From J.J. ANDERSON, Esq., I.C.S., Assistant Secretary to the Financial Commissioner, Burma, to the
Revenue Secretary to the Government of Burma,—No. 486—5R.-74 of the 12th July 1918.
I am directed to submit, in proof, three copies of the Report on the Civil
Veterinary Department for the year ended the 31st March 1918, together with a
copy of Agricultural Department letter No. 2813—1 R.-25, dated the 17th June
1918, from the Director of Agriculture, Burma.
2. The Province continued to be free from any widespread epidemics of cattle
disease, but there were local outbreaks of rinderpest in the Amherst and Bhamo
Districts, and towards the close of the year a more serious outbreak of this disease
occurred in the Insein District. The cattle attacked were chiefly ill-fed and
uncared-for animals owned by Indian graziers, who did their utmost to conceal the
outbreak of the disease amongst their herds of cattle, and to defeat the application
of the segregation rules and other preventive measures. It is most probable that
the number of deaths in this district was much larger than the figures given in
the returns.
3. The Financial Commissioner concurs with the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, and the Director of Agriculture as to the danger which
these large herds of Indian-owned cattle constitute to the welfare of agricultural
stock in the Province, and as to the need for effective measures of control, in order
to restrict the numbers of such cattle and to ensure that they are better fed and
kept under proper control.
4. Special efforts were made by the Veterinary staff, under the control of the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, to deal with the outbreaks of rinder-
pest, and the Financial Commissioner agrees with the Director that the work of
the Department has been carried out satisfactorily throughout the year.
From A. E. ENGLISH, Esq., I.C.S., Officiating Director of Agriculture, Burma, to the Assistant Secretary to
the Financial Commissioner, Burma,—No. 2813—1R.-25, dated the 17th June 1918.
I have the honour to submit in proof, six copies of the Annual Report on the working of
the Civil Veterinary Department for the year ended 31st March 1918.
2. Though the province as a whole, as in recent years, did not suffer severely from
contagious disease, there were serious local outbreaks of rinderpest in the Amherst, Insein
and Bhamo Districts; and deaths from this disease rose in the province from 2,058 last year
to 4,698 in the year under report. There was a decided decrease in deaths from foot-and-
mouth disease and anthrax. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, in paragraph
13 of his report utters a warning which it would be well to take seriously. The many
dangers of permitting the possession of excessive quantities of under-fed cattle kept by Indian
milk-sellers in the neighbourhood of Rangoon and other large towns were fully considered
and discussed by the Stock Breeding Committee last year (vide paragraph 48 of the report).
The Committee proposed legislation and this year's Qulbreak of rinderpest in the Insein
District is evidence of the risks and difficulties involved as long as such herds are entirely
unregulated.
3. The students in the Veterinary Schools at Insein and Taunggyi at the close of the
year numbered 37 and 6 respectively. The improvement in the behaviour of the pupils is a
matter for satisfaction.
4. The opinions of Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners on the proposed increase
of staff have been obtained and submitted, but the orders of Government have not yet been
received.
The proposal of the Registrar, Co-operative Societies, to second a Veterinary Inspector
and Veterinary Assistants for work exclusively in connection with Co-operative Cattle
Insurance Societies was not approved. These Societies have accordingly engaged a
Veterinary Officer on their own account and the Local Government has consented to supply
him with the necessary drugs. Owing to the war the expansion of Co-operative Cattle
Insurance has unfortunately been slow. Such insurance will, in my opinion, if widely
developed, prove the strongest of all levers for promoting the well-being of our cattle.
5. Inspectors and Veterinary Assistants appear to have spent fewer days on tour but
to have visited more villages and to have treated a larger number of animals than in the
previous year.
The amount of preventive inoculation against rinderpest done by the department greatly
increased.
6. The staff of the department is to be congratulated on a good year's work. The
popularity of the Insein dispensary continues to grow.
Figures as to the expenditure on the Civil Veterinary Department are not yet available.
Certain statistics of doubtful accuracy in the report and appendices are being referred to the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, and if necessary, corrections will be submitted.