NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
sections, (4) Milk Bottles Register, (5) Daily work
Report of Mechanical Section, (6) Dairy Produce
Register, (7) Disease Register, and (8) List of candi-
dates for employment as daily labourers.
As reported in previous years most of the Agricultural
implements and machinery specially the tractor have become
very old and require replacement. The Morris Light Van which
was purchased in June, 1934 has worn out completely and has
not been working since January, 1939. Proposals for the
purchase of a tractor and a milk delivery van have been submitted
to Government. The Crank shaft of the Ammonia Compressor
was broken and arrangements have been made with a local firm
to set it right. Most of the parts of the oil engine which were
worn out have been replaced. A Mc.Cormic Deering Ensilage
Cutter Type "F" was purchased at a cost of Rs. 790-6-0.
A raingauge has been fixed up and a register has been
opened for recording the rainfall.
Two maps—one showing the area of the land leased out to
tenants and the other showing the levels of the Farm land were
obtained after surveys were made during the year for which our
thanks are due to the Agricultural and the Survey Departments.
115. Revenue and Expenditure.—The total revenue of the
Farm amounted to Rs. 53,565-lo-0 including the estimated value
of the outturn of crops and that of the Farm yard manure
utilised for cultivation work and the total expenditure was
Rs. 68,901-6-6 including Rs. 17,645-12-0 on account of the
estimated value of the outturn of crops consumed and that of
the value 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.
Every attempt has been made to reduce the expenditure and
obtain better results for the money spent. The total expenditure
during the year under report was Rs. 68,901-6-6 against
Rs. 87,509-5-6 during last year or a decrease in expenditure of
Rs. 18,607-15-0 whereas the income dropped by Rs. 3,088-10-9 only.
HOUSE BREEDING.
116. At the instance of the Imperial Council of Agricultural
Research a scheme for the improvement of indigenous horses in
Bihar was drawn up during the year under report. It is now
under the consideration of the Provincial Government.
FAIRS AND SHOWS.
117. As in previous years the staff attended all the important
horse and cattle shows held in the Province. Pamphlets on
cattle-diseases were freely distributed and lectures on common
contagious diseases, their prevention and proper up-keep and
usefulness of castration by Burdizzo's method, etc., were deli-
vered. Stalls of veterinary exhibits were put up and demonstra-
tions with magic lanterns were given at important fairs, viz.,
Sonepur, Khagra, Bettiah (Dashra), Sitamarhi, Bihta, etc., which
23
were greatly appreciated by the visitors. A stall provided at the
Animal Welfare Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition, Ranchi,
was highly appreciated by the live-stock owners and the judges of
the Exhibition were so pleased that they awarded a first class
certificate in recognition of the activities of the Department.
A show was also put up at the All-India exhibition held at
Bankipore under the auspices of the All-India Muslim League.
In order to make these stalls more attractive to the public and
also to minimise the recurring cost of their construction at each
show a folding stall with a number of models of cattle sheds, silo
pits, etc., was introduced during the year.
118. This stall was exhibited for the first time in the
Brindaban Gandhi Seva Sangh Exhibition held in Bettiah
subdivision in the beginning of the current year.
According to the report of the District Traffic Superinten-
dent, Bengal and North-Western Railway Company, Limited,
2,946 bullocks, 152 cows, 204 buffaloes, 176 horses and 6 elephants
or a total of 3,484 animals were booked by rail to different places
from the stations on the Sonepur District.
The number of important horse and cattle fairs held in the
Province was 24 in which 323,851 animals were brought for
sale as compared with 353,498 animals during 1937-38. The
attendance of animals at the Sonepur Fair was poorer as
compared with previous years due to false rumours about pre-
valence of Cholera in the Fair. The general condition of the
animals was on the whole satisfactory and the prices thereof
were fair and varied according to the breeds, sizes, etc.
CHAPTER V.
LABORATORIES.
119. The Bacteriological Laboratory attached to the Bihar
Veterinary College, Patna, continued to examine blood smears
and other materials received from the districts in the Central
Range and the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range in addition to those
received from the College hospital and the Government Cattle
Farm, Patna, while the North Bihar Range Laboratory, Muzaffar-
pur, examined those received from the districts of that range.
8 pathological specimens received from the staff of the North
Bihar Range were also preserved in the Range laboratory. The
number of such specimens sent from other ranges is included in
the figure shown in paragraph 60. Altogether 3,351 pathological
specimens including blood smears, faeces, pus, urine, skin
scrapings, etc., were examined at these laboratories and of these,
1,200 proved positive for the following diseases :—
Anthrax 18, Hæmorrhagic Septicaemia 56, Black Quarter 43,
Tetanus 1, Strangles 25, Johne's Disease 2, Streptococcal Mastitis
3, Spirochætosis 1, Piroplasmosis (bovine) 18, Piroplasmosis
(canine) 4, Trypanosomiasis (Equine) 40, Trypanosomiasis
(Bovine) 10, Trypanosomiasis (canine) 1, Rabies 5, Doyle's
24
Disease 6, Fowl Pox 1, Anæmia 124, Leucocytosis 16, Mange 6,
Strongylosis 480, Ascariasis 16, Cestode infestation 9, Schis-
tomiasis 1, Coccidiosis 60, Miscellaneous diseases 171. The
percentage of the number of diseases diagnosed was 35.8 against
32 1 of the previous year.
INVESTIGATION OF DISEASES.
120. During the year under report special efforts were made
to come to grips with the diseases of cattle that were of immedi-
ate concern to the stock owners. They were the following :—
(a) An obscure cattle-disease in Bhagalpur, (b) Bovine
contagious abortion, (c) Johne's disease, (d) Acti-
nomycosis, (e) Nasal Granuloma, (f) Stringhalt,
(g) Retention of urine or urinary lithiasis, (h)
Mastitis, (i) Hole in the hard palate behind the
dental pad (Dentlar), (j) Kanthsar, (k) Criminal
poisoning, (l) Bahengawa, (m) Necrosis of the horn,
(n) "Simla" disease, (o) Bovine plearo-pneumonia,
(p) Hypodermiasis.
Mr. L. Sahai tested the whole herd of Tata's dairy at
Jamshedpur against bovine contagious abortion.
Samples of
blood serum from 139 head of cattle were sent to Muktesar of
which 30 proved positive. He also prepared a scheme for the
eradication of the disease from the herd which was forwarded
to the farm authorities for adoption. He has similarly detected
six cases of Johne's disease in the same herd of which two died
and four were destroyed.
The horses belonging to the Mounted Military Police at
Arrah, Patna and Jamshedpur were again vaccinated with
Burma Spore Vaccine against anthrax without accidents. This
work was done by Babu R. K. Ram. He submitted to the
Principal, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, proposals for the
transmission experiments on bovine nasal granuloma.
Practice
of criminal poisoning of cattle in the district of Gaya was
established by the discovery of arsenic in the Viscera of two
cattle on chemical analysis.
Further investigation on other
diseases will continue during the next year with a view to
elucidate their causes and satisfactory methods of treatment.
(a) Rinderpest.—Seventy-eight buffaloes of cross Murrah
breed were vaccinated in three villages under Dinapur sub-
division of Patna district with a view to find out the possibility
of eliminating severe reactions in these animals caused by the
goat tissue virus vaccination against Rinderpest by (a) reduction
of the dose and (b) by the simultaneous use of a dose of anti-
rinderpest serum. During the course of these experiments it
was found that the reduction of the dose of virus varying from
1 c. c. to .1 c. c. per animal had no appreciable effect on the
degree of reaction produced. A protective dose of anti-serum
injected simultaneously with the virus was indicated in this
breed of animals. Four c. c. per 100 lbs. body weight in dry
25
buffaloes with a minimum of 15 c. c. for calves and 6 c. c. per
100 lbs. body weight for milk-giving buffaloes was found to be
suitable. There were indications, however, that the reactions
increased in severity due to complications caused by internal
parasites that are very common in low-lying and water-logged
areas from October to January.
It would seem necessary to
find out whether a dose of anthelmentics previous to vaccina-
tion will not reduce the severity of reaction and also whether
the vaccination of these animals after the intensity of para-
sitism is over, i.e., from February onward will control the
reactions.
It would therefore
be desirable to continue
experiments on these lines in different localities so that a safe
standard for the vaccination of this class of animals can be
worked out for the guidance of the subordinate district staff.
(6) Enzootic otorrhœa in buffaloes.—Investigations of an
outbreak of this disease reported from North Bhagalpur affecting
several villages were carried out. The disease was characterised
by an inflamatory condition of the external auditory meatus
accompanied with some constitutional disturbance and swellings
around the base of the ear and of the parotid glands followed
by purulent discharge from the affected ear or ears. The cause
of the disease is not definitely known, but the indications are
that it is either a bacterial or a parasitic disease. Necessary
material was obtained from lesions both during life and after
death and submitted to the Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Muktesar for examination. Results are awaited.
It
is easily amenable to treatment.
(c) Horn cancer in bullocks.—Further progress was made
in the investigation of this disease.
Material was obtained
from a non traumatic case just when the horn had begun to
bend and the wound was not exposed. It was found to be a
case of epidermoid Carcinoma of the horn in which "Pearl
bodies" were very numerous giving one the impression of a
rapidly infilterative malignant growth.
As the tumour
develops, the core becomes progressively involved and the
cancerous process slowly infiltrates into the sinuses and in fatal
cases through the parietal and squamous temporal bone into the
brain. Further investigation will continue.
HORSE DISEASE.
(d) Encephalomyelitis.—Considerable progress was made
in the investigation of this disease during the year.
Materials
from six horses were despatched to the Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute. They proved positive for encephalomyelitis
on histological examination but the biological tests were still
negative.
Further investigation will continue during the
ensuing year.
SHEEP AND GOAT DISEASE.
(e) Helminthiasis.—Investigations were carried out in
three epidemics of helminthiasis among sheep in the districts
of Shahabad and Gaya and the parasites collected were
26
identified.
Treatment in one of the outbreaks with carbon
tetrochloride was adopted, the other outbreaks had either
subsided or owners refused aid.
Considerable difficulty was
felt in getting reports of diseases in sheep on account of the
nomadic mode of life of most of the shepherds. Efforts will be
continued during the coming year to gain their confidence.
FOWL DISEASE.
(f) During the year under report further progress was
made in the investigation and diagnosis of fowl diseases in the
province. Doyle's disease was diagnosed at the Government
Agricultural Farm, Patna, and necessary actions were taken.
As the results of further enquiry, it transpired that this
disease is widespread and causes heavy mortality throughout
the province. It was reported from the districts of Patna,
Ranchi, Singhbhum and Bhagalpur and the diagnosis was
confirmed on biological tests in the first 3 districts. Fowl pox
was also reported from the districts of Patna and Hazaribagh.
In Patna district, it caused considerable losses. Two types were
seen, viz., Oculonasal and avian-deptherea.
121. Investigation and experimental treatment carried out
in ranges.—During the year under report no investigation was
carried out at the experimental station, Muzaffarpur. Investi-
gation into and experimental treatment of many important
disease, viz., Nasalgranuloma, String-halt in cattle, Rinderpest
(with cyllin and Kaolin), Foot and Mouth disease, Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia, Bursatee, skin diseases, paraplegia, Canine surra,
Mastitis, Equine Encephalomyelitis, Canine granuloma venerena,
Filaria Hæmorrhagica, Multiple warts, rabies, liver fluke,
Broken-horn, criminal poisoning, and
Piroplasmosis were
carried out at the veterinary hospitals in the districts.
CHAPTER VI.
Establishment.
PROVINCIAL.
122. There was no change in the personnel of officers of the
Provincial Veterinary Service. Mr. R. T. Davis, I. V. S., Principal
and Professor of Medicine, Bihar Veterinary College, retired
from service with effect from the 10th June, 1938. During the
year proposals for filling up vacant posts of Deputy Director
and Assistant Director of the Department and also the post of
Principal of the Bihar Veterinary College were submitted to
Government. The post of Professor of Anatomy and Physiology
of the College remained vacant throughout the year and the
question of absorption on a permanent basis in Class I Service
or otherwise of Mr. P. G. Malkani, B. V. SC., M. R. C. V. S., and
Dr. A. C. Chowdhury, B. SC., Ph. D., who were ½ appointed pro-
fessors of the College on contract, remained under the
consider-
ation of Government.
27
SUBORDINATE.
123. Excluding the subordinate staff employed at the
Bihar Veterinary College and the Government Cattle Farm,
Patna, on teaching and other work which remained unaffected
the cadre on the 1st April, 1938 consisted of 11 Veterinary
Inspectors, 1 Laboratory Assistant, 5 staff veterinary assistant
Surgeons, 12 reserve veterinary assistant surgeons and 120
district veterinary Assistant surgeons including one employed
by the Bettiah Raj or a total of 149 officers. 1st grade Veteri-
nary Inspector Babu M. Agnihotri held the post of Assistant
Director, Civil Veterinary Department, Chota Nagpur Sub-
Range throughout the year. As a stop gap arrangement another
1st grade Inspector Babu R. K. Ram was appointed temporary
(Veterinary) Disease Investigation Officer in place of Mr.
Lakshmi Sahai, M. SC., M.R.C.V.S., deputed to England for
training, 3rd grade veterinary Inspector Babu B. L. Moitra was
confirmed in his appointment while Babu C. K. Mukherji, who
was promoted to Inspector's grade on probation, reverted to the
grade of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and Maulavi S. B. Ahmed,
who was officiating as veterinary Inspector at the time, was
absorbed against the vacancy thus caused. Staff Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon Babu B. Prassad, I was appointed to the new
post of 3rd grade Veterinary Inspector created during the year.
Owing to the importance of North Gangetic area from a veteri-
nary point of view a new circle comprising of the North Bhagal-
pur and North Monghyr Districts with Begusarai as its head-
quarters has since been opened. As officiating Veterinary Ins-
pector Babu S. D. Narain remained in charge of the Motihari
circle throughout the year in addition to the Muzffarpur circle
for four months. Reserve Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Maulavi
A. U. Ahmed was appointed officiating Veterinary Inspector of
Muzaffarpur circle and held that post till the end of the year. Staff
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Babu N. D. Singh of Patna
Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Babu P. Topno of Chak-
radharpur and Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Babu S. B. Lal of
Purnea also acted temporarily as Veterinary Inspectors in leave
vacancies. Two vacancies of the Staff Veterinary Assistant Sur-
geons which occurred in the North Bihar Range during the year
were filled by Babu R. D. Singh and Maulavi S. M. A. Fazal.
124. Veterinary Inspector Babu M. M. Banerji and Veteri-
nary Assistant Sugeon Babu B. M. Prasad, who were on deputa-
tion to the Government Cattle Farm, Patna, and the Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar, respectively, reverted
to the Department while Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Maulavi
Q. Khan of Sewan (District Saran) was deputed to the Biological
Products Section, Izatnagar of the Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Muktesar with effect from the 1st January, 1939.
During the year 6 Bihar Veterinary Graduates were recruited to
the Subordinate Veterinary Service. At the end of the year the
subordinate staff consisted of 153 officers as shown in table X.
28
125. 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, 1938. I acted as President and
Head Examiner while Mr. S. K. Sen and Babu P. C. Bhatta-
charji acted as members and examiners. Mr. Sen in addition
acted as Secretary to the Examination Board. Altogether 22
officers including two probationary Veterinary Inspectors appea-
red at these examinations and 18 passed, the percentage of
passes being 81.8. The result of the exam i nations were duly
published in the Bihar Gazette.
CHAPTER VII.
126. During the year the total expenditure on the Depart-
ment amounted to Rs. 7,05,223-14-3 against Rs. 7,00,695-5-2
of the previous year. The increase in the expenditure is due
to the increased activity of the Department. Of this amount
a sum of Rs. 4,26,263-9-3 was met from the provincial revenues,
Rs. 2,70,631-5-0 was borne by the local bodies and the balance
of Rs. 8,329-0-0 was a grant from the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research towards the (Veterinary) Disease Investi-
gation Scheme. The details are shown in table IX.
The total receipts of the Department amounted to
Rs. 1,90,392-14-4. Compared with the total provincial revenues,
as per revised budget the percentage of expenditure on the
Department amounted to .32.
CHAPTER VIII.
GENERAL REMARKS.
127. Propaganda.—The staff continued to pay attention to
this part of the work as usual. As in previous years lectures
on common cattle-diseases, management and care of cattle, etc.,
were delivered at important fairs and shows, rural veterinary
dispensaries, primary schools, markets, hats, etc. Similar lectures
were also delivered for the first time at important Mass Literacy
Centres opened in the Province, which proved to be instructive
to the visitors and students of the schools. Many of these
lectures were illustrated by magic lantern demonstrations.
12 lanterns were used during the year including two newly
purchased by district boards of Bhagalpur and Hazaribagh.
Altogether 7,508 lectures were delivered of which 171 were
given at Mass Literacy Centres. During the year several
interesting posters were added to the stock for propaganda work.
The question of increasing the number of slides of veterinary
interest for use with magic lanterns is engaging the attention
of the Department.
128. Prevention of cruelty to animals.—The work under
this head is done by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, Bihar and details of its activities are published by
29
the Society in their annual report. The Departmental staff
attended 919 cases which were prosecuted or brought to their
notice. In addition 5 cases of flaying goats alive and 5 cases
of cattle poisoning were reported.
129. Natural calamities.—As in the previous year floods
again visited North Gangetic area of the Province affecting
North Bhagalpur, North Monghyr, Sadr and Sitamarhi Sub-
divisions of Muzaffarpur district, Darbhanga Sadr and also Sadr
and Siwan subdivisions of Saran district. Prompt assistance
was given to the District Relief Committees, Marwari Relief
Society and Bettiah Raj by the local veterinary staff and also
the extra staff specially deputed for the purpose. 35 deaths of
cattle by drowning were reported in Siwan and Begusarai sub-
divisions. In addition, several deaths by hailstorm both in
human and cattle were reported in Madhubani Subdivision.
130. Papers written for publication.—The papers written
by Mr. P. G. Malkani, Research Officer and Professor of
Pathology and Bacteriology on (1) the effect of Trypanblue
on Goat Blood Virus and (2) the viability of Rinderpest
Goat Blood Virus at Laboratory temparature as well as the
paper written by Mr. L. Sahai, (Veterinary) Disease Investiga-
tion Officer on "an outbreak of Equine Encephalomyelitis in
a Mounted Military Police Troop in Bihar—A preliminary
report" as mentioned in the previous year's report was published
during the year.
131. New Schemes.—At the instance of the Imperial
Council of Agricultural Research a scheme for the investigation
of Poultry diseases in the province was drawn up and submitted
to Government. Two more schemes, viz., (1) Manufucture of
Goat Tissue Virus at the Bihar Veterinary College and (2)
Training of young Biharis in the Art of Dairying mentioned in
last year's report were also sent up.
132. Inspection of slaughter-houses.—For the first time an
attempt has been made to collect statistics of livestock slaught-
ered in recognised slaughter-houses in the province. During
the year altogether 450,291 animals were slaughtered in different
slaughter-houses. Particulars are given in table VIII.
133. Miscellaneous.—The table3 appended to the report have
this year been thoroughly revised at the instance of the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research with a view to
make them more thorough and uniform so as to facilitate their
interpretation and the compilation of All-India statistics. The
important tables (I to XI) appear at the beginning and tables
of purely administrative interest or those which are not of
All-India importance appear from table XII onwards.
A sum of Rs. 145-8-0 was contributed by the staff of this
Department towards the United Provinces flood relief fund.
134. Programme of work.—No marked deviation from the
programme hitherto followed are envisaged. It will cover the