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From D. F. CHALMERS, Esq., I.C.S., Director of Agriculture, Burma, to the Assistant Secretary to the
Financial Commissioner, Burma,—No. 487—1R.-21, dated the 26th June 1919.
I Have the honour to submit, in proof, six copies of the Annual Report on the working
of the Civil Veterinary Department for the year ending the 31st March 1919.
Two Superintendents have been on military service, and for the greater part of the year
Colonel Evans has run the Department single-handed. One Inspector and three Assistants
were loaned to the Army Veterinary Department, and two Inspectors were on duty with the
Chin Hills expedition.
The schools at Insein and Taunggyi have had a successful year but had to be closed for
a time due to an infiuenza attack. Owing to the shortage of staff and the necessity of
combating the rinderpest outbreak in Insein and Tharrawaddy the pupils were formed into
inoculation groups, and gained considerable practical experience at the expense of theoretical
instruction. The increase of staff mentioned in last year's report has been sanctioned, but it
is still inadequate to deal with the problems of the province and further proposals have been
submitted.
There was a severe outbreak of rinderpest in the province. Apparently the focus for
Lower Burma was Rangoon; thence it spread up the Irrawaddy valley to Prome; here it
appears to have radiated to Allanmyo and Taungup in Sandoway. The delta was also
intected and Henzada and Ma-ubin suffered considerably. Tharrawaddy, Insein, Prome and
Henzada suffered the greatest number of casualties, the deaths being respectively 8,548
3,318, 3,054, 2,394.
In Upper Burma there was a severe outbreak in Katha and some 3,428 deaths were
reported in that district. The disease was specially severe amongst buffaloes used for timber
extraction and these are difficult to replace. The effect in Tharrawaddy has been mainly
felt in the price of plough cattle. The price of immune or animals that have been on
contact and have not contracted the disease has risen considerably. Formerly it was
possible to get a pair of good plough oxen for Rs. 160; but we have been unable to purchase
a yoke at Zigon for Rs. 200.
Inoculation was practised extensively in checking the disease. No less than 64,824
injections were made during the year as compared with 12,807 last year. This gives a fair
comparison of the relative severity of the two outbreaks. There was difficulty in obtaining
syringes, but happily the supply outlasted the attack. The demand for serum from Muktesar
was considerable, but the Director and his staff promptly complied with the provincial
idents, and Colonel Evans was in a position to carry on the inoculation campaign with vigour
and success.
There has been an increase in the number of villages visited by Veterinary Assistants
and a corresponding rise in the number of cases treated. This may, 1 think, be attributed
almost solely to the increase in the number of Veterinary Assistants. It seems strange that
not a single case of castration is reported by the staff. This is a common operation
amongst practitioners in the West; apparently the East for the present has more faith in
its own methods.
Some regulation and supervision of herds of cattle owned by Indian milksellers from
Rangoon to Taikkyi is necessary there as a standing menace to the livestock of this province.
The village headmen have little power to enforce segregation in these areas as they are
handicapped by racial and language differences. Probably some relief might result if these
animals were taxed, at least we would have some record of numbers and ownership and the
tax might be earmarked for extra Veterinary staff in this area.
The work of the department has been carried on with success and energy during the
year.
Figures as to expenditure on the Civil Veterinary Department as furnished by the
Accountant-General, Burma, have been entered, but the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, considers them incomplete.
Printed by order of the Government of Burma.
G. B. P., Maymyo,—No. 42, Kev. Secy., 12-9-1919—320.