FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 1912.
3
" It has been observed that the hides of animals that die of infectious
disease are sold in spite of rules to the contrary. Mr. Clague thinks that cattle
owners do not recognize the primary stage of rinderpest, and that much damage
is done before infected animals are segregated."
Veterinary Assistants.—" Four Veterinary Assistants were employed during
the year, vis. Western Subdivision (Myelat) 1, Yawnghwe 1, North-Eastern
Subdivision 1, and South-Eastern Subdivision 1. The Veterinary Assistants in the
Western Subdivision did good work. The North-Eastern Subdivision Assistant
was arrested in March 1912, for theft, convicted and sentenced to six months'
imprisonment. This man's work was not satisfactory during the year.
The newly appointed Assistant in the South-Eastern Subdivision is a man of
poor physique, and he has suffered much from fever." His work is reported to be
quite satisfactory.
Table I.
Veterinary School, Taunggyi.—There were 4 pupils under training. They
were examined in March and 3 gave satisfaction. The remaining boy was kept
back for a few months. Four Government Scholarship-holders and 4 pupils who
are maintained by the Chiefs have been taken on. One of the latter has since
resigned owing to ill-health.
6. Northern Shan States.—The reported mortality from disease is much less
than in the previous year. Outbreaks of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth
disease have occurred in every State, but they were in every case localized and
not of a very severe nature.
Surra caused a number of deaths amongst mules and ponies in the various
States. No statistics are available for this disease except in Taunggyi where
4 deaths are recorded.
Working of the Segregation Rules.—The Superintendent notes as follows :—
" The rules for the prevention of the spread of disease have been enforced
as strictly as possible. Headmen in Hsipaw and South Hsenwi generally realize
the benefit of the rules; in Tawngpeng the local officials are more apathetic.
One local official in South Hsenwi and one in Tawngpeng were fined by the Chiefs
concerned for slackness.
In South Hsenwi segregation camps have been fixed in each circle to which
diseased cattle are taken.
The rules have lately been issued by the Sawbwa of North Hsenwi and though
it will be long before it will be possible to get them enforced strictly in that State
the issue of the rules at all is a distinct advance."
Veterinary Assistants.—The two Assistants trained at the Taunggyi School
have been posted to Hsipaw and South Hsenwi. Three fresh pupils from Hsipaw
are being trained at Taunggyi.
Veterinary Inspector Maung Tha Dun Zan, whose transfer for foreign service
in the Hsipaw State was recently sanctioned, has taken up his duties since the
close of the year.
(2) OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Twenty-three cases of contagious disease among the Mounted Infantry and
Transport animals of the Military Police were recorded during the year, viz.
surra 7, anthrax 6, epizootic lymphangitis 6, and glanders 4.
(3) PREVENTIVE INOCULATION
Table III
7. Inoculation was carried out in 12 districts (54 villages), the number
of animals injected being 8,946. Of these 85 are reported to have succumbed to
rinderpest.
Five hundred oxen were injected for the Rangoon Municipality, and 125 for
the Supply and Transport Department. Requests this year for serum have been
more numerous, and in districts where injection has been frequently carried out
the villagers appear to have some faith in it. If demands increase it may