6
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT (INCLUDING THE 1NSEIN VETERINARY SCHOOL),
BURMA, FOR THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
(Vide Tables VI and XIV-A.)
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
14. Importation of disease.—The
special assistants sent to the Bhamo Dis-
trict for the open season were posted at Momauk, Mopein, Maingkat, Pankham,
Lweje, Namprayang, Sikaw, and Shwegu. All the staff worked well. Maung San
Tin, who was posted to Sikaw, was specially well reported on. The Deputy
Commissioner, Bhamo, notes on his work as follows :—
"Maung Tin (2) at Shwegu also did well, and it was perhaps due to his
efforts that an outbreak of rinderpest in the Kyidawgyi area in the Shwegu
Subdivision in which 56 animals died was prevented from spreading further."
The two Kachin Assistants worked in the Kachin Hill Tracts, where their
services will in time be of great value.
Foot-and-mouth disease in Amherst is said to have been augmented by infected
cattle from Siam and steps were taken to prevent spread by the sale of sick
animals in Kawkareik.
15. Segregation
Rules.—The
consensus of opinion of District Officers as
regards the working of these rules is that they are understood by cattle owners and
headmen and carried out whenever occasion arises. In a few districts, notably
Thatôn, Toungoo, Minbu, and in one instance in Ruby Mines, there would seem to
be room for improvement. The Deputy Commissioner, Bhamo, remarks that "In
the Kachin Hill Tracts at present owing to lack of machinery and the absence of
the Burma Village System, it is almost impossible to get outbreaks of disease
reported in good time. In the plains knowledge of the rules is spreading and
headmen, intimidated perhaps by the punishments inflicted during the last two or
three years, generally give energetic assistance."
The Subdivisional Officer, Shwegyin, observes:" I cannot say that I am
able to endorse the remarks of the Township Officers. I find that the majority
of the headmen are ignorant that it is their duty to report immediately the
outbreak of contagious disease. Inquiries made in the villages show that the
elementary precaution of segregating the actually sick cattle is followed, but I
doubt if contacts are separated as a rule unless the Veterinary Assistant himself
happens to come. If report is not made to the Township Officer, neither are
surrounding villages informed of an outbreak."
In the Ruby Mines District rinderpest was said to have spread to Tagaung
through the medium of carcases thrown into the Shweli.
Permanent segregation camps were maintained in Ruby Mines and Pyapôn
Districts with reported continued good results. In Pegu lack of funds prevented
work being done in this connection.
16. Disease throughout the Province has been exceedingly slight and the
staff have accordingly been enabled to deal with individual outbreaks with some
success. In this connection I would mention the good work done by most
Inspectors and a large number of Veterinary Assistants. District Officers take
ever increasing pains in inducing the people to apply initial measures when disease
makes its appearance, and no small amount of success in the prevention and
suppression of disease is to be attributed to their efforts.
G. H. EVANS,
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Dept., Burma.
The 14th May 1915.