NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
xxv
TABLE XIII—concluded
Abstract of particulars regarding Horse Fairs and Shows held in non-selected districts during the year 1945-46—concluded
Name of fair
1
Peshawar ..
Mardan ..
Hazara ..
Kohat ..
Bannu ..
Dera Ismail Khan
Kurram Agency
Malakand Agency
Total ..
Number of
mules
purchased
By
Govern-
ment
16
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
By
others
17
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Total
18
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Price paid to mules by
Government
Highest
price
19
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Lowest
price
20
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Average
price
21
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Total
number
of
animals
sold
22
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Prize money provided
1
From
Imperial
Funds
23
..
..
420
..
..
..
..
..
420
From
Provin-
cial
Fund
24
..
..
100
..
..
..
..
..
100
From
Local
Fund
25
..
..
105
..
..
..
..
..
105
From
other
sources
26
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Total
27
..
..
625
..
..
..
..
..
625
Amount
actually
awarded
28
..
..
625
..
..
..
..
..
625
Number
of
medals
awarded
29
..
..
2
..
..
..
..
..
2
Amount
sanction-
ed by
Govern-
ment
of India
for next
year's
fair or
show
30
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Remarks
31
* Challenge Cups also awarded
Board of Agriculture in India
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
First Meeting of Veterinary Officers
in India
Held at Lahore on the 24th March 1919
and following days
WITH APPENDICES
CALCUTTA
SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1919
Price eight annas or nine pence.
Board of Agriculture in India
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
First Meeting of Veterinary Officers
in India
Held at Lahore on the 24th March 1919
and following days
WITH APPENDICES
CALCUTTA
SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1919
No. C./658.
FROM
G. A. D. STUART, ESQ., B.A., I.C.S.,
Offg. Agricultural Adviser to the Government of India,
To
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND AGRICULTURE,
SIMLA.
Dated Camp Bombay, the 14th April 1919.
SIR,
I have the honour to submit the Proceedings of the First
Meeting of Veterinary Officers, held at Lahore on the 24th March,
1919, and following days. These proceedings have been recorded
by Mr. A. W. Shilston, Second Bacteriologist, Muktesar, who
acted as Secretary.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
G. A. D. STUART,
Offg. Agricultural Adviser to the Government of India.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
List of members and visitors
. .
.
. . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
Programme . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opening of Proceedings—
The President's Address . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
SUBJECT— I.—Veterinary Education .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
„
II.—The advantages and disadvantages of stationary and itinerating
veterinary dispensaries and the possibility of combining the two
systems advantageously
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
„
III.—Revival of the " Journal of Tropical Veterinary Science " . . .
„
IV.—The necessity for reorganization of the Indian Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
„
V.—Surra and Dourine. What concerted action can be taken to deal with
these diseases ? Their diagnosis and treatment
.
.
.
.
„
VI.—Rinderpest. The applicability of the different methods of inoculation
against the disease to conditions in India, including a discussion of
the present position from the scientific and financial points of view .
„ VII.—Bovine tuberculosis. Is the disease widely disseminated in India and,
if so, what measures, if any, should be taken to control its spread ? .
„
VIII.—The control of rabies in India .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
„
IX.—In view of the necessity of progress in the field of research, the method
by which it should be brought about and the means by which research
and executive branches should be co-ordinated
....
„
X.—Whether, in view of the sectional meeting of Veterinary Officers, it
will be necessary for them to attend the full meetings of the Board of
Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
„
XI.—The prevention of contagious animal diseases in India. Voluntary
versus compulsory segregations. The necessity for further legisla-
tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
„ XII.—The fostering of the animal industry in India. The effect that the
introduction on a considerable scale of exotic breeds of animals,
particularly cattle for mating with indigenous breeds, would have
with regard to epidemic diseases
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
List of Resoluations . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDIX A.—Note on Veterinary Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
„
B.—Note on the Revival of the " Journal of Tropical Veterinary Science "
„
C.—Note on the extent to which the serum simultaneous method of inocula-
tion against rinderpest can be carried out amongst the cattle of India
„
D.—Proposals for the provision of laboratories and staff for the study of
insect parasitology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PAGE
1
ib
3
5
7
13
14
15
27
28
29
30
31
33
ib
34
37
39
41
42
43
The First Meeting of Veterinary Officers in India.
INTRODUCTORY.
1. The First Meeting of Veterinary Officers in India was held
at Lahore on the 24th March, 1919, and following days, under the
presidency of Mr. J. Mackenna, M.A., C.I.E., I.C.S., Agricultural
Adviser to the Government of India.
MEMBERS.
The members present were :—
1. Mr. J. Mackenna, M.A., C.I.E., I.C.S., Agricultural Adviser
to the Government of India (President).
2. Mr. A. W. Shilston, M.R.C.V.S., Second Bacteriologist,
Muktesar (Secretary).
3. Mr. A. Leslie Sheather, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Director and
First Bacteriologist, Muktesar.
4. Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Edwards, A.V.C., Deputy Director
of Veterinary Services, Northern Command, Rawalpindi.
5. Mr. F. M. Howlett, B.A., F.E.S., Imperial Pathological
Entomologist.
6. Lieutenant-Colonel A. Smith, F.R.C.V.S., Principal, Bengal
Veterinary College.
7. Mr. E. W. Oliver, M.R.C.V.S., F.Z.S., Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, United Provinces.
8. Mr. S. M. Jacob, I.C.S., Director of Agriculture, Punjab.
9. Colonel H. T. Pease, C.I.E., M.R.C.V.S., V.D., Principal,
Punjab Veterinary College.
10. Colonel J. Farmer, C.I.E., F.R.C.V.S., Chief Superinten-
dent, Civil Veterinary Department, Punjab.
11. Mr. T. F. Quirke, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, North Punjab and North-West
Frontier Province.
12. Mr. J. G. Cattell, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, Sind, Baluchistan and Rajputana.
2
13. Lieutenant-Colonel G. K. Walker, C.I.E., O.B.E.,
F.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Bombay.
14. Major K. Hewlett, M.R.C.V.S., Principal, Bombay Veteri-
nary College.
15. Mr. D. A. D. Aitchison, M.R.C.V.S., M.P.S., Principal,
Veterinary College, Madras.
16. Mr. F. Ware, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Madras.
17. Mr. D. Clouston, M.A., B.Sc., Officiating Director of Agri-
culture, Central Provinces, Nagpur.
18. Mr. D. Quinlan, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, Bihar and Orissa.
19. Mr. W. Harris, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, Assam.
VISITORS.
2. In addition, the following attended as visitors :—
1. Mr. M. Wynne Sayer, B.A., Officiating Imperial Agri-
culturist.
2. Mr. G. Taylor, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, South Punjab.
3. Mr. R. Branford, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Govern-
ment Cattle Farm, Hissar.
4. Captain W. A. Pool, M.R.C.V.S., Camel Specialist.
5. Mr. W. Taylor, M.R.C.V.S., Professor of Pathology and
Parasitology, Punjab Veterinary College.
6. Captain A. D. MacGregor, M.R.C.V.S., Leave Reserve
Officer, Punjab.
7. Mr. J. S. Garewal, M.R.C.V.S., Officer under training,
Punjab.
8. Mr. E. Burke, Officiating Professor of Surgery, Punjab
Veterinary College.
3
PROGRAMME.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED.
3. The programme before the Meeting consisted of the following
subjects:—
I.—Veterinary Education.
II.—The advantages and disadvantages of stationary and
itinerating veterinary dispensaries and the possibi-
lity of combining the two systems advantageously.
III.—Revival of the " Journal of Tropical Veterinary
Science."
IV.—The necessity for reorganization of the Indian Civil
Veterinary Department.
V.—Surra and Dourine. What concerted action can be
taken to deal with these diseases ? Their diagnosis
and treatment.
VI.—Rinderpest. The applicability of the different methods
of inoculation against the disease to conditions in
India, including a discussion of the present position
from the scientific and financial points of view.
VII.—Bovine tuberculosis. Is the disease widely dissemi-
nated in India and, if so, what measures, if any,
should be taken to control its spread ?
VIII.—The control of rabies in India.
IX.—In view of the necessity of progress in the field of
research, the method by which it should be brought
about and the means by which research and executive
branches should be co-ordinated.
X.—Whether, in view of the sectional meeting of Veterinary
Officers, it will be necessary for them to attend the
full meetings of the Board of Agriculture.
XI.—The prevention of contagious animal diseases in India.
Voluntary versus compulsory segregations. The
necessity for further legislation.
XII.—The fostering of the animal industry in India. The
effect that the introduction on a considerable scale
of exotic breeds of animals, particularly cattle for
mating with indigenous breeds, would have with
regard to epidemic diseases.
5
PROCEEDINGS.
In opening the proceedings Mr. Mackenna said :—
" As we have a very large programme of work in front of us
and a very limited time in which to get through it, I do not propose
to take up much of your time with an opening address. But this
meeting here to-day must stir up memories in some of us and take
our thoughts back to a similar conference held in Calcutta in 1908
presided over by your own Inspector-General. Much water has
run under the bridges since then and amongst other things that have
been swept away in its rush is the Inspector-Generalship of the
Civil Veterinary Department. It is on this account that I, as a
friendly neutral, find myself in the chair this morning.
" Many changes besides the one I have mentioned have occurred
since last we met at a Veterinary Conference. Overshadowing
all is the great European war which has now happily been brought
to a successful termination. Its direct influence on the department
has been the total closing down of recruiting on the one side and
on the other the release of every available officer to take up military
duty. The Civil Veterinary Departments have thus been reduced
both in the superior and in the subordinate grades to the lowest
possible working scale and it is to the credit of all concerned that
despite this depletion, it has been possible to carry on the normal
work of the department. This has been done willingly and cheer-
fully by those officers who have been left behind, their only consola-
tion being that, if they were not permitted to go on active service as
they desired, they were doing their bit by carrying on the current
work of the department. It is not for me to refer to the magnificent
work which has been done by the Veterinary Service in the War.
This is well known to all of you. But the Indian Civil Veterinary
Department will certainly be deemed to have taken its fair share
when I say that out of 28 European officers, 10 were entirely released
for military duty, while Major Hewlett has been largely engaged
on military work in addition to his own heavy duties as Principal of
the Bombay Veterinary College. In addition to those actually
released for military service, a large number of officers have been
prominent first in the work of the Indian Volunteers and later in
the Indian Defence Force, amongst whom I may particularly men-
tion Colonel Pease, Colonel Evans and Colonel Walker. I take
it that the Order of the British Empire conferred on the latter
officer, and on the distinction of which I desire to congratulate him,
was mainly on account of his work in connection with the Indian
6
Defence Force. Amongst our old comrades Colonel Baldrey has
been given the decoration of C. M. G.
" But apart from the incidence of war, the period which has
elapsed since our last meeting has been an important one in other
directions. In the first place the report of the Public Services
Commission has brought into prominence many questions connected
with our future organization a large number of which find their place
on our agenda to-day. As a result there is no doubt that, to mention
only one, the important question of veterinary education will have
to be tackled from a wider standpoint.
" Again, there is the whole question of the reorganization of
all branches of the service—Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate.
While the Montagu-Chelmsford reform proposals will not perhaps
affect the Veterinary Department so much as they may some other
departments of Government which have not already been so com-
pletely provincialized, they give us an opportunity of considering
to what extent, with provincial devolution, our departments should
be expanded and what provision should be made for research.
My own idea, and I give it only for what it is worth, is that in course
of time it will be found desirable to have in India a strong Central
Board of Agriculture organized somewhat on the basis of the Board
of Agriculture and Fisheries in England or of the Boards of Agri-
culture in Scotland and Ireland. It seems to me that if we are to
have any regular progress, especially in research, there must, while
giving a complete provincial autonomy, be some centralization
to ensure and to guarantee the best results, and there seems to be
little doubt that if such a policy is accepted, veterinary science must
be represented.
" I do not propose to refer in detail to the agenda which is com-
prehensive and deals with a large number of administrative as well
as practical questions ; but I am afraid that one point will emerge
from nearly every discussion that we have and that is the utter
inadequacy of the veterinary staff, either in the superior or sub-
ordinate grades, to cope with the vast problems with which the
department is confronted. On the maintenance and health of the
cattle of India depends the whole of our agriculture and, if that is to
be effectively achieved, it seems necessary that we should have a
large and an early expansion of our department.
" The question of the revision of the pay of the Imperial Service
rests on the decision arrived at on the recommendations of the
Public Services Commission on this question ; but I would remark
that circumstances have considerably changed since the issue of
that Commission's report and that the war has materially altered
the situation. If we want the best men for India we shall have to
7
go into the open market to get them because there will be a very
large demand for veterinary officers to make good the wastage of
these years of war. In the Provincial and Subordinate Services,
if we are to attract the best type of young Indian, we shall certainly
have to raise the educational standard of our veterinary colleges
and the natural corollary to this is that we must offer higher rates
of pay.
" One word more and I am done. I selected Lahore for this
sectional meeting firstly on account of the outstanding position
which it has for years occupied as a centre of veterinary education
in India, and secondly as a compliment to the doyen of the depart-
ment—Colonel H. T. Pease—who, in a few months, will sever his con-
nection for good with the department with whose interests he has
for so long been identified. Indian veterinary science owes much
to Colonel Pease, and amongst hundreds of students his name will
for long be held in remembrance. I am sure that he takes into his
retirement the best wishes of the whole department, and we all hope
that he will have many happy years in the old country."
Mr. Mackenna then called upon Colonel G. K. Walker to open
the discussion on—
SUBJECT I.—VETERINARY EDUCATION.
Colonel Walker said :—
" The important subject of veterinary education was included
in the list of subjects for discussion at the meeting of the Board of
Agriculture held at Poona in December, 1917.
" It was discussed by a strong committee, and a report was
submitted to the Board which accepted it. It was felt at the time,
I think, that the subject could not be properly dealt with by the
Board. It is very complex, and a considerable amount of preli-
minary inquiry is required before any concrete conclusions can be
arrived at.
" The committee contemplated a greatly improved organization
for district work in the near future. This was based on the assump-
tion that the policy of the Government of India, as expressed by the
Honourable Member who was present, would be to expand the
department and increase its usefulness. As far as I know, no action
has been taken on the report up to the present, but it is presumed
that Local Governments are to be consulted in the matter.
" I feel that in the absence of any further indication of the
intentions of Government it will be just as difficult to frame any
definite proposals now.
8
" We require more explicit data as to the standards of education
at the various colleges and a clearer view of the number of men
likely to be required in the respective ranks before we can formulate
measures for fixing those standards, and before we can really make
recommendations for the necessary educational facilities.
" There would be many details to be worked out which would
necessarily include the revision of the various curricula and exami-
nation systems. I think every one will agree that for each standard
it is desirable to have uniformity, as far as possible, and I do not
consider that there would be any great difficulty in bringing that
about.
" These questions would ordinarily be dealt with suitably by
the head of the department, if there were one, as he would be in a
position to go round and study the various local conditions and
compare them. As we have no one in a position to do that, I am of
opinion that what is required is a small committee to visit the
different colleges and, in consultation with principals, to report on
the existing standards. Superintendents of provinces would be
consulted also, of course. One member of the committee should be
an officer of district experience, as it is mainly for the districts that
men are required. I do not think it would be advisable to include
a Principal of an existing college on the committee as he would
naturally be disposed to favour his own system and the committee
should be quite unbiased.
" There is at least one important point, however, on which this
Conference might usefully express an opinion. I consider that the
main issue at present is to decide whether we require two separate
courses of instruction, one higher and one lower, or not, or whether
it is possible to graft the required higher education on to the
existing one. It is perfectly clear that more highly educated men
have got to be provided in future in India to meet our requirements
for the provincial services.
" The Public Services Commission's report is very explicit on
this point, direct appointments to the higher ranks being advocated,
though I am inclined to think that a little service in the inferior
grades to give the men experience would be beneficial. Whether
these men would be admitted into the imperial service or not is a
matter for future discussion. It might be possible to select a few
who were capable of undergoing further instruction abroad or
possibly in India to fit them for such promotion, but that is not
feasible at present and I think we had better deal with nearer issues.
In the meantime, Indians who are to be appointed to the imperial
service should go abroad for their veterinary education.
9
" I am convinced—I had nearly said almost convinced, which
means that I am still open to reasons to the contrary—that we
must cater for two classes of men in future. At the Conference at
Calcutta in 1908, I supported a resolution to this effect, but it was
not carried at the time and it was recommended that an extra
year's instruction in English should be added to existing curricula
for the higher appointments. At Poona, however, in 1917, the
committee recommended that the minimum educational qualifica-
tion for the gazetted appointments should be the equivalent of the
preliminary science examination of the Calcutta University, and
that a separate course of instruction should be given. In this I
agree.
" Now, what is the present position ? We have a number of
veterinary institutions which turn out veterinary assistants, and some
of these men are expected to attain higher positions. The starting
pay of a veterinary assistant may be estimated to be about Rs. 50
and in the Punjab Rs. 30 per mensem. It may be raised slightly
but probably not a great deal. No administration can afford to
employ a qualified man who has passed the equivalent of the preli-
minary science examination in every tehsil or taluka for veterinary
work. Such men will not come forward for less than Rs. 100 per
mensem, and I don't see how we can expect them to do so.
" We have got to cater for the education of a large number of
men who will be content to earn comparatively small pay and who
will be very usefully employed at small dispensaries and for inocula-
tion work, etc. I say we must revise our present scheme of training
for this class and be content to provide them with a quite simple
and practical course of, say, 2 years in vernacular in some provinces
and in English in others, according to local conditions.
" They would rise to a pay in the region of Rs. 100 per mensem
and remain content. There might be exceptional cases deserving
of higher promotion, but they would be special ones. For men who
are to be appointed direct to the higher grades we must provide a
better education on the lines of the English colleges with a four
years' course in English. Those who qualify should rank as Univer-
sity graduates in veterinary science. These are matters which can
only be finally settled after consultation with Local Governments,
but I think this Conference should give a definite opinion on the
subject.
" If what I advocate is decided upon, the question of how to
utilize the existing colleges arises. I am aware that it is difficult to
carry on two different courses at one college simultaneously and that
there are many objections to the system. All the same, it has been
done at medical colleges, and we might have to do the same thing