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GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL.
Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Veterinary.
CALCUTTA, THE 20th NOVEMBER 1931.
RESOLUTION—No. 6838Vety.
Minister-in-charge: The Hon'ble Khan Bahadur Maulvi K. G. M. Faroqui,
Read—
Annual Reports of the Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal, and
of the Bengal Veterinary College for the year 1930-31.
I.—Civil Veterinary Department.
The year was on the whole a healthy one for the live-stock of the
province, the mortality being the lowest in the last fourteen years.
The equines were practically immune from contagious diseases, and a
noticeable feature was the total absence of deaths from Glanders.
Rinderpest, however, continues to be the most serious scourge of the
bovines, being responsible for about 75 per cent. of the deaths whilst
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia accounted for as many as 2,035 or 16 per
cent. deaths.
2. The usual programme of preventive inoculation by the serum
alone method for dealing with outbreaks was carried out with success,
the total number of deaths amongst cattle so inoculated being only 0.5
per cent. But as noticed in the resolution on the previous year's report
the serum simultaneous method of inoculation which
confers long
immunity is a great desideratum.
A demonstration of this method
of inoculation was undertaken in the Chandkhali khas mahal area of
Khulna district with success.
It is hoped that when the ground is
prepared by such demonstrations it will be possible to introduce this
method of inoculation on an extensive scale.
3. A joint enquiry into the causes of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
which caused serious mortality amongst the cattle at the Rangpur cattle
farm was undertaken by the department and the experts at Muktesar.
Mr. MacGregor, Principal, Bengal Veterinary College, made a careful
local investigation and submitted a valuable report after the close of the
year. It is hoped that the adoption of the remedial measures recom-
mended by him will be conducive of satisfactory results.
4. Much remains to be done yet in the direction of veterinary aid
for the ordinary care of animals in the mufassal. But it is gratifying
to note that increasing interest is being evinced by local bodies in the
matter of establishment of hospitals and dispensaries. Credit is also
due to the public at Dimla in Rangpur district where a dispensary
building has been erected for the first time almost entirely with local
contributions.
2
5. The Bengal Village Self-Government (Amendment) Act, 1931,
which has been recently passed by the Legislative Council has removed
the long-felt disability under which the union boards laboured due to
their inability to undertake work for the prevention and treatment of
cattle diseases or for the improvement of the breed and health of cattle.
The union boards are a valuable agency for affording veterinary aid in
the mufassal, and it is hoped that they will now take up the matter in
right earnest, so far as their financial resources derived from the rate
under section 37 (6) of the Act permit.
6. The Minister-in-charge notes with pleasure the names of the
officers who did good work during the year and also desires to acknowledge
the services rendered by Mr. Kerr.
II.—Bengal Veterinary College.
7. In spite of the withdrawal of Bihar and Orissa students from the
college as a result of the opening of the Patna Veterinary College and
other counter-attractions, there was no diminution in the number of
entrants into the college which continued to attract students from far
and wide. The Bengal students topped the list, being 35 per cent. of
the total. The number of stipends granted by district boards, however,
continued to be poor; but it is hoped that the appeal made to them by
the Principal will meet with ready response.
8. The Principal's report contains an interesting account of the
work undertaken to enhance the usefulness of the institution as a centre
for the spread of veterinary knowledge.
Extension lectures and
practical studies in meat and milk inspection and the elements of
genetics, dairy-farming and poultry-keeping were introduced during
the year. Extra classes for the training of sanitary inspectors, com-
pounders, etc., have also been provided. A scheme for a refresher course
of training of veterinary assistant surgeons and veterinary graduates is
now under consideration in consultation with local bodies. Financial
stringency has unfortunately stood in the way of inception of various
schemes of veterinary activity prepared by the Principal.
9. On the other hand, it is gratifying to note that every effort has
been made to effect economy in expenditure as far as practicable
without impairing the efficiency of the institution.
The supply of
fodder raised in the college compound has enabled an appreciable
reduction in the cost of feed of animal patients at the hospital, whilst
the receipts from the sale of surplus stock to the public added to the
income.
10. The Minister-in-charge is pleased to record his appreciation of
the interest and energy shown by Mr. A. D. MacGregor in the admini-
stration of the college. He is also pleased to acknowledge the ungrudg-
ing services rendered by the non-official members of the committee of
management.
By order of the Government of Bengal
(Ministry of Agriculture).
L. R. FAWCUS,
Secy. to the Govt. of Bengal.
B. G. Press—1932-33—1967B—386
Government of Bengal
Annual Reports of the
Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal
and Bengal Veterinary College
For the Year
1931-32
Calcutta
Bengal Secretariat Book Depot
1933
Price—Indian, annas 4; English, 6d.
Government of Bengal
Annual Reports of the
Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal
For the Year
1931-32
Calcutta
Bengal Secretariat Book Depot
1933
Published by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot,
Writers' Buildings, Calcutta.
Agent in India.
Messrs. S. K. Lahiri & Co., Printers and Booksellers, College Street, Calcutta.
Customers in the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe
may obtain publications either direct from the High Commissioner's office
or through any bookseller.
Table of Contents.
Civil Veterinary Department.
Preface and General Administration .. .. .. .. ..
Veterinary Instruction
..
..
..
..
..
Treatment of Diseases
..
.. .. .. .. ..
Preventive Inoculation .. .. .. .. ..
Hospitals and Dispensaries .. .. .. .. ..
Breeding Operations .. .. .. .. ..
Subordinate Staff .. .. .. .. ..
General Remarks .. .. .. .. ..
Table II .. .. .. .. ..
Table III .. .. .. .. ..
Table IV .. .. .. .. ..
Table V .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Table VII .. .. .. .. ..
Table VIII .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Table XIII .. .. .. .. ..
Table XIV .. .. .. .. ..
PAGES.
5
7
7
9
10
11
12
12
16
18
21
24
26
28
32
34
Bengal Veterinary College.
Preface and General Administration
Veterinary Instruction
Additional Courses
Sports and Gymnasium
Museum and Library
Hostel
Anatomical Section
Hospital
..
..
..
..
..
Lands and Buildings
Receipts and expenditure
General remarks
39
39
41
41
42
42
42
43
43
43
44
Special remarks .. .. .. .. ..
Department of Epizootic Diseases of Animals in Calcutta .. ..
Raymond Research Laboratory .. .. .. ..
Extra Routine Activities .. .. .. .. ..
Table I .. .. .. .. ..
Table II .. .. .. .. ..
Appendix A .. .. .. .. ..
Appendix B .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Appendix D .. .. .. .. ..
Appendix E .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
PAGES.
44
45
47
48
53
54
56
57
58
59
Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary Department,
Bengal, for the year 1931-32.
Preface and General Administration.
Khan Sahib Saiyed Sultan Ahmed, Bengal Higher Veterinary Service,
officiated as Director of this Department from the beginning of the year
till the 27th October last, when I returned from leave and took over
charge. During my absence Mr. A. D. MacGregor, I.V.S., acted as
Veterinary Adviser to Government in addition to his duties as Principal,
Bengal Veterinary College.
2. During this period Mr. Ahmed was on tour for 41 days and
travelled 2,840 miles by rail, 76 miles by road and 402 miles by boat and
steamer. In the course of these tours he inspected the hospitals and
dispensaries at Dacca, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali,
Darjeeling, Kurseong, Siliguri, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Rangpur,
Dinajpur, Malda, Berhampore, Krishnagar, Kharagpur, Burdwan,
Diamond Harbour and Midnapore, and checked and supervised the work
of the subordinate staff consulting with and advising local authorities
as to the best means of improving veterinary matters in their respective
districts. He also attended a meeting of the Provincial Agricultural
Research Committee held at Dacca in April.
3. Mr. MacGregor as Veterinary Adviser spent 16 days on tour and
travelled 2,724 miles by rail and 34 miles by road. He visited Simla to
attend a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research and also Rangpur, where he held an enquiry into
the unusual mortality of cattle on the Rangpur Farm.
4. After my return from England I undertook such tours only as
were absolutely necessary. In pursuance of this policy I visited Cooch
Behar in the beginning of November last and impressed upon the Vice-
President, Regency Council, the desirability of retaining a separate
officer for the hospital at Cooch Behar, which they had constructed and
equipped. It was decided that the post be kept in abeyance and the two
Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeons be stationed at headquarters
until financial conditions improved. In the same month I visited Ber-
hampore and discussed with the Chairman, District Board, the necessity
of retaining in full the veterinary staff, a portion of which he had
requested to be withdrawn owing to the inability of the Board to meet
the cost of contribution payable to Government. The importance of this
staff in relation to agriculture was pointed out to him and the posts
retained. The opening ceremony of the dog ward attached to the Veteri-
nary Hospital at Chinsura was held on the 28th of November last under
the presidency of Mr. G. P. Hogg, I.C.S., Commissioner of the Burdwar
Division, and I attended the function.
5. In December I visited Dacca to investigate an outbreak of
hæmorrhagic septicæmia and arranged for experimental "Virus alone"
inoculation of 30 hired cattle at Manipur Farm. In January I visited
6
Chuadanga and delivered lectures on the care and management of cattle
with the aid of the departmental cinema. The second meeting of the
Advisory Board of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research was
held at Delhi in the last week of January which I attended as a represen-
tative of the Bengal Veterinary Department.
6. In February I visited Dacca for the second time and investigated
with Col. Olver, Animal Husbandry Expert of the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research, and Mr. Ware, the Director of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research at Muktesar, the causes of outbreak of
cattle disease there. They also saw the result of the "Virus alone"
inoculation and the immunity test of 4 cattle inoculated 12 months pre-
viously. A demonstration of inoculation against rinderpest by the
serum simultaneous method was given at Kapilmuni in the district of
Khulna in the last week of this month and I attended this demonstration
half of the cost of which was borne by the district board, the other half
being met by Rai Sahib Binode Behari Sadhu of this district, to whom
the thanks of Government are due for his public-spirited action in coming-
forward with funds for this demonstration.
7. The annual examinations of the Bengal Veterinary College were
held in March and I attended the examinations as President of the Board
of Examiners.
8. My tours covered a period of 37 days and I travelled 4,238 miles
by rail, 64 miles by road and 378 miles by steamer.
9. Two officers held charge of the Western Range during the year,
Assistant Directors Rai Sahibs Sarat Chandra Paul and Nripendra Nath
Majumdar. The former was on leave from the beginning of the year
till the 2nd June 1931 and returned to work for only 28 days, after which
he retired from the service of Government. He made no tours during the
period he was in charge.
10. With the exception of the brief period of 33 days during which
he was on leave on average pay Rai Sahib Nripendra Nath Majumdar
was in charge of the Western Range throughout the year. He toured for
38 days and visited Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Ghoom, Kurseong, Siliguri,
Jangipur, Chinsura, Khulna and Dacca, travelling altogether 2,250 miles
by rail, 48 miles by road and 274 miles by steamer.
11. Besides carrying on the routine work of inspection in the Western
Range, the Rai Sahib visited the jails in Calcutta several times in con-
nection with the Hormone Experiment in barren cows, which I com-
menced in January, and which judged by the success so far achieved,
may lead to most important results.
From 29th January to 10th February 1932, he conducted at Dacca
under my instructions an inoculation experiment by the "goat-virus-
alone-method," which, if successful, will greatly reduce the cost for anti-
rinderpest inoculation. He also took charge of the serum simultaneous
inoculation demonstration held at Kapilmuni in the district of Khulna,
where 445 animals were protected against rinderpest with satisfactory
results.
12. Maulvi Mahamed Sanowar Chowdhury, officiating Assistant
Director, was on duty in the Eastern Range throughout the year under
report. He was on tour for 73 days and visited Chittagong, Mymensingh,
7
Jamalpur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Rajbari once each and Barisal and
Comilla twice and came to Calcutta twice covering altogether 1,110 miles
by rail, 1,195 miles by steamer and 380 miles by road and boat. During
these tours he inspected the work of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons,
visited jail and municipal cattle and interviewed the local authorities
regarding the expansion of veterinary staff in the districts. He also
attended and investigated two outbreaks of hæmorrhagic septicæmia and
anthrax in the Manipur Farm and Dacca Central Jail, respectively, and
look prompt steps to stamp out the diseases by protective inoculation.
13. In addition to the above work he conducted serum simultaneous
inoculation of the Dairy cattle at Manipur against rinderpest and was
present at the experimental inoculation by "goat-virus-method-alone."
The travelling allowance of both these officers has been so much
reduced that a great deal of necessary inspection work and visiting seats
of large outbreaks has had to be curtailed to the detriment of the work
of the department.
Part I.—Veterinary Instruction.
14. The year under report is the third year of the creation of the
post of Propaganda Inspector in this Department. As previously stated,
the staff consists of one officer and a peon to carry on the vast work all
over the province.
15. Four hundred and twenty-nine calls were received during the
year as against two hundred and twenty-eight in the previous year.
Some of these calls were received by wire, but in view of the fact that
only one officer was available for the purpose and the funds under
"Travelling Allowance, etc.," were very limited, his tours had to
be curtailed causing considerable disappointment to the officials and
members of the general public.
16. In spite of this handicap the Propaganda Officer visited the
majority of important cattle centres in this province and attended, as
far as possible, conferences organised by District and Subdivisional
Officers, union boards and other public bodies. 1 Lis lectures were greatly
appreciated and demands for veterinary aid, breeding bull societies and
serum simultaneous inoculation are on the increase. It is hoped this
useful appointment will be retained permanently both in the interests
of the Department as well as of the masses with whom he deals directly
in the course of his tours.
17. In the Eastern Range many of the Itinerant Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons attended primary schools and gave instruction to the boys on
the habit and care of animals.
Part II.—Treatment of Diseases.
18. There has been an increase in the mortality of animals from
contagious diseases during the year, the total number of deaths reported
heing 15,297 as against 13,009 in the preceding year. Table II gives the
figures for each district in detail. Rinderpest continues to be the most
8
serious scourge being responsible for 71 per cent. of the deaths reported
under bovine diseases.
Equine Diseases.
19. Glanders.—Only one case was reported from the Darjeeling
district in this province. The animal affected was subjected to mallein
test to which it gave a positive reaction. It was destroyed and a sum of
Rs. 62-8 was awarded as compensation under the Act.
20-22. Anthrax, surra and dourine.—No cases were reported during
the year.
23. Other contagious diseases.—Two deaths were recorded under this
head as against one in the previous year, but details are not available.
Bovine Diseases.
24. Rinderpest was prevalent throughout the province and accounted
for the loss of 10,373 animals as against 9,345 in the previous year. The
districts which were seriously affected were Nadia, Khulna, Burdwan and
Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The advantages of inoculation against this disease are being realised
by the raiyats and wherever these outbreaks could be visited by Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons preventive measures including "Serum alone"
inoculation were carried out.
25. Food and mouth caused 201 deaths in this province as against
857 in the previous year. The mortality was the highest in the Bankura
district, where 79 deaths occurred.
26. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia affected, more or less, all the districts
in this province and the death roll this year was comparatively high,
being 3,009 as against 2,035 in the preceding year. The outbreaks were
most severe in the districts of Midnapore, Jessore and Bakarganj, in
which 1,110 animals are reported to have succumbed to the disease.
Preventive inoculation was carried out in as many of the outbreaks as
possible.
27. Blackquarter appeared in 11 districts of this presidency. In
Burdwan the outbreak was fairly widespread. Altogether 290 animals
died, of which 73 were in Burdwan alone. Inoculation with "Black-
quarter Aggressin" in the majority of these outbreaks was employed with
satisfactory results.
28. Anthrax.—This is reported to have destroyed 517 head of cattle
as against 147 in the previous year. Entire reliance cannot be placed on
this figure as the disease usually occurs sporadically, is of sudden onset
and runs a rapidly fatal course. It is not usually diagnosed by laymen
and is often mistaken for other diseases, snake-bite and poisoning. Few
cases can be visited in time to verify diagnosis by microscopic examina-
tion. Protective inoculation was carried out in those places where the
disease appeared as a definite outbreak.
29. Other contagious diseases.—The loss under this head was some-
what higher this year, being 136 as against 90 in the previous year.
9
30. Contagious diseases amongst other animals.—Seven hundred and
sixty-eight fatal cases occurred under this head, which includes rabies
and distemper in canines, Fowl cholera, and various diseases other than
those detailed above.
Table III.—Preventive Inoculation.
31. Table III gives the number of inoculations performed in this
province during the year.
32. Inoculation was undertaken in 600 outbreaks and 133,039 animals
were protected as against 89,088 animals in 455 outbreaks in the previous
year. Details of inoculation are given below:—
Rinderpest .. ..
Hæmorrhagic septicæmia ..
Anthrax .. ..
Blackquarter .. ..
Total ..
1931-32.
109,590
20,023
2,738
688
133,039
1930-31.
73,622
14,197
905
364
89,088
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 rinderpest, hæmorrhagic septicæmia, anthrax and Blackquarter
during the year.
33. In addition to the above figures, 471 animals were protected
against rinderpest by the serum simultaneous method at Manipur in
Dacca and Kapilmuni in Khulna. The College staff also inoculated 1,977
animals in 42 outbreaks of rinderpest in Calcutta and its suburbs. Out
of this number 36 were by serum simultaneous method.
34. The death rate amongst the inoculated was negligible, being 850
in all or 0 . 6 for the whole province.
35. A sum of Its. 36,578-8 was paid to the Director of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research at Muktesar on account of the cost of
sera and vaccines supplied during the year.
Table IV.
36. Table IV shows the work done in the mufassal and at head-
quarters by the Itinerant Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of
veterinary stores. The work done in the mufassal by the Itinerant
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in charge of dispensaries is also shown in
the Table.
37. There were this year altogether 101 men at work in the mufassal,
of whom 71 were purely Itinerant and 30 Stationary and Itinerant, who
toured in the interior either at fixed periods or when necessity arose.
These officers visited 16,922 villages and treated 127,347 patients as-
against 16,729 villages and 136,957 cases, 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
10
spend a considerable portion of their time in doing inoculation work
referred to in paragraph 32 of this report. Each Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon is supplied with a pamphlet on Animal Husbandly and carries
on propaganda on this subject in addition to his veterinary duties.
Hospitals and Dispensaries.
38. Table V shows the number of animals treated and castrated at
various hospitals and dispensaries in this province during the year under
report.
39. The number of such institutions in 1930-31 was 48. No new
hospital or dispensary was opened during the year.
40. The total number of patients treated at these institutions was
78,455 as against 76,722 in the year previous. Of these, 13,907 were
in and 64,548 were out-patients. In addition to the above 17,258 cases
were supplied with medicines as against 18,179 in the preceding year.
41. It is reported that the district board of Noakhali have allotted
a sum of Rs. 500 in their budget for 1932-33 for the construction of a
dispensary with quarters for the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon at Hatiya.
42. The district board of Tippera have selected a site for the cons-
truction of a dispensary with quarters for the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeon at Chandpur and have ordered the dispensary to be removed to
a better site in the town for the present.
43. Some improvements in the quarters of the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon at Mymensingh Sadar were effected by the board
during the year.
It is hoped that other district boards will realise the need for providing
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons with suitable quarters as it is a great
stimulus to their efficiency. Few boards have as yet realised this and
acted upon it.
44. The district board of Bakarganj have acquired an additional plot
of 3 bighas of land for the Veterinary Hospital at Barisal.
45. A sum of Rs. 145 was collected by a committee in Chittagong
and awarded to the Veterinary Hospital there for the improvement of
the dog kennels and installation of electricity in the hospital, provided the
recurring expenses were undertaken by the board. A sum of Rs. 95-10
was also realised as subscription from the local gentry towards the cost
of construction of an additional room for dog operation theatre in the
hospital.
46. One cross montgomery bull calf was presented to the Veterinary
Hospital at Barisal by Mr. B. B. Guha, a local zemindar.
47. The shed for out-patients at Cox's Bazar was converted into a
Veterinary Dispensary.
At Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts, pending the construction of a
dispensary with quarters on the site acquired, the quarters for a minis-
terial officer have been permitted to be used as a dispensary by the
Deputy Commissioner.
48. Provision has been made by the district board of Faridpur for
the construction of a dispensary at Madaripur during the current financial
year.