NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
19
was only one death from the disease during the year. Imme-
diate steps were taken to check the disease with success.
All the Farm cattle were protected with Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia and Black quarter vaccines, in the month of June,
the operations were carried out under the supervision of the
Veterinary Inspector, Patna Circle and 54 animals were vacci-
nated with goat tissue virus against Rinderpest by the Labora-
tory staff of the Bihar Veterinary College.
106. Disposal of Surplus stock.—22 cows, 40 heifers,
34 bull calves and 12 bulls were sold by public auction and a
sum of Rs. 3,258 realised was credited to Government. For
details please see Table XVI.
107. Milk and milk products.—The total milk yield during
the year was 344,b283/4 lbs. or an average of 10 lbs. per cow
per day against 370.382½ lbs. during the previous year or a
decrease of 25,553-3/4 lbs.
The decrease in milk yield may be attributed to the
outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease of a virulent type which
affected all the milch cows. The average number of cows in
milk per day was 90.
The average milk yield of the country-bred
cows
throughout the year works out at about 8 lbs. per head per day
while that of Tharparkar cows at 10.8 lbs.
108. Manufacture of butter.—16½ lbs. of butter was
brought over on the 1st April, 1939. 63,437 lbs. of buffalo milk
and 2,416 lbs. of cream were purchased from outside for the
manufacture of butter. The outturn of butter during the
year was 5,481 lbs. 2½ ozs. Out of the total quantity of 5,497 lbs.
10½ ozs. of butter 5,211 lbs. 14 ozs. were sold and 271 lbs. 12½ ozs.
of butter were made into ghee and 9 ozs. wasted during the
process leaving a balance of 13 lbs.7 ozs. at the end of the year.
Out of the total quantity of 344,8283/4 lbs. of Farm milk
plus 63,437 lbs. of purchased milk 331,847¼ lbs. were sold,
68,449 lbs. were separated for cream, 2,5443/4 lbs. were
lost in measuring and bottling and the balance 5,4243/4 lbs.
were fed to calves.
In addition to the sale of milk 639 lbs. 5 ozs. of cream and
219 lbs. 8 ozs. of ghee were also sold.
109. Cultivation.—The total area under cultivation was
318 acres; 162 bighas, 10 cottahs and 3 dhurs were leased out
at a rental of Rs. 2,005-7-3 of which a sum of Rs. 1,606-
10-3 was realised and deposited. Rs. 398-13-0 is still under
collection.
Juar, maize, elephant grass, Sudan grass, Guinea grass,
Bajra, Lucerne, Barseem, Soybean, paddy, gram, oats, peas, sun
flower, jute, etc., were grown on the Farm.
The total outturn of rabi and kharif crops was 40,455 mda.
24 seers including green fodder and bhoosa and 159,900 pullas of
paddy straw valued at Rs. 19,971-13-0 at a cultivation
20
expenditure of Rs. 12,322-11-0 including the cost of farm yard
manure. Details will be found in table XVII.
110. Trees and orchards.—The fruit trees were settled for
the season at a rental of Rs. 3,100 and all the juice producing
palm and date trees for the year at a rental of Rs. 745. The
total amount, viz., Rs. 3,845 was realised during the year and
credited to Government.
111. Irrigation and drainage.—The supply of water for
irrigating the farm land was inadequate although use was made
of the temporary Camp Jail tube-well and 2 Rahat pumps of the
farm. We have been advised that for adequate irrigation facili-
ties sinking of a 12 inches tube-well is necessary. Proposal for
this will be submitted to the Government in due course.
112. Plants and machinery.—Sanction was obtained to the
purchase of a Chevrolet Van for distribution of milk to the
customers of the Farm at a cost of Rs. 3,460. The van was
purchased in November, 1939 and has been working quite satis-
factorily. The old Morris Light Van of the Farm was sold
for Rs. 250.
Most of the Agricultural implements and machineryl have
become very old and require replacement.
113. Revenue and expenditure.—The total revenue of the
Farm amounted to Rs. 70,817-13-0 including Rs. 19,971-13-0
the estimated value of the outturn of crops and Rs. 2,500, the
estimated value of the farm yard manure and the total expendi-
ture was Rs. 83,791-5-0 including the estimated cost of the out-
turn of crops and that of the farm yard manure utilised for
cultivation but excluding the payments made by the Public
Works Department for repairs to the buildings. The details are
shown in Table XII.
HORSE BREEDING.
114. The scheme drawn up last year for the improve-
ment of indigenous horses in Bihar for the consideration of
the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research was referred to
the Bihar Agricultural Research Committee which supported it.
At present, however, no controlled horse breeding is being carried
on.
FAIRS AND SHOWS.
115. As usual the staff attended all the important horse and
cattle fairs and shows held in the Province where extensive pro-
paganda about the activities of the Department was undertaken.
In addition they delivered instructive lectures on improvement
of live-stock and the control of various contagious diseases.
Demonstrations with magic lanterns were given at most of
these fairs. Veterinary stalls in which charts, pictures, etc., were
exhibited were also put up at the Exhibitions held under the
auspices of (1) the Bihar Commercial Museum, Bankipur Lawn,
(2) the All-India Kisan Sabha, Gaya, (3) the Sonepore fair,
(4) the Exhibition organised at the occasion of the 21st Bihar
21
Co-operative Federation Congress (Muzaffarpur), (5) Exhibition
on the occasion of the Indian National Congress (Ramgarh) and
(6) the Khunti Agriculture-Horticultural and Industrial Exhi-
bition. A show was also put up at the Exhibition held at
Muzaffarpur on the occasion of the first Bihar Woman Indus-
trial Education Conference visited by His Excellency the
Governor of Bihar and Lady Stewart. At Sonepore a camp
veterinary hospital was erected and placards in different langu-
ages were exhibited as usual. The new type of statuettes of
different breed of cow-bulls, cows, buffalo-bulls, buffaloes and
bullocks were put up at the stalls at Ramgarh and Sonepore which
were much appreciated by the public. A feature of the Ram-
garh Exhibition which was largely visited by the rural popula-
tion was that it comprised of three sections, viz., (1) Museum,
(2) Dairy and (3) practical demonstration in which lectures
with magic lantern were delivered, modern dairy implements, a
model cattle shed, pathological and parasitological specimens
were displayed and practical demonstrations on the methods of
preparation of the dairy products were given. The Agriculture-
Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition Committee, Khunti,
awarded a first class certificate to the Department for its
exhibits.
According to the figures furnished by the District Traffic
Superintendent, Bengal and North-Western Railway Company,
Limited 9,165 animals, viz., 472 cows, 8,199 bullocks, 171
buffaloes, 314 horses, and 9 elephants were booked by rail
to different places from the stations on the Sonepore District as
against 3,484 of the previous year. One of the factors responsi-
ble for the increased business appears to be the absence of any
epidemic among livestock or human beings at the Sonepore Fair
during the year.
The number of important horse and cattle fairs held in the
Province increased to 42 from 38 and 423,706 animals were put
up for sale as compared with 323,851 during 1938-39. The
general condition of the animals remained satisfactory and their
prices varied between normal limits.
CHAPTER V.
LABORATORIES.
116. As Central Range and the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range
do not possess laboratories of their own the staff of these ranges
continued to send slides and other materials for examination to
the laboratory attached to the Bihar Veterinary College, Patna.
The number of such specimens received was 1,120, viz., 861 from
Central Range and 259 from the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range.
Altogether 1,772 pathological specimens, fæces, pus, urine, skin
scrapings, etc., including those received from the Government
Cattle Farm, Patna and the College hospital were examined
at the above laboratory and 1,041 at the North Bihar Range
Laboratory, Muzaffarpur, forwarded by the staff of that range
making a total of 2,813. In addition 7 pathological specimens
22
were preserved at the North Bihar Range laboratory. Positive
diagnosis was given in 987 cases as detailed below:—
Authrax (Bovine) 27, Anthrax (Equine) 3, Hæmorrha-
gic Sept cæmia 43, Black Quarter 12, Tetanus 1, Strangles 8,
Johne's disease 2, Tuberculosis (Canine) 1, Streptococal Mastitis
1, Piro lasmosis (Bovine) 22, Haeinoproteus—Peacock 1, Trypa-
nosomiasis (Equine) 5, Trypanosomiasis (Bovine) 21, Doyle's
disease 4 Roup 2, Anaemia 161, Leucocytosis 66, Rabies 1,
Mange 12, Nematodes 266, Cestods 9, Trematods 8, Coccidi-
osis 59, Filariasis (Canine) 10, Schistosomiasis 1, Bovine
Surra 36, Equine Surra 3, Ankylostomiasis 38, Ascariasis 7, Liver
Fluke 2, Demodectic Mange 1, Bovine Piroplasmosis 4, Trichu-
ris 2, Miscel areous 148.
INVESTIG ATION OF DISEASES BY THE (VETERINARY)
DISEASE INVESTIGATION OFFICER, BIHAR.
117. Investigation work.—The following diseases were
allotted by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research for
special investigation in this province during the year:—
(a) Equine encephalomyelitis, (b) Horn cancer, (c) Mastitis,
(d) Sheep and goat diseases, (e) Fowl diseases, (f) Miscellaneous.
118. CATTLE DISEASES.
(a) Enzootic Otorrhæa.—Further work on this disease
this year has shown that the villages situated at the banks of
rivers are more prone to visitations of this disease. A number
of villages in Patna district were visited by Mr. Ram where
this malady had assumed an epidemic form. In March, 1940,
Mr. Kapur also attended three outbreaks of otorrhoea in Muzaf-
farpur district. In these outbreaks young stock was not affected
suggesting that age may be a limiting factor. Although one
may come across stray cases throughout the year, the outbreaks
are reported in the months of March, April, May and June. Its
absence in other animals suggests specificity of host. Symptoms
observed were of inflammatory and suppurative character
in the external ear, complicated with purulent conjunctivitis
and opacity of cornea in some cases. In one case three micro-
filaria like objects were seen in the pus obtained from an
infected ear and emulsified in 10 per cent caustic potash.
Material from the affected ears was sent to Mukteswar for
examination. It was reported that a considerable number of
micro-filaria were seen in section burrowing through and below
the epithelial papillae of the skin which had undergone
a secondary metaplastic change. The disease was suspected to
be a specific cutaneous microfilariasis of the ear.
(b) Horn Cancer.—From
the report received from
Mukteswar, it appeared that there was no relationship between
bovine malignant catarrh and the development of the horn
cancer. The organisms isolated on cultivation of the pus
material proved of no significance. The growth obtained from
within the affected horn consisted of true cancerous tissue in
23
which 'pearl bodies' were very numerous giving one the
impression of a rapidly infiltrative malignant growth. The
case was of epidermoid carcinoma of the horn. It was sug-
gested that as this tumour develops, the core becomes proges-
sively involved and the cancerous process slowly infiltrates into
the sinus and in fatal cases through the parietal and squamous
temporal bones into the brain.
(c) Other diseases of cattle.—These include (i) retention
of urine or urinary lithiasis, (ii) Parotiditis—locally called
'Belaia' (cat), (iii) Dermorrhagia or filaria hæmorrhagica
infestation, (iv) Kanthsar or sublingual cyst, (v) Necrosis of
horn or 'Birjha', (vi) Bovine contagious abortion.
(i) Retention of urine.—The disease is more common in
the paddy growing areas. Samples of straw, bhoosa, soil and
water from such localities together with urine, calculi, pieces
of bladder, kidneys and rectum from a bullock that had died
of this disease were sent to the Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Mukteswar for examination with following results:—
Straw
(paddy).—Calcium
content was
normal but
phosphorus content was low.
Bhoosa.—Calcium
content was very high but phosphorus
content was slightly lower than normal.
Soil.—High in calcium content, phosphorus content normal.
Water.—Calcium
content was normal but phosphorus
content was high.
Urine.—Normal.
Calculi.—Its organic matter seemed to be composed of
caloium carbonate with traces of calcium phospate.
Bladder.—Extensive
disquamation and ulceration with
hæmorrhage.
Kidneys.—Very
severely hæmorrhagic with destruction
of tubules and leucocytic infiltration of the inter-tabular spaces.
No bacteria were seen.
Rectum.—Chronic changes and presence of schistosome
eggs in the mucosa and vessels of the submucosa. Negative
for Jhone's disease. There was no relationship between the
rectal and vesical lesions.
Schistosoma was identified as
S. spindalis.
(ii) Parotiditis 'Belaia' (cat).—This is a condition in
which there is an inflammation and enlargement of the parotid
lymph glands followed by suppuration which on incision
discharges thick creamy pus. The disease was seen mostly in
buffaloes. In some cases, however, submaxillary lymph gland
is also affected. It was later on observed that cattle were also
susceptible. The only difference was that here submaxillary
lymph gland was mostly involved while parotid gland rarely.
Cases were seen in the districts of Patna and Gaya. Pieces of
24
affected parotid glands were submitted to the Imperial Veteri-
nary Research Institute, Mukteswar and the following report
was received:—
"The tissues on histopathological examination showed
typical lesions of an actionomycotic infection, with
'clubs' well displayed. As the infection involved
a soft tissue, it might with practical certainty, bo
termed as 'actinobacillesis'."
(iii) Dermorrhagia or Filaria Haemorrhagica infesta-
tion.—This is a condition characterised by bleeding from the
skin of cattle and buffaloes common in this province and is
known to be caused by filaria haemorrhagica. Although one
may come across cases throughout the year, it is much more
common from March to October.
Symptoms.—First a nodular swelling of the size of a
pea is formed on the skin which gradually becomes diffused to
the size of a 4-anna bit. It then displays a minute opening
from which blood begins to ooze out and a white thin filaria
is seen to protrude frequently and then go back into the sub-
cutaneous tissue. Formation of nodules and haemorrhage is
intensified by the exposure of the affected animals to the sun.
In chronic cases the affected animals become emaciated.
Cover-glass preparation of fresh blood proved negative
for the presence of microfilaria. Samples of worms supplied
to Mukteswar Institute were identified as Parafilaria bovicula.
Tartar emetic injections have been in use as a routine
curative treatment.
(iv) Kanthsar or sublingual cyst.—In one case some fluid
was taken
from a swelling on the side of fraenum linguae
of a bullock. A drop of this fluid on microscopic examination
showed an oval nematode worm egg with serrated margin.
This fluid along with a tumour like cyst removed from the same
position from another bullock was then sent to the Research
Laboratory, Mukteswar for examination. Their finding was,
however, negative.
Such cases are reported to exist in several districts but
when these are brought to notice the cysts are either already
ruptured or operated upon by quacks called 'Bukhoos'. It is,
therefore, rare to come across an unopened cyst.
(v) Necrosis of horn or 'Birjha'.—Buffaloes are sometimes
brought to the rural field dispensaries with one or both the
horns showing irregular grooves or depressions in the horny
tissue due to the destruction of the horny substance. There
is irritation and the animals frequently rub the affected horns
against some hard objects which ultimately fall off. An affect-
ed horn was submitted to the Principal, Bihar Veterinary
College for examination. He reported that the cultural
examination of the scraping from the horn showed multiple
saprophytic sporulating organisms and fungi.
25
(vi) Bovine Contagious abortion.—Baring the year three
abortions were reported from the Government Cattle Farm,
Patna. The serum of these animale was tested at the Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar, and was found
positive for B. abortus in one case.
119. EQUINE DISEASES.
Encephalomyelitis.—Only one case of this disease was
reported at the end of this year from the Bihar Light Horse
Regiment, Muzaffarpur. It is at present being treated with
tartar emetic.
Bones and samples of liver from another case were sent to
Mukteswar and the report received was that the phosphorus and
calcium contents of the ribs were within normal limits. Liver
was negative for Vitamin 'A'.
Sixteen horses at Jamshedpur and 21 at Arrah belonging to
the Mounted Military Police Force were vaccinated with Burma
anthrax spore vaccine during the month of April.
120. DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS.
(a) Mange in goats.—An outbreak of mange in goats
appeared at the Government Agricultural Farm, Gaya in the
13 pedigree Jamunapari goats purchased by the Department of
Agriculture a month after their arrival. In the 1st month one
buck and during the next two months 11 she-goats died of
generalised mange. The 13th goat which was in a very poor
condition with a temperature of 105F showed extensive mange
lesions hut responded to routine mange treatment. Enquiry
revealed that the diet at Gaya was deficient in concentrates and
the roughage was of unusual nature. The animals lost condi-
tion rapidly and succumbed to the disease when it appeared
amongst them.
(b) Parasitic Diarrhœa.—An acute epidemic of parasitic
diarrhæa in goats and sheep with heavy mortality in the tal
villages of Patna district was attended. The symptoms were
emaciation and diarrhoea and in most cases death supervened
within a week. In oases of sufficient long standing, however,
there was œdema in the submaxillary space. Post mortem
examination revealved the presence of a large number of
Hamonchus contortis in the abomasum together with adult
amphistomes in the rumen and immature amphistomes firmly
attached to the congested mucous membrane of the duodenum
and the small intestines. In the sheep there were also present
some tape worms and a few larvae of oestrus ovis in the trachæa.
Carbon tetrachloride was advised in these cases.
(c) Nasal Granuloma.—Scrapings from the nose of a she-
goat suffering from nasal granuloma on examination under the
microscope revealed numerous eggs and miracidia which were
similar in appearance to those of cattle nasal schistosomiasis
but somewhat bigger. The granulations are of the size of
a mustard seed to that of lentil. Tartar emetic solution injec-
tions gave good results as in the case of bovines.
26
121. FOWL DISEASES.
(a) Doyle's disease.—The
epidemics of this diseases
during the year were reported from and attended at Arwal,
Patna, Santal Parganas and Purnea. Mortality was heavy. In
all cases samples of various organs preserved in glycerine were
sent to the Bihar Veterinary College Laboratory for biological
tests. In a few instances the material proved negative,
Segregation and disinfection measures were advised and adopted
in all the outbreaks.
(b) Fowl pox.—The only outbreak of this disease was
reported in April from the Government Agricultural Farm,
Patna. It appeared to be a mixed infection of Doyles' disease
and Fowl pox, the latter however proved negative on biological
test. Death rate was very high.
(c) Roup.—An outbreak of roup in fowls was reported from
the Government Agricultural Farm, Patna during August.
Necessary advice regarding treatment and hygienic measures
was given.
122. Investigation and experimental treatment carried
out in ranges.—During the year experiments to test the efficacy
of treatment of certain drugs, e.g., oral administration of Acid
Arseneous, intravenous injection of Sodium Antimomy Tartrate
and Antimosan against Bovine Surra were taken up at the
experimental station, Muzaffarpur but were not completed. The
experiment will be continued during the next year. In addition
experimental treatment of diseases, viz., Rinderpest with koalin
and cyllin, Stringhalt, Nasal Granuloma, skin diseases, Yoke gall,
Canine distemper, Mastitis, Coryza in dogs, Debility, Bursati,
Foot and Mouth disease, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia, Liver fluke
and Broken Horn were also carried out at the veterinary
institutions in districts.
CHAPTER VI.
Establishment.
PROVINCIAL
123. Mr. S. K. Sen, B. SC., M.R.C.V.S., Deputy Director,
Central Range was confirmed in Class I Veterinary Service on
the 1st December, 1939 while Mr. P. G. Malkani,B.A., B.V.SC., M A.C
m a.c.v.s., and Dr. A. C. Chaudhury, B.SC., Ph.D., Professor of
the Bihar Veterinary College, Patna were absorbed in that
service and placed on probation with effect from 15th September,
1939. Mr. Gurbachan Singh, b.a., m.r.c.v.s., was appointed
on 5 years' contract against the vacant post of Deputy Director,
North Bihar Range. Babu M. Agnihotri, temporary Assistant
Director of the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range, proceeded on leave
preparatory to retirement with effect from the 12th December,
1939 and the 1st grade Veterinary Inspector Babu D. N.
Mukherji was appointed to that vacancy. The post of Professor
of Anatomy and Physiology of the Bihar Veterinary College was
converted into that of a Professor of Medicine and Physiology in
Class II Veterinary Service and the former wa9 converted into
27
a Lecturerahip. Steps are being taken to fill up these posts.
The proposal for filling up the vacant post of Assistant Director
of the Department is under the consideration of the
Government.
SUBORDINATE.
124. The staff at the beginning of the year consisted of 153
officers excluding the non-gazetted officers employed at the
Bihar Veterinary College and the Government Cattle Farm.
During the year 1st grade Veterinary Inspector Babu M.
Agnihotri retired from service with effect from the 12th March,
1940. Another 1st grade Veterinary Inspector Babu R. K.
Ram held the post of (temporary) Disease Investigation Officer,
Bihar till the 16th February, 1940 when he also proceeded on
leave preparatory to retirement. The post of Manager, Govern-
ment Cattle Farm, Patna fell vaccant and 3rd grade Veterinary
Inspector Babu M. M. Banerji was temporarily appointed
to it. Laboratory Assistant Babu J. N. Mukherji, who was
officiating as 3rd grade Veterinary Inspector, was absorbed
against the permanent vacancy caused by the retirement of Babu
M. Agnihotri while Veterinary Assistant surgeon. Babu B. M.
Lahiri was appointed as officiating Laboratory Assistant of the
North Bihar Range, Muzaffarpur. Reserve Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons Babu S. D. Narain and Maulavi A. U. Ahmed
continued to officiate as Veterinary Inspectors in North Bihar
Range in leave vacancies throughout the year. Staff Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons Babus N. D. Singh of Patna and R. D.
Singh of Muzaffarpur acted temporarily as Veterinary Inspectors
in short leave vacarcies. Babus H. K. Roy and M. M. Banerji
were promoted to the second grade inspectorship and the
probationary third grade Veterinary Inspector Babu S. B. Sahai
was confirmed in his appointment.
During the year the
vacancy of staff veterinary assistant surgeon in the Central
Range was filled by Maulavi M. Khan and later by Maulavi
Muhammad Ishaque on the former proceeding on leave on
medical grounds. Maulavi Q. Khan remained on deputation
at the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar,
throughout the year while reserve veterinary assistant surgeon
Babu H. Singh was appointed as assistant to a Professor of the
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, vice Babu L. K. Acharya
under suspension.
During the year senior grade (I) veterinary assistant
surgeon Babu G. N. Mazumdar retired from service and first
grade veterinary assistant surgeon Babu J. Mini of Giridih
died. Six fresh Veterinary Graduates were recruited to the
Subordinate Veterinary Service. The subordinate staff consisted
of 155 officers at the close of the year as shown in Table X.
125. Professional Examination and Training.—As usual
the half-yearly Professional Examinations of Subordinate
Veterinary Officers were conducted by the Bihar Veterinary
Examination Board. During the year only one examination
was held in October, 1939, the first examination due to be held