NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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54. Foot and mouth disease.—The foot and mouth disease
as usual prevailed throughout the Province but Orissa being
separated, the number of animals affected with the disease
reached a little over sixteen thousands. In North Bihar the two
districts, Darbhanga and Purnea, suffered badly from its effects.
Only 100 deaths were recorded during the year out of a total
number of 16,238 animals attacked in 720 outbreaks, as compared
with 71 deaths, 41,546 attacks and 1,602 outbreaks brought to
notice in 1935-36.
56. Black quarter.—Thirty-eight outbreaks of black quarter
were reported in which out of 247 animals affected, 176 including
23 buffaloes, died, against 24 outbreaks, 41 attacks and 29
deaths recorded in the previous year.
56. Anthrax.—Bovine anthrax was not reported in North
Bihar Range. It was however reported in all the districts of the
Central Range and Chota Nagpur Sub-Range except Ranchi.
Out of 301 animals affected in 41 outbreaks, 228 died of the
disease as compared with 348 attacks in 42 outbreaks and 229
deaths recorded in 1935-36. The figure 228 includes 79 deaths
among buffaloes. A report on these outbreaks was submitted to
the American Consul General regularly every month.
57. Surra.—Bovine surra was reported in seven districts,
viz., Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya, Shahabad, Monghyr
(south) and Palamau causing the death of 86 animals of which
14 were buffaloes.
58. Other diseases.—Under this head are shown deaths,
from such diseases as parasitic diarrhœa, liver fluke disease,
ephemeral fever, etc. Altogether 786 deaths of cattle and
buffaloes were recorded.
Liver fluke disease appeared in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur
districts affecting 283 animals of which 22 died in 54 outbreaks.
66 animals (out of 173 attacked) died of ephemeral fever in
4 districts, Saran, Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga.
59. Other causes.—In addition to the above, 3,678 deaths
of cattle and 1,223 of buffaloes from various causes were recorded
during the year.
60. Sheep, goats and dogs.—The deaths of these smaller
animals will be found noted under their respective heads in
the table. Altogether 1,065 deaths of sheep, goats and dogs
were reported and of these, the largest number 659 related to
goats only.
245 deaths reported among dogs include 44 cases of canine
rabies. This disease was recorded in all districts of the North
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Bihar Range except Purnea and North Bhagalpur. In that
range 21 deaths from rabie9 in dogs were reported, and 15 brains
from suspected cases were 6ent to the Pasteur Institute, Patna,
of which 14 proved positive for negri bodies. Of the remain-
ing 23 deaths from rabies, 10 were reported in the Central Range
and 13 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range.
61. Camels.—No death of camel was reported.
62. Avian diseases.—Enquiries into these diseases were
continued with the result that 41 deaths from Fowl Pox, 4
deaths from Fowl Cholera and 699 from Ranikhet disease were
brought to notice. The figures are shown as foot-notes to the
table.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATIONS.
63. Protection to animals by all the known methods
continued to be given by the departmental staff energetically and
the result was that in the reduced area of the Province, as
many as 504,219 animals could be protected which shows a net
increase of 26,455 inoculations over the figures of 1935-36 for
the same area (i.e. excluding the five Orissa districts). The
work was undertaken in 85S outbreaks occurring in 1,443 villages
with a total bovine population of 657,783. In those villages
4,688 animals died during the course of the outbreaks, while
only 408 deaths were recorded among the inoculated number.
The percentage of deaths of the protected animals was 08
compared with .04 of the previous year.
In addition to the above, 196 equines were also protected
with anthrax serum and anthrax spore vaccine of Burma.
64. Of the total number, 165,221 animals were protected in
the North Bihar Range, 241,538 in the Central Range and
97,460 in the Chota Nagpur sub-range.
65. The details of the work done in each district and in
respect of each disease are shown in table III. This form has
also been revised by the Government of India and it now shows,
in addition to other particulars, the number of villages affected
in outbreaks and the bovine population of the affected villages.
66. Rinderpest.—Protection against rinderpest was given
by two methods, by "serum alone" and by goat tissue virus.
(a) "Serum alone" method :—During the year under
report protection was given to 77,261 animals by the "serum
alone" method as compared with 73,244 animals protected by
the same method in 1935-36. 212 deaths were recorded among
the inoculated animals which work out to a percentage of about
.29 death against .18 of the previous year. The largest number
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protected in a single district was 15,240 in Shahabad; next
to that, 11,707 and 10,080 were done in Gaya and Palamau
respectively. Inoculations by this method were performed in all
districts of the Province.
(b) Goat tissue virus method.—Protection by goat tissue
virus method was also given to animals in all the districts with
the result that altogether 348,087 animals were protected as
compared with 260,365 protected by the same method in 1035-36.
This shows an increase of 87,122 animals protected which
is most satisfactory considering the limited number of officers
that could be employed.
67. Of the total number 136,216 animals were protected
in the North Bihar Range, 153,126 in the Central Range and
68,715 in the Chota Nagpur Sub Range. The numbers for
particular districts worth mentioning were 33,878 for Gaya,
30,419 for Darbhanga and 20.521 for Purnea. Out of the total
number protected, only 137 animals died of the complications
that set in. The death rate among the protected worked out
to .04 per cent which is insignificant considering the largo
number immunised, and especially when the number included
31,011 buffaloes.
The goat tissue virus method was employed both in absence
of outbreaks and in actual outbreaks.
The experimental work done by the (Veterinary) Disease
Investigation Officer will be shown in its proper place, i.e.,
under "Investigation of Diseases".
68. Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—The
disease Hæmorr-
hagic Septicæmia having occurred in all the districts protection
was also given to animals in all of them. Altogether 46,715
animals were protected with the serum in 280 outbreaks as
compared with 27,784 animals done in 121 Outbreaks of the
preceding year. Only 49 deaths were recorded among the
inoculated animals showing a percentage of 1 death. In
addition to the "serum alone" method, protection was also
given with the hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine to 21,207
animals and no casualty was recorded among them.
69. Anthrax.—Altogether 5,165 bovines were protected
with anti-anthrax serum in 29 outbreaks compared with 5,047
bovines protected in 22 outbreaks in the year 1935-30. Only
5 deaths were recorded among the inoculated animals. In
addition to these, 190 equines were also protected, and amongst
them 117 horses were further immunised with anthrax "spore''
vaccine.
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70. Blackquarter.—Protection against Blackquarter was
given to animals by three methods, viz., "serum", "vaccine"
and "aggressin" with the result that 5,7S4 animals were
immunised in 21 outbreaks as compared with 2,415 done in 9
outbreaks of the previous year. The number includes 50
animals immunised simultaneously with serum and vaccine.
Only 5 animals among the inoculated died of the disease.
71. Supply of sera and vaccines.—During the year, sera
and vaccines to the value of Rs. 52,394-14-0 inclusive of the cost
of bottles and boxes were obtained from the Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, and the Branch Serum Institute,
Izatnagar, for supply to the customers through the serum depots
of the department. Strict economy was exercised both in the
supply and expenditure of the Muktesar products and special
steps were taken for the recovery of their cost from the consumers.
Out of a total sum of Rs. 75,648-0-1 due to the Muktesar
Institute a sum of Rs. 52,237-2-10 was recovered and credited to
Government leaving a balance of Rs. 23,410-13-3 outstanding
on the 1st April, 1937. The total realisations included a grant
of Rs. 3,111-14-7 which was made by Government to the district
board, Hazaribagh. The serum account for Orissa was separated
from the 1st April, 1936, although some of the items were under
investigation during the year.
72. Serum Depot.—The serum depot at Cuttack having
been transferred to the Orissa Government, a new serum depot
to serve the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range area was opened and
attached to the sub-range office at Ranchi in July 1936.
NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED.
73. After a considerable period of inaction it is refreshing
to have to note that some local bodies have at last awakened to
the need for increasing the strength of their touring veterinary
assistant surgeons. It is hoped that the other local bodies will
also follow the example as soon as their funds permit.
During the year under report the district boards of Dar-
bhanga, Monghyr, Bhagalpur and Ranchi each had a new post
of touring veterinary assistant surgeon sanctioned for Laheria-
sarai Sadar, Begusarai, Madhipura and Ranchi Sadar subdivisions
respectively. In addition to these four posts, proposals were also
under the consideration of the district boards concerned for the
appointment of 2(3rd) touring veterinary assistant surgeons in
Champaran district, 2 temporary (3rd and 4th) touring assistants
in Purnea, 2 (2nd) touring assistants in Shahabad and 1(2nd) tour-
ing assistant for Hajipur in Muzaffarpur. The Road Committee,
Santal Parganas, have also applied for the appointment of two
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touring veterinary assistant surgeons for the Sadar and Deoghar
subdivisions on a temporary basis. The proposals for the posts
for Purnea, Muzaffarpur and Shahabad have since received the
sanction of Government.
The number of veterinary assistant surgeons employed in
districts was reduced from 129 to 107 in consequence of the
separation of Orissa.
74. During the year altogether 382,072 patients were treated
by the veterinary assistant surgeons on tour as well as at head-
quarters, compared with 329,785 patients treated in the year
1935-36 which shows an increase of 2,287 patients. Of the total
number 17,449 animals were treated for contagious deseases,
224,060 were treated for non-contagious diseases and the remain-
der, 90,563, represented castrations. In addition to these fresh
patients, 30,928 old cases were also treated, and 581 animals
suffering from foot and mouth disease were supplied with medi-
cines.
75. According to ranges, 138,584 fresh patients were treated
in the North Bihar Range, 137,549 were treated in the Central
Range and 55,989 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range.
76. The number of villages visited by the veterinary assis-
tant surgeons on tour was 46,585 as compared with 48,456
villages visited by them in the corresponding area (i.e., excluding
Orissa) in 1935-36. The decrease was due to greater attention
paid by the assistants to goat virus work as well as outbreaks.
The details of the work done by the veterinary assistant
surgeons on tour are shown in table IV.
77. Rural veterinary dispensaries.—On the 1st April, 1936,
after the separation of Orissa, there were 122 rural (field) veteri-
nary dispensaries at work. During the year 7 new dispensaries
were opened, and 5 existing ones were closed, making the total
number of such dispensaries 124 at the end of the year. Of
these, 59 dispensaries were working in the North Bihar Range,
49 in the Central Range and 16 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-
Range. At these dispensaries a total number of 123,278 fresh
patients including 38,044 castrations were treated by the assis-
tants as compared with 126,810 fresh patients treated in the year
1935-36. In addition, 2,327 old cases were also attended by the
staff at the rural veterinary dispensaries.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS.
78. On account of the transfer of Orissa the number of
Veterinary Hospitals was reduced from 33 to 29, the hospitals
3
6 DVS
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actually transferred being Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur and Bargarh.
The hospital at Balasore being defunct was not taken into
account. Out of these the veterinary hospital, Bettiah, was
maintained by the Bettiah Raj and the two hospitals at Dina-
pore and Jamui continued to be in charge of the local touring
veterinary assistant surgeons.
79. Construction and repair of veterinary hospitals and
dispensaries.—Except the two veterinary hospitals at Muzaffar-
pur and Sitamarhi the construction of which was in progress,
none of the other buildings in North Bihar damaged by the
earthquake could be taken up by the local bodies. In some
instances difficulties were experienced in selecting proper sites.
The work at Muzaffarpur veterinary hospital has been rather
slow but that for the Sitamarhi hospital which is being built at
Dumra, is likely to be completed during 1937-38. The cattle
and dog wards of Supaul veterinary hospital were, howewer,
erected during the year. In the Central Range, the construction
of the new veterinary dispensaries at Bihar and Barhampur were
taken up, while erection of a shed for the shoeing forge at
Dinapore veterinary hospital and an operation shed as well as
a combined shed for cattle and horses for the Bikramganj
veterinary dispensary which was in progress, was completed
during the year under report. There was a proposal for the
construction of buildings for the Simdega veterinary dispensary
but as the district board, Ranchi, was unable to make any
contribution the proposal did not materialise.
SO. Number of patients treated at Veterinary Hospitals.—
During the year, 97,225 in and out patients were treated at the
29 veterinary hospitals, as compared with 90,913 patients
treated at the same number of hospitals in 1935-36. The increase
of 6,312 patients treated is most encouraging. In addition,
20,875 castrations were performed, 135,357 old cases were
treated as out-patients and 12,400 patients not brought to
hospitals were supplied with medicines, as compared with 21,247
castrations, 156,490 old cases and 14,792 patients supplied with
medicines in the year 1935-36.
81. Of the total number of 97,225 regular patients, 54,913
were treated at the 14 veterinary hospitals of the North Bihar
Range, 32,784 at the 11 veterinary hospitals of the Central
Range and 9,528 at the 4 veterinary hospitals of the Chota
Nagpur Sub-Range, the figures for castrations for the same
three areas being 13,057, 6,549 and 1,209 respectively.
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CHAPTER IV.
BREEDING OPERATIONS.
82. Control of Livestock Improvement.—The Civil Veteri-
nary Department controlled the breeding operations at the Patna
Cattle Breeding Farm. This farm maintains a pure bred herd
of Tharparkar bulls and cows in addition to the cross bred
animals, Shahabad with Tharparkar, and its object is to produce
a suitable general utility animals to meet local demands to some
extent. Only 1 Tharparkar bull was distributed free to a district
board and 2 others of the same breed were sold.
83. During the year, the question of livestock improvement
had evinced considerable interest in the province on account of
the lead given in the matter by His Excellency the Viceroy of
India. This resulted in the formation of a Provincial as well as
District Cattle Improvement Associations, and enquiries were
being made frequently of the officers of this department as to
the type of animal most suited to the local needs. All possible
help was given in this connection. Moreover, a model scheme
for the improvement of livestock including the appointment of
a livestock officer for the province, and also one for castration
of scrub bulls on a wider scale were drawn up and submitted
for the consideration of Government.
84. Stud bulls.—After the separation of Orissa there were
32 stud bulls maintained at different veterinary hospitals on the
1st April, 1936. During the year 1 stud bull each was obtained
by the district boards, Champaran, Darbhauga and Patna, while
2 bulls died, 1 was made over to the Co-operative Societies and
1 was sent to Pinjrapole. The total at the end of the year was
therefore 31. All the bulls were property of the local bodies.
The number includes 1 bull presented by Mrs. Swanzy to the
Patna District Board. The distribution of the bulls is shown in
Table VIII.
85. Castration.—The work of castrating scrub bulls as an
aid to improvement of cattle continued to be done by the
department as usual. During the year 104,993 bulls and bull
calves were castrated by the staff as compared with 103,555
done in the year 1935-36. In addition, the staff also castrated
206 animals under head "Equines" and 6,236 under "Others"
Out of the total number of 111,438 animals castrated, 55,106
were done in the North Bihar Range, 46,518 in the Central
Range and the rest, 9,814 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range.
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CATTLE FARMS.
Patna Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm.
86. Staff.-—Mr. R. T. Davis, I.V.S., Principal, Bihar
Veterinary College supervised the work of the Farm while
Babu N. N. Ghose acted as Manager throughout the year.
The strength of the Farm staff remained unchanged during the
year.
87. Live stock.—On the 1st of April 1936, the farm herd
consisted of 90 desi cows, 115 Tharparkar cows, 89 Tharparkar
bull calves, 134 Tharparkar heifer calves, 66 cross-bred bull
calves, 34 cross-bred heifer calves, 71 draught bullocks, 10
Tharparkar and 3 cross-bred bulls and 1 pony, or a total of 613
animals. During the year 51 Tharparkar bull calves, 62
Tharparkar heifer calves, 33 cross-bred bull calves and 34 cross-
bred heifer calves were born on the farm, and 5 Tharparkar young
bulls were purchased from the Karnal Farm raising the total
to 798. Out of this number, there were 13 casualties, 110
animals were sold, 1 Tharparkar bull was supplied free and 22
animals were sent to Pinjrapole leaving the total strength of the
herd at 652 as per Statement A.
88. Fifty-six animals were vaccinated against rinderpest
by goat spleen tissue virus method and 25 animals were
tested for immunity against
rinderpest with bull virus.
These inoculations were carried out by the Laboratory Staff
of the Veterinary College and the result was satisfactory.
The (Veterinary) Disease Investigation Officer also carried out
some experiments for immunity test. The animals of the Farm
were also protected against hæmorrhagic septicæmia and black
quarter as usual.
89. Supply of Breeding Bulls.—1 Tharparkar bull was
supplied free to the Vice-Chairman, District Committee, Santal
Parganas and 2 Tharparkar bulls were sold at Rs. 50 each to
the Hon'ble Mr. Justice Khawaja Mohammad Noor.
90. Milk and Milk Products.—On the 1st of April 1936,
there was a balance of 41 lbs. of milk. The total milk yield
during the year was 401,973 3/4 lbs. or an average of 11.2 lbs,
per cow per day, against 431,008 lbs. during the last year, or
a decrease of 29,034 1/4 lbs. due to the decrease in the number
of cows in milk which was 112 during the previous year while
the average number of cows in milk per day during the year
under report, was 99, as some of the milch cows giving less than
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2,000 lbs. of milk were disposed of, and 6 milch country cows
giving 60 lbs. of milk per day, were undergoing experiments
carried out by the Disease Investigation Officer for a fortnight.
The average milk yield of the country-bred cow was 10 lbs.
per head per day, while that of the Tharparkar cow was 126
lbs. An experiment of milking four times is being carried
out at the Farm since the 30th August 1936, in order to see
whether the milk yield is increased, and whether it affects the
health of the cow. The experiment is not yet finished.
91. The total quantity of milk sold during the year was
3 64,487 lbs. 2 ozs. against 400,582 lbs. 6 ozs. in the year
1935-36, a decrease of 36,095 lbs. 4ozs. which was due to the
sudden reduction in the supply of milk to the Patna Medical
College Hospital. The Superintendent of the College Hospital
reduced his requisition by 200 lbs. approximately per day with-
out notice at a time when all the colleges and hostels were closed
for the summer vacation and no other arrangement could be
made for the disposal of the surplus milk for more than two
months. In addition to the sale of milk, 598 lbs. 4 ozs. of cream
and 215 lbs. 14 ozs. of ghee were also sold.
92. Out of the balance of 37,527 lbs. 10 ozs. of milk,
20,039 lbs. were separated for cream and ghee, 10,575 lbs. 2 ozs.
either evaporated or were absorbed during the process of
pasteurising, measuring and bottling, etc., and 6,325 lbs. 8 ozs.
were fed to the calves, leaving a balance of 588 lbs. at the close
of the year.
93. Cultivation.—The total area of land cultivated by the
Farm was 328 acres in addition to which 139 bighas 12 cottas
18 dhurs were leased out for a year at a rental of Rs. 1,981-10-6.
Out of this amount, a sum of Rs. 779 only was realised during
the year and credited to Government. A further sum of
Rs. 847-10-0 has since been realised and steps are being taken to
realise the balance of Rs. 355-0-6.
94. Crops such as juar, maize, gram, oats, khesari, mustard
and berseem, etc., were grown on the farm. A total outturn of
monsoon and rabi crops, viz., 81,931 maunds 20 seers including
green fodder and bhusa (chaff), to the value of Rs. 25,045-2-0
was received, vide statement B, while the total expenditure on
cultivation during the year was Rs. 11,015. The supply of water
for irrigating the farm land was quite inadequate as reported in
the previous years.
95. Trees and Orchards.—The fruit trees on the Farm were
Settled for one season at a rental of Rs. 1,210, and 481 palm trees
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and 35 date trees were settled for a year at Rs. 498-8-0. The
total amount Rs. 1,708-8-0 was realised anderedited to Govern-
ment.
96. Plant and Machinery.—Most of the Agricultural
implements and machinery which were purchased when the
farm was started, have now become very old and require replace-
ment. The pasteurisation plant and the two oil engines have
been working fairly well. The Morris Light Van having gone
out of order has been overhauled and repaired at a cost of
Rs. 410-8-0.
97. Revenue and expenditure.—The total revenue of the
Farm amounted to Rs. 62,503-9-8 including Rs. 25,045-2-0 the
estimated receipts on account of fodder produced, while the total
expenditure was 53,920-4-0 excluding the payments made by the
Public Works Department for buildings. The details are shown
in Table IX.
HORSE BREEDING.
Nil.
FAIRS AND SHOWS.
98. All the important horse and cattle fairs held in the
Province were attended by the staff. Deputy Director Mr. M. I.
Malik personally attended the Sonepur, Khagra, Sitamarhi,
Purnea City and Singheswarasthan fairs, and acted as one of the
judges at the exhibition held at Sitamarhi. At Sonepur a small
but neat veterinary stall was put up to help in propaganda work
which was appreciated by the public. Placards written in
different languages were also shown round and the magic lantern
was demonstrated. I paid a visit to Sonepur and inspected the
camp veterinary hospital erected at the mela.
99. Thirty-three important horse and cattle fairs and shows
were held in the province and in their, altogether 307,999 animals
were brought for sale compared with 248,834 animals brought
during 1935-36. The general health of the animals was satis-
factory, and from the statistics-available it appears that there was
a fair demand in each class. The details of the fairs and shows,
the number of animals and their prices, etc., are shown in
Tables XIII and XIV.
100. According to the report of the District Traffic Superin-
tendent, Bengal and North-Western Railway Co., Ltd., 5,832
bullocks, 744 buffaloes and 934 cows, or a total of 7,510 animals