NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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11. As a representative of the Government of Bihar he
attended the 2nd meeting of the Animal Husbandry Wing of
the Board of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry which was
held in Madras during December 1936, and to which he sub-
mitted a paper written by him on the improved methods for
combating anthrax in cattle by vaccine instead of "serum".
While there, he acted as a member on the livestock subjects
committee, visited Coimbatore and Hosur Cattle Farms, the
Imperial Dairy Institute, the Indian Institute of Science and
the Mysore Government Serum Institute at Bangalore. The
newly started District Cattle Improvement Committees at
Purnea and Muzaffarpur were also attended by him. He was
one of the judges at the Sitamarhi Cattle Fair where he deliver-
ed a speech on the activities of the department. He continued
to act as the President of the Bihar Veterinary Association and
also as a member of the Executive Committee of the Society for
Prevention of cruelty to Animals.
12. During the year Mr. Malik acted as an examiner at
the annual and diploma examinations of the Bihar Veterinary
College, and also at the professional examinations of the subor-
dinate veterinary officers held in April and October 1936.
During the floods of August 1936 he toured in the flood
affected areas for over two weeks visiting Bihpur, Khagaria,
Gogri, Begusarai, Hajipur, Mahnar, Darauli, Chapra, etc., and
kept in touch with the local authorities.
13. During the year Mr. Malik was on tour for 164 days and
travelled 3,552 miles by road in addition to the journeys performed
by rail.
CENTRAL RANGE.
14. Special Officer Mr. S. K. San, b.sc, m.r.c.v.s., held
charge of the Central Range throughout the year except for a
period of one month from the 21st May 1936 to the 20th. June,
1936 while he was on leave and the charge was held
by me. Pending the appointment of an officer the newly
constituted Chota Nagpur Sub-Range was also placed under
Mr. Sen for twenty-six days from the 1st to the 26th of April,
1936.
15. During the year, Mr. Sen inspected all the veterinary
hospitals of the Range numbering 9, and 38 veterinary dis-
pensaries out of a total of 39, as well as the offices and mufassal
work of all the five circle inspectors. He moreover, inspected
the Mounted Military Police horses at Arrah twice, and attended
an outbreak of anthrax among them, personally carrying out
4
inoculations by "serum alone" method and protecting a batch
of them with equine spore vaccine. He inspected the stable and
ponies of the Police Training College, Hazaribagh, and the
Government livestock at the Central Jails at Bhagalpur, Gaya,
Buxar and Hazaribagh and gave the Superintendents in charge
necessary instructions on their feeding and management;
during the floods, he visited Bhagalpur, Sahibgunj, Monghyr,
Bukhliarpur and the Bariarpur Relief Camp for organising
relief measures and deputing extra staff wherever necessary.
He attended the meeting of the Patna District Cattle Improve-
ment Association; the animal show of the Bihar Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals held at Patna and the Bihta
Cattle show, acting as a judge of the animal section at both places;
he also attended an outbreak of rinderpest which took a severe
form in Patna town in July 1936, and represented the department
at the Annual Co-operative Congress held at Bhagalpur.
16. In addition, Mr. Sen during his tours visited 372
villages in which he scrutinised fieldwork and carried on pro-
paganda; interviewed many officials as well as non-official
members of the local authorities with the object of increasing
the strength of the subordinate staff, served as a member on the
Bihar Society for Prevention of Cruetly to Animals Committee
and also as Examiner and Secretary to the Bihar Veterinary
Examination Board for the professional examinations.
17. Mr. Sen was on tour for 131 days and travelled 4,136
miles by road besides the journeys performed by rail.
CHOTA NAGPUR SUB-RANGE.
18. This sub-range was started from the 1st April, 1936,
with the three Chota Nagpur districts of Ranchi, Singhbhum
and Manbhum which previously formed a part of the Orissa
Range. Later in the year, another district viz., Palamau was
added, and in March last arrangements were made to transfer to
it the Hazaribagh district as well. This would bring the entire
Chota Nagpur area of the Province under the control of one
officer. The Sub-Itange was placed under Babu P. C. Bhatta-
charji, G. b. v. c, appointed Assistant Director, and the office
was formally opened in the Government settlement buildings at
Ranchi. A serum depot has been attached to the Sub-Range
office from July, 193G.
19. Babu P. C. Bhattacharji held charge of the Sub-Range
from the 2nd May. 1936, till the end of the year. During the
period he inspected all the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries
numbering 20, 16 rural veterinary dispensaries and the office of
the veterinary inspector, Chaibassa circle. He visited the Kanke
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Agricultural Farm and attended a meeting of the Cattle
Improvement Committee held at Ranchi and some outbreaks of
rinderpest in the Sub-Range. He also inspected the sick horses
of the Mounted Military Police at Jamshedpur and made
arrangements for their treatment, etc.
20. He was on tour for 150 days and travelled 3,878 miles
by road in addition to the railway journeys.
21. The office has recently been provided with electric
installation. It now stands in need of a latrine and urinal for
the staff, and it is also desirable to provide the staff with some
Government quarters as rent of the private houses at Ranchi
is high.
(VETERINARY) DISEASE INVESTIGATION OFFICER.
22. Mr. L. Sahai, m.sc., m.r.c.v.s., held charge of his
post as Veterinary Disease Investigation Officer, Bihar and
Orissa, throughout the year. Though Orissa was separated from
Bihar it was decided by Government that the Officer should
function in both Provinces until his first term of five years
expired as he was originally appointed for the combined
Province of Bihar and Orissa.
23. During the year, Mr. Sahai served as an examiner
in the subjects, Shoeing, Pathology and Bacteriology and Meat
and Milk inspection at the Annual and Diploma Examinations
of the Bihar Veterinary College for 1936-37, and carried out
investigations on (1) Rinderpest immunisation in buffaloes,
(2) Enzootic Otorrhoea, (3) Horn Cancer and (4) Fowl Diseases
which were specially allotted to him by the Imperial Council
of Agricultural Research. Over and above this programme he
also investigated a number of other important diseases which
were reported from time to time. The details of the work will
be shown under the proper heads.
24. Mr. Sahai was on tour for 161 days and travelled
2,185 miles by road in addition to the usual railway journeys.
The question of the extension of his tenure of service was
gone into by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
and it was provisionally decided to extend the term by one year
more from the 2nd May, 1937.
CHAPTER II.
Veterinary Instruction,
BIHAR VETERINARY COLLEGE.
25. Charge.—The Bihar Veterinary College commenced its
7th session from the 1st July, 1936. Mr. R. T. Davis, I.V.S.,
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Principal and Professor of Medicine, held charge of the college
throughout the year and taught medicine to the final year
students. He also supervised the work of the Cattle-hreeding
and Dairy Farm, Patna, and acted as a member of the Board of
Examiners and the Bihar Agricultural Research Committee.
26. Teaching and Subordinate staff.—The teaching staff
of the college underwent changes as the contract of services of
Mr. G. N. Roy Choudhuri having expired on the 30th April,
1936, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
Mr. P. S. Sahi, was appointed Professor of Surgery and
Obstetrics on contract for five years, and he joined his duties
on the 27th July, 1936. Professor J. M. Lahiri, m.r.c.v.s.,
was appointed to be the Vice-Principal of the Bengal Veterinary
College and made over charge of his duties at Patna on the 11th
December, 1936.
27. As regards the subordinate staff, out of the three posts
held in abeyance since 1st March, 1932, the two posts of assistants
to the Professor of Surgery and Anatomy were restored, and the
assistants joined their respective duties in December, 1936.
Babu L. K. Aoharya, assistant to the Professor of Surgery, was
attached to the Biology and Chemistry Section, while Maulavi
M. A. Rahim, assistant to the Professor of Anatomy, held charge
of the Anatomy and Physiology Section and carried on the duties
of the Professor during Mr. Lahiri's absence. The second Labo-
ratory Assistant M. Muzaffar was replaced by Babu T. Tewary,
reserve veterinary assistant surgeon, North Bihar Range.
The details of the staff employed in the College are shown
in Table VII(A).
28. Admission of Students.—During the year 29 new
students joined the College as compared with 36 of the previous
session, while 50 out of 55 old students returned to the College for
further studies the total number of students being thus 79 at the
beginning of the year. Of the 29 new admissions, 7 were United
Provinces Government students, 1 Bihar Government stipendiary,
14 private students (viz. 10 from Bihar, 1 from Madras and 3
from the United Provinces) and 7 Bibar District Board stipen-
diaries. As 6 of the newly admitted left the College during
the course of the year, the numerical strength at the end of the
session came to be 73 as shown below:—
Bihar 26, United Provinces 28, Punjab 12, North-Western
Frontier Province 3, Bengal 1, Madras 1, Rajputana 1 and
Central Provinces 1. Amongst these, 45 were Hindus, 23 Mu-
hammadans, 3 Sikhs and 2 Indian Christians. As regards their
7
educational qualifications, 68 students were either Matriculates or
of equivalent qualification, 4 were passed I. Sc. and 1 passed I. A.
Of the total number (73), 51 were private students and
22 stipend-holders, viz. Bihar Government 1, United Provinces
Government 7, Bihar District Board 11, Bettiah Raj 1, Garwa
Chandra Ballav Trust Fund 1 and Bengal (Mohsin Fund) 1.
The details of the admissions are shown in Table I.
29. Training, examinations, hostel, etc.—The Annual and
Diploma Examinations of the College were as in the previous
year, conducted by a Board of Examiners duly constituted by
Government, and the results were declared by the Board as satis-
factory. Altogether 71 students (30 in class "A", 22 in class
"B" and 19 in class "C") appeared at the examinations and
out of them, 50 passed, viz. 20 in the 1st year, 18 in the 2nd
year and 12 in the 3rd year class, the percentage of passes being
66.61 in the 1st, 81.8 in the 2nd and 63.1 in the 3rd year class,
as compared with 65.9, 82.3 and 69.2 respectively in the preced-
ing year. Three students obtained distinction in the diploma
examination. The Board of Examiners was pleased to report
that the results of the examination in Biology and Chemistry
appeared to them to justify the further employment of the assis-
tant whose services were lent to the lecturer during the year.
30. The post-graduate training class was started with
a shorter course for three months from July to September, 1936.
Six students joined the class of whom five were subordinate
officers of the Civil Veterinary Department, Bihar, and one was
deputed by the Civil Veterinary Department, Central Provinces.
31. Eight students were permitted to reside outside and attend
as day scholars. Accommodation in the regular hostels proving
insufficient, some of the students were removed to the
P. G. hostel where they remained till the end of the session.
Of the three "C" type quarters, two were occupied by the two
Assistants to the Professors recently restored. The general
health of the boarders was quite satisfactory and their conduct
and discipline in the hostel were good. Dr. A. C. Choudhuri,
Professor of Hygiene and Dietetics, was appointed warden of the
college hostel for one year from the 4th July, 1936, vice Lec-
turer Mr. M. B. Bose. Lecturer Mr. S. I. H. Akbari was in
charge of the sports section of the college. 27 new books being
purchased during the year, the total strength of the college
Library came up to 309 volumes. This is in addition to the text
books supplied to the stipendiaries by district boards and other
authorities.
8
The students received training in equitation. A few out-
siders also received this training at the riding class.
32. Veterinary Hospital.—During the year under review,
3,565 animals were treated at the college hospital as against 3,824
in the previous year. Out of this, 314 including the cruelty cases
were admitted as in-patients. In addition, 122 operations were
performed, 350 injections were given and 140 castrations of
different animals were made at the hospital. 257 pathological
specimens were also sent to the college laboratory for examination.
Nasal schistosomiasis in bovines was treated with intravenous
injections of Tartar Emetic 4 per cent solution, graduated doses,
with satisfactory results. 257 horses were shod at the shoeing
forge. The stud bull at the hospital served 43 cows.
The details of the animals treated and castrated are shown
in Table V(A).
33. Research Laboratory.—Experiments were carried on in
rinderpest to study the factors which control the viability of the
virus under different conditions. A new method was devised for
the purpose of prolonging the viability of the virus at laboratory
room and incumbator temperature. Two papers entitled the
"Effect of Trypan Blue on Goat blood virus " and " Experi-
ments in Rinderpest Immunisations " were prepared and pre-
sented by the Research Officer, Mr. P. G. Malkani, for publication.
Experiments were also conducted to explore the possibilities of
passaging the virus through rabbits and rats. The results of
these experiments have so far been negative. Samples of virus
of Doyle's disease were obtained and experiments wore carried
out to determine the distribution of virus in the tissues, and it
was found that the best method of reproducing the disease with
constancy was the subcutaneons injection of an emulsion of
spleen and liver tissue. For evolving a satisfactory diagnostic
agent for Johne's disease the possibilities of finding out a medium
which gives a rapid growth of microbactrium para-tuberculosis
with addition of M. Phlei were explored and further experiments
on the cultivation of the micobacterium in media are in progress.
334 samples of faeces from cattle belonging to the Government
Cattle Farm were examined for Distomiasis with negative
results.
34. The college programme of research for the year 1937-3S
is as follows :—(1) Rinderpest, (2) Doyle's Disease, (3) Coeci-
diosis, (4) Distomiasis, (5) Hæmopro cus in peacock, (6) Johne's
Disease, (7) Buffalo Otorrhœa, (8) Stringhalt in Cattle and
(9) Calcutta Sore.
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35. Altogether 56 Government Farm cattle were vaccinated
by the goat tissue virus method, while 25 animals of the same
farm were tested for immunity against rinderpest.
36. During the year, 1,526 specimens including blood smears,
pus, fæces, urine, skin, scrapings, brain and milk, etc., were
received from the districts of the Central Range and Chota Nag-
pur Sub-Range, Veterinary college hospital and the Government
Cattle Farm, and examined at the Laboratory, as compared with
1,043 specimens received and examined during the previous year.
Out of these, diseases were diagnosed in 670 instances, vide details
under head "Laboratories." Post-mortem examinations were
conducted on 160 animals including 41 received from the college
hospital and the Farm, while 23 interesting pathological speci-
mens were mounted and sent to the college museum for preser-
vation. The photo and art section prepared a number of slides
of dogs and cattle, besides taking 79 photographs of Tharparkar
cross-bred cows, bulls, bullocks, etc. It also prepared some ana-
tomical and temperature charts and did other works of pathologi-
cal and bacteriological importance for purposes of demonstration
and lecture at the College.
37. The College Serum Depot.—444 requisitions for differ-
ent kinds of Muktesar products were received and complied
with. Out of a total of 306,891 doses of sera and vaccines
(including balances) received at the depot, 282,431 doses were
issued, as compared with 243,368 and 187,137 doses respectively
of the previous year.
38. General Remarks.—The total expendituro on the
College during the year amounted to Rs. 82,672-5-3, while the
total receipt for the sane period was Rs. 16,121-10-11, vide
details in table 1 and statement C.
The College Governing Body held two meetings during the
year at which they selected non-stipendiary students for
admission, passed the college budget and transacted other
items of important business.
The prize distribution ceremony of the college was
abolished by Government as it had no important bearing on
the students above school age. In its place one medal as prize
in each of the three classes was awarded to the student who
topped the list of successful candidates at the annual and
diploma examinations of the year.
The college since its inception in 1930 was under the
administration of Mr. R. T. Davis, I.V.S. As he was
due to retire shortly a new post for the appointment of
2
6 DVS
10
principal on contract was approved by Government and
advertised. Arrangements were also made for filling up the
post of Professor of Anatomy and Physiology which fell vacant
in consequence of Mr. J. M. Lahiri's appointment at the Bengal
Veterinary College.
39. Professional examination and training.—The half-
yearly professional examinations of subordinate veterinary
officers were conducted by the Bihar Veterinary Examination
Board in April and October 1936. I was appointed to act as
President and Head Examiner, while Messrs. M. I. Malik and
S. K. Sen as members and examiners. Mr. Sen also acted as
Secretary to the Board. Altogether 22 officers appeared at
the examinations and out of them, 18 passed, the percentage
of passes being 81.8. The final examination results were duly
published in the Bihar Gazette.
CHAPTER III.
TREATMENT OF DISEASES.
40. Incidence of contagious Diseases.—All the principal
contagious livestock diseases wore prevalent during the year,
and of these, rinderpest was most severe in Chota Nagpur
districts especially in Hazaribagb, Ranchi and Palaman where
it caused heavy mortalities among cattle and buffaloes.
Hæmorrhagic septicæmia and foot and mouth disease were more
or less general, and the mortalities from the former disease were
greater than in the previous year. A peculiar feature of these
statistics was that anthrax was not reported in the area north
of the Ganges, while to the south of the river, it was reported
in all districts except Ranchi. Black quarter was reported in
nine districts, viz., Saran, Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga,
Monghyr, Bhagalpur, Santal Parganas, Hazaribagh and
Manbhum, and Bovine Sarra in eight, viz., Champaran,
Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya, Shahabad, Monghyr, Hazaribagh
and Palamau.
Ephemeral fever and liver fluke disease,
moreover, appear to have caused some trouble in the North
Bihar Range. The incidence of the principal contagious live-
stock diseases is shown in the map attached.
41. The form table II having been revised by the Govern-
ment of India, the mortality figures were recorded according to
the new form. The form now shows the deaths of buffaloes,
sheep, goats, dogs and camels under a separate head for each
disease.
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42. During the year 3,289 outbreaks of different contagious
livestock diseases were brought to notice, and in these out of a
total number of 40,075 animals affected, 18,632 died, as compared
with 3,264 outbreaks, 57,070 attacks and 7,923 deaths recorded
in 1935.36. This is in addition to 464 deaths recorded under
"equines". The figures for the Orissa districts being excluded,
the statistics indicate that for practically the same number of
outbreaks, the number of deaths has increased by more than ten
thousands. The increase was due to greater virulence of the
attacks of rinderpest and hæmorrhagic septicæmia noticed above,
as well as a large number of deaths recorded under head "other
causes". The decrease in the number of seizures was due to
exclusion of the Orissa districts which were mostly infected with
foot and mouth disease.
43. Altogether 2,995 outbreaks were attended by the
staff which shows a percentage of 90.7 attendances compared
with 858 of the preceding year, 1935-36. There has therefore
been a distinct improvement in the number of attendances at
outbreaks.
44. Statistics of livestock diseases.—The following table
shows the statistics of the outbreaks, seizures, deaths etc.,
recorded in each range according to its area and livestock
population.
Area in
Range. sq. mile.
North Bihar... 20,457
Central
... 28,928
Chota Nagpur 19,992
(Sub-Range)
69,377
Livestock.
10,094,441
9,519,829
3,659,197
23,273,467*
No. of out-
breaks re-
ported.
621
1,355
1,313
3,289
No of out-
breaks
attended.
618
1,249
1,128
2,995
No. of
animals
affected
in out-
break.
7,464(a)
18,425(b)
14,786(c)
40,675
No of
death
recorded
in out-
break.
3,576
9,879
5,177
18,632(d)
The figures are according to the census of 1930.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Includes 4,754 cases of foot and mouth disease.
„
8,441 cases of foot and mouth disease.
„
3,043 cases of foot and mouth disease.
„
5,612 deaths from other causes.
45. Reporting of diseases.—Reporting of diseases by village
chaukidars and other agencies continued to be satisfactory.
During the year, 67 chaukidars were either rewarded or recom-
mended for rewards for good work to the department, while 53
were either punished or reported for punishment, for unsatisfac-
tory work.
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Equines.
46. Glanders and Farcy.—No case of Glanders or Farcy
was reported during the year.
47. Surra.—Two outbreaks of equine surra wore reported in
Muzaffarpur town as the result of which one animal died and the
other was destroyed. Four more outbreaks were reported in
Palamau where out of 5 animals affected 2 died.
48. Dourine.—Dourine was not reported in the Province.
49. Anthrax.—Only 1 death from equine anthrax was
recorded in Shahabad.
50. Other equine diseases.—Under this head are shown
deaths from such diseases as strangles, tetanus, etc., and also
from those that cannot be classified.
Strangles.—Only 3 cases of equine strangles were reported
in Darbhanga and Palamau and all of them were cured.
Tetanus.—Two animals were attacked with this disease, one
in Chainparan and the other in North Monghyr, both of which
succumbed.
61. Other causes.—This is one of the newly introduced
heads. 369 deaths from other causes such as debility, old age,
etc., are shown.
Bovine.
52. Rinderpest.—Rinderpest was prevalent in all the
districts of the Province and its virulence was greater than in
the previous year. It caused considerable loss to cultivators in
Ranchi and Palaman where the disease appeared in a severe
form. Altogether 1,032 outbreaks of rinderpest were brought
to notice, and in those outbreaks, out of a total number of
16,849 animals attacked, 7,918 died as compared with 1,127
outbreaks, 12,092 attacks and 5,039 deaths recorded during the
year 1935-36. Of the total number of deaths, 5,162 were of
cattle and 2,766 of buffaloes.
53. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—Like rinderpest, hæmor-
rhagic septicæmia was also present throughout the Province.
It broke out in a severe form in many parts of the Central
Bange, and was most prevalent in Ranchi recording 470 deaths
in that district. It caused high mortalities among cattle and
buffaloes also in Patna and Gaya. During the year 771 outbreaks
of hæmorrhagic septicæmia were reported and in them, out of
4,476 animals attacked, 3,372 succumbed to the disease, as com-
pared with 384 outbreaks, 2,179 attacks and 1,612 deaths re-
corded in the year 1935-36. The total number of deaths includes
1,070 deaths of buffaloes.