NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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1936-37, in addition, 1,596 old cases were treated as well. The
question of increasing the number of these dispensaries at
important centres which are greatly appreciated by the livestock
owners in view of their proximity to their villages is under
consideration, but, with the very limited touring staff at present
employed in the Department, it is not possible to make much
headway in this direction.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS.
81. There was no change in the number of veterinary
hospitals which remained constant at 29 as in previous year
(including the Bettiah Raj Hospital). The district boards of
Patna and Monghyr expressed their inability to appoint
stationary veterinary assistant surgeons, consequently the
hospitals at Dinapore and Jamui remained in charge of the local
touring veterinary assistant surgeons. The need for the
appointment of stationary veterinary assistant surgeons at
Chaibassa, Daltonganj and Sasaram was again brought to the
notice of the local bodies concerned, but they could not consider
the question due to financial stringency.
61. Construction and repair of veterinary hospitals and
dispensaries.—The construction work of the veterinary hospital
at Dumra (Sitamarhi), veterinary dispensaries at Bihar and
Barhampur (Shahabad) was completed during the year. A shed
for a shoeing forge at the Dinapore veterinary dispensary was
completed during the year. The reconstruction and repairs to
the buildings of veterinary hospital, Muzatfarpur, at the old site
damaged by the earthquake was still in progress at the close of
this year. In addition, the construction of a veterinary
dispensary at Barh was also in progress. Negotiations for the
purchase of a piece of land with a view to constructing
veterinary dispensaries at Buxar and Daudnagar (district Gaya)
according to the departmental type plan were made. Through
the initiative of the Honorary Secretary, Society for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, Bihar, a shoeing forge was also attached
to the Bankipore Veterinary Hospital in a shed, newly built.
The question of constructing new buildings for the Government
veterinary dispensary, Simdega, with a contribution from the
district board, Ranchi, as mentioned in previous year's report,
remained undecided.
83. Number of patients treated at veterinary hospitals —
During the year 100,393 in and out-patients were treated at the
29 veterinary hospitals, as compared with 97,225 patients in
1936-37. This figure includes 4 cruelty cases treated at the
Daltonganj dispensary. In addition, 22,497 castrations were
performed, 135,818 old cases were treated as out-patients and
19,961 patients not brought to hospitals were supplied with
medicines, as compared with 20,875 castrations, 135,357 old
cases and 12,400 patients supplied with medicines in the previous
year. The increase of work under all heads is gratifying and
20
shows that advantage is being taken of the institutions by
livestock owners. Of the total number of 100,395 new patients,
58,999 were treated at 14 veterinary hospitals of the North Bihar
Range, 25,423 at 9 veterinary hospitals of the Central Range and
15,973 at 6 veterinary hospitals of the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range,
the number of castrations performed in these ranges being
14,154, 5,594 and 2,749 respectively.
CHAPTER IV.
BREEDING OPERATIONS.
84. Control of livestock improvement.—The work of the
Department under this head was restricted to the breeding opera-
tions at the Patna Cattle Breeding Farm. Owing to the
formation of District Cattle Improvement Associations in certain
districts, the question of improvement of livestock received
greater attention during the year, as a result of which 15 Thar-
parkar and cross-bred bulls were supplied to the district boards
and other local bodies, etc., in the province. The future policy of
Government with regard to the animal husbandry problem is
still under consideration.
85. Stud bulls.—During the year, 13 stud bulls were
obtained by the district boards of Champaran, Muzaffarpur,
Darbhanga, Gaya and the District Committee, Santal Parganas
of which 2 died and 4 were distributed amongst private
individuals. The total at the end of the year was 38 including
4 belonging to the Bettiah Raj. The distribution of the bulls
is shown in Table VIII.
86. Castration.—The campaign to eliminate the scrub
bulls as an aid to improvement of cattle was pushed on as
usual. During the year, a total of 116,043 bulls and bull calves
were castrated by the staff as compared with 111,438 in the
year 1936-37, of these 53,544 were castrated in the North Bihar
Range, 45,555 in the Central Range and 16,944 in the Chota
Nagpur Sub-Range.
CATTLE FARM.
Cattle Breeding Farm, Patna.
87. Staff.—Mr. R. T. Davis, I.V.S., Principal, Bihar Veteri-
nary College, supervised the work of the Farm till 19th May
1937, when he went on leave for one year and 21 days prepara-
tory to retirement, and Babu N. N. Ghose, Farm Manager,
remained in independent charge of the Farm from 20th May,
1937, till 12th January, 1938, when he went on leave for two
months and three days preparatory to retirement and was relieved
by me on the 13th January, 1938. Babu M. M. Banarji, Veteri-
nary Inspector of the Civil Veterinary Department, was appoint-
ed temporary manager and took over charge of his duties with
effect from 15th January, 1938.
21
88. Livestock.—On the 1st of April, 1937, the Farm herd
consisted of 66 Desi cows, 122 Tharparkar cows, 93 Tharparkar
(male) calves, 162 Tharparkar (female) calves, 65 cross-bred
(male) calves, 32 cross-bred (female) calves, 17 Tharparkar bulls,
4 cross-bred bulls, 90 bullocks and one pony or a total of 652
animals. During the year, 61 Tharparkar (male) calves, 58 Thar-
parkar (female) calves and 13 each male and female cross-bred
calves were born raising the total to 797. Out of this number,
there were 14 casualties, 195 animals were sold and 17 animals
were sent to Pinjrapole bringing the strength of the herd to 571
on the 31st March, 1938 as per statement A.
A new register has been started in which records of the
general health of the live-stock are kept. In future, it will be
possible to take stock of the diseases that appear at the Farm.
The 14 casualties of the Farm stock are attributable to the
following diseases:—
Pulmonary Congestion, Pleuro Pneumonia, Pneumonia,
Gastro entritis, Peritonitis, Rupture of Bladder, Eudocarditis,
Necrosis of the liver and Johne's disease.
Of the 17 animals that were sent to Pinjrapole, two were
suffering from incurable diseases and the rest had passed the
useful part of their lives.
Examination of fæces revealed a large scale worm infection
of the Farm stock and a block in the dry yard was set apart
where 28 animals were treated successfully.
Careful examination on my taking over charge of the Farm
established the presence of Johne's disease in the herd for
the first time which must have existed in the herd for a con-
siderable time previously. Necessary steps were taken to control
its incidence.
Foot and Mouth disease appeared in the herd in the month
of September, 1937 and in a few days spread to all the dry stock
but fortunately through stringent control measures under my
directions when I was officiating as Director of Veterinary
Services, it did not spread to the milch stock and a very grave
situation was averted.
The Ex: Farm Manager, Babu N. N. Ghose, was inclined
to carry out these measures half-heartedly and but for the strict
vigilance exercised by Mr. S. K. Sen, B.SC., M.R.C.V.S., Special
Officer, Central Range, who was placed in direct charge of the
outbreak, the object might not have been gained. A total of
216 animals were affected with the disease but there was no
casualty.
All the Farm cattle were protected with Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia and black quarter vaccines in the months of June
and July and 61 animals were vaccinated with Goat Tissue Virus
against Rinderpest. These operations were carried out by the
laboratory staff. The (Veterinary) Disease Investigation Officer
carried out some immunity tests on the Farm herd.
22
89. Supply of breeding bulls and disposal of surplus
Stock.—15 Tharparkar and cross-bred bulls were supplied to
the district boards and local bodies in the province at Rs. 50
each.
36 cows, 32 heifers, 3 bull calves and 109 bullocks were
sold by public auction and Rs. 3,744 was realised. Details
will be found in statement A.
90. Milk and milk products.—588 lbs. of milk was
brought over on the 1st April, 1937. The total milk yield of the
herd during the year was 395,272 lbs. or an average of
11lbs. per cow per day against 401,973 lbs. during the last year
or a decrease of 6,701 lbs. The decrease in milk may be attri-
buted to a smaller number of cows remaining in milk (there
was an average of 94 cows in milk per day during the year
under report against 99 of the previous year) and to the out-
break of Foot and Mouth disease that occurred at the Farm.
The average milk yield of the country-bred cows throughout the
year works out at about 10 lbs. per head per day while that of
Tharparkar at 12 lbs.
91. The total quantity of milk sold during the year was
862,l083/4 lbs. against 364,487 lbs. 2 ozs. during the last year
or a decrease of 2,378 lbs. 6 ozs. of milk. In addition to the sale
of milk, 836 lbs. 11 ozs. of cream and 66 lbs. 14 ozs. of ghee
were sold as against 598 lbs. 4 ozs. of cream and 215 lbs. 14 ozs.
of ghee sold during the previous year.
92. Out of the balance of 33,751½ lbs. of milk, 15,656 lbs.
were separated for cream, 11,697½ lbs were lost in the process
of pasteurising, measuring and bottling, etc., 6,3323/4 lbs. were fed
to the calves leaving a balance of 65 lbs. of milk at the close of
the year.
93. Cultivation.—The total area under cultivation in the
Farm was 321 acres; 170 bighas 3 cottahs 8 dhurs were leased
out for a year at a rental of Rs. 2,046-5-6. Rs. 1,112-4-0 was
realised during the year and credited to Government. A further
sum of Rs. 801-4-0 has been realised up-to-date leaving a balance
of Rs. 132-13-6 which it is hoped to realise at an early date.
94. Juar, maize, gram, oats, peas, berseem, sudan grass
and elephant grass were grown on the Farm. The total outturn
of monsoon and rabi crops was 49,067½ maunds including green
fodder and bhusa valued at Rs. 20,155-1-0 at an expenditure on
cultivation of Rs. 12,324-11-9. The monsoon crops were a
failure due to excessive and untimely rainfall.
95. Trees and orchards.—The fruit trees were settled for
the season at a rental of Rs. 500 and 517 palm trees and 64
date trees for the year at a rental of Rs. 559-8-0 The amount
of Rs. 1,059-0-0 was realised during the year and credited to
Government.
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96. Water-supply.—The chronic scarcity of water for irri-
gation purposes was acutely felt as in previous years; steps have
since been taken to utilise the Temporary Jail tube well and this,
it is hoped, will afford some relief.
97. Plants and machinery.—As already reported in pre-
vious years, most of the Agricultural implements and machineries
which were purchased when the farm was started have become
very old and require replacement, specially the tractor and en-
silage cutter. The pasteurisation plant as well is getting out of
order frequently. The two oil engines and the boiler worked
fairly well. The wood panelling of the Morris light van has
rotted and arrangements have been made to replace the same.
Previously, no proper records of breakages of the machinery
in the Farm were kept. I have caused a register to be opened
in which all breakages are registered and full details given
This has resulted in better control over the work of the Farm
machines and other registers showing the exact hours of work of
the machines have also been started and this has resulted in
considerable savings in consumption of coal, kerosene oil, Agri.
oil, etc.
98. Revenue and Expenditure.—The total revenue of the
Farm amounted to Rs. 62,163-14-9 including the estimated value
of the outturn of crops and that of the Farm manure utilised in
cultivation work and total expenditure was Rs. 87,509-5-6
including Rs. 20,155-1-0 on account of the estimated value of
the outturn of crops consumed by the herd and that of the
value of the Farm yard manure utilised in cultivation work but
excluding the payments made by the Public Works Department
for buildings. The details are shown in Table IX.
In previous years, while the value of the Farm produce was
shown in the revenue it was not shown on the expenditure side
though consumed by the Farm stock; this gave a false picture of
working expenditure and the income.
The increase in expenditiure was due to the purchase of
large amounts of grains and fodder due to failure of monsoon
crops at the Farm and on account of the increase in the price of
steam coal.
Every attempt has been made by me since taking over
charge of the Farm to reduce the expenditure and obtain better
results for the money spent and it is satisfactory to report that in
the short time i. e., between the 13th of January and 31st March
a saving of Rs. 1,287-15-0 has been effected as compared to the
same working period of the previous year.
HORSE BREEDING.
Nil.
FAIRS AND SHOWS.
99. The staff attended all the important horse and cattle
fairs and shows held in the Province during the year. As Deputy
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Director I attended Sitamarhi, Bettiah, Jaintpur and Sonepur
fairs while temporary Deputy Director Babu P. C. Bhattacharji
attended Khagra and Singheswar-asthan fairs. As usual a neat
little stall with a camp veterinary hospital was erected at the
Sonepur fair and placards written in different languages were
shown round the mela. A cattle show organised by the Agricul-
tural Department was also held at Sonepore in which I acted as
one of the judges. His Excellency the Governor of Bihar graced
the fair with his presence. Demonstrations with magic lanterns
were given at Sonepore and other important fairs. According to
the report of the District Traffic Superintendent, Bengal and
North-Western Railway Co., Ltd., 7,277 bullocks, 811 cows,
248 buffaloes, 458 horses and 19 elephants or a total of 8,813
animals were booked by rail to different places from the stations
on the Sonepore district. A small stall which was greatly
appreciated by the visitors was put up and veterinary exhibits
were demonstrated at the (Bihar Provincial) Exhibition held at
Patna, Madhubani and also at Muzaffarpur on the occasion of the
G. B. B. College Anniversary day.
100. Altogether 38 more important horse and cattle fairs and
shows were held in the Province in which 353,498 animals con-
gregated for sale as compared with 307,999 animals during 1936-
37. The general condition of the animals exhibited was satis-
factory and there was a fair demand for each class of animals.
The prices varied according to breeds and sizes and other qualities,
etc. The details are shown in Tables XIII and XIV.
CHAPTER V.
LABORATORIES.
101. Diagnosis of diseases was carried out at the laboratories
at Patna Veterinary College and Muzaffarpur. Altogether 4,554
specimens comprising of blood smears, pus, faeces, urine, skin
scrapings, brain, milk, etc., received from the districts, the
Veterinary College hospital and the Patna Cattle Farm were
examined at these laboratories and of these 1,472 proved positive
for the following diseases:—
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia 34, Black Quarter 6, Surra
(Equine) 16, Surra (Bovine) 12, Strangles 25, Fowl Cholera 3,
Nematode Infestation 308, Sarcoptic mange 2, Bovine Trypano-
somiasis 20, Coccidiosis 86, Ankylostomiasis 159, Anaemia 18,
Babies 3, Actinomycosis 1, Ascariasis 10, Johne's disease 3,
Anthrax (Equine) 54, Anthrax (Bovine) 1, Piroplasmosis 17,
Mange 2, Anisocytosis 7, Ova of Trichuria 2, Larva of Oxyuris 1,
Putrifactive organisim 24, Miscellaneous 205, Canine Piro 2 and
Streptococus mammites 4; 33 samples of urine and 3 of milk were
also tested. The percentage of the number of diseases diagnosed
was 32.1 against 39.8 of the previous year.
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INVESTIGATION OF DISEASES.
102. (a) During the year under report (Veterinary) Disease
Investigation Officer immunized almost the entire herd of the
Tata Dairy Farm against Rinderpest with Goat Tissue Virus. He
also protected by the same method 166 head of village buffaloes
some of which also received simultaneously with the virus a
dose of anti-rinderpest serum. As a result of these inoculations
taken in conjunction with past experience, it has now been
possible to work out a rough table of dosage of anti-rinderpest
serum (ordinary) required to counteract the possibility of severe
reactions among buffaloes following this method of inoculation.
Tests carried out at the Government Cattle Farm, Patna
have shown that the immunity conferred by the Goat Blood
Virus and Goat Tissue Virus methods of inoculation lasts for
at least 2½ years.
(b) Investigation was carried out during the year under
report of a pathological condition affecting the horn of bullocks
known as Horn Cancer. The lesion which is cauliflower-like in
appearance and has invariably a history of severe injury to the
horn has been found to be a squamous-celled carcinoma or
epidermoid cancer in 8 cases so far examined. The disease
would also seem to show a sex and species incidence as no case
has so far been seen in a cow or a buffalo (of the 8 cases examined
so far). The condition is a serious one as in advanced cases it
often ends fatally and merits investigation, no theory is at
present advanced regarding its causation.
(c) Investigations into equine encephalomyelitis were
continued. Three further cases of the disease (Mounted Military
Police horses) were destroyed during the year under report and
subjected to a thorough post-mortem-examination. The diagnosis
of equine encephalomyelitis was confirmed in every case, but
transmission experiments failed to confirm the presence of a
filterable virus as the casual agent as previously suspected. The
disease is now being studied from the biochemical point of view
in collaboration with Muktesar. Hexamine treatment of affected
cases has not yielded any conclusive results.
(d) Trials with the subcutaneous injection of trypanblue as
a prophylactic in Doyle's disease as recently advocated by a
worker were carried out in several outbreaks, but the drug has
not yielded satisfactory results in this Province.
(e) An investigation into an outbreak of 'Jowar' poisoning
near Bihar Sharif in the district of Patna was also carried out.
Chemical examination of suspected samples revealed the presence
of Hydrocyanic acid in every case, further work is proposed to
be carried out when an opportunity occurs next.
(f) Two cases of suspected Osteomalacia in buffaloes were
seen near Bihar Sharif and Nawada respectively. Chemical
examination of serum and of fodder revealed a definite phospho-
rus deficiency as the probable etiological factor.
26
(g) Investigation into an outbreak of diarrhoea among goats
in several villages near Rajgir in the district of Patna revealed
that the disease was a form of acute amphistomiasis caused by
Cotylophoron cotylopnorum.
(h) An outbreak of a disease characterised by a protracted
fever and anæmia in the latter stages among dogs belonging to
the Raja Bahadur of Darbhanga, in which about 20 dogs were
attacked with 10 deaths, yielded no conclusive results on investi-
gation. In two cases, however, Piroplasma canis were present
in the blood of the aff. cted animals and suspicion of the same
infection in another two was aroused at post-mortem examination.
(i) During the year under report the (Veterinary) Disease
Investigation Officer came across a case of Rginosporiaiosis in a
pony near Bargrarh in the district of Sambalpur, claimed to be
the second reported case of its kind in India.
( j) The entire lot of Mounted Military Police horses were
again protected against anthrax by the Burma Spore Vaccine
and it is satisfactory to note that since 1935 when this method of
protection was adopted there has been no case of anthrax among
these horses while previously many animals were lost each year.
(k) At the request of the Agricultural Department 15 bulls
at the Kanke Agricultural Farm were examined for the deter-
mination of their fertility.
(l) At the instance of the Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research a note was prepared on the diseases of goats and sheep in
this Province which are of importance from the export point of
view. Information about the incidence of sterility, abortion,
etc., among the principal Government and private-owned herds
as also about warble fly was collected and supplied to the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
(m) Investigations into the incidence of Johne's disease
were continued. Two cases of the disease at the Hazaribagh
Central Jail were destroyed and confirmed by post-mortem
examination.
(n) Other subjects studied included mammitis among
cows, necrosis of tail in buffaloes, night blindness in up-country
bullocks, etc.
103. Investigation and experimental treatment carried
out in ranges.—In addition to the work of the (Veterinary)
Dis ase Invetigation Officer investigations into and experimental
treatment of many important diseases, viz., skin disesase of
unknown etiology, broken horn, tumours, bursatee, rinderpest
(with cyllin and kaolin), stringhalt, nasal granuloma, foot and
mouth disease, liver flake, parasitic diarrhoea, hæmorrhagic
septicæmia, mastitis, schistomiasis, mange, equine encephalo-
myelitis, doyle's disease, bovine surra, anthrax, coccidiosis,
rabies, criminal poisoning and malicious injuries, cutaneous
bleeding cases, yoke gall, ottorrhæa in buffalæs, debility and
27
anæmia, and chronic bronchitis were conducted at the veterinary
hospitals in districts.
CHAPTER VI.
Establishment.
PROVINCIAL.
104. There was no change in the personnel of officers of
the Provincial Veterinary Service except that the temporary
Special Officer Mr. S K. Sen was absorbed in class I Veterinary
Service as Deputy Director of the newly created Central Range
with effect from the 1st December, 193.. Babu P. C. Bhatta-
charji was confirmed in class II service from the 2nd May, 1937
and later on relieved me as ten porary Deputy Director of the
North Bihar Range when I was appointed to act as Principal
of the Bihar Veterinary College. As a temporary Assistant
Director, Babu M. Agnihotri, held charge of the Chota Nagpur
Sub-Range against this vacancy and of the North Bihar Range
for 2 months and 3 days from the 2nd August, 1937 as well
when I officiated for Major Riley.
Subordinate.
105. Excluding the subordinate staff employed at the
Bihar Veterinary College on teaching and other work which
remained unaffected, the cadre on the 1st April, 1937, consisted
of 11 Veterinary Inspectors, 1 laboratory assistant, 5 staff
veterinary assistant surgeons, 10 reserve veterinary assistant
surgeons and 111 district veterinary assistant surgeons including
one employed by the Bettiah Raj or a total of 138 officers. On
the retirement of 1st grade veterinary inspector, Babu J. L. Bose,
second grade veterinary inspector, Babu R. K. Ram, was pro-
moted to the 1st grade on Rs. 200 per month and 3rd grade
veterinary inspector, Babu D. C. Guha, to the 2nd grade while
laboratory assistant Babu B. L. Moitra, who was acting tem-
porarily as an inspector in a leave vacancy, was absorbed
against the last vacancy in the inspector's grade. Staff veteri-
nary Assistant Surgeon, Babu C. K. Mukherji was also appoint-
ed against a similar vacancy in the 3rd grade which occurred
consequent upon the confirmation of the probationary Assistant
Director, Babu P. C. Bhattacharji in class II service. Reserve
veterinary assistant surgeon, Babu S. D. Narain, continued to
act temporarily as inspector of Motihari Circle till the end of
the year. On his return from long leave, reserve veterinary
assistant surgeon, Maulavi S. B. Ahmed was again appointed
to act temporarily as inspector of Purneah circle, vice Babu
R. K. Ram, granted leave. In addition, staff veterinary assis-
tant surgeons, Maulvi S. A. Quadir and Babu P. Topno acted
temporarily as veterinary inspectors of
Patna and Ranchi
circles respectively in short leave vacancies. Two vacancies in
the staff veterinary assistant surgeons which, occurred during
the year were filled by Babus P. N. Mukherji and R. N.
Prasad II.