NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
117
hands of the Local Government officers. He felt that this applied
particularly to the province in which he was situated. A young
veterinary officer recently recruited to the department would un-
doubtedly feel that he much needed the support and experience
of a representative body in tendering advice to his Government.
The Chairman was emphatic as to the need of introducing a
Central Board to deal with education. He felt that a local officer
would frequently need the assistance of such a body to support his
own expression of opinion to his Government. He gave an example
of an experience which he had when he wished to institute a 4 years'
course of education at the Punjab College. His scheme was examined
by his own Government and approved subject to alteration after
the results of the meeting of Principals. As the result of some
difference of opinion with the Director of Agriculture the scheme
was further examined by a special Committee appointed for the
purpose. It was approved finally but the procedure would have
been simplified had there been an expert central body to refer to
originally.
As Principal of a College and as a Fellow of the University he
had endeavoured to dissipate the idea that veterinary education
was merely an exercise in mechanical methods. His connection
with the University had shown him that a properly constituted
Board of Studies had advantages and that the deliberations of such
a body were more likely to lead to fruitful results than the opinions
of an individual. He considered that when the colleges became
affiliated to the universities, Veterinary Faculties should be consti-
tuted. When that came about, the need of a central body
might not be so apparent, provided that sufficient expert advice
in the Faculties was available. Even then, however, a Central
Board might be very useful. He agreed that a Standing Committee
on Research and Epizootic Diseases was indispensable. With
regard to Administration he had nothing to say except that the
present position appeared to him to be an almost impossible one.
The Government of India must have advice from some source and
he felt that local veterinary advisers would like to have their advice
confirmed by a central body in some instances.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson stated that he was in whole-
hearted agreement with all that Mr. Edwards had said upon co-
operation in the investigation of disease, for whatever branch we
might represent or wherever we were situated the problem of
disease must be regarded as a single problem. This point had been
very well brought out by the Advisory Committee on Research
into Diseases of Animals. This body had definitely pointed out the
utility of research in the diseases of animals in relation to the investi-
118
gation of human disease and deplored the lamentably small support
given to this kind of research at home and in the dependencies.
Specialization was certainly an advantage, but specialization should
be regarded as a necessary division in the application of labour to
the investigation of disease problems. The Medical Research Council
in their last report again emphasized the vital need for close co-
operation between veterinary and other pathologists. Human
pathology was still in a lamentably backward state, and the progress
they had made in recent years was due almost entirely to the study
of disease processes in animals, correlated with the study of clinical
cases in hospitals and elsewhere. If the problem of disease investiga-
tion was absolutely one, the need for co-operation was patent. The
only question was how was it to be carried out. The Medical
Research Council administered funds for the purpose of undertaking
research, contributed by the State. In the report of the Advisory
Committee on Research into the Diseases of Animals, the establish-
ment of a body analogous to the Medical Research Council was
recommended. In India, there was a Medical Research Fund which
had been in existence for 10 years and was entirely supported by
contributions from Government, and he hoped to get some support
for it from charitably disposed individuals. He deprecated any
interference on the plea of retrenchment with the efforts of this
association. He commended the institution of a small body for the
control of research in animal disease, and co-operation between
the two associations could be made very close indeed. The point
laid stress upon by the Medical Research Council was in regard
to interchange of workers. Interchange could easily be arranged
in this country. He noted that Mr. Edwards had already com-
menced efforts in this direction, for he was endeavouring to make
arrangements for Dr. Soparkar to work at the Muktesar laboratory.
If the Central Standing Committee proposed to the meeting were
adopted and if it was in possession of certain funds, co-operation
among workers could be made extremely close. His dream had been
to see the establishment of a large institution in which the workers
of the two professions pursued their objects side by side. He gave
the meeting some of the experiences regarding the causes of failure
and success of committees ; one of the essential factors to success
was that a committee should be constituted so as to represent the
highest professional authority. The Central Committee on Educa-
tion could well exercise the same salutary effect upon education
undertaken by provincial bodies as did the General Medical Council
at home, for although this body did not interfere with the activi-
ties of the provincial bodies, yet if they had reason to suspect some
defect in the system of training they deputed men to examine on the
spot the whole of the method, and this helped to keep up the stand-
119
ard of medical education at home to a somewhat high level. Another
point of great importance in his mind, particularly in regard to
medical education, was to create a standard of education at the
provincial schools so that the degree obtained would be recognized
in other countries, for this reacted greatly on the status and prospects
of the graduate. It would be much more difficult for the Provincial
Board to secure this recognition abroad than it would be for the
Central Board.
Mr. Fletcher cordially supported Mr. Edwards. He further
gave his experience of the difficulties encountered by him in en-
deavouring to centralize efforts in regard to entomology in India.
Four years ago the question of establishing a journal of entomology
in India came up before the Meeting of the Entomological Con-
ference and the proposal to commence such a journal was not adopted,
because it was decided that there were not enough workers in the
country on this subject to supply material for the regular issue of
the journal. It was felt that the journal might be conducted with
enthusiasm at the commencement, and then after two or three
numbers had been issued there would be great difficulty in obtaining
material. The multiplicity of journals gave great trouble to those
workers who had to collect references from all the literature now
available. If the journal became defunct it added greatly to the
difficulty of the worker, for papers published in short-lived journals?
were likely to be lost to him. It was an advantage to have articles
dealing with one branch of science, or one aspect of it, published as
far as possible in one journal.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson stated that for many years
medical literature in India was published in the form of scientific
memoirs. When the Medical Research Fund Association got into
possession of a grant, the first thing they did was to establish a
journal. He was a consulting editor of this journal and though
the amount of work he did himself was negligible, he could well see
the enormous amount of work entailed in conducting the journal.
One of the great arguments in favour of conducting a journal was
that a good central library for the purposes of reference could
be established with the periodicals obtained as exchanges. The
expenditure entailed in producing the journal was almost recovered
in this manner by the price of the journals received in exchange.
The Chairman stated that the department had been very sterile
for many years in the matter of publications. One of the reasons
was that district officers were too busy to undertake research, and
officers employed at colleges were largely engaged in teaching and
in routine duties. He believed that the Journal of Tropical Veteri-
nary Science had been dropped largely on account of its expense
120
to Government. Veterinary Officers were asked to contribute their
publications to the Agricultural Journal of India, but this journal
was not circulated to any appreciable extent among workers in the
veterinary profession. He regarded it as an unsuitable journal for
veterinary articles and considered that this ruling of Government
had disappointed many members of the service.
Mr. Smith believed that a journal especially published for veteri-
nary workers in India would be much more acceptable to veterinary
workers in general. He had experience in editing a trade journal
(on dairying) and found difficulty in obtaining material after a few
issues, even from the very people who had promised support. How-
ever it must be freely admitted that the problem of the ox was an
universal one throughout India, unlike crops, which varied in
distribution and in nature according to local conditions, climatic
and otherwise. The ox was present everywhere so that it was of
prime interest to the whole population, and not a matter of mere
local interest. Next in importance to the ox itself was the disease
of the ox, for the cultivator depended upon the efficiency of the
ox to carry out his work. He believed that the institution of central
advisory bodies to deal with the various problems connected with
the disease of the ox would be a tower of strength to the community,
and that the more centralized the control of disease was made, the
more powerful would be the opinions of this board.
Mr. Ware asked Mr. Edwards how he proposed to undertake
the conduct of the journal with the present numbers of officers in
the department.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchinson described how it might be pos-
sible to undertake the work of the Indian Journal of Medical Re-
search, published four times a year, if three professional workers
devoted to it a part of their time.
Mr. Edwards, in reply to Mr. Ware's question as to ways and
means for conducting the journal, stated that probably one original
note or article would become available at Muktesar for each quarterly
issue and he expected that at least one would be available from the
provinces. In addition, summaries of articles published elsewhere
in journals and reviews of literature dealing directly and indirectly
with matters of interest to veterinary workers in India would be
utilized to make up the rest of the journal. With regard to staff,
even if he did not obtain help from without, there were five pro-
fessional workers of Imperial grade sanctioned for the staff at
Muktesar. If these workers were to keep abreast with the infor-
mation published in connection with the calling in which they
professed to be competent, then they ought to possess an inti-
mate acquaintance with the scientific literature and a sufficient
121
knowledge of the art of writing for publication so that they ought to
be able to conduct the quarterly issue readily among them. He
would not recommend to the Government the retention of any
member upon his staff who did not possess sufficient literary and
scientific ability to express useful information in a printed publi-
cation.
The meeting referred the drafting of the resolution embodying
its views to a committee consisting of Colonel Pallin, Lieutenant-
Colonel Hutchinson, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Branford, with Mr.
Edwards as Secretary. The following resolution was subsequently
passed, Mr. Hewlett dissenting:—
Resolution III (f)
In order to correlate technical information and render authorita-
tive advice on professional problems the Conference is
of opinion that—
(1) A journal of veterinary science in India should be estab-
lished as early as practicable.
(2) Central Standing Advisory Committees should be estab-
lished dealing with—
(i) Veterinary Education
(ii) Civil Veterinary Administration
(iii) Epizootic Diseases and Research.
(3) The Conference invites attention to the Report of the
Advisory Committee on Research into Diseases of
Animals presented in February 1922 to the Develop-
ment Commissioners, and to the statement contained
therein : "In India immense opportunities are almost
wholly neglected." The Conference strongly advocates
the allocation of funds for research, which, while
removing this stigma, will be of great economic benefit
to the country. It is now generally recognized that
the problem of disease and health, whether in man.
animals, or plants, is in reality one problem; hence,
no real advance in the study of disease is possible
without co-ordination of all workers in this field.
SUBJECT III (g).–THE ADVISABILITY OF AMALGAMATING CERTAIN
VETERINARY SERVICES IN INDIA.
The Chairman said that this question had been fully discussed
by Mr. Quirke in the note which he had presented to the meeting
(Appendix IV). The condition of affairs therein reported ap-
peared to be peculiar to the Punjab and the United Provinces.
122
It did not appear to be within the competence of the meeting to
deal with it, but the matter might be referred to the authorities
concerned.
Mr. Hickey, representing the Veterinary Department in the
United Provinces, said that he agreed with Mr. Quirke and would
like a resolution drafted, embodying his recommendations.
The meeting then unanimously resolved :—
Resolution III (g)
That the system of control of equine contagious diseases in
certain districts of the Punjab and the United Provinces
indicates an unsatisfactory duplication in veterinary
endeavour. The suggestions presented by Mr. Quirke (Ap-
pendix IV) are commended to the authorities concerned.
123
LIST OF RESOLUTIONS.
I. Education.
(a) Is any revision necessary of
the conclusions arrived at by
the Sub-Committee on Edu-
cation at the First Confer-
ence held at Lahore in March
1919 and by the Meeting of
Principals of Colleges at
Bombay in February 1922 ?
(a)(1) The system of study drafted by
the Meeting of Principals at Bombay
is approved as a curriculum represent-
ing the present minimum require-
ments for the training of Indians in
India up to the highest standard
of veterinary education necessary
for the country, as demanded by the
Public Services Commission (1912-14).
(2) The constitution of a Board of Veteri-
nary Studies as recommended by them
is urged very strongly, and the Board
might be authorized to make minor
modifications and additions to the
course from time to time as required
and in consideration-of the needs of
the several provinces. The desirabi-
lity of raising the standard of prelimi-
nary education as soon as possible is
worthy of early consideration.
(3) It is considered that Muktesar is un-
suitable for such a course and imme-
diate steps should be taken to institute
it at one of the existing colleges and,
as soon as financial considerations
permit of the constitution of an
efficient organization for dealing with
problems connected with veterinary
state medicine, at the other colleges
also.
(4) In view of the circumstances arising
out of the existing situation of the
country it is not practicable to intro-
duce this system of education
generally.
(5) Less costly, shorter courses must conti-
nue (see report of committee upon
proposals for shorter courses, page 27).
124
(b) What qualifications should
be required for :—
(1) The promotion of subordi-
nate members of the De-
partment to the Provin-
cial Service ?
(2) The promotion of Provin-
cial Officers to the Im-
perial Service ?
(3) The direct appointment of
Indians to the Imperial
Service ?
(c) What forms of post-graduate
training should be devised
for:—
(1) Veterinary Assistants ?
(b)(1) The promotion of subordinate mem-
bers of the Department to the Pro-
vincial Service should be left in the
hands of Local Governments and their
Advisers, but it is desirable to impart
to the men selected for promotion a
suitable form of post-graduate instruc-
tion followed by a test, the nature of
which should be decided upon by the
Local Government and its Advisers.
(2) In view of the Government policy
providing for the promotion of a
proportion of Provincial Officers to the
Imperial Service, it is considered that
promotion to the Imperial Service
should be restricted to those Provincial
Officers who have at least 10 years'
further service to the credit of Gov-
ernment, whose selection is approved
by a Standing Committee of Imperial
Officers, and undertake to submit
themselves to a course of special work
to be prescribed by this Committee,
and pass successfully the tests laid
down for the course.
(3) Candidates selected for direct appoint-
ment to the Imperial Service should
possess the diploma of the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons ; prefer-
ence should be given to those who
possess a university degree in veteri-
nary science of a British university,
and have taken steps, moreover, to
observe the methods of cattle practice
during their course of study ; on their
arrival in India they should first under-
go a course of post-graduate training
at Muktesar and instruction in animal
husbandry and dairying at the insti-
tutions concerned with these pursuits
in India.
(c)(1) Post-graduate courses for Veteri-
nary Assistants should be instituted
at all the existing colleges ; the syllabus
for these courses should be approved
by the Board of Studies.
125
(2) Provincial Officers ?
(3) Imperial Officers ?
(2) The institution of
post-graduate
courses of study at Muktesar and
elsewhere for Provincial Officers is
approved by this Conference, and the
curricula for these courses should be
examined by the Board of Studies.
(3) Imperial Officers should be given
facilities for taking post-graduate
courses at Muktesar and abroad.
II. Epizootic diseases.
(a) (1) Prevalence of anthrax
among the various classes
of live-stock in India.
(2) The necessity of instituting
legislation to deal with
the disease ; the scope and
nature of such measures.
(a)(1) The evidence available shows that
anthrax is a serious disease of live-stock
in India and is much more prevalent
than the official records would indicate.
(2) The Conference, having considered in
detail the incidence of anthrax among
animals in India and men handling
animal products in other countries and
the economic issues resulting there-
from, resolved :—
(i) that as the spread of infection is
not limited by geographical and
provincial boundaries, measures
directed against the dissemina-
tion of the disease both in India
and to and from India from
other countries should be con-
sidered a central subject;
(ii) that disinfection of animal pro-
ducts, while throwing a great
financial burden on industry,
will accomplish nothing towards
the eradication of the disease in
animals and thereby improving
the condition of stock in India ;
(iii) that the only sure way of dealing
with the situation, and at the
same time of lasting economic
benefit to the country, is by
making a persistent effort to
prevent the spread of infection
among animals, and thereby to
secure the control and ultimate
eradication of the disease.
126
The success of any measures designed with these objects will depend
upon:—
(6) Rinderpest: to review the
experience already gained as
to the relative advantages
of the " serum simultane-
ous" and "serum alone"
methods of inoculation in
India and in other countries.
(i) Efforts to improve the agency for
notification.
(ii) An increase in numbers of the
veterinary personnel of all
grades consistent with the work
which has to be done.
(iii) Improved facilities for the educa-
tion of the veterinary personnel
recruited in India in the pro-
blems connected with the
control of epizootic disease.
(iv) Legislation (see resolution under
Subject III a).
(b)(1) The process of active immuniza-
tion against rinderpest by so-called
serum simultaneous method should be
prosecuted with the utmost vigour,
whenever possible, as it represents the
only means at present known of confer-
ring a satisfactory, permanent, immu-
nity upon susceptible animals.
(2) In the districts, however, the time is
not yet opportune for the wholesale
performance of this method of immu-
nization, as the occasional accidents
which follow upon its adoption might
hinder, in view of the prejudices of the
smaller owners, the eventual universal
adoption of the method.
(3) Investigations upon the nature of the
rinderpest virus and upon the factors
involved in the safe conference of a
satisfactory immunity should be
regarded as research projects of pri-
mary importance.
(4) Meanwhile, until the time arrives for
the wholesale adoption of a process of
active immunization, the " serum
alone" method of immunization,
though it confers but a passive, or
fleeting, immunity should be regarded
when properly applied as the system
best suited for general adoption in the
face of outbreaks in India.
127
(c) Trypanosomiases: Surra.
(1) Is the existing legislation
for the control of surra
adequate ?
(2) The present position in
respect to research and
the efficacy of methods of
treatment.
(3) Information with regard to
trypanosomiases, other
than surra, found in India.
(c)(i) Investigations into the nature and
mode of transmission of the animal
trypanosomiases in India should be
prosecuted forthwith. Likewise, the
whole problem of the important proto-
zoan diseases of the domesticated
animals of the country should be
approached concurrently.
For this
purpose it will be necessary to
strengthen the technical resources at
present available in the country for
research into the different aspects of
the above projects, comprising the
entomological, protozoological, and
pathological aspects, by centralization
of the facilities available in each of
these pursuits, and the delegation, on
request, of workers to assist those
engaged directly in the elucidation of
the disease problems. An experienced
protozoologist should be appointed to
the staff of the Imperial Bacteriological
Laboratory for research into these
problems. Entomological
asistance
should be derived from the staff of the
Imperial Entomologist. These work-
ers would find unlimited scope for their
activities, in addition, in the investiga-
tion of the economically highly import-
ant diseases of live-stock caused by
protozoan parasites, other than those
of surra.
(ii) Efforts to obtain a cheap, effective
and easily applied remedy for the cure
of surra, in particular, and other
protozoan diseases should be prose-
cuted on a large scale in the laboratory
and in the field, and the co-ordinated
services of the whole veterinary profes-
sion in India are required for this
purpose.
(iii) Legislation. In view of our present
inadequate knowledge of the trypano-
somiases of animals in India, and the
likelihood that the pathogenic trypa-
nosomes find a reservoir frequently in
relatively resistent host species, the