VETERINARY SCHOOL), BURMA, FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
5
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
Tables IV &
VII.
11. The strength of the Department at the beginning of the year was—
Veterinary Inspectors, 12 (Lower Burma 6, Upper Burma 6).
Veterinary Assistants, 127 (Lower Burma 70, Upper Burma 57).
During the year three Veterinary Assistants died, vi2. Maung San Tin,
Reserve Veterinary Assistant, Maung U Pe, Shwegu, and Maung Gyi (3), Mingin.
The Deputy Commissioner remarks with regard to Maung San Tin and Maung
U Pe that " both these officers were exceptionally good at their work." Two
Veterinary Assistants were dismissed for misconduct. Seven passed pupils were
appointed in November and one in February so that the total strength at the
end of the year was 130 distributed as follows :—
Lower Burma
Reserve
Office
School
...
...
...
...
Under training for Inspectorships
Upper Burma
Reserve
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
60
5
2
1
3
53
6
(excluding Thayetmyo).
(including Thayetmyo).
The average number of days spent on tour by Veterinary Inspectors was
as follows :—
Those who worked in Lower Burma throughout the year (inclusive of
gazetted holidays), 264 days ; those who had leave or were absent from work
through sickness, 2253 days.
The three Inspectors who were absent were—Maung Myat E 39 days,
Maung Pe (1) 74 days and Maung Shwe Dok 53 days.
In Upper Burma Inspectors on continuous duty throughout the year aver-
aged 272.3 days, whilst those sick or otherwise absent averaged 251 3 days.
The three Inspectors who were on leave were Maung Po Thin 9 days, Maung
Pe Than 10 days and Maung Pe (2) 9 days.
Inspectors visited 1,810 villages in Lower Burma and 1,618 in Upper Burma.
In Lower Burma they attended 216 outbreaks and in Upper Burma 201.
The average number of days spent on tour by Veterinary Assistants was in
Lower Burma 231.6 and in Upper Burma 225.9. They visited 12,857 villages in
Lower Burma and 11,930 in Upper Burma, treating altogether 43,650 and 51,111
animals, respectively.
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
(Vide Table XIV-A.)
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
12. Importation of disease.—Foot-and-mouth
disease is reported by the Deputy
Commissioner, Bhamo, to have been introduced from China on at least two occa-
sions by animals in the hands of Indians who gave considerable trouble. The
Deputy Commissioner will undoubtedly make his existing arrangements still more
effective to deal with any individuals disposed to bring infected animals into his
district. The manner in which disease from across the frontier has been effec-
tively kept out of the district clearly indicates what a vast amount of good can
be done by close supervision on the part of all concerned. There is little doubt
that rinderpest in Kawkareik is frequently brought in from across the frontier.
When Amherst receives its full complement of Veterinary Assistants the Deputy
Commissioner will be approached on the subject of the desirability of posting a
Veterinary Assistant at Myawaddy or such other place as may be deemed suitable
to watch and inspect animals. The Deputy Commissioner is having a district
map prepared showing all cattle routes. One great trouble is the dealing in
hides of animals dead of contagious diseases such as anthrax, etc. The hide
brokers are not easily brought to book; in fact the Deputy Commissioner remarks
he would like in the presence of an outbreak to have powers to prevent the move
ments of consignments of hides by steamers, etc.