From C. M. W. DEFACIEU, Esq., Assistant Secretary to the Financial Commissioner, Burma, to the
Revenue Secretary to the Government of Burma,—No. 780—5R. 76, dated the 27th August 1919.
I am directed to submit, in proof, three copies of the Report on the Civil
Veterinary Department for the year ended the 31st March 1919, together with a
copy of Agricultural Department letter No. 487—1R.-21, dated the 26th June
1919, from the Director of Agriculture, Burma.
2. A severe outbreak of rinderpest in several Lower Burma districts and in
Katha in Upper Burma accounted for some 25,000 out of the 30,451 deaths from
contagious diseases reported during the year. The Veterinary Department appears
to have done all that was possible to check the spread of the disease, and the
large number of inoculations and the comparatively small number of deaths among
the cattle inoculated is strong testimony both to the energy of the staff and the
efficiency of inoculation. but as injection of serum is only permitted in the
presence of disease and in contact herds, and as the protection conferred lasts for
a short period only, it follows that early information of an outbreak of disease is
essential. Unfortunately ignorance and apathy among cattle-owners are so common
that information is often withheld, with the consequence that preventive measures
are too late and infection spreads in ever-widening circles. The chief offender
appears to be the Indian cattle-owner, especially in the neighbourhood of Rangoon
where as the Director of Agriculture points out the large herds of cattle owned by
Indian milk-sellers are a standing menace to the livestock of the province. For
many years Colonel Evans has advocated more stringent legislation than now
exists, and his yiews. were supported by the Stock-breeding Committee, who
suggested the form that legislation might take. The Director of Agriculture in
his forwarding letter proposes the imposition of a tax on cattle in certain areas
where there are large herds owned by non-agriculturists, which are subject to no
regulation or supervision. The problem is lull of difficulties and a satisfactory
solution is not easy to discover; but the longer the delay the less easy the solution
will become. It is, Colonel Aplin thinks, sufficiently clear that important as
preventive measures are when an outbreak of contagious disease occurs, the
importance of removing, so far as may be practicable, the principal source and
origin of these outbreaks is even greater. With this object the first step necessary,
he thinks, is the reduction of the number of cattle in certain areas to the number
that the land is able to support. As Colonel Evans has pointed out on more than
one occasion, if the land is overstocked with half-starved cattle the outbreak of
disease is a natural consequence. In areas near Rangoon and in other parts of
the Province also this state of affairs prevails and so long as it is allowed to
continue, so long will there be outbreaks of disease which cannot be effectively
controlled without an impossibly large army of Veterinary Assistants. Whether
the number of useless cattle can best be reduced by the imposition of a tax may
be a matter of opinion, but, whatever the means adopted, a considerable reduction
in their numbers appears to be the first and most necessary step. Supervision and
control will then be possible and outbreaks of disease can be checked before the
infection becomes widely spread.
3. A timely increase of the staff was sanctioned in December 1918 of six
Inspectors and twenty-nine Veterinary Assistants; but the establishment needs
further strengthening and proposals to this end were submitted after the close of
the year. Proposals were also submitted and have since been sanctioned by
Government, for the establishment of an experimental dairy farm.
4. The officiating Financial Commissioner agrees with the Director of
Agriculture that the work of the Department has been carried on with energy and
success. Owing to the outbreak of rinderpest its resources were severely taxed
and the position was often one of very considerable anxiety. Colonel Evans is to
be congratulated on the vigour and promptitude with which he has dealt single-
handed with a difficult situation and on another year's successful administration of
the Civil Veterinary Department.