4
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease in the Henzada, Thayetmyo and Bassein
Districts. Rinderpest was virulent in the Henzada District, indeed the outbreaks
have not been so extensive for over five years. It was particularly bad in the
Lemyethna and Kanaung Townships. In the former township the disease
which had been existing at the close of last year continued with increasing
severity during the first quarter of the year, reaching its greatest virulence
in June, when 511 deaths occurred. Altogether 1,726 deaths occurred in this
township. What probably fostered the disease considerably was, as afterwards
discovered to be the case, that the villagers made no attempt at proper segrega-
tion, while carcases of diseased animals were reported to have been sold for food.
In Kanaung Township the disease was particularly bad between April
and July and killed 1,078 head of cattle.
Serum protection was requested in Lemyethna Township in May, and 243
cattle in four villages were injected.
Outbreaks were less severe in the Thayetmyo and Bassein Districts. In the
former district, the Minhla and Kama Townships suffered most. The Assistant in
the Minhla Township attended 25 outbreaks between December and March.
In February serum injection was carried out in Minhla Township, and
in Kama and Allanmyo Townships in August and November, respectively.
In the Bassein District rinderpest in the Ngathainggyaung Township killed
577 cattle in the first quarter of the year.
In the Ma-ubin District the disease lasted from the beginning of the year till
the end of August in the Yandoon Township. In April in Yandoon Town itself
227 animals are reported to have died from the disease ; 217 of these belonged to
natives of India (milkmen).
A considerable outbreak took place at the close of the rains on the Kalateik
grazing ground of the Pyap6n District and spread later to the Seikma grazing
ground. These grounds being almost inaccessible during the wet weather, reports
were received late, and before anything could be done disease was widespread,
and altogether 60 victims are recorded. The outbreak was finally brought
in check, very largely it is reported by the energetic measures carried out by the
Township Officer, Bogale.
Foot-and-mouth disease was widespread and virulent throughout the Division,
and especially so in the Henzada District from which 1,379 deaths are reported,
most of these being in the Lemyethna and Kanaung Townships. The Kyaunggôn
and Ngathainggyaung Townships of the Bassein District, the Myaungmya
Township, Myaungmya District, and the Pyapôn and Bogale Townships of the
Py.ap6n District also show a considerable number of deaths.
Anthrax, except for a sharp outbreak in Kanaung Township at the beginning
of the year, did not cause any trouble in the Division.
Veterinary Inspectors, 2. Bassein 1, Henzada 1.
Veterinary Assistants, 24. Bassein 6, Ma-ubin 3, Henzada 5, Pyapôn 3,
Myaungmya 4, and Thayetmyo 3.
Special duty, 3. Bassein 2, Henzada 1.
Outbreaks attended 1,230.
Total mortality from contagious diseases 13,370.
Table II.
6. Tenasserim Division.—Amherst,
Tavoy, Mergui, Thatôn, Toungoo and
Salween.
Outbreaks of rinderpest occurred in the first quarter of the year in the
Yedashè Township, Toungoo District, and accounted for 392 deaths. Milder
outbreaks were also reported from Ôktwin and Pyu Townships. In the latter
disease is said to have been imported from Pegu.
In one case the assistance of
the Police is said to have been called in tc prevent infected cattle from Pegu being
grazed within the township boundary.
Except in the Kyaikmaraw Township of the Amherst District anthrax gave
little trouble within the Division. In this township a severe outbreak occurred in
May and lasted through June causing altogether 703 deaths.- In the Mergui District
hæmorrhagic septicaemia amongst buffaloes made its appearance in November,
but it was not until January that it became virulent and widespread, gradually
extending over the Mergui, Tenasserim and Palaw Townships. The villagers