10
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
18. Veterinary School.—The transfer of the school to Insein has resulted in
some improvement from the point of view of training, in that the pupils have been
able to devote more attention to the cases assigned to them than was hitherto
possible.
In this connection it may be. noted that the amount of practice seen by pupils
here must fall far short of that available at the Indian institutions, except perhaps
in the matter of contagious diseases.
At the present time in Rangoon I venture to say that the horse population
could be accommodated in a few of the larger stables in Bombay or Calcutta.
The cattle population too is perhaps proportionately small. I do not wish it to
be inferred that this is a reason why there is not more practice, for it goes without
saying that there is enough sickness amongst animals in the larger towns to
provide patients to keep any institution well employed, i.e., if the owners could
only be induced to bring their animals. Europeans and wealthy natives are
generally glad to avail themselves of advice. The poorer people, however, who
could provide us with numerous patients, do not avail themselves to anything like
the extent one might suppose, although medicine and advice are free. Perhaps,
as with private practice, it takes time to establish a connection. So far the better
class of residents at Insein have chiefly brought their dogs for treatment.
In India a great advantage I may add is that ponies, etc., can be procured
for purposes of demonstration, dissection, etc., at exceedingly small cost, if 1
mistake not from Rs. 3 to Rs. 5, the price wo have to pay for a couple of
rabbits, and before now have paid for four white rats. In Burma, the class of
animal (worn out grass-cutters' tats, ecca and bunnia ponies, etc.) which provides
this cheap practice for pupils is not procurable and is practically not existent.
19. Importation of Diseases from China.—Four Veterinary Assistants were
sent to Bhamo in December to be stationed on the main routes on the China
frontier. They were posted at Lweji, Panghkam, Momauk and Si-U. The Deputy
Commissioner remarks that " the posting of special Assistants at Lweji and
Panghkam has been very helpful this year and very effective work was done by
the Lweji man in checking outbreaks." The Deputy Commissioner has asked
to keep the men on till the end of May. These men may not have had to stop
many Shan or Chinese caravans owing to disease, but their presence on the
frontier routes has undoubtedly tended to prevent traders from coming across the
frontier with disease among their animals. No doubt it would be a good thing
every open season to post Assistants on the main routes from China, Siam and
Shan States into Burma, but this would mean extra staff. This year it has not
been a difficult matter to arrange for Assistants, as there has been comparatively
little cattle, disease and Deputy Commissioners could spare men. I gave up two
reserve men for the work. It is fairly evident that all the trouble in Myitkyina
District originated by disease being brought in from China via Nahpaw.
I hope to avail myself of the first opportunity to go over every caravan route
in frontier districts with a view to making some arrangements for a staff which
would be available for such work during the open season and which could be
usefully employed in the rains as extra hands in districts where outbreaks were
going on.
20. Segregation Rules.—With regard to the Rules, each year shows that
there is some improvement. Perhaps they have in some measure contributed
towards the reduced mortality experienced during the last two or three years.
To quote one or two instances: owing to the rigorous enforcement of the Rules,
rinderpest has successfully been kept out of the Katha District notwithstanding
its extreme prevalence in the adjoining district, Myitkyina.
Again in Pegu, owing to careful supervision in enforcing the Rules, the disease,
even when imported, was stamped out readily, or at any rate before it spread to
any extent.
On the other hand, in certain parts of Magwe the people, though understand-
ing the Rules, consider the enforcement of them even during outbreaks of
rinderpest a hardship.
In Yandoon Subdivision of Ma-ubin District it is said that the Rules, though
not disliked, are not appreciated. When disease breaks out in a village the owner