6
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
animals were all tied to certain water-supplies the intermingling of healthy with
affected animals was a matter not easy to avoid or to prevent, however stringent the
orders on the subject may have been.
The Northern Shan States have not been free from disease at any time of the
year though most prevalent from July to December. As usual, rinderpest caused
the heaviest mortality. In Hsipaw State 3,235 deaths are said to have occurred,
and this estimate is considered by the Superintendent to be fairly accurate. In
South Hsenwi the loss is estimated at some 5,000, but no actual figures are available.
North Hsenwi and Manglun are said to have suffered somewhat severely. In the
Tawngpeng State one circle, Mansan, the principal breeding centre, sustained
considerable loss.
The outbreaks in the Northern States were more or less local, i.e., disease
would appear in a circle, die down, only to reappear later.
Telegraphic information regarding cattle disease was received on forty occa-
sions and extracts from the " Summary of Events " were also received through the
Director of Agriculture, Burma. Six Veterinary Assistants were employed on
special duty at various times, and Maung Po Kha and Maung Thet Tun are
specially mentioned for good work. There are no Veterinary Assistants in the
Northern Shan States; hence the frequent requests for assistance. The Superin-
tendent remarks that the need of permanent men is very real.
The Rules for prevention of cattle disease are said to have been fairly well
observed in the Hsipaw and Tawngpeng States ; indifferently in South Hsenwi, and
not at all in North Hsenwi and Manglun. The Superintendent observes that the
Rules are not popular and that there is certainly no public feeling behind them,
although the more "enlightened Chiefs and Circle officials understand and appre-
ciate their utility." The Superintendent also notes that there is undoubtedly a
brisk trade in hides and horns, and that the flesh of animals that have died from
disease is eaten by villagers. This latter he infers from the fact that the receipts
of the butchers fall off during an epidemic.
There were several instances of breaches of the Rules. In one case a State
policeman was convicted of accepting illegal gratifications for burking cases of
disease. The two villagers who combined to aid him were severely punished.
(2) Other Contagious Diseases.
9. The strength of the Mounted Infantry of the Burma Military Police
at the end of the year was 1,928 including 800 transport animals.
There were 35 deaths from contagious diseases, viz., surra 31, anthrax, 2,
glanders 2.
The month in which the greatest mortality occurred was
during August. Surra was responsible for 18 deaths in the Myitkyina Battalion, 5
in the Northern Shan States Battalion, 4 in the Taunggyi Battalion and 4 in
the Rangoon Battalion. These cases were all contracted at outposts.
A few cases were also reported amongst privately owned ponies in the
Shan States.
The Superintendent, Mandalay Jail, suspecting tuberculosis, expressed a desire
to have his cattle tested, and 51 animals were injected, but there were no
"reactors."
Hæmorrhagic septicæmia was the cause of some deaths in both Lower and
Upper Burma.
(3) Preventive Inoculation.
Table III.
10. Serum injection was carried out in seven districts, two in Lower and five
in Upper Burma, as follows :—
Tharrawaddy, Thayetmyo, Magwe, Mandalay. Kyauksè, Meiktila and
Myitkyina
In Thayetmyo and Meiktila, injection was carried out on two, and in Myit-
kyina on three occasions.