NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
7
outbreaks is almost double reflects on the prompt
measures adopted by the Department in control of
outbreaks. In all 47,078 were vaccinated with H. S.
Vaccine as compared with 27,929 of last year.
3. Foot and Mouth Disease.—This disease continu-
ed to prevail in all the Districts and Agencies of the Pro-
vince for a considerable part of the year. The number
of seizures and deaths during the year under report was
10,662 and 19 as compared with 13,960 and seven res-
pectively of the last year. There has been a very con-
siderable fall in seizures during the year, due to the
prompt and effective hygienic steps taken by the
Department to prevent the spread of the disease.
4. Black Quarter.— This disease had a toll of 33
animals out of 35 seizures as compared with 29 deaths
out of 41 seizures in the previous year. The staff pro-
tected 1,941 animals by Sero-Vaccination method as
against 608 animals in the last year. The Black Quar-
ter Vaccine has given satisfactory results in the control
of actual outbreaks and therefore the serum alone
method is now being very much restricted. Most of the
deaths occurred on account of either delayed reporting
or animals being in incubation stage the disease at the
time of vaccination. Efforts are being made that all
contagious diseases outbreaks should be promptly
brought to the notice of the Department. It is expect-
ed with these precautions n future years the outbreaks
will be controlled more promptly.
5. Anthrax. - No case of Anthrax occurred among
Bovine during the year under report.
6. Surra.—Two outbreaks of Bovine Surra were
recorded. Mortality was one. The remaining 6 infected
animals were successfully treated with Naganol.
(c) Diseases of other animals—
Four hundred and eleven deaths were recorded
amongst sheep, goats, dogs and camels out of 5,710
seizures as against 1972 deaths, and 10,157 seizures of last
year. The number of deaths and seizures from foot and
mouth disease fell from 24 and 8340 to 12 and 4,708,
8
respectively which speaks for the prompt and effective
veterinary aid rendered to the sick animals. Antiseptic
Foot Baths proved very useful in the control of this
disease and wherever possible they were made use
of by the zamindars according to the instructions of the
Department. Anthrax was responsible for 150 deaths
amongst sheep and goats out of 473 seizures in Hazara,
Mardan, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan Districts. The
outbreaks were successfully controlled with serum in-
oculation. Anthrax Spore Vaccine was used as a preven-
tive measure. This however, is still in the experimental
stage and the results are being watched.
Pox amongst sheep, goat resulted in 42 deaths out
of 100 seizures. It is, however, necessary to record
that these figures do not represent the true state of
affairs. Sheep pox occurs extensively throughout the
Province and the low figures are probably due to the
zamindars ignoring this disease which is of common
occurrence. The Veterinary Investigation Officer, North-
West Frontier Province, continued further experiments
on this disease with a view to evolving a protective
vaccine. There was a marked fall of seizures from Goat
and Sheep Scab during the year under report. Only 62
seizures were recorded against 478 seizures in the pre-
vious year.
Distemper.—Six hundred and fifteen cases of Distem-
per occurred among dogs of which 386 recovered with
proper care and treatment in the hospitals.
Rabies.—Sixty-seven cases of Rabies were re-
corded during the year under report and 6 suspected
brains were sent to the Central Research Institute,
Kasauli of which 3 proved positive for Negri bodies.
34 anti-rabic vaccinations were performed compared with
53 and 16 of the last two years, respectively.
(d) Poultry Disease—
The position with regard to poultry diseases under
village conditions is such that the diagnosis of the
disease and accurate recording of the number of out-
breaks with percentage of mortality cannot be ascer-
tained with any degree of accuracy. It is, however,
certain that Ranikhet disease prevailed throughout the
9
Province and took a very heavy toll in all areas parti-
cularly, Hazara, Peshawar and Bannu Districts. The
zamindars are not very much satisfied with the help
that the Department can render them in view of the
fact that the treatment of the most important disease,
viz., Ranikhet is not yet known. With the appoint-
ment of the Veterinary Inspector for poultry diseases
it is hoped that more accurate data with regard to in-
cidences, economical importance and treatment of
various poultry diseases will be made available. The
necessity of sending smears and other pathological tis-
sues to the Labaratory is being impressed upon the
Subordinate Staff.
SECTION (B)—EXPENDITURE ON SERA AND VACCINE.
A sum of Rs. 10,031 was spent on the purchase
of Sera and Vaccine and preparation of Goat Tissue
Virus Vaccine compared with 9,082 of the last year.
SECTION
(C)—NON-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES TREATED
ON TOUR—TABLE
IV.
The subordinate staff toured for 10,334 days and
visited 11,159 villages compared with 10,883 days spent
on tour and 11,721 villages visited in the preceding year
The deficiency of touring was due to the suspension of
touring in District Bannu and a part of District Dera
Ismail Khan on account of disturbed condition prevail-
ing in these areas. The subordinate staff in addition to
treating animals for contagious and non-contagious
diseases and castrating scrub animals conducted vigorous
propaganda regarding various beneficent activities of the
Department. Special emphasis was laid on the three
principles of Livestock Improvement viz., breeding,
feeding and weeding, and it was observed that the res-
ponse was very satisfactory. The number of animals
treated for non-contagious diseases and contagious
diseases was 73,224 and 17,828. In a preliminary survey
of the Province during the months of Septemter and
October it was observed that even the best breeding
tracts of the Province were flooded with scrub animals
which were doing immense damage to breeding opera-
tions. A regular castration campaign was therefore start-
ed. Inspite of restricted touring 40,289 animals were
10
castrated as against 40,970 of the last year and 38,380
of the preceding year. Attempts are being made that all
non-descript bulls in the breeding areas are unsexed be-
fore their covering age. This however, not only requires
energy on the part of the staff but also constant con-
vassing and education of the zamindars who have a
special dislike to castration before the age of 6 years
when the animal is fully developed and has done suffi-
cient damage to breeding operations of the Department.
SECTION (D)—CRIMINAL POISONING.
Seven cases of criminal poisoning were reported
during the year under report as compared with 19 of the
last year. Material from the suspected cases of poison-
ing was sent to the Chemical Examiner who confirmed
the presence of Arsenic in four cases.
PART III—VETERINARY INSTITUTES.
1. Veterinary Hospitals and Rural Dispensaries-
Table III—
The number of Veterinary Hospitals remained un-
changed, viz., 73 and all these Veterinary Institutes
worked satisfactorily under the close supervision and
direction of the Superintendent. Very special attention
was paid to the necessity of maintaining cleanliness in
the hospitals and to the personal supervision of the
patients by the professional staff. Every effort was
made to improve the equipment of the hospitals where
much improvement is still desired. The Veterinary Hos-
pitals functioned not only as depots of veterinary aid,
but also served as important centres for the control of
epidemics and propaganda work. The present number
of hospitals cannot be considered enough to meet the
requirements of the Province. There are still several
areas, mostly in remote localities, where veterinary aid
is unknown. The number of animals treated both as
in-door and out-door rose from 302,614 in the preceding
year to 3,19,893 during the year under report. The
number of castrations also rose from 61,922 to 66,731.
35,865 animals were supplied with medicines for use at
home, compared with 31,814 in the preceding year.
11
2. Outlying Dispensaries—
There was an addition of three more touring
dispensaries thus bringing the total to 163 during the
year under report. These dispensaries are mostly
located in Hujras and are attended once a week by the
Incharge of the Hospital to which they are attached.
The number of animals treated and castrated fell from
99,901 to 78,984 during the year under report. This
fall was due to the touring dispensaries being
temporarily suspended on account of shortage of funds
to meet the travelling allowance of the staff.
3. Hospital Buildings—
The position with regard to this can hardly be
considered satisfactory as there are only 18 permanent
hospital buildings in the Province and the rest of the
hospitals are located in hired buildings some of which
are extremely unsatisfactory. The existing permanent
buildings, however, remained in good condition.
Repairs, additions and alterations were carried out
where necessary. Efforts are being made to bring home
to the District Boards the necessity of building
permanent hospital like buildings of their own. This
step in the long run would prove more economical as
after the initial expenditure the rent of all such buildings
would be saved for better utilization elsewhere.
The Provincial Government has also been requested
to give grant-in-aid to the various District Boards which
may show willingness to construct the hospital build-
ings. It is hoped that the matter will receive favour-
able consideration of the Provincial Government.
PART IV—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
SECTION (A) EQUINE BREEDING (TABLE VI-C)
1. Horse Breeding—
Five Arab and one T. B. Equine Stallion were
maintained at stud in the non-selected districts. The
use of horses as transport animals is on the decline due
to mechanical means of transport. The condition and
service of these stallions remained satisfactory. They
performed 326 coverings compared with 351 of the last
year.
12
2. Mule and Donkey Breeding-
There is great scope for Mule and Donkey Breeding
in the hilly tracts of the Province, because in these
localities transport is possible only with pack animals.
There were 14 donkey stallions at stud in the beginning
of the year. Two were cast due to old age and one
died. Three more donkey colts were purchased from
Hissar and located in Districts Peshawar, Mardan and
Bannu, bringing the total again to 14 at the end of the
year. 1,054 coverings were performed during the year as
against 963 in the previous year.
SECTION(B) CATTLE BREEDING (TABLES VI A & B)
In this sphere the Department has achieved
considerable success in the last 12 years and there is
every possibility of continuing the progress.
It was however observed that the breeding
activities needed a little systematization as stud animals
of different breeds were found in any one locality. This
indiscretion was probably due to the likes and dislikes
of various individuals to different breeds of cattle but
it was felt that unless a set policy was laid down for
breeding different types of cattle in different parts of
the Province the breeding activities of the Department
would end up in producing good non descript animals.
Survey of the Province has been undertaken to mark
out areas for draught and milch type of cattle and once
this completed it is hoped that the results would be
more to the point and rapid.
There were 407 bulls at the beginning of the year,
75 were cast and 78 more entertained on subsidy scheme
during the year under report bringing the total to 410.
They performed 33,85 2 coverings compared with 26,726
of the last year.
1. Dhanni Cattle Breeding—
This breed on account of its attractive physical
features and good draught qualities has proved very
popular in Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu and Hazara
(Haripur Tahil) Districts. The progeny of the stud
animals can be seen throughout these areas and the
zamindars are very keen on this breed for its draught
qualities. Further development of this breed in these
13
areas has been hampered for want of stud bulls which
the Province is obliged to buy from the Dhanni Tract of
the Punjab. The zamindars being ignorant of the
scientific principles of breeding began to express views
that the Department should encourage them by
purchasing the progeny of the stud bulls for stud
purposes. For obvious reasons this step could not be
taken but it was felt that local breeding of pure Dhanni
animals should be encouraged. With this object in
view Dhanni cows were purchased from the Dhanni
tract of the Punjab and given to the zamindars on
subsidy scheme on the understanding that the progeny
of these cows out of the approved stud bulls shall be
purchased for stud purposes. To keep effective control
over this system of breeding branding of all stud
animals and their progeny has been decided upon.
In previous years also a few pure Dhanni cows had
been purchased and given on subsidy scheme but these
were not looked after properly by the zamindars. It
was either due to the fact that the purpose of this
scheme was not properly explained to the darindas of
these cows and they considered i more advantagious to
take all the milk of the already low yielding cow and
starve the progeny. All the circumstances were fully
explained to the darindas old or new and the results of
the experiment are keenly awaited.
The low milk yield of the female of this breed is a
very important factor in the economics of the Local
Cattle Breeding and attempts are being made by
introducing stud bulls of good milching cows, to
improve the milk yield of the progeny to some extent.
Purely draught breeds under Indian Market conditions
can never prove economical to the zamindars.
In the beginning of the year there were 343 bulls
on subsidy scheme, 73 were cast and 77 more entertain-
ed during the year under report, bringing the total to
347 at the end of the year. The number of coverings
rose from 26,726 to 26,781.29. More Dhanni cows were
entertained on scheme, three were cast and hence there
was an increase of 26 cows during the year under report.
These cows have been entertained on subsidy scheme as
an experimental measure as explained above. Suitable
male progeny of these cows will be used for stud
14
purposes and the female progeny for further breeding.
The results of coverings were ascer ained as usual and
produce certificates issued to the owners.
2. Lohani Cattle Breeding —
Regular breeding of this breed has been only
recently started in Kurram Agency. Animals of this
breed have remarkable combination of milk and
draught qualities, possess very strong feet, are small
compact bodied and are best suited for the hilly
tracts. There is great future for this breed and it is
hoped that this will solve the difficulties of the hilly
tracts of India. It is intended to study the potentiolities
of this breed on the Livestock Research Stations which
the Local Government is contemplating.
There were 46 bulls and nine cows in the beginning
of the year, one bull and one cow were cast leaving
the balance of 45 and eight respectively at the end of
the year. The bulls performed 1,753 coverings as
compared with 2,195 in the previous year.
3. Dajal Cattle Breeding—
There was one bull and two cows on scheme in the
beginning of the year, one cow was cast during the year
thus leaving a balance of one bull, one cow at the end
of the year. The bull covered 51 cows during the year
under report.
4. Sindhi Cattle Breeding—
Sindhi bulls have been recently introduced in this
Province for improving the stock in the hilly and semi
hilly tracts for milk production. These bulls have been
located in Districts Hazara, Kohat and Malakand
Agency. They are doing well and are gradually adopt-
ing themselves to the new conditions. There were 14
bulls on subsidy scheme in the beginning of the year,
only one bull was cast, which was replaced by another
bull previously given to the Dairy Farm at Police
Training Scoool, Hangu. Their coverings numbered 832
as against 818 in the previous year. The female
progeny of these bulls has not yet reached the lactation
stage but appears very promising.
15
5. Montgomery Cattle Breeding—
This breed is not very popular here in the rural
areas. There are only three stud bulls, one in each of
the following hospitals, to improve the milk strain of
the cows in the cities:—
(1) Peshawar.
(2) Bannu.
(3) Parachinar.
They performed 183 coverings compared with 257
in the previous year.
6. Buffalo Breeding-
Buffaloe breeding and keeping is practised on a
large scale in this Province for milk and ghee produc-
tion. The industry is extensive in Districts Hazara,
Peshawar, Mardan and Bannu.
It has unfortunately
not received all the attention that it deserves from the
Department on account of shortage of funds.
The
question of studying the possibilities of improving the
milk qualities of the indigenous buffaloes was taken up
and it is hoped that it would be possible to pay more
attention to it. Apart from the usual geographical and
climatic consideration the question of procuring suitable
pedigreed bulls has to be solved.
There were 29
buffaloes in the beginning of the year, two were cast
and 21 more entertained bringing the total to 48 at the
end of the year. They performed 4,252 coverings as
compared with 2,005 in the previous year. The remark-
able increase in the number of coverings is a sufficient
indication of the interest people now display in buffaloes
breeding.
SECTION (C) DAIRYING.
In the whole Province there are only two dairies
worth consideration. One is being run by the Islamia
College, Peshawar and the other by Government at the
Central Prison, Haripur. Every possible facility and
professional advice was rendered to these institutions.
Local enterprize in this direction is absent due to the
low price of the milk sold by gowalas.
16
SECTION (D) SHEEP AND GOATS BREEDING.
1. Sheep Breeding—
The natural environments of the Province are
extremely favourable to this industry and the Depart
ment is making concentraced efforts to improve the
indigenous sheep. Sheep breeding activities of the
Department are divided into:—
(1) Breeding for mutton.
(2) Breeding for wool.
For improving the quality and quantity of mutton
Pushti-Koh stud rams are given to selected breeders.
For improvement of wool pure bred Merino and Hissar
Dale Rams are issued for stud purposes to selected
breeders. During the year under report a careful
study of the distribution of the two different types
was made and it was decided to earmark separate
areas for the two types. It was also decided to
concentrate all activities in very few selected
areas instead of spreading these all over the
Province particularly in the very early stages of the
experiment. The Merino and Hissar Dale rams were,
therefore located in the Abbottabad and Mansehra
Tahsils of the Hazara District and Pushti-Koh rams in
Peshawar and Charsadda Tahsils of Peshawar District.
There were 29 rams at stud in the begining of the
year as detailed under:—
Merino ..
Hissar Dale ..
Pushti-Koh ..
9
9
11
Five Pushti-Koh and one Hissar Dale ram were
cast, while 15 rams (Pushti-Koh 7, Merino 7 and Hissar
Dale 1) were entertained on subsidy scheme during the
year under report, thus bringing the total to 38 at the
end of the year. The following is a statement of the
coverings performed by Rams of each type during the
year under report:—
Type of ram
2 Hissar dale ..
3 Pushti-Koh ..
1 Merino ..
Number of stud rams
in
1938-39
10
11
9
1939-40
9
13
16
Number of coverings
performed in
1938-39
525
420
552
1039-40
571
365
439
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2. Goat Breeding—
Bital.—Apart from the previous goat-breeding act-
-ivities of the Department
the Khattak tract of
Nowshera was selected for cross-breeding with Bital
breed bucks to improve the milk yield of the local goats.
It is hoped to locate at least 50 bucks of good milk strain
pedigree in this area in the near future.
There were 7 goat bucks in the beginning of the year,
2 were cast and 3 were entertained on subsidy scheme
during the year under report thus bringing the total
to 8 at the end of the year.
Angora.—There were 2 Angora goat bucks and 3
goats in the beginning of the year, one buck and one
goat died during the year under report leaving a balance
of one buck, 2 goats at the end of the year. Their co-
verings numbered 19 as against 13 of the last year.
The coverings of the Angora bucks were limited
only to selected goats. 12 country goats purchased last
year were also crossed by Angora bucks and all of them
produced kids with considerable improvement of hair.
This maiden enterprize started for the first time in this
Province of India is still in its infancy. The results of
the 1st cross are, however, so encouraging that the local
Government is being requested to increase the number
of stud bucks.
3. Poultry Breeding—
Sixty White Leg Horn Cocks were purchased from
Mission Poultry Farm Etah (U.P.) last year in the
month of February and located in different villages for
breeding purposes. 7 cocks died last year, while 39
died during year under report leaving a balance of 14 at
the end of the year. The scheme therefore came to an
abrupt end with the death of the cocks which could not
be replaced except by purchasing more from outside the
Province A scheme for starting small poultry breeding
stations in different parts of the Province was drafted.
The object of the scheme is that the eggs produced at
these stations shall be sold to keen zamindars at the
price of ordinary eggs provided the purchaser gives an
undertaking to hatch these eggs. It will be the duty of
Veterinarian of the Illaqa to see whether the eggs are
18
hatched or not. The Hazara District Board agreed to
open 3 such breeding stations. In due course other
District Boards will be asked to take up this work.
SECTION (E)—HORSE AND CATTLE SHOWS.
Annual Horse and Cattle Shows were held in Districts
Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan and Malakand Agency. In
other districts several one-day cattle shows were arrang-
ed and prizes distributed to the deserving breeders. At
each big show demonstration stalls were arranged in
which departmental leaflets, posters, charts, specimens
and photos, etc., were exhibited in an attractive manner.
These stalls attracted very large number of visitors,
chiefly zamindars to whom were explained the exhibits
by the member of the Department on duty. Lectures
were also delivered at these occasions on various
aspects of livestock improvement, control of contagious
diseases, advantages of early castration and other bene-
ficent activities of the Department. A special feature of
these shows, which had a very healthy influence on the
zamindars was the organization of special exhibition
wards in which subsidy animals and their produce were
arranged in contrast to the Scrub bulls and their pro-
duce to demonstrate simultaneously the immense ad-
vantage of one and the disadvantages of the other. In
all the shows the scheme bred stock was outstanding in
every respect. The number of competitors also far
exceeded the figures of the previous years. The shows
were graced by the visits of Revenue and Divisional
Commissioner, Secretary to Government, North-West
Frontier Province, Development Departments and other
high Civil and Military Officers.
Strict precautions
were taken to avoid introduction of contagious diseases
into the show premises and where possible competing
animals were made to pass through antiseptic foot baths.
Five bulls and five cows of Lohani breed were taken
from this Province for Exhibition at the 3rd All India
Cattle Show, New Delhi, in February 1940. As a result
of the efforts made by the Department this breed was
recognised as a distinct breed of cattle by the All India
Cattle Show Committee. The success that it had at the
3rd All India Cattle Show, New Delhi, can be very
well guaged from the following extract of statement,