinary Instruction.
21. The post of Propaganda Inspector has been in existence now
for full three years and in spite of limited travelling allowance almost
all the important engagements were attended and the results achieved
were uniformly successful. As pointed out in previous reports, 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 there-
fore mainly devoted to those districts where big cattle fairs or
important conferences were held.
22. Five hundred and twenty-one calls were received during the
year under report as against 429 in 1931-32, 228 in 1930-31 and 98
in 1929-30. The increase in the number of calls year after year
testifies to the popularity of propaganda carried on by this depart-
ment. As usual, these calls were received from district and union
boards, municipalities and other local bodies interested in the rural
problems of the country.
23. In January last the question of retention of a separate pro-
paganda for this department was raised and it was decided that this
should continue in the interests of the cattle owners of this province.
It is hoped therefore that steps will be taken at an early date to
make the post permanent.
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
24. The total mortality of animals from contagious diseases
during the year was 24,884 as against 15,297 in the previous year.
Table II shows the number of deaths for each district in detail. The
8
mortality was the highest on record during the last triennium due to
extensive outbreaks of rinderpest.
Equine Diseases.
25. Glanders.—This disease was reported from the district of
Bakarganj and was responsible for five deaths as against one in the
whole province during the previous year.
Compensation amounting to Rs. 75 was awarded only in one case
which was destroyed under the rules.
26. Anthrax.—This was reported from Dacca and Mymensingh
and caused the death of three animals, one of which belonged to the
Military Camp at Mymensingh.
27. Surra and dourine.—No cases were reported during the year.
2S. Other contagious diseases.—The loss under this head was only
two as against the same number in the previous year. No details are
available.
Bovine Diseases.
29. Rinderpest.—Was prevalent more or less throughout the
province except in the district of Faridpur and was responsible for
16,694 deaths as against 10,373 in the previous year. Wherever this
disease occurred usual preventive measures including inoculation were
undertaken. The districts which suffered most severely on this
account were Khulna, Chittagong, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and
Chittagong Hill Tracts. These six districts claimed 74 per cent. of
the total loss under this head.
30. Foot and mouth.—Twenty-three districts reported the existence
of this disease, the aggregate mortality being estimated at 445 as
against 201 in the previous year. Tippera district was the most
severely affected.
31. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—The loss from this disease was
3,320 animals as against 3,009 in the preceding year. The outbreaks
were most severe in the districts of Bakarganj, Khulna, Tippera and
Jalpaiguri, where altogether 1,635 animals died. Preventive inocula-
tion was undertaken in as many outbreaks as possible.
32. Blackquarter.—There has been a decrease in the number of
deaths this year, the total number being 119 as against 290 in the
previous year.
33. Anthrax.—Considerably lower mortality is reported under this
head. In all 310 animals are reported to have died of this disease as
against 517 in the previous year.
34. Other contagious diseases.—The mortality from these is
reported to be 348 as against 136 in the previous year. Of these 150
occurred in the Tippera district but no details are available.
35. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—These include
such diseases as rabies and distemper in dogs and hæmorrhagic
9
septicæmia in cats, fowl cholera and other avian diseases. The total
loss under this head was 3,638 as against 768 in the previous year.
Of this number 1,696 deaths were reported as fowl cholera and 1,736
hæmorrhagic septicæmia in eats.
Table III.—Preventive Inoculation.
36. Table III shows the record of preventive inoculations
performed in this province during the year
37. Inoculation campaigns were organised in 748 outbreaks and
191, 172 animals were inoculated as against 133,039 animals in GOO
outbreaks during the previous year. Details of inoculation are as.
follows: —
Rinderpest
Hæmorrhagic septicæmia
Anthrax
Blackquarter
1932-33.
175,634
12,902
2,520
116
191,172
1931-32.
109,590
20,023
2,738
688
133,039
38. These figures exclude 111 cases of inoculation performed
against rinderpest by the serum simultaneous method in the districts
of Krishnagar, Dacca and Midnapore as well as 816 animals inoculated
against the same disease by the serum alone method in 19 outbreaks-
in Calcutta and its suburbs by the staff of the Bengal Veterinary
College.
39. A reference to the table above will show that there has been
an increase to the extent of nearly 44 per cent. in the number of
animals inoculated in 1932-33 due, as has already been pointed out,
to increase in the number of outbreaks of rinderpest occurring during,
the year.
40. The number of deaths amongst the inoculated animals was
altogether 905 or 0.5 per cent. of the total.
41. A sum of Rs. 42,044-12 was paid to the Director, Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, for the supply of sera
and vaccines during the year. In the last month of the year issue
of A. R. Serum had to stop as stock and funds were exhausted.
Table IV.
42. Table IV shows the mufassal work done by the Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons during the year.
43. One hundred and four men were at work in the interior, of
whom 71 were purely itinerant and 33 both stationary and itinerant,
who worked in the mufassal either at fixed periods or at the time of
10
outbreaks. Besides doing the inoculation work referred to in para-
graph 37 of this report these officers visited 16,587 villages and treated
175, 228 cases as against 16, 922 villages and 127, 347 cases, respec-
tively, in the preceding year.
44. Of the large number of patients treated this year as many
as 73,303 were brought to the headquarters of the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons for treatment. This indicates that in some places
at least there is a pressing necessity for the establishment of regular
dispensaries for rendering help to the ryots and it is hoped local
bodies will realise their responsibility in this direction and work up
to the programme of a dispensary in each district and subdivisional
headquarters with a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge.
Hospitals and Dispensaries.
45. Table V shows the working of the hospitals and dispensaries
in this province during the year.
46. A new dispensary was opened at Jaidebpur during the year,
thus bringing the total number of such institutions to 49 as against
48 in the preceding year.
47. The number of in- and out-patients treated at these dispen-
saries was 81,255 and 19,727 cases were supplied with medicines as
against 78, 455 and 17, 258 cases, respectively, in the previous year.
The increase is an evidence of the fact that the usefulness of these
institutions is being widely appreciated by the public.
48. The Mymensingh Veterinary Hospital has been provided with
electric connection at a cost of Rs. 200 as a preliminary step for the
installation of a "Kelvinator" for the cold storage of serum. It is
expected that a Kelvinator will be installed in the current year.
49. An acre of land has been awarded by Government to the
District Board of Mymensingh in each of the subdivisions of Jamalpore
and Kishoreganj for the construction of veterinary dispensaries in
those places. The proposal has been sent up to Government for
notification.
50. The Government Veterinary Hospital at Dacca was provided
with filtered water connection at a cost of Rs. 920 during the year.
51. The Dacca Municipality provided a compound wall and a
pucca drain in the goat slaughter house during the year.
52. The District Board of Noakhali have allotted a sum of
Rs. 2,500 for the construction of the veterinary dispensary at Hatiya,
and the work is reported to have been taken up at the latter part
of the year.
53. The proposal for the acquisition of the land selected for the
veterinary dispensary at Chandpur has gone up to Government for
sanction.
54. The dispensary at Madaripur in the district of Faridpur was
constructed and opened during the year.
55. The Chittagong Veterinary Hospital has been provided with
electric connection, cost met from the dog show fund and a sum of
11
Rs. 1,000 has been allotted by the district board for the installation
of a Kelvinator. A further sum of Rs. 130 has been collected for the
construction of a dog operation shed and for the extension of the dog
kennel but as the amount is inadequate it has been kept in deposit
in the bank pending receipt of further subscriptions for the purpose.
Thanks are due to Mrs. E. Nolan, Secretary, and the members of
the Dog Show Committee for the keen interest taken in the veterinary
hospital and generous financial help which has resulted in the erection
of a dog operating theatre and the installation of electric light.
56. The District Board of Chittagong has also sanctioned the
construction of the veterinary dispensary at Satkania and the work
is now in hand.
57. The District Board of Malda constructed during the year a
building for the veterinary stores at Nawabganj with quarters for the
Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge.
58. The District Board of Bogra similarly constructed during the
year a building for the veterinary stores at Joypurhat with quarters
for the Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in charge.
Part III.—Breeding Operations.
59. The breeding operations are in charge of the Live-stock
Expert, who works directly under the Director of Agriculture, Bengal.
Table VII shows the number of bulls serving at present in the various
parts of the province. These are either the property of the local
bodies or of Government.
60. The premium bull system was introduced a few years ago
whereby a grant of Rs. 10 per month was to be made to owners under
certain conditions for the maintenance of bulls to be approved by the
Agricultural Department. As pointed out last year, extension of this
system is urgently needed for the improvement of cattle in this
province and it is hoped sufficient funds will be forthcoming in the
near future for the waiting list of owners for this premium.
Fairs and Shows.
61. Tables XIII and XIV give particulars regarding the fairs
and shows held during the year.
62. All these were attended by the departmental officers who
delivered lectures on the care, management and keep of cattle and
explained to cattle owners and others the method and advantages of
improving their stock, etc.
63. Bengal is the chief market for the animal breeders and dealers
of other provinces and every year large numbers of cattle are imported
into this presidency from Upper India and sold at the fairs and hâts
held in Northern Bengal and especially in the districts of Rangpur,
Dinajpur, Bogra and Jalpaiguri. The Retrenchment Committee have
suggested, at my instance the imposition of a Poll Tax on these
12
cattle. The possibilities of this proposal are now being examined by
Government.
Bull Breeding and Rearing Farms.
64. Three such farms were at work in this province during the
year, one at Kalimpong, another at Rangpur and the third at Manipur,
Dacca. The first is the property of St. Andrews Colonial Homes and
the other two of Government. (Table IX, which is intended to show
the working of these farms, is left blank, vide report to Live-stock
Expert in the annual report of the Director of Agriculture.)
65. Rangpur.—Various cattle diseases were prevalent on the farm
during the year resulting in the death of many young valuable calves.
Out of the total loss of 45, 40 were suckling calves. Pneumonia, which
gave trouble and real cause for anxiety last year, was responsible for
the death of 24 young calves. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia took a toll
of two animals and six young calves died of dysentery and hæmorrhagic
diarrhœa. There were numerous cases of lymphangitis in the herd
necessitating frequent injections with special vaccine against the
disease.
As has already been stated, the high mortality of calves on this
farm has been the subject matter of investigation by Disease Investi-
gation Officer and his final report is awaited. This farm is being
closed down as a measure of retrenchment.
66. Manipore.—The general health of the stock was good during
the year. Of the total number of 13 deaths three were from black-
quarter, 7 from piroplasmossis and three from other diseases.
The outbreak of blackquarter was brought under control and all
the young calves were protected by blackquarter serum and aggressin.
67. Kalimpong.—There were 80 head of cattle on the farm. Their
condition was good and health return is satisfactory. Hæmaturia is
the chief trouble and is under investigation. One young cow died
suddenly from Red Water Fever.
Horse and Pony Stallion.
68. There is no horse or pony stallion in this province. Tables X,
XI and XII are therefore blank.
Part IV.—Subordinate Staff.
39. Table VII shows the strength of the subordinate staff employed
in this province during the year.
70. Owing to prevailing financial stringency no additions to the
cadre of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon were made by any district board
in this province. The Dacca Board also was unable to open the seven
additional posts of Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeon sanctioned
for them during the previous year under the scheme proposed by the
14
District Officers to overcome the delay now unavoidable in obtaining
initial supplies from Muktesar, Such a station should not entail any
large capital outlay and the recurrent cost, if run on lines similar to
those employed in Madras, should not be more than Rs. 6,000 to
Rs. 7,000 approximately.
During my deputation to Muktesar I went into the matter of serum
manufacture very carefully and spent several days at the Serum
Institute at Izatnagar. I came to the conclusion that the preparation
of serum provincially would not be financially sound in Bengal,
especially in view of the reduction of the cost of serum supplied by
Muktesar to one anna and six pies per unit dose.
74. Hæmaturia.—Nine cases of this disease were detected in
cattle of the Kalimpong Homes Dairy. Empirical treatment was
given on the assumption that the disease may be caused by
schistosomes.
Five animals were injected with antimosan (Bayer) and four left
as controls. No conclusion can be arrived at as to the benefit of
this treatment as the condition cleared up in both the treated animals
and controls. One control animal only relapsed in the course of
2-3 months, the others have not shown again, up to 6 months.
As milk of most of these animals was required for the children
in the Homes, analysis was made as to its safety during the antimony
treatment. Samples were sent to the Professor of Pharmacology, who
reports as follows: —
Antimony compounds are excreted rapidly, 41 per cent. is excreted
in the first 24 hours after injection, 17 per cent. more after another
48 hours. Antimony is largely excreted by the kidneys and intestinal
tract and only a trace in the bile and milk.
In his opinion milk is safe for human consumption four days after
the injection of antimosan.
75. Epizootic hæmorrhagic septicæmia in cats.—During the last
few years four outbreaks of disease have appeared among the semi-
domestic village cats in circumscribed but widely separated areas, in
Howrah, Faridpur, Rajshahi and Noakhali districts.
Owing to the fact that these cats are half wild it was found very
difficult to obtain animals suffering from the disease, and also because
the disease was so rapidly fatal, death occurring in from 24 to 48
hours after the first indication of illness. The distance of the out-
breaks from Calcutta also made it difficult to submit fresh carcasses
to Bengal Veterinary College for laboratory investigation. The
outbreak at Rajshahi was subsiding when the Disease Investigation
Officer visited the town but he was fortunately able to obtain several
fresh bodies for postmortem examination. From these he recovered
p ractically pure specimens of bipolar staining pasteaurella organisms.
his together with the history of the sporadic outbreaks, rapid
fatality, rapid subsidence of the disease, leads one to presume it to
15
be hæmorrhagic septicæmia of cats. No outbreaks of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia of other animals or fowls were known to have prevailed
in the localities recently, or at the time of the outbreak among cats.
The Public Health Officers reported the disease to us fearing it might
have relation to plague. No cases of plague among human beings
were detected during these outbreaks or subsequent to them.
76. Programme of work for Veterinary Disease Investigation
Officer—
(a) Anti-rinderpest inoculation in the field.
(b) Parasite infestation.
(c) Effects of deficiency.
(d) Prevalence of other diseases—Tuberculosis, Johne, lymphan-
gitis of cattle, pneumonia of calves.
77. Hormone treatment for slow breeding.—As cases presented
themselves this treatment was continued in various parts of the
province by members of the Civil Veterinary Department staff.
Thirty-four were treated, nearly 75 per cent. of these were successful
(17 cows and 8 bulls). The utility of this treatment appears to be
established, but it must be emphasised that it is not a cure for
sterility due to degeneration or disease of the organs. As opportunity
occurs further experimental work will be undertaken using dried
Hormone "Prolan" supplied by Messrs. Bayers & Co.
78. Castration Of scrub bulls.—I am glad to note an increase in
the number of scrub bulls castrated by the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment staff during the year. The number is infinitesimal in view of
the numbers remaining to be done. Every Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon and all Inspectors are reminded of the urgent need to push
on with this essential work for cattle improvement.
79. Assistant Directors—
Rai Sahib N. N. Majumdar.—The
work of this officer was most
satisfactory throughout the year. As an offset to the curtailment of
his touring he rendered me valuable assistance with headquarter work
and the revision of the Veterinary Manual.
Moulvi M. S. Choudhuri—worked
well and conscientiously during
the year under report in spite of his failing health.
80. Veterinary Inspectors.—The work of these officers was
handicapped by necessary curtailment of their touring. The rule
requiring them to visit promptly all outbreaks of cattle disease for
which more than 500 doses of serum are requisitioned has worked
satisfactorily in the control of serum used.
Babus M. P. Ghosh of Dacca Circle and B. K. Shaha of Calcutta
Circle are commended for exceptionally good work.
16
81. Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.—With few exceptions these
officers worked well. The following are noted for specially good
work: —
Staff Veterinary Assistant Surgeon—
Babu B. N. Nandi.
Eastern
Range.
Stationary Veterinary Assistant Surgeons—
Babu M. N. Majumdar, Dacca.
„
M. L. Datta, Chittagong.
Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeons—
Moulvi M. Haq, Feni.
Babu S. L. Das Gupta, Brahmanberia.
Western
Range.
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons—
Babu J. N. Sen Gupta No. 1, Lalbag.
„
B. C. Das Gupta, Malda.
„
J. C. Majumdar, Bankura.
„
S. D. Gowloog, Kurseong.
82. Office.—The work of the office throughout the year has been
seriously handicapped through illness of various members of the staff
necessitating long periods of absence on sick leave. The Head Assistant
Babu J. C. Ghosh has done his utmost to keep the work up to date.
He, and Babu R. C. Paul, who remained fit for duty throughout the
year, are specially commended for the way they tackled the additional
work thrown on them.
Babu R. C. Paul, Stenotypist, substantively appointed in 1931 has
proved most satisfactory and shown himself efficient in general line
work which he has been required to take up during emergencies, in
addition to his own duties.
P. J. KERR, I.V.S.,
Director, Civil Veterinary Department, and
Veterinary Adviser to the Govt. of Bengal.
CALCUTTA;
The 21st July, 1933.
20
C. V. D. Form No. 20.
TABLE
Showing number of deaths from contagious
Province.
1
24-Parganas .. ..
Howrah .. ..
Midnapore .. ..
Nadia .. ..
Murshidabad .. ..
Jessore .. ..
Khulna .. ..
Hooghly .. ..
Burdwan .. ..
Birbhum .. ..
Bankura .. ..
Jalpaiguri .. ..
Darjeeling .. ..
Rangpur .. ..
Cooch Behar .. ..
Rajshahi .. ..
Bogra .. ..
Dinajpur .. ..
Pabna .. ..
Malda .. ..
Mymensingh .. ..
Dacca .. ..
Faridpur .. ..
Bakarganj .. ..
Chittagong .. ..
Chittagong Hill Tracts ..
Tippera .. ..
Noakhali .. ..
Grand Total ..
Equines.
Glan-
ders.
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
5
..
..
..
..
5
Anth-
rax.
3
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
3
Surra.
4
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Dourine.
5
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Other
conta-
gious
diseases.
6
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
2
Total.
7
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
2
2
..
5
..
..
..
..
10
Rinder-
pest.
8
501
27
200
1,459
1,741
505
3,799
156
834
290
79
19
34
29
35
819
31
79
72
1,987
82
20
..
52
2,190
1,226
310
118
16,694
Foot
and
mouth
disease.
9
8
10
19
13
30
5
..
51
..
15
15
27
13
8
..
23
10
7
2
8
0
22
2
..
4
..
94
53
445
21
II.
diseases amongst animals during the year 1932-33.
Bovines.
Hæmorr-
hagic
septi-
cæmia.
10
39
21
137
80
23
163
454
13
38
50
68
255
6
148
6
30
38
171
40
57
167
70
230
667
97
..
250
28
3,320
Black-
quarter.
11
..
..
8
..
..
..
..
4
..
26
18
..
..
10
..
5
..
30
4
..
1
13
..
..
..
..
..
..
119
Anth-
rax.
12
..
..
..
..
38
14
..
..
..
..
..
1*
..
4
..
12
..
..
30
..
..
114
..
92
5
..
..
..
310
Other
conta-
gious
diseases.
13
..
13
7
2
4
24
..
..
..
..
13
..
22
12
..
4
..
..
18
..
50
20
..
..
..
..
150
..
348
Total.
14
548
71
371
1,554
1,830
716
4,253
224
872
381
193
302
75
211
101
893
79
287
100
2,052
306
268
232
811
2,296
1,226
813
199
21,236
Others.
Rabies
in dogs.
15
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
1
..
3
42
42
..
..
..
..
..
3
..
1
20
..
..
3
..
..
..
115
Fowl
cholera.
16
..
22
..
28
..
251
..
..
..
..
80
11
100
6
..
..
..
..
235
..
..
312
..
..
33
..
..
618
1,696
Hæ-
morrha-
gic septi-
cæmia
in cats.
17
..
..
..
..
69
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
900
..
..
..
..
..
6
500
..
..
..
..
200
1,736
Dis
temper
in dogs.
18
..
..
11
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
10
1
..
..
..
..
..
5
..
1
3
..
..
2
..
..
..
42
Anthrax
(sheep
and
goat).
19
..
..
..
..
27
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
22
..
..
..
..
..
..
49
Total.
20
..
22
11
28
90
251
..
..
1
..
83
72
143
6
..
900
..
..
243
..
2
424
500
..
38
..
..
818
3,638
*Elephant.