NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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He personally arranged many small cattle exhibitions
on his visits to veterinary hospitals and awarded encourag-
ing prizes to zamindars rearing subsidy-produce. On these
occasions he delivered lectures in simple language on
eradication of contagious diseases, animal treatment, and
management of livestock. He attended all the Horse
Shows and Cattle Fairs held in the Province and supervised
the arrangements made for public demonstrations chiefly in
respect of scientific veterinary aid and stock farming.
He attended the political Jirga of leading Khans in
Kurram Agency and convinced the audience of the activi-
ties of his Department. He surveyed the Lohani Tract in
Baluchistan, interviewed the Political Agent, Loraloi, and
purchased Lohani stud bulls for the Kurram Valley. He
also visited Dhanni Tract of the North-Punjab and pur-
chased stud bulls for the Province. He supervised the
livestock and poultry at the Agricultural Farm, Tarnab and
gave useful instructions with regard to their management
at the farm. He also inspected the Frontier Constabulary
chargers and rendered his free advice to that Department.
He also acted as a member of the Provincial Rural
Uplift Committee where the beneficial activities of his
Department, in respect of rural reconstruction, were appre-
ciated by the members.
He worked on the Executive Committee of the
S. P. C. A., Peshawar Branch and also acted as Honorary
Veterinary Surgeon to the Society. On tours he inspected
animals used for transport in hills as well in plans under
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Glanders and Farcy
Acts.
He attended the meeting of Advisory Board of
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research in July, 1936 at
Simla and in January 1937 at Delhi. At Simla he also
attended the meeting of the Cattle-Breeding Sub-Committee
and the Veterinary Officers Adhoc Sub-Committee.
He interviewed the Principal. Punjab Veterinary
College, Lahore, in connection with the Frontier nominees.
The Superintendent surveyed the Province to know the
possibilities of wool and goat hair export from the produc-
ing tracts. He keenly supervised the bee-keeping opera-
tion and the art of cleaning, grading and packing of wool
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and goat hair which were put to scientific experiments with
the idea to educate zamindars in this industry.
He toured over Province to find out all possible means
of furthering the activities of his Department and spared
no pains in public welfare. He managed a vigorous pro-
paganda for donations in response to the appeals of Their
Excellencies the Viceroy and the Governor of the North-
West Frontier Province for livestock improvement.
2. District veterinary offices—
These offices continued at Peshawar, Mardan, Haripur-
Hazara, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Durgai and
Parachinar in the charge of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
and Veterinary Inspectors, pending sanction of the posts
of District Veterinary Officers in the gazetted rank. As
emphasized in the last year's report, creation of these posts
is of immense necessity. The official in charge were well-
conversed both with the office routine and field work. In
the absence of proper arrangements they held their offices
at headquarter hospitals. These veterinary divisions have
proved very useful for the advancement of departmental
activities and thus are of great advantage to the efficient
working of the Department. As recommended by the
Royal Commission on Agriculture in India that each district
should have a District Veterinary Officer of its own in order
to utilize liberal and competent veterinary aid it is high
time now to consider this question and provide funds for
the purpose.
3. Subordnate establishment—Table VII—
Three more posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
were added to the cadre during the year under report.
Thus the sanctioned cadre of the subordinate establishment
increased to 44 against 41 in the last year. Adding eleven
more posts of Veterinary Compounders (2 in Bannu District
and 9 in Dera Ismail Khan) and 10 more Veterinary Stock
Assistants the total number of the field staff stood at 118
at the close of the year.
The strength of only 44 qualified veterinarians is below
the mark and insufficient to cope with the every day increas-
ing activities of the Department. The increase in the staff
4
is an absolute necessity which always stands in the way of
expansion of the Department.
The present staff is adequately active and competent
in convincing the people with their work.
4. Veterinary Laboratory, Peshawar—
The Laboratory remained well-equipped with necessary
requirements and the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in
charge carried on his scientific work under the close super-
vision of the Superintendent. He examined 127 specimens
of diseased animals against 107 of the last year and pre-
pared 72,200 doses of G. T. V. Vaccine for immunising
cattle against Rinderpest (Cattle Plague). All sera and
vaccines were stocked in the Laboratory and their supply
for use in the field was quickly made. The construction of
a proper pit for their storage is under consideration.
PART II—ANIMAL DISEASES.
SECTION
(A)—CONTAGIOUS
DISEASES
AND
PREVENTIVE
INOCULATIONS, TABLES AND III.
(a) Equine diseases.
Mortality.—There
were only 5 deaths out of 26 seizures
against 33 deaths and 116 cases of the last year.
1. Glanders—
Twelve chargers of the Frontier Constabulary,
Peshawar District were melleined during the year under
report. One of them reacted positive for Glanders and was
destroyed under the Glanders and Farcy Act.
2. Surra-
There were 4 deaths in four cases of this disease report-
ed from Kurram Agency. The disease is responsible for
considerable loss to breeders in certain parts of the Province
for which the Department is paying careful attention to
establish regular Surra Centres.
3. Contagious—
Twenty-one contagious cases were of the nature other
than the above-mentioned diseases.
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(b) Bovine diseases.
Mortality.—This year there were 8,374 seizures and
1,224 deaths among cattle and buffaloes as compared to
10,050 cases and 1,293 deaths of the last year. The
decrease was due to the active measures adopted to effect
immediate control over outbreaks.
1. Rinderpest-
Out of 391 cases 152 animals died of this disease against
549 seizures and 302 deaths of the preceding year. The
decrease was due to Goat Tissue Virus Vaccination which
was performed as prophylactic measure on thousands of
bovines in outbreaks in all districts of the Province. 56,266
bovines were vaccinated with Goat Tissue Virus alone
against 16,120 vaccinated last year with the result that the
number of incidences met with during the year under report
was negligible. This method is giving quite satisfactory
results in connection with Rinderpest outbreaks and its
advantages have been well brought home to zamindars.
2. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia—
The malady is a great distress upon cattle population
on account of its sudden attack and high mortality. This
year it was responsible for 822 deaths in 937 seizures as
compared to 781 deaths out of 867 cases of the last year.
Against this disease 25,009 bovines were protected with
H. S. Vaccine against 6,690 vaccinations performed in the
preceding year and 1,876 cattle were inoculated with H. S.
Serum against 4,419 inoculations of the last year.
3. Foot and Mouth disease—
It appeared in all the districts and agencies of the
Province and accounts for 6,717 cases against 8,398
seizures in the preceding year. Four animals died of this
disease while last year the mortality was 67. There was
a marked decrease in the incidence which was chiefly due
to timely attendance of the affected animals and use of
Foot-baths wherever possible.
4. Black Quarter—
172 bovines were affected by this disease against 147
of the last year which resulted into 157 deaths as against
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129 in the last year. Sporadic cases of Black Quarter
occurred in all the districts. The outspread was checked
by quick preventive measures. 850 animals were vaccinat-
ed against this disease as compared to 719 cattle vaccinated
in the last year.
(c) Other animals diseases.
Out of 5,066 cases in sheep, goats, and camels 1,039
heads died of different contagious diseases against 6,578
seizures and 387 deaths in the preceding year. Increase in
mortality was chiefly due to Anthrax and Contagious
Pleuropneumonia in sheep and goats.
Anthrax cases
occurred in Kohat District where a flock of 180 sheep and
goats was inoculated with anti-Anthrax Serum. As shown
in Table II these animals fell prey to many serious epidemics
during the year. Deaths were also due to Pox and Scab
diseases. Foot and Mouth disease was responsible for
2,782 seizures and 20 deaths.
There were 321 seizures and 100 deaths in dogs.
Twenty-nine cases were suspected for Rabies against 48
of the last year. Six brain specimens were despatched for
Laboratory Examination out of which 2 proved positive for
Rabies.
Twenty-seven dogs were vaccinated against
Rabies during the year. 286 dogs suffered of Distemper
with 67 deaths as compared to 376 cases and 247 deaths
in the preceding year. There were 4 cases of dogs' Tick
Fever in Peshawar, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan Districts
which died of the disease. Two dogs were treated for
Mange.
(d) Poultry diseases.
Fowl Cholera and Ranikhet diseases appeared in
Kurram Agency, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu Districts.
There were 27 seizures and 22 deaths of Fowl Cholera
against 129 cases and 81 deaths in the preceding year. Out
of 61 Ranikhet cases 37 birds died of this affection as com-
pared to 44 seizures and 31 deaths during the last year.
SECTION (B)—EXPENDITURE ON SERA AND VACCINES.
A sum of Rs. 17,240 was spent on purchase and pre-
paration of sera and vaccines against Rs. 15,000 in the last
year.
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SECTION
(C)—NON-CONTAGIOUS
DISEASE
TREATED ON
TOUR—TABLE IV.
The staff toured for 8,801 days and visited 9,681
villages as compared to 6,243 villages visited last year.
They treated 70,801 cases for non-contagious ailments'
against 48,781 animals treated in the preceding year and
castrated 33,351 animals against 20,519 of the last year.
The tour work in general was much enhanced which
was due to vigorous propaganda and strenous efforts of the
Department for public benefit. The rural population have
diverted their attention towards securing timely treatment
of their diseased animals and they are keenly interested in
putting the undesirable sires to bloodless castration per-
formed by the Department with
Burdizzo-Castrator.
Valuable services rendered by the staff at camp-dispensaries
were well realized and appreciated by the masses which
means an increased demand of veterinary aid in rural areas.
SECTION (D)—CRIMINAL POISONING.
Two cases of criminal poisoning were reported in
Peshawar District against 13 cases in the last year. In
these cases the specimens were sent to Chemical Examiner
for confirmation and the accused were dealt with legally.
PART III—VETERINARY INSTITUTES.
1. Veterinary hospitals and rural dispensaries—Table V—
Nineteen more veterinary dispensaries were opened
during the year under report to facilitate animal treatment
in rural areas of the Province. Thus the total number of
hospitals was increased to 72 against 53 of the last year.
The opening of the new dispensaries was appreciated by the
people and their services utilized well. All veterinary
hospitals in the Province worked satisfactorily and were
maintained well-equipped with the necessary requirements.
Opening of good many rural dispensaries in each district
proved very useful in way of providing first-aid to every
remotest corner and effecting an immediate control over
contagious outbreaks which otherwise used to bring heavy
losses to zamindars. The total number of animals treated
in hospitals was 235,729 against 171,678 of the last year.
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44, 136 animals were castrated against 30,825 of the last
year. Increase in attendance shows that people are now
better acquainted with this profession and take real interest
in treatment of their animals.
2. Touring dispensaries—
During the year 43 touring dispensaries were opened in
suitable places. The total number of these institutions was
thus raised to 139 against 96 of the last year. Efforts were
made to regularise these camp dispensaries with necessary
equipments and were attended by the staff punctually.
Touring dispensaries are of invaluable use to villagers who
have the preliminary treatment of their animals at their
doors. Number of patients treated during the year at these
dispensaries was 78,253 against 51,985 in the preceding
year.
3. Hospital buildings—
All the rural dispensaries remained in the hired build-
ings most of which lack adequate accommodation, proper
sites and better sanitation. The idea of demonstrating the
utility and necessity of these institutions by opening many
more veterinary centres on small scale is now successfully
fulfilled but it is difficult to pull on very long in the village
huts. As mentioned in the last year's report the construc-
tion of permanent hospital buildings is indispensable,
PART IV—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
SECTION (A)—EQUINE BREEDING—TABLES X AND XI.
1. Horse-breeding-
The health and service of horse stallions remained
satisfactory. The out put of their service was well arranged
to meet the rural needs. They covered 609 mares against
644 in the last year. On the 1st of April 1936 there were
12 horse and one pony stallions at stud in non-selected
districts of the Province. The pony and one horse stallion
in Bannu District and all four horse stallions in Dera Ismail
Khan District were auctioned by the District Boards leaving
a balance of 5 Arab and 2 T. B. E. horse stallions by the
end of the year under report.
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The fall in strength of the stallions is due to the wide
spread mechanical transport which has affected the horse-
breeding operations to a great extent. In years gone by it
was a paying business with the breeders to keep well bred
horses but now it is not an economic industry.
2. Mule and donkey-breeding—
In the beginning of the year there were 17 donkey
stallions in the Province. Two donkey stallions in Dera
Ismail Khan were auctioned by the District Board leaving
balance of 15 at stud. They covered 1,008 mares as com-
pared to 882 of the preceding year. The stallions were
maintained in proper physique and serviceable condition.
Increase in mule and donkey-breeding operation is due to
keen propaganda of the Department in districts where these
animals serve as chief means of transport.
SECTION (B)—CATTLE-BREEDING—TABLES VIII AND
VIII-A.
The question of improving indigenous breeds of
animals and making it a remunerative industry for agricul-
tural classes is receiving serious consideration throughout
India.
The results achieved on this account on the.
Frontier are fully discussed in reports of the past years.
The problem of livestock improvement is being tackled in
this Province for the last few years, and it. would not be
out of place to mention that the progress made is wonder-
ful. The local non-descript cattle are rapidly changing into
a characteristic type. During the year under report: live-
stock of the Province generally remained healthy. As
usual the Department continued its stock-farming activities
zealously with the object of weeding out the undesirable
blood and breeding of approved strain. Taking in view the
varied soil conditions of this Province the Department had
to arrange the propagation of different approved breeds in
order to produce the required type of plough and milch
animals in the Province.
1. Dhanni cattle-breeding—
The phsique and service of stud bulls were satisfactory.
In the beginning of the year under report there were 204
Dhanni bulls on subsidy scheme ; 64 bulls were cast on
10
account of their unsatisfactory condition and 88 new bulls
were entertained making up the balance to 228 bulls by the
end of the year under report. They covered 14,932 cows
against 13,619 cows during the last year. Most of the
progeny carried the characters of Dhanni breed and they
were kept in satisfactory bodily condition. This proves the
popularity of Dhanni breed and an increased familiarity of
its characteristics amongst zamindars. In certain tracts of
the Province which are fertile enough to provide their main-
tenance the Dhanni breed of cattle is rapidly increasing and
castration of scrub bulls is being pushed ahead. The
cattle-breeding scheme has ameliorated the farmer's hard
lot to a considerable extent.
2. Lohani cattle-breeding—
In order to improve the indigenous local cattle in hard,
stony and arid tracts 50 Lohani bulls and 10 cows were
stationed in Kurram Valley. On his survey in Lohani Tract
it was observed by Mr. Shah that Lohani bullocks were
good for plough work. These bulls covered 232 cows
during the remaining short period of the year under report.
These animals were purchased from His Excellency the
Viceroy's Fund for livestock improvement in Kurram
Agency. This fund has given a great stimulus to livestock
improvement scheme in the Province.
3. Sindhi cattle-breeding—
This breed is well-known both for milk yield and
draught. Nineteen stud bulls were purchased from Karachi
which were located in hilly parts of the Hazara and Kohat
Districts to improve the local breed from a dual purpose
point of view. They covered 72 cows during the short
period of the year under report.
4. Dajal cattle-breeding—
Dajal breed of cattle also serves the dual purpose. In
the beginning of the year there were 4 bulls and 2 cows of
this breed in Dera Ismail Khan District. One bull died
during the year leaving a balance of 3 bull and 2 cows on
the list which covered 210 cows against 12 during the
preceding year.
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5. Montgomery cattle-breeding—
The bull at the Veterinary Hospital, Kohat, was
auctioned by the Municipal Committee, Kohat. This bull
has since been replaced by a Sindhi bull. The remaining
3 bulls were maintained at the Parachinar, Bannu and
Peshawar Veterinary Hospitals. They covered 239 cows
against 221 in the preceding year.
6. Buffalo-breeding—
The buffalo-breeding scheme received constant atten-
tion of the Department for its extension on a wider scale in
the Province. Rearing of well-bred buffalo calves is being
encouraged by the Department with a view to produce
pedigree buffaloes locally. Officers in charge of Military
Dairy Farms in North-West Frontier Province, were
addressed to reserve buffalo calves of 2 months old and
were taken over by the Department to propagate the strain
in field.
The existing stock worked with satisfactory results.
During the year 8 Nili buffalo bulls were cast leaving a
balance of 14 to the end of the year against 22 during the
last year. They covered 1,397 buffaloes against 2,426
during the last year.
SECTION (C)—DAIRY FARMING.
Two Dairy Farms one at Islamia College, Peshawar
and the other at Police Training School, Hangu were
established during the year under report.
SECTION (D)—SHEEP AND GOAT-BREEDING.
1. Sheep-breeding—
It is a popular business on the Frontier to keep big
flocks of various indigenous sheep and it forms a common
source of living for people living in hilly tracts of the
Province. In plains the stock kept is small on account of
increased cultivation and thus paucity of free grazing.
After thorough survey it was observed that the Frontier
Province offered a great scope with suitable environments
for breeding heavy fleeced sheep and fat tailed dumbas.
So far people here used to breed sheep for mutton purposes
only with very little idea of securing good wool. Efforts
have been made by this Department to divert their views
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to the advantages of approved sheep-breeding both for
mutton and superior wool. Proposals have been made to
provide funds for sheep-breeding operations in this
Province.
The Department is maintaining Pusht-i-Koh and Hissar
Dale rams and ewes on scheme in Kaghan Valley, Kohat,
Bannu and Hazara Districts respectively. At the begin-
ning of the year there were 26 Hissar Dale rams 5 in Kohat
District, 9 in Bannu District and 12 in Kaghan Valley of
the Hazara District out of which one died in Kohat and
another in Bannu leaving a balance of. 24 rams at the end
of the year under report.
Nineteen Hissar Dale ewes were also at work on
scheme in Kaghan Valley. Seven Pusht-i-Koh rams bred
at the Agricultural Farm, Tarnab were distributed in
Hazara District in August 1936. Vigorous demonstrations
were given to breeders on the quantity and quality of wool
produced from well-bred sheep. Results achieved so far
are hopeful.
2. Goat-breeding—
Goat-breeding operation is as important as sheep and
cattle-breeding for the zamindars of this Province. In arid
bushy tracts of the Province where progressive agriculture
is not possible but there is plentiful subsistance to maintain
goat flocks it is a better source of peasants' livelihood to
breed goats of approved type. In cold hilly tracts of this
Province local goats possess a lusterous long hair coat.
Its quality can further be improved on cross for the develop-
ment of Mohair industry. The question of improving the
local breed on wider scale both in respect of plentiful shear-
ing and increased milk yield is under consideration. The
best available samples of goat hair were collected and
scientific experiments done on cleaning, packing and market-
ing of goat hair with useful results.
During the year under report there were 9 Jamna Pari
goats at stud 5 in Kohat District, 2 at Tarnab and 2 in
Kurram Agency of the Province whose work had been
satisfactory. This breed is well-known for heavy milk
yield.
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SECTION (E)—HORSE SHOWS AND CATTLE FAIRS.
In addition to small livestock exhibitions arranged at
different places throughout the Province four District Horse
Shows and Cattle Fairs were held at Haripur, Dera Ismail
Khan, Bannu and Charsadda during the year under report.
As usual no pains were spared in making the shows a
success. At these fairs extensive propaganda was done to
educate the zamindar in the economic value of scientific
feeding, breeding and management of livestock. Exhibi-
tions were arranged, simple instructive lectures delivered,
veterinary poems recited by Scouts, posters, handbills, etc.
on up-to-date veterinary treatment and stock farming were
exhibited which impressed the masses very much. The
advisibility of weeding out the undesirable sires and dispos-
ing of of all surplus uneconmic stock was vigorously
emphasized upon zamindars. The close correlation of good
plough bullock with progressive agriculture was explained.
On having a contrast between the well-bred subsidy produce
and non-descript local cattle the visitors witnessed the
actual value of the scheme. The Shows were graced by the
visit of His Excellency Sir Ralph and Lady Griffith, the
Hon'ble Mr. C. H. Gidney, C.I.E., C.S.I., I. C. S., Home
Member, Major J. R. L. Bradshaw, Secretary to Govern-
ment, North-West Frontier Province, Development Depart
ments, Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. C. Noel, C.I.E., D.S.O.,
I. A., Director of Agriculture and Allied Departments,
North-West Frontier Province and other high officers and
progress of the scheme was well-appreciated.
Strict precautions were observed to avoid entrance of
any animal with a contagious disease in the Fair premises.
For prevention of Foot and Mouth disease foot-baths were
installed. Ready veterinary aid was available in the camp
dispensary fixed at each Show.
PART V—MISCELLANEOUS.
1. Expenditure—
The detail of expenditure is given in Table XV.
2. Veterinary education—
In the beginning of the year there were 13 Frontier