VETERINARY SCHOOL), BURMA, FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH
1918.
5
Surra.—Insein, Thatôn, Pyapôn, Ma-ubin, Papun, Mandalay, Bhamo,
Katha, Myitkyina, Mogaung, Hopin, Kamaing, Jade Mines, Putao, Upper Chindwin
District, Pakôkku, Yamèthin, Myingyan, Northern Shan States (Manse and
Manpyew) and Southern Shan States.
Strangles.—Yamèthin.
Glanders.—Insein, Rangoon. A case of glanders was discovered among
the Military Police ponies stationed at Rangoon. All animals including His
Honour the Lieutenant-Governor's escort horses were tested, and all precautions
taken. Four latent cases were detected. The disease was stamped out.
(3) PREVENTIVE INOCULATION.
Table III.
8. Anti-rinderpest serum injection was employed in 172 outbreaks in the
following districts:—Insein, Tharrawaddy, Thatôn, Toungoo, Mandalay, Bhamo,
and Northern Shan States. Over 12,800 cattle were injected, the greatest number,
8,464 being in the Insein District. Ten Inspectors and twenty-six Veterinary
Assistants were engaged on this work. There may be an impression that cattle-
owners in general jump at the opportunity of free serum injection for their cattle—if
this is so, it is a fallacy. Very few are really desirous to have it done. Much
tact, patience, chaff, etc, is often necessary to induce Burmans to grant consent.
With them in my opinion the chief obstacle is laziness, they hate bringing their
cattle, waiting their turn or giving a hand. If the job can be done while they sit
around and smoke they don't mind. With Indians the case is quite different.
They do not wish to have anything done, or be interfered with.
When cattle are injected it is usually hopeless getting owners to mix their
cattle with sick ones; they prefer to take their chance of animals contracting
disease later. We have injected many animals two or three times owing to fresh
cases being introduced, but generally speaking one injection is all owners will
submit their cattle to.
Of the animals injected, 124 are reported to have died. In many instances
animals showing no symptoms but with high temperatures were injected by
request of owners in the hope serum might do good. In others disease was
contracted sometime after injection. Some deaths also occurred among animals,
e.g. Insein Jail, and privately owned, which were mixed with sick to contract
disease, the dose seemingly being insufficient to help them through.
(4) OTHER DISEASES.
9. The mortality in Lower Burma amounted to 70,780 and in Upper Burma
17,243.
Table V.
(5) VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
10. Excepting Insein School.—Nil.
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1) BOVINES.—Nil.
(2) EQUINES.— Nil.
(3) OTHER.—Nil.
(4) FAIRS AND SHOWS.
11. Two shows were held during the year, one in October organized by the
Pakôkku Race Club as an additional attraction to the October Meeting, and the
other by Major Bigg-Wither, I.A., who is keenly interested in stock generally.
This was held at Pyawbwè in November.
Superintendents were unable to visit Pakôkku, but Maung Pe Than was sent
to afford the Club Committee any veterinary advice that might be needed.
At Pyawbwè some 2,500 cattle were brought in from the neighbouring town-
ships. Yamèthin District enjoys the well-deserved reputation of possessing fine
cattle, and a large number of those exhibited were excellent specimens. The
Burmese judges had their work cut out in coming to a decision as to the award of
prizes. The heifer and milch stock was as usual extremely poor. As a very