RESOLUTION
ON THE
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA
For the year ended the 31st March 1918.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of Burma in the Agricultural Department,—
No. IV.-9 of 1919.
READ—
The Report on the Civil Veterinary Department (including the Insein Veterinary School, Burma),
for the year 1917-18, and the remarks in the forwarding letters of the Director of Agriculture
and the Financial Commissioner, Burma.
Resolution.—An outbreak of rinderpest in the Amherst, Insein and
Bhamo Districts during the year under report interrupted the progressive advance
of comparative immunity from the disease which has been so prominent for the last
five years. The number of deaths in the Province from rinderpest was 4,698, the
highest since the year 1914-15, and the serious character of the outbreaks in the
three districts named above may be gauged from the fact that they were responsible
for over 80 per cent. of this total. There was a considerable decrease in the mortality
from other causes and the aggregate number of deaths in the Province from all
causes, while less than that of the previous year, is 17 per cent. higher than that of
1915-16, which is the lowest total yet recorded. The heavy death-rate from
rinderpest in the Bhamo District seems to have been due in part to failure on the
part of village headmen to follow the prescribed precautionary measures. In the
Amherst District the disease is reported to have been imported from Siam, and
difficulty was experienced in dealing with the many uncontrolled herds of cattle
owned by Indians which graze in the Kawkareik Township. Similar difficulties
were responsible for the excessive mortality in the Insein District, and the dangers
arising from the conditions described in paragraph 13 of the Report manifestly call
for the early imposition of preventive measures. The problem is complex, as it
affects not only the interests of cultivators and cattle-owners, but also the milk-
supply of Rangoon and other large towns. Various solutions have been
propounded from time to time, and the matter was investigated recently by the
Stock Breeding Committee, whose recommendations are at present under the
consideration of the Local Government. The advantages of inoculation were well
emphasised during the year as despite an increase of over 166 per cent. in the
number of animals treated, the proportion of those which subsequently died from
the disease fell from 1.7 to .96. Further progress was made in bringing the
subordinate establishment up to sanctioned strength, and proposals for additional
staff have been sanctioned since the close of the year. The number of villages
visited by the Assistants of the Civil Veterinary Department was the largest yet
recorded, and the touring by Inspectors was adequate. The total number of
patients treated at the Veterinary Hospital, Insein, rose, and satisfactory progress
was made by the pupils of the School in their training.
The Lieutenant-Governor records with much pleasure his appreciation of
the success with which the Superintendents, Colonel Evans, C.I.E., and Mr.
Rennie, though short-handed and much tied to headquarters by their Military
duties, administered the Department under their charge throughout the year.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Burma,
W. J. KEITH,
Revenue Secretary to the Government of Burma.