NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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CHAPTER VI.
Establishment—
(a) Provincial .. .. .. ..
(b) Subordinate .. .. .. ..
CHAPTER VII.
Expenditure— .. .. .. ..
CHAPTER VIII.
General Remarks—
(a) Propaganda .. .. ..
(b) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals .. ..
(c) Natural calamities .. .. ..
(d) Programme of work .. ..
(e) Papers read or written for publication .. ..
(f) Acknowledgements .. ..
Appendices—
..
..
..
..
PAGES.
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i—xli
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Civil Veterinary Department, Bihar
for the year 1937-38.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.
Major Riley held charge of the Department throughout the
year except for a period of two months from the 25th July, when
he proceeded on privilege leave and I acted as Director,
Veterinary Services. He acted as the Principal of the Bihar
Veterinary College, Patna, in addition to his duties from the
20th May to the 24th July, 1937 and again from the 27th
September, 1937 to the 3rd January, 1938. During the period
25th July to 1st August, 1937, I held charge of the North Bihar
Range in addition to my duties as Director, Veterinary Services.
As head of the Department both Major Riley and myself were
in administrative charge of the College and the Cattle Breeding
and Dairy Farm, Patna. The work connected with the (Vete-
rinary) Disease Investigation Scheme financed by the Imperial
Council of Agricultural Research was also carried out under the
direct control of the Director.
2. The work of the Central Range was as usual carried out
under the direct control of the Director, Veterinary Services up
to the 30th November, 1937. On the 1st December the range
was finally separated and placed in charge of a Deputy
Director in the cadre of the Bihar Veterinary Service, Class I.
3. During the year Major Riley visited eight districts and
inspected nine veterinary hospitals and 23 veterinary dispen-
saries. He inspected the Sub-Range Office, Ranchi as well and
paid frequent visits to the Government Cattle Farm, Patna. I
visited three veterinary hospitals and five veterinary dispensaries,
two field veterinary dispensaries as well as the Kanke Farm.
4. As a member of the Examining Boards Major Riley
conducted the Annual and Diploma Examinations of the Bengal
Veterinary College, Calcutta, as well as the Bihar Veterinary
College, Patna, for 1937-38.
He acted as President and Head
Examiner of the Bihar Veterinary Examination Board for the
half-yearly professional examination of the Subordinate Veterinary
Officers and interviewed and selected the stipendiary students for
admission into the Bihar Veterinary College.
5. As an official adviser to the Hon'ble Minister in charge
of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Bihar Major Riley
attended the All India Cattle Conference which was held at
Simla during May, 1937 in order to devise means to further
the campaign for the improvement of livestock in India.
2
2
He attended the Selection Board meeting at Patna and advised
the Joint Public Service Commission regarding the appointment
of the Principal and the Professor of Anatomy and Physiology
for the Bihar Veterinary College.
6. At headquarters, in addition to the ordinary office work,
Major Riley gave expert advice on many important references
received from the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research and"
the Honorary Secretary, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, Bihar, from time to time and also on those arising
out of the Reforms including improvement of livestock and
rural uplift work, etc. He also acted as a member of the Bihar
Agricultural Research Committee.
7. The Foot and Mouth disease which appeared in the herd
of the Government Cattle farm, Patna, and in a few days spread
to all dry stock, was soon brought under control through
stringent measures taken under my directions.
8. During the year Major Riley was on tour for 39 days and
travelled 1,726 miles by road in addition to the journeys performed
by rail. I was on tour for 24 days and travelled 474 miles by
road in addition to the railway journeys.
NORTH BIHAR RANGE.
9. As Deputy Director, I held charge of the Range
throughout the year except for the period from the 2nd August,
1937 to the 4th October, 1937, when I was appointed Director,
Veterinary Services and again from the 1st January, to 31st
March, when I was appointed Principal of the Bihar Veterinary
College and officer in charge of the Government Cattle Farm.
The charge during the former period was held by the temporary
Assistant Director, Babu M. Agnihotri while that during the
latter period was held by Assistant Director, Pabu P. C.
Bhattacharji.
10. I visited the rural uplift centre at Brindraban, Pusa
Cattle Farm, attended the Sitamarhi, Bettiah, Jaintpur and
Sonepur fairs and acted as a judge at cattle shows at Sitamarhi,
Bettiah and the Animal Show organised by the Society for Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals at Muzaffarpur. I also organised
the sports and co-operated in arranging for the various other
functions in connection with the Coronation Celebration of His
Majesty, the King Emperor.
11. I attended the Site Selection Committee meeting at
Dumra to select a site for the construction of a set of quarters
for the touring veterinary assistant surgeon, Sitamarhi, as
a representative of the Executive Committee of the Muzaffarpur
Branch of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the
annual general meeting of the Provincial Society at Patna and
assisted the Darbhanga Goshala Society in the management of
its Veterinary hospital, etc. I held the office of the President
of the Bihar Veterinary Association.
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12. During the year, I acted as an Examiner at the Profes-
sional Examination of the Subordinate Veterinary Officers held
at Patna in October, 1937.
13. I was on tour for 75 days and travelled 1,349 miles by
road in addition to the journeys performed by rail and inspected
21 veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and 8 field veterinary
dispensaries.
14. During the period he held charge of the range, Babu
M. Agnihotri visited the Sepaya Farm and a large number of
villages affected by floods in Supaul and Sewan subdivisions.
He also inspected 11 veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and
six field veterinary dispensaries. He was on tour for 29 days
and travelled 205 miles by road.
15. Babu P. 0. Bhattacharji attended the Khagra mela,
Singheswarasthan fair and visited the Darbhanga Goshala. He
inspected 16 veterinary hospitals and dispensaries, six field
veterinary dispensaries and the offices of the Veterinary Inspec-
tors of Motihari and Darbhanga circles. He was on tour for
36 days and travelled 962 miles by road in addition to the
journeys performed by rail.
CENTRAL RANGE.
16. The Central Range was finally separated from the office
of the Director, Veterinary Services with effect from the 1st
December, 1937. Mr. S. K. Sen, B.SC., M.R.C.V.S., held charge of
this range throughout the year, i. e., as special officer till the
30th November, 1937, and as Deputy Director during the
remaining period.
17. During the year, Mr. Sen inspected seven veterinary
hospitals, 37 veterinary dispensaries as well as all the field
veterinary dispensaries (42 in all). In the course of his tours, he
visited 331 villages including those in which Goat Tissue Virus
vaccinations were carried out by the Subordinate staff. He
also inspected the offices of the Veterinary Inspectors of Gaya,
Arrah and Bhagalpur circles.
18. He examined the sick Mounted Military Police ponies
at Arrah and Sheikhpura camps and made arrangements for the
removal of animals from the latter camp to the Bihar Veterinary
College hospital for treatment; he inspected the dairy herd at
the Buxar Central Jail and gave useful suggestions regarding
organisation of a diary farm on modern lines and attended a
meeting of the Executive Committee of the Society for Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals as well as a demonstration of the
propaganda work held at the Agricultural Farm, Patna. He
visited the rural welfare centre at Maner.
19. During his tours, Mr. Sen interviewed many officials
and non-officials in connection with the expansion of veterinary
relief as a result of which four new veterinary dispensaries were
opened in the range. Moreover, he remained in charge of a
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severe outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease at the Government
Cattle Farm, Patna.
20. He acted as an Examiner and Secretary to the Bihar
Veterinary Examination Board for the half-yearly professional
examinations. In addition, he served as an Examiner at the
Annual and Diploma Examinations of the Bihar Veterinary
College.
21. Mr. Sen was on tour for 169 days and travelled 4,352
miles by road besides the journeys performed by rail.
CHOTA NAGPUR SUB-RANGE.
22. For administrative convenience the district of Hazari-
bagh, which had hitherto been within the jurisdiction of the
Central Range, was transferred to the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range
from the 1st April, 1937, thereby the entire area of Chota Nag-
pur came under one administration during the year under
report.
23 Babu P. C. Bhattacharji held charge of the sub-range
till the 26th December, 1937, when he was relieved by Babu
M. Agnihotri who remained in charge during the rest of the
year.
24. Babu P. C. Bhattacharji inspected 3 veterinary
hospitals, 11 veterinary dispensaries, 13 field veterinary dispen-
saries and the Tata Dairy herd at Jamshedpur. He also visited
the Agricultural Farm at Kanke and acted as a member of the
Board of Examiners for the training class of workers of the
Rural Uplift Society, Manbhum.
25. He was on tour for 95 days and travelled 3,238 miles by
road in addition to the railway journeys in course of which be
visited 388 villages to scrutinise field work and carry out propa-
ganda at the various important centres and interviewed officials
and non-officials with a view to increasing the strength of the
subordinate veterinary staff. He further delivered lectures at
Ormanjhi and Silli in the Ranchi district with the help of lantern
slides and charts.
26. Babu M. Agnihotri inspected 3 veterinary hospitals and
11 veterinary dispensaries in addition to 11 field veterinary
dispensaries, and visited the Government Agricultural Farm,
Kanke.
27. He was on tour for 44 days and travelled 1,932 miles by
road in addition to the railway journeys, in course of which he
visited 207 villages and discussed the activities of the depart-
ment with many officials and non-officials.
28. Electrification of the Sub-range office building was
completed during the year. The tiled roof of this old building
leaks badly and in spite of strenuous efforts the Public Works
Department have not been able to check this. The question of
replacing the ceiling cloth by Asbestos as advised by that Depart-
ment is under consideration.
6
(VETERINARY) DISEASE INVESTIGATION OFFICER.
29. Mr. L. Sahai, M.sc., M.R.C.V.S., held the post of (Vete-
rinary) Disease Investigation Officer throughout the year. Bihar
and Orissa were a combined charge up to the 1st May, 1937 after
which Orissa no longer formed part of his jurisdiction.
30. He served as an Examiner in the subjects of Shoeing,
Pathology and Bacteriology and Meat and Milk inspection at the
Annual and Diploma Examinations of the Bihar Veterinary
College for the session 1937-38 and carried out further investiga-
tions on (1) Rinderpest immunisations of buffaloes with goat
tissue virus, (2) Horn Cancer, (3) Equine Encephalomyelitis and
(4) Doyle's disease. In addition to these, he investigated a
number of other important diseases, the details of which have
been shown under proper heads.
31. As a representative of this Department Mr. Sahai
attended the Jubilee Session of the Indian Science Congress
Association at Calcutta during January, 1938, and read the two
following papers:—
(1) "An outbreak of Equine Encephalomyelitis in a
Mounted Military Police Troop in Bihar—A Preli-
minary Report".
and
(2) "Rhinosporidiosis in Equines; Record of a further
case in India''.
32. Mr. Sahai was on tour for 166 days and travelled 2,414
miles by road besides the usual railway journeys.
The tenure of service of the Disease Investigation Officer in
Bihar has been further extended up to 31st March, 1939, but
arrangements of a permanent nature are now under considera-
tion.
CHAPTER II.
Veterinary Instruction.
BIHAR VETERINARY COLLEGE.
33. Charge.—The 8th session of the College commenced on
the 1st July, 1937. Mr. R. T. Davis, I.v.s., Principal and
Professor of Medicine, held charge of the College up to the 19th
May, 1937 when he went on leave for 1 year and 21
days preparatory to retirement and was relieved by Major
P. B. Riley, I.V.S., Director, Veterinary Services, who held
charge in addition to his own duties from the 20th May to 24th
July, 1937 and again from the 27th September, 1937 to 3rd
January, 1938. During the intervening period, Mr. P. G. Mal-
kani, Research Officer and Professor of Pathology and Bacterio-
logy, acted as Principal. Mr. Malkani also taught 'Medicine'
from the July session in addition to his own subjects.
I was appointed Principal and held charge of the College
and supervised the work of the Government Cattle Farm, Patna
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from the 3rd and the 13th January, 1938 respectively. I Was a
member of the Standing Examination Board for the session
1937-38 and also of the Bihar Agricultural Research Committee.
In March, 1938, I was deputed to Bengal as a member of the
Examining Board of the Bengal Veterinary College, Calcutta.
34. Teaching and Subordinate Staff.—The post of Professor
of Anatomy and Physiology remained vacant during the year
and Maulavi M. A. Rahim, Assistant to the Professor of these
two subjects, held independent charge of that section and carried
out the duties of the Professor. A proposal for converting this
post into that of a Lecturer on Anatomy only and allotment of
'Physiology' to another Professor is under consideration of the
Government. Another proposal to absorb Mr. P. G. Malkani,
B.A., B.V sc., M.R.C.V.S., Research Officer and Professor of Patho-
logy and Bacteriology and Dr. A. C. Chaudhury, B.sc., Ph.D.,
Professor of Hygiene, Dietetics and Animal Breeding, the two
contract officers, in Class I Veterinary Service on the expiry of
their contracts was also submitted, orders of the Government
were not received till the close of the year. There was no
change in the Subordinate staff except that the second Laboratory
Assistant, Babu T. Tewary and Hospital Surgeon Maulavi M. K.
Khan were transferred to the Civil Veterinary Department while
Maulavi S. S. Hussain and Babu R. A. Prasad replaced them.
The details of the staff employed in the College are shown
in Table VII(A).
35. Admission of Students.—Altogether 38 new students
joined the college as compared with 29 during the previous session
while 57 out of 59 old students returned for further studies making
a total of 95 in the beginning of the year. The new admissions
comprised of 2 Bihar Government stipendiaries, 1 Orissa
Government stipendiary, 6 Bihar District Board stipendiaries
and 29 private students (viz. 19 from Bihar, 3 from the United
Provinces, 4 from Bengal, 1 from the Punjab, 1 from Central
Provinces and 1 from Nepal). Twelve of the newly admitted
students and 1 old student left the College during the course of the
year while the name of 1 United Provinces Government student
was struck off the rolls for prolonged absence. The numerical
strength at the end of the session was thus reduced to 81;
details of their domicile are as below:—
Bihar 36, United Provinces 23, Orissa 1, Punjab 11,
Central Provinces 2, Bengal 4, Nepal 1, North-West Frontier
Province 2, and Madras 1. 76 of these students were either
Matriculates or of equivalent qualifications, 3 were passed I.Sc.
and 2 passed I.A. According to religion their classification
was as shown below:—
Hindus ...
Muhammadans ...
55
21
Aboriginal Christians
Sikhs
2
3
Of the total number (81) 65 were private students and
26 stipend holders, viz.: Bihar Government 2, United Provinces
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Government 8, Orissa Government 1, Bihar District Boards
11. Bettiah Raj 1, Garhwal Chandra Bullabh Trust Fund 1,
Mohsin Fund 1, Tirhut Education Society 1.
The details of admissions are shown in Table I.
36. Training, Examinations, Hostel, etc.—The Annual
and Diploma Examinations of the College as in previous
years were conducted
by a Board of Examiners
duly
constituted by Government and the results were declared
to be satisfactory.
Altogether 80 students (viz. 33 in
class 'A', 22 in Class 'B' and 25 in Class 'C') appeared
at the examination in the three classes excluding one
student of Class 'B' who was found cheating during the
written part of the examination and was debarred from further
participation in them. Out of these, 56 passed, namely 21
in 1st year, 18 in 2nd year and 17 in the 3rd year, the
percentage of passes being 63.6, 81.8 and 68 as compared
to 66.6, 81.8 and 63.1 in the preceding year. Five students
obtained distinction in the Diploma
Examination—1 in
Veterinary Medicine, 1 in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery,
1 in Pathology and Bacteriology and 2 in Operative Surgery.
37. No Post-Graduate Class was held during the year for
want of accommodation, even though several candidates from
other Governments and States applied.
38. Due to the increased number of admissions to the
college and the limited accommodation in the main hostel,
the Post-Graduate hostel and two 'C' type quarters were
converted into temporary hostels. Eleven students were
permitted to reside outside with their guardians or parents and
attend the college as day-scholars. The general health of the
boarders was satisfactory and their conduct and discipline good.
Mr. M. B. Bose, Lecturer in Biology and Chemistry, was
appointed to be the Warden of the college hostel from 4th July
1937 to 6th April, 1938.
The assistant surgeon in charge, Gardanibagh dispensary,
continued to be the attending physician and gave free medical
attendance to the boarders of the college hostels.
39. Twenty books were purchased during the year which
brought the total strength of the library to 329. Three new books
were added to the collection of text-books meant for district
boards, Governments, Raj Scholars by the Director of Develop-
ment, Orissa, taking the total to 457. The Journals and
periodicals of veterinary and agricultural science were
subscribed for the college library as in previous years except the
following four that were discontinued as a measure of economy.
1. The Journal of Immunology.
2. The Review of Applied Entomology.
3. Bulletin of Hygiene.
4. Veterinary Record.
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40. Mr. S. I. H. Akbari held charge of the sports section of
the college as in previous years. The section was well equipped
with sports requisites.
Matches in hockey, football and
cricket were placed with various clubs.
Competitons in tennis and carrom were organised and
tournaments held in the winter term. 'Davis Tennis Cup'
named after the late Principal and 'Verma Memorial Cup' to
commemorate a student who died in the first session of the
college, together with three medals and three miniature cups were
awarded to the winners and runners up by Mrs. S. Lall.
A sports day for children of the staff was organised in which
children residing in college area enthusiastically joined. Prize
fund was raised by voluntary subscription amongst the staff
and the prizes given away by the Principal.
41. One newly-admitted student joined the University
Training Corps in addition to two old members. A number of
students wanted to be enrolled as members but were debarred
on account of the restriction limiting the membership to the
"registered students of Patna University only". The members
could not join the annual training camp in March 1938 owing
to the Annual and Diploma Examinations in that month.
They had some difficulty in attending their parades on
account of the distance from the college.
The students received training in equitation as in previous
years but only a few outsiders joined the riding classes on
payment of the fee of Rs. 10 per month. All the riding ponies
maintained good condition throughout the year and were in
regular work except one of the two ponies purchased in 1935
which showed mild symptoms of Equine Encephalomyelitis and
could not be exercised regularly.
42. Dr. A. C. Chaudhuri remained in charge of the Hygiene
section as in the previous years.
Maulavi M. A. Rahim remained in charge of Anatomy and
Physiology section and the work during the year was satisfactory.
A horse mummy was prepared to facilitate study of superficial
structures by the students.
Materia Medica and Biology sections did satisfactory work
under Mr. S. I. H. Akbari and Mr. M. B. Bose, respectively.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL.
43. During the year under report 3,132 animals were
treated at the college hospital, only 199 animals were in-
patients and 68 cruelty cases against 3,565 in the previous
year. In addition to this 178 operations were performed, and
140 castrations done. 275 specimens were sent to the college
laboratory for examination.
Six dogs were kept in the isolation ward under observation
for suspected rabies and died within a week of their admission,
9
histological examinations of their brains revealed the presence
of 'Negri bodies'. Anti-rabic vaccine injections were given
in the case of three dogs.
38 mounted military police ponies were treated in the
hospital during the year.
The details of the animals treated and castrated at the
college hospital are shown in Table V(A).
194 horses were shod during the period under report against
257 of the preceding year.
The college farrier has been trained for shoeing bullocks
and the bullock shoeing can now be undertaken at the hospital
shoeing forge.
The number of cows served by the stud bull at the college
hospital was 28 against 48 in the preceding year.
RESEARCH LABORATORY.
44. Experiments on the viability of virus in lymph gland
tissue of the reacting goats have so far shown that the virus
in the tissue is potent on the 6th day of preservation in
thermosflask containing ice (Temperature 36-40 F). The experi-
ments in connection with the survival of the virus at incubator
temperature were completed during the year. The usual annual
vaccination of farm animals with Goat Spleen Tissue Virus was
undertaken during December and altogether 64 animals were
vaccinated. No arrangement for separate camp as in previous
years was made for keeping the animals under observation before
and after vaccination. They were as in the field inoculations
let loose after vaccination. As there were instances of complica-
tions of piroplasmosis amongst the inoculated animals in previous
years, arrangements were made to keep a watch on these animals
but nothing untoward was observed.
Doyle's Disease.—The virus of Doyle's disease was found
to be pathogenic for the guinea fowl. It was noticed that the
respiratory distress and gaping were distinctly absent in many
fowls during experimentation. Experiments with Yatrin Vaccine
prepared from spleen, liver and brain tissue and of experi-
mentally infected birds have not so far yielded successful results.
Johne's Disease.—Examination of rectal scraping from
a farm bullock revealed Johne's bacilli and on post-mortem
examination typical lesions of Johne's disease were found.
Double intradermal tests with avian and ordinary tuberculins
were, therefore, carried out at first on a batch of 24 animals, of
these two gave positive reactions and one a doubtful reaction.
Subsequently the latter died and post-mortem revealed lesions of
Johne's disease.
The test was later conducted on another batch of 31 animals.
Of these two gave positive reactions and three were doubtful.
On a further test the reactors in the second batch gave negative
results and the idea of testing the entire herd was dropped.
3