NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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disease, these were rapidly brought under control by
prompt measures on the part of the Department. Similarly,
preventive measures were taken against hæmorrhagic
septicaemia and other diseases.
Horse breading operations, however, owing largely
to the increase in mechanical transport, have not expanded
and the number of stud horses dropped from 16 to 14.
As regards bulls there were altogether 223 Dhanni,
Montgomery and buffalo bulls at stud during the year as
against 234 of the previous year and 15,159 cows were
covered as compared with 14,796 last year. The Mont-
gomery like the Dhanni breed seems to be gaining in
popularity and as a consequence the milk strain among
village cattle has improved considerably.
A sheep-breeding scheme has also been introduced by
the Department. To improve the strain of sheep in the
Kaghan Valley, 20 Hissar dale rams and 15 ewes were
imported from the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, and
were distributed amongst breeders in the valley. It is
hoped that this scheme will have far reaching results.
During the year under report four Cattle Fairs and
Horse Shows were held. These attracted a large number
of people from rural areas and, as was the case last year,
advantage was taken of this by the Veterinary, Public
Health and Educational Departments to give demonstrations
and lectures.
During the year, two students from this Province
qualified as L. V. P. and two were admitted to the
Veterinary College, Lahore. The total strength of 10 of
the last year has thus remained unchanged.
Government are grateful to Mr. A. D. F. Dundas,
I. C. S., Deputy Commissioner, Peshawar, Major G. L.
Mallam, Bar-at-Law, I. A., Deputy Commissioner, Kohat,
and Captain Iskandar Mirza, Deputy Commissioner,
Hazara, for the interest they have taken in the activities
of the Department and especially for their initiative in
organising cattle-shows in their respective districts. But
for their sympathy and active support, the fairs would not
have been the success they have proved.
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In conclusion, the thanks of Government are due to
Mr. S. M. A. Shah, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department for the keen and energetic way in which he has
discharged his duties during the year under report.
ABDUL QAIYUM,
Minister,
Transferred Departments,
N.-W. F. Province.
A. E. H. MACANN,
Secretary to Government,
N.-W. F. Province,
Transferred Departments~
GS&PDeptt-NWFP-2938STD-140-10-1-36-(141
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT,
NORTH-WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE,
FOR THE YEAR
1934-35.
PART I—GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.
1. Charge—
(a) Mr. S. I. A. Shah, M.R.C.V.S. (London) held
the charge of the Department throughout the year.
(b) Ch. Ghulam Qadir, P. V. S., remained in
charge of the Office of the Deputy Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Bannu District throughout the year
under report.
2. Extent and duration of officers' tour—
(a) The Superintendent toured for 122 days against
103 days tour of the last year and travelled 5,434 miles by
rail and 3,142 miles by road.
(b) The Deputy Superintendent spent 165 days on
tour and travelled 1,414 miles by road and 1,466 miles by
rail.
3. Work performed by officers on tour—
(a) Mr. Shah inspected all the Veterinary Hospitals,
touring dispensaries, equine, bovine and sheep breeding
operations, castration, inoculation and vaccination perform-
ed by the Subordinate Staff, the Frontier Constabulary
chargers and the Offices of the Deputy Superintendent and
Veterinary Inspectors. He supervised the Surra and
Antirabic Treatment Centres, and the mallein tests per-
formed in the North-West Frontier Province.
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The Superintendent personally arranged and super-
vised the Horse Shows and Cattle Fairs held at Mardan,
Haripur and Kohat. He attended the meeting of the
Advisory Board of the Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research in September 1934 at Simla and visited Bombay
and Government Cattle Farm, Hissar to select and purchase
the horse and donkey stallions respectively for the Horse
and Mule breeding operations in the Province. He arrang-
ed the purchase of stud bulls from Punjab Province.
Mr. Shah also interviewed several Maliks and zamindars
of different districts and agencies and advised them on
various points of veterinary interest. The Superintendent
in addition toured the Kaghan Valley, surveyed personally
the possibilities of sheep breeding and successfully intro-
duced the Merino Rams, a long standing requirement of
the valley, into suitable centres of the locality.
(b) The Deputy Superintendent assisted the Superin-
tendent in checking the work of the Subordinate Staff in
Bannu District.
PART II—TREATMENT OF DISEASES.
SECTION I—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
4. Mortality—Table II—
During the year under report 417 outbreaks of con-
tagious diseases were reported and the most common
diseases were Foot and Mouth, Rinderpest and Hæmorrhagic
Septicaemia. There were 11,943 seizures and 2,043 deaths
against 27,128 cases and 6,363 deaths in the preceding
year. The decrease in mortality is in no small measures
due to the activity and promptness displayed by the
veterinary staff in controlling the various diseases. Con-
sidering the general conditions throughout the Province
the year under report has not been a particularly unhealthy
one for livestock. Statistics of the actual cattle mortality
are being collected with somewhat greater accuracy. A
large increase in the Subordinate Staff is essential to cope
with restrictive measures to counteract the spread of
contagious diseases. The extra expenditure involved would
be amply justified by the saving of valuable cattle that would
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result. To save a zamindar from falling into debt and to
give him continuous occupation on his land it is essential
that his livestock should be protected against all types of
diseases. For this adequate staff is essential, who can at
the same time attend to cattle breeding and so enable
zamindars to rear their own cattle.
5. Veterinary Laboratory—
In addition to his own duties the Office Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon, Raja Sadarud Din Ahmad held the
charge of the Laboratory throughout the year.
He
examined 102 pathological specimens against 101 of the
last year. Under the directions of the Superintendent, he
preserved some interesting pathological, bacteriological and
helmenthological specimens in the Museum of the
Laboratory. Antirabic treatment was carried out in the
Laboratory under the supervision of Mr. S. I. A. Shah.
Laboratory work constitutes a very important branch
of the Department and the establishment of a Provincial
Veterinary Laboratory with a whole time Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon in charge and a Laboratory Assistant is
a pressing necessity.
SECTION I-A—EQUINE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
6. Mortality—Table II—
There were 108 cases and 21 deaths as compared with
14 cases and 2 deaths in the preceding year.
7. Glanders—
Thirty-four horses were tested with mallein during the
year under report, out of which four proved positive for
Glanders. The positive reactors were dealt with under
Glanders and Farcy Act and Rs. 110 were awarded as
compensation to the owners of three horses, while com-
pensation for the fourth case will be paid next year.
Year after year this disease is responsible for a con-
siderable number of cases in the North-West Frontier
Province. Past experience shows that the disease is im-
ported by ponies from tribal territory and Afghanistan.
As Glanders is a highly contagious disease which is
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communicable to man and always fatal to the latter, it is
essential that in the interest of humanity three Veterinary
Posts should be started at Landikotal, Miranshah and
Razmak. It would be the duty of Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons in charge of these institutions to examine all
horses entering British territory and to refuse entry to
those found to be suffering from contagious disease.
8. Surra—
No case of Surra was reported during the year under
report.
9. Anthrax and other contagious diseases—
(a) Anthrax.—No case of Anthrax was reported
during the year under report.
(b) Tetanus.—This malady was responsible for 24
seizures and 17 deaths during the year under report against
27 cases and 16 deaths in the previous year. Tetanic
Antitoxin and Saturated Solution of Mag. Sulph. gave
satisfactory curative results.
(c) Strangles.—Eighty cases of strangles were report-
ed and were treated with cent. per cent. success. The treat-
ment carried out was medicinal.
SECTION I-B—BOVINE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
10. Mortality—
The number of cases reported is smaller than last year,
and the distinct drop in mortality is due to the fact that
vigorous curative measures were adopted by the. Depart-
ment. There were 9,929 cases and 4,955 deaths during
the previous year.
11. Rinderpest—Table II—
Rinderpest appeared in all the parts of the Province
including the town of Peshawar and Mardan where the
number of contacts was considerably greater than in an
average village. There were 2,215 cases and 962 deaths
during the year under report against 8,061 cases and 3,674
deaths in the preceding year.
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The introduction of this disease in hilly tracts is always
followed by severe mortality amongst the local underfed
cattle owing to their low resistance to disease and to the
lack in the absence of legislation of effective measures to
limit the spread of the disease from village to village.
12. Preventive inoculations against Rinderpest—Table
III—
Sixteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two cattle
were inoculated by the "Serum Alone" method in 76 out-
breaks of Rinderpest against 26,183 cattle inoculated in
144 outbreaks last year. There were two outbreaks in
towns where there was a greater number of contacts than
in an average village. The disease was effectively brought
under control through prompt measures and extensive
inoculation.
The procedure adopted in this Province for combating
outbreaks of Rinderpest is the "Serum Alone" method
which gives immunity for 9 to 12 days and the animals are
therefore liable to contract the disease unless reinoculated
when the disease continues in a village for a period longer
than a fortnight. The new method of active immunization
of cattle against Rinderpest with "Goat Virus Alone
will be introduced when a larger number of qualified
Subordinate Staff is available in this Province. While the
Department is most anxious to resort to better methods of
immunization it has to be careful in introducing certain
measures keeping in view the results of the operation,
susceptibility of the public and the reputation of the
Departmental work. It took years for the Department to
gain the confidence of public and the Department is anxious
to retain that and to introduce those methods at the proper
time.
13. Foot and Mouth disease—Table II—
During this year Foot and Mouth disease appeared in
all parts of the Province, but due to the prompt curative
and other measures adopted by the Veterinary Staff, the
disease was soon brought under control. This malady
accounted for 6,829 cases and 11 deaths against 12,179
cases and 10 deaths in the preceding year. This disease
6
though not very fatal is important because animals become
lame and have ulcers in their mouths with the result that
they become terribly emaciated, incapacitated for work,
abort, milk dries off, etc., etc., and can not put on condition
for months after recovery. For a zamindar healthy animals
alone are an asset and ailing cattle are a liability.
14. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia—Table II—
This disease appeared in 109 villages of the settled
districts and was responsible for 784 cases and 674 deaths
against 1,290 cases and 1,065 deaths last year.
The marked decrease in the mortality is due to the
fact that the Department immunized a sufficient number
of cattle before the onset of the rains when the disease
usually makes its appearance in the low-lying, marshy and
water-logged areas of this Province.
15. Preventive
inoculation
against
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia—Table III—
Seven thousand, one hundred and ninety cattle were
inoculated with Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia Serum in 37 out-
breaks against 15,601 cattle inoculated in 61 outbreaks
during the preceding year.
The rural population is now becoming sufficiently
educated in veterinary matters to appreciate the good results
of inoculation and is more willing to have this done when
outbreaks occur.
16. Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia Vaccination—Table III—
Sixteen thousand, four hundred and eighty-eight cattle
were vaccinated against Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia against
15,335 cattle vaccinated last year.
The Department is concentrating on preventive
measures against this disease but expansion depends upon
the provision of more staff and the amount of funds avail-
able for the purchase of vaccine to enable the Department
to undertake the vaccination of animals in the proper
season on the desired scale. Vaccination against this
disease in low-lying areas has become popular amongst
zamindars and the efficacy of the vaccine in conferring
immunity has now been well-established in many villages
which hitherto suffered very seriously. The disease is
7
serious in that it generally attacks young and valuable
cattle and thus gives a set back to the zamindar and also
to cattle breeding in the Province. Vaccine is comparative-
ly cheaper than Serum and gives more effective and more
lasting immunity.
17. Black Quarter—Table II—
During the year under report this disease appeared in
four villages of Peshawar and Hazara Districts and account-
ed for 33 cases and 30 deaths against 94 cases and 83
deaths in the preceding year. The low rate of death and
a comparative low number of seizures is due to the adequate
preventive measures taken well before hand in susceptible
villages. This disease also attacks young cattle and is
highly fatal.
18. Black Quarter Vaccination—Table III—
Eight hundred cattle were vaccinated against Black
Quarter in Hazara District against 568 cattle vaccinated in
the previous year. This alone explains the low number of
deaths and seizures in the year under report when compared
with the last.
19. Anthrax—Tables II and III—
This deadly disease appeared in Kurram Agency
where it accounted for 12 seizures with cent. per cent.
mortality against 60 cases and 55 deaths in last year. This
malady was imported from the adjacent tribal territory, but
the prompt action of the Department and inoculation of 270
cattle with Anthrax Serum brought the disease under
control in time. This disease is dangerous for the human
beings also and the custom of the inhabitants to slaughter
the animal before death helps to spread the infection, as is
the case with other diseases (contagious). Hides and
wool of infected animals explain the importing of infection.
20. Expenditure of Sera and Vaccine—
A sum of Rs. 21,335 was spent on purchase of Sera
and Vaccine against Rs. 22,456 spent in the preceding year.
SECTION I-C—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES—OTHER ANIMALS.
21. Mortality—Table II—
The most common diseases met with amongst other
3
animals during the year under report were Foot and Mouth
Disease, Sheep Pox, Mange, Distemper, Fowl Cholera,
Ranikhet Disease, Fowl Diphtheria and Rabies.
There were 1,906 seizures and 321 deaths against
5,261 cases and 1,406 deaths in the preceding year.
22. Rabies—
Ninety-five seizures were reported of which the brains
of 16 cases were sent to the Director, Pasteur Institute of
India, Kasauli who confirmed 13 specimens to be positive
for Rabies. Fourteen members of the staff underwent
Antirabic treatment, while 29 animals were treated by this
Department at the various veterinary institutions.
Government have ordered all Municipal Committees
and District Boards to pay the fees charged by the Pasteur
Institute of India for the examination of brains sent to
Kasauli by the Department for that purpose.
23. Distemper—
This is a highly contagious canine disease and is usually
fatal. Three hundred and seventy-one cases were treated
at the various hospitals in the Province, out of which 261
recovered. Greater mortality was observed in highly bred
imported dogs. Hypodermic injections of Sherley's Vaccine
and Quinine Hydrochloride were tried in a number
of cases with successful results.
24. Tick Fever—
No case was reported during the year under report.
25. Canine Typhus—
Only one case of Canine Typhus was treated and cured
at the Civil Veterinary Hospital, Kohat City.
26. Fowl Cholera-
Fowl Cholera appeared in Peshawar, Hazara and
Dera Ismail Khan Districts and accounted for 210 cases and
141 deaths against 46 cases and 31 deaths reported in the
last year.
Action against the disease was taken on
hygienic lines.
9
27. Ranikhet Disease-
Outbreaks of Ranikhet Disease were reported from
Hazara, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Districts and the
disease was responsible for 46 seizures and 29 deaths.
Several medicines like Pot. Permagnas, Iodine and Pot.
Chloras were tried but none proved specific for this disease.
Experiments in this respect will be continued in the coming
year.
28. Fowl Diphtheria—
Thirty-one cases and 15 deaths were recorded from this
disease in Kohat District and Kurram Agency.
SECTION II—NON-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
29. Treatment of diseases on tour—Table IV—
During the year under report the Subordinate Staff
toured in 5,704 villages as compared with 5,966 villages
visited in the preceding year. The number of animals
castrated and treated for non-contagious diseases by the
staff on tour was 25,153 and 45,548 respectively against
28,422 and 47,401 of the last year.
The decrease in touring is due to the fact that the
activities of the Subordinate Staff were concentrated on the
supervision of breeding operations in the Province, and
also that the year under report was a comparatively healthy
one.
30. Criminal poisoning—
The staff conducted post mortem examinations on 31
cases suspected for criminal poisoning out of which 9 were
confirmed by the Chemical Examiner against 9 and 9 res-
pectively in the preceding year. The accused persons
were dealt with legally. This crime is most prevalent in
Haripur Tahsil of Hazara District, and arsenic is the
common poison used.
SECTION III—VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS.
31. Veterinary hospitals and rural dispensaries—Table
V—
At the beginning of the year there were twenty
Veterinary Hospitals and 20 Rural Dispensaries, in the
10
Province, but during the year under report, in the face of
acute financial stringency, the Superintendent manag-
ed to open three more rural dispensaries (two in Bannu
District at Kakki and Titterkhel and the third at Nahaqi
in Peshawar District). The total number of rural dis-
pensaries was thus raised to 23 at the close of the year.
At these institutions 153,411 animals received treatment
against 127,737 in the past year, which demonstrates the
increasing popularity of the Department. Not only this,
but these institutions are centres for the control of contagious
diseases the cattle and horse breeding operations in the
ilaqa and of veterinary activities in general, including
propaganda.
32. Field veterinary dispensary—
Besides the permanent hospitals and dispensaries, 62
Touring Dispensaries were at work in the outlying areas
which were attended once a week by the nearest Veterinary
Assistants. The opening of these centres at important
places has brought the veterinary aid within easy reach of
poor zamindars.
The detail of the work performed in these dispensaries
is as follows:—
Name of District
or Agency
1. Peshawar ...
2. Hazara ...
3. Kohat ...
4. Bannu ...
5. Dera Ismail Khan ...
6. Malakand ...
7. Kurram
...
Total ...
Number of
touring
dispensaries
18
10
8
8
10
1
7
62
Work performed
Contagious
diseasees
95
66
15
24
20
...
1
221
Non-
contagious
diseases
6,019
4,992
2,693
2,792
2,799
675
3,302
23,273
Castration
3,053
2,389
1,240
2,065
1,605
475
2,684
13,511
Three of these institutions were converted into perma-
nent rural veterinary dispensaries.
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33. Buildings-
It is unfortunate that, due to financial stringency, no
construction of buildings for rural dispensaries could be
undertaken, nor any alterations or additions made to the
buildings of existing hospitals by local bodies.
PART III—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
SECTION I—EQUINES.
34. Horse breeding—Tables X and XI—
In the beginning of the year there were 16 horse and
one donkey stallions in the non-selected districts. During
the year under report 3 horse stallions were destroyed and
one was purchased leaving the balance of 14 horse stallions
and one pony. These 14 horse stallions and the pony
covered 592 and 44 mares respectively against 614 and 36
during the last year. The average number of mares
covered by a horse stallion was raised from 38.3 to 42.2
this year.
As mechanical transportation is becoming more
common, the horse has lost its paramount importance.
The number of horse stallions stationed in Bannu District
has been reduced from 4 to 2.
35. Mule breeding—Tables X and XI—
The number of donkey stallions on the 1st of April,
1934 was 18. Two donkey stallions were purchased from
the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, two died, two were
destroyed and one was sold during the year. Hence at
the close of the year there were only 15. These stallions
covered 675 mares against 696 during the preceding year.
The average number of mares covered by the donkey
stallions was 45.0 against 43.5 last year. The number of
donkey stallions stationed in Kurram Agency has been
reduced from 3 to 2.
The question of improving donkeys as pack animals
is of considerable economic importance in the North-West
12
Frontier Province. Their breeding, however, is in the
hands of poor people to whom numbers count for more than
quality. The Department is doing all it can to improve
the donkey strain.
SECTION II—BOVINES.
36. Dhanni cattle breeding scheme—Tables VIII and
Vlll-A—
Two hundred and six bulls and 68 cows were working
under the Dhanni cattle breeding scheme at the commence-
ment of the year. Forty-four bulls and 8 cows were enter-
tained during the year and 59 bulls and 17 cows were cast,
leaving a balance of 191 bulls and 59 cows at the close of
the year. These bulls covered 12,235 cows against 12,060
during the previous year. Due to paucity of funds more
bulls could not be purchased.
The Department is now engaged in improving the
breed of zamindars cattle by providing reliable foundation
stock in many villages. The large scale distribution of
pedigree bulls is responsible for the increasing percentage
of better bred stock throughout these areas. Although a
lot remains to be done before the goal is achieved yet it is
a pleasure to note that under the scheme the zamindars
once so apathetic to cattle breeding and consequently
dependent on the Punjab their plough cattle at high prices
have gradually come to realize the true meaning of cattle
breeding on which the prosperity and welfare of agricul-
turists chiefly depend.
37. Montgomery cattle breeding—Tables
VIII
and
VIII-A—
On the 1st of April, 1934 there were two stud bulls
of Montgomery breed. During the year under report two
more bulls were purchased from the Punjab and station-
ed at the Civil Veterinary Hospitals, Kohat and Parachinar.
These bulls covered 200 cows against 75 in the preceding
year. By the importation of these bulls a considerable
improvement has been effected in improving the milk strain
of the local cows. The bulls obtained are highly pedigreed
animals secured from the guarantee farms of the Punjab