NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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Equine Encephalomyelitis.—Hexamine in water was given
intravenously on four consecutive days in Equine Encephalo-
myelitis cases along with magnesium sulphate, potassium nitrate
and ammon chloride in drinking water with inconclusive results.
Bursatee—A bad case of .Bursatee in the horse was treated
with a combination of Quinine, Naphthaline, Alum and Plaster of
Paris with encouraging results.
Equine coccidiosis.—29 samples were examined for Cocci-
diosis with negative results.
Bovine Coccidiosis and Distomiasis.—409 samples of faeces
from farm animals were examined. None revealed heavy
infection with Coccidia or infestation with distoma.
Foot and Mouth Disease.—Repeated attempts to fix the
virus of Foot and Mouth disease among farm animals by
injecting Vesicular fluid obtained from foot and mouth lesions
intradermally into the foot pads of guinea pigs and rats and
injecting blood of the affected animals intraperitonically into
rabbits failed.
The programme of research for the year 1938-39 includes
work on:—(1) Rinderpest, (2) Johne's Disease, (3) Calcutta
Sore, (4) Stringhalt in cattle, (5) Distomiasis, (6) Buffalo
Ottorhcea, (7) Doyle's Disease, (8) Hemoproteus in peacock.
There were 72 animals in the Experimental Ward on the 1st
April, 1937 against 108 of the previous year, 28 were born and
201 purchased against 69 and 185 of the last year; there were
136 casualties, 83 were sold and 27 were returned to the con-
tractor, thus leaving a balance of 55 at the end of the year.
During the year under report 2,327 specimens including
blood smears, pus, fæces, urine, milk, skin scrapings, brain, etc.,
were received from districts in the Central and Chota Nagpur
Sub-Ranges, college hospital and Government Cattle Farm for
examination at the laboratory against 1,526 of the previous
year. Disease was diagnosed in 874 cases, vide details under
head "Laboratories". Post-Mortem examinations were con-
ducted on 113 animals of which 35 were cases from the college
hospital and farm and 78 were experimental cases from the
laboratory.
21 samples of different materials were received for patholo-
gical examination of which 10 interesting pathological specimens
were mounted and sent to the college museum.
The following papers were submitted by the Research
Officers:—
"The effect of trypan blue on Goat blood virus"*
"The viability of Rinderpest Goat blood virus at
incubator temperature".
31 coloured and plain mixed lantern slides of subjects of
Pathological and Bacteriological interest and of breeds of cattle
*This paper was read at Jubilee Session of the Indian Science Congress, December, 1937.
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were prepared for lantern slides show case for demonstration
purposes by the college artist; plain and coloured microphoto-
graphs of Rhinosporidium Equi. and sections from tumours
showing different stages of development were also prepared. In
addition Anatomical and Physiological charts of different viscera
were prepared.
45. The College Serum Depot.—Altogether 242 requisitions of
different kinds for Muktesar products were received and complied
with. 132,865 doses of sera and vaccines (including the amount
brought forward) were received and 124,590 doses were issued
against 306,891 and 282,431, respectively, of the preceding year
leaving a balance of 8,275 doses at the close of the year.
430 c. c. of Tetanus Anti-Toxin (including balance of last
year) were received from Messrs. Havero Trading Co., Calcutta,
of which 330 c. c. were supplied to the districts on cash payment.
46. General Remarks.—As a result of stringent measures
during the year, the expenditure of the college under various
heads was reduced to the absolute minimum. The total expen-
diture and receipt of the college amounted to Rs. 67,047-5-0 and
Rs. 12,026-4-9 as compared to Rs. 82,672-5-3 and Rs. 16,121-10-11,
respectively, in the previous year, vide details in Table I and
Statement C.
Two meetings of the College Governing Body were held during
the year to select non-stipendiary candidates for admission into
the college, pass the budget estimates and to consider some
other items of minor-importance.
One gold medal as prize was awarded in each of the three
classes to the student who stood first in order of merit in the
Annual and Diploma Examinations of the College (as against
one gold and two silver medals awarded previously, the cost to the
college, however, was practically the same).
Sir Fredrick Hobday, the eminent British Veterinarian and
Ex-Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, London, who
came to India as a British Association Delegate for the Indian
Science Congress, Calcutta (January, 1938), paid a visit to the
college on the 6th January, 1938 accompanied by Col. Sir Arthur
Olver, Animal Husbandry Expert to the Imperial Council of
Agricultural Research.
One of the 3 professors' quarters remained vacant throughout
the year. There was no addition or alteration to the buildings
and roads. Petty repairs to the eastern wall of the bathing
platform, doors and window panes, etc., in the main buildings and
others were carried out during the year satisfactorily by the
Public Works Department. The buildings and roads were neatly
kept. The brick gate pillars in the residences of the Principal
and the Research Officer were changed for wooden one9.
The water-supply section of the Public Health Department
did satisfactory work during the year. The meters in the
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residences with one tap, were removed and ferules substituted
instead to keep a check over excess expenditure of water in those
residences. There is only one well near the college nursery in
the college area occupied by about 200 men including sub-
ordinate and menial staff and the necessity of carrying on
gardening work and use of water at odd hours have been keenly
felt on many occasions.
Electric supply to the buildings and roads was regular.
47. Professional examination and training.—The half-
yearly professional examination of subordinate veterinary
officers was conducted by the Bihar Veterinary Examination
Board in October, 1937. This examination was not held in
April, 1937 for want of sufficient number of candidates. Major
Riley acted as President and Head Examiner while I and
Mr. S. K. Sen as members and examiners Mr. Sen in addition
acted as Secretary to the Examination Board. Altogether 11
officers appeared at this examination and 4 passed, the percen-
tage of passes being 36.3. The results of the examination were
duly published in the Bihar Gazette.
CHAPTER III.
TREATMENT OF DISEASES.
48. Incidence of contagious diseases.—During the year
under review the general condition of cattle on the whole
remained satisfactory. There were no widespread and virulent
outbreaks of cattle-disease but the principal contagious livestock
diseases, viz., Rinderpest, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia, Foot and
Mouth disease were reported from almost all districts of the
province. Anthrax appeared in all districts of the Chota
Nagpur Sub-Range and also in Darbhanga, Champaran, Bhagal-
pur, Purnea, Santal Parganas, Gaya, Shahabad and Patna
while Black Quarter occurred in the most of the districts in
sporadic form. "Bovine Surra" appeared in sporadic form only
in the districts of Manbhum and Darbhanga and in all districts
of the Central Range except Bhagalpur and Santal Parganas.
Reports of a few cases of Equine Surra were received from the
districts of Gaya, Shahabad, Darbhanga and Purnea. It is
gratifying to note that unlike previous year the scourges of
Rinderpest did not appear in severe form except in the districts
of Hazaribagh and Palamau. The occurrence and seats of
principal livestock diseases are marked in the disease map
appended to the report.
49. During the year, 2,884 outbreaks of different contagious
livestock diseases wore brought to the notice of the staff and of a
total number of 36,593 animals affected, 12,644 succumbed as
compared with 3,289 outbreaks, 10,675 attacks and 18,632
deaths recorded in the year 1936-37. The figures of outbreaks
and deaths exhibit an improvement over last year's statistics.
These figures exclude the 146 deaths re corded in equines.
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50. A total number of 2,536 outbreaks were attended by
the staff during the year.
51. Statistics of livestock diseases.—The table given below
shows the statistics of outbreaks, seizures, deaths, etc., recorded,
range by range, together with the area and livestock popula-
tion:—
Range.
1
North
Bihar
Range
Central Range ..
Chota
Nagpur
Sub-Range.
Total ...
Area in
square
mile.
2
20,457
21,907
27,013
69,977
Livestock.*
3
10,094,441
8,317,273
4,861,753
23,273,467
Number
of
outbreaks
reported.
4
615
832
1,437
2,884
Number
of
outbreaks
attended.
5
616
830
1,091
2,536
Number of
animals
affected in
outbreaks.
6
7,975(a)
6,867(b)
21,751(c)
36,593
Number of
deaths
recorded in
outbreaks.
7
3,473
5,044
4,127
12,644(d)
*The figures are according to the census, 1930.
(a) Includes
(b) „
(c) „
(d) „
5,289 cases of Foot and Mouth disease.
2,812 „ „ „ „ „ „
13,450 „ „ „ „ „ „
2,523 deaths from other causes.
The number of outbreaks in the Central Range shows a
decrease of 523 outbreaks over the figure of last year partly
for the reason that an area of 7,021 square miles (district
of Hazaribagh) of this range was transferred to the Chota
Nagpur Sub-Range and this perhaps also accounts for the
increase of 124 outbreaks under Chota Nagpur charge over last
year's number.
52. Reporting of Diseases.—During the year cattle-diseases
were reported through different agencies, viz., Co-operative
Societies, Agricultural Department, private persons and in
particular by village chaukidars (police). For taking interests
in this part of their duty, 45 chaukidars were recommended for
rewards while 17 were reported for punishment for their
neglect.
EQUINES.
53. Glanders and Farcy.—During the year the disease was
not reported.
54. Surra.—Two outbreaks were reported in North Bihar
Range—one in Darbhanga and the other in Purnea district—and
five ponies were affected. Four of these affected animals were
treated by Naganol injection but all of them succumbed.
Two deaths from Gaya and six from Shahabad districts were also
ecorded.
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55. Dourine.—No case was brought to notice.
56. Anthrax.—Four deaths occurred in Champaran district
and one each in Hazaribagh and Patna districts.
57. Other Equine Diseases.—76 deaths occurred from other
equine diseases.
Strangles.—Two cases of equine strangles were reported from
Champaran and Muzaffarpur districts, they were treated and
cured. This disease also appeared in Daltonganj and Hazaribagh
districts where there were two outbreaks with five seizures but
no mortality.
Tetanus.—Seven animals—four in Champaran and three in
Muzaffarpur districts—were attacked with this disease. Out of
these two and three, respectively, died.
Rabies.—There was only one seizure and one death from this
disease in Muzaffarpur district.
58. Other Causes.—52 deaths from other causes such as
debility, old age, etc., are recorded.
BOVINE.
59. Rinderpest.—This disease appeared in all districts of
the Province except Bhagalpur and South Monghyr. As in the
previous year, the disease appeared again in a severe and
extensive form in the district of Palamau, the loss of life
attributable to this disease was, however, heaviest in Hazaribagh
where it reached a figure of 791. Altogether 611 outbreaks
were brought to notice and in these out of a tolal of 7,724 animals
attacked, 3,182 died as compared with 1,532 outbreaks, 16,849
attacks and 7,918 deaths recorded during the year 1936-37. The
death roll was distributed as follows, 1,972 cattle and buffaloes
1,210.
60. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—This disease too was
prevalent throughout the Province appearing in specially
virulent form in almost all the districts of the Central Range
and in Ranchi district of the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range. A high
death rate was recorded in the districts of Santal Parganas,
Patna and Ranchi where 1,002, 501 and 499 animals succumbed.
Death rate amongst buffaloes from this disease was heaviest in
the districts of Patna and Santal Parganas.
During the
year, 1057 outbreaks were reported affecting 6,081 animals
accounting for 4,565 deaths as compared to 771 outbreaks, 4,476
attacks and 3,372 deaths recorded in the year 1936-37. The
number of deaths includes 1,905 buffaloes.
61. Foot and mouth disease.—The Province was not free
from the visitations of this disease, the districts of Saran and
Ranchi being bad sufferers. In all, 93 deaths were recorded
during the year out of a total of 21,551 animals attacked in
998 outbreaks as compared with 100 deaths, 16,238 attacks and
720 outbreaks brought to notice in the preceding year.
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62. Black quarter.—111 outbreaks were reported affecting
548 animals and 408 including 43 buffaloes died against 38
outbreaks, 247 attacks and 176 deaths recorded in the previous
year. The death rate from this disease was high in the North
Bihar Range.
63. Anthrax.—This disease appeared in all districts of the
Province except Saran, Muzaffarpur and Monghyr. Of 453
animals affected in 70 outbreaks, 356 died of the disease as
compared to 301 attacks and 228 deaths in 41 outbreaks in
1936-37.
64. Surra.—This disease was reported from seven districts
viz., Patna, Gaya, Shahabad, Monghyr, Darbhanga, Manbhum
and Hazaribagh accounting for 49 deaths.
65. Other diseases.—15 outbreaks of Emphemeral fever
were reported from Darbhanga, Champaran and Muzaffarpur
districts affecting 72 animals of which 35 succumbed. One death
from Bovine Piroplasmosis and 7 from parasitic diarrhæa were
also reported from the Central Range.
66. Other causes.—2,523 deaths were reported under this
head comprising 836 deaths in North Bihar Range and 1,687 in
Central Range. These deaths were primarily caused by debility,
poisoning, old age, accident, etc.
67. Sheep, goats and dogs.—Statistics showing the number
of deaths amongst these animals will be found under the proper
head of the Table. Altogether 595 deaths of goats and dogs
were reported and of these 249 including 61 cases of canine
rabies represent the number for dogs. This number is undoubted-
ly far short of the actuals.
68. Avian.—22 pigeons died in Champaran district in an
outbreak of fowl cholera and 76 such birds were immunized
with vaccine, the cost of which was borne by the owner. 96
inoculations were also done against this disease in the Chota
Nagpur Sub-Range. In this range in 5 outbreaks of Doyle's
disease 440 cases were attacked with 360 deaths. 6 deaths from
this disease were also recorded in the Central Range. Particu-
lars of deaths under the head will be found in the foot note of
the table II.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATIONS.
69. Prophylaxis by all the known methods of inoculation
in force against the different cattle diseases continued to be
practised by the staff with zeal and energy and a total of
4,74,091 animals were immunized against one disease or the
other. The figure shows a decrease of 30,128, as compared with
the corresponding figure for the last year which is accounted
for by a considerable fall in the outbreaks of Rinderpest during
the year under report. The inoculation work was undertaken
in 902 villages in 646 outbreaks with a total bovine population
of 561,551. 2,638 non-inoculated animals died in these villages
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during the course of the outbreaks while only 26 deaths were
recorded among the inoculated animals. The percentage of
deaths among the protected animals was .005 as compared with
.08 during the previous year.
In addition to the above, 38 Mounted Military Police horses
at Jamshedpur were protected against Anthrax by the Burma
Spore Vaccine without mishaps.
70. The total inoculation figure includes 187,285 animals
protected in the North Bihar Range, 158,395 in the Central
Range and 128,000 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range. The
decrease of 83,143 in the Central Range figure as compared with
last year's is partly due to the transfer of Hazaribagh district to
the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range during the year in which range
the number of inoculations shows an increase of 30,540
over last year's figures.
Details of work done in connection with the immunization
of cattle will be found in table III appended to the report.
71. Rinderpest.—Protection against the ravages of this
disease was afforded by the 'serum alone' as also by the increas-
ingly popular 'Goat Tissue Virus' method.
(a) Serum alone method:—
Protection by this method was given to 27,973 animals as
compared with 77,261 animals during the previous year. This
appreciable fall in numbers is attributable to the increasing
popularity of goat tissue virus which was adopted on a wider
scale. 14 deaths were recorded among the inoculated animals
or a percentage mortality of .05 as compared with .29 during the
previous year. The largest number of animals protected in any
one district was 7,371 in Palamau, Shahabad comes next with
4,778 followed by Purnea with 1,510. Cattle in all the districts
of the Province received protection by this method.
(b) The number of vaccinations performed throughout the
Province was 346,518. This is a decrease of 1,569 inoculations
over last year's figure, 348,087 The decrease which mainly
occurred in the Central Range was due to the increased use of
Goat Tissue Virus in combating actual outbreaks of Rinderpest
and with fewer outbreaks this year fewer opportunities offered
themselves for vaccinations. Besides, during the year under report
supply of this virus was withheld by the Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute, Muktesar, for a while on account of shortage
of stock.
72. The total number of 346,518 animals (Cattle 313,352
and buffaloes 33,166) immunized by this method were distributed
as follows: North Bihar Range 144,178, Central Range 105,801
and Chota Nagpur Sub-Range 96,539. Purnea topped the
districts with a total of 38,092, Ranchi was a close second with
30,500 and Gaya followed with 26,090. No death was recorded
among the protected animals.
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Protection by this method was given both in the face of
actual outbreaks as well as in their absence.
The experimental work done by the (Veterinary) Disease
Investigation Officer in this connection is detailed under head
"Investigation of diseases".
73. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia.—No district in the Province
was free from this disease and as a result the demand for protec-
tion against it was widespread. Altogether 62,649 animals were
protected with serum in 301 outbreaks as compared with 46,715
animals protected in 280 outbreaks during the previous year.
Only 3 deaths were recorded among the inoculated animals or
a percentage mortality of 004, a satisfactory state. In addition
to the 'Serum alone' method, protection was also given with
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia vaccine to 13,711 animals without
any mishaps.
74. Anthrax.—Altogether 8,162 bovines were inoculated
with anti-anthrax serum in 40 outbreaks, compared with 5,165
protected in 29 outbreaks in the year 1936-37. Only 4 deaths
were recorded among the inoculated animals. 43 equines were
also inoculated in Champaran and Patna districts. In addition
154 Mounted Military Police horses were vaccinated or
revaccinated with anthrax spore vaccine at Jamshedpur, Arrah
and Patna against 117 vaccinated during the preceding year.
75. Black quarter.—Two methods, viz., "Serum" and
"Vaccine" were adopted in giving protection to animals against
this disease. The number of animals inoculated by these
methods was 15,073 and these inoculations were carried on in
44 outbreaks. During the preceding year, 5,784 animals were
immunized (67 animals with Aggressin) in 21 outbreaks. There
was no casualty among the inoculated animals this year. This
year's figures include 545 Government animals.
76. Supply of sera and vaccines.—Sera and vaccines to
the value of Rs. 40,748-3-0 were obtained during the year from
the Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Muktesar and
the Branch Serum Institute, Izatnagar, for supply to the
different customers through the serum depots at Patna, Muzaffar-
pur and Ranchi. As usual strict economy was exercised both in
the supply and expenditure of serum and energetic steps were
taken for the recovery of their cost from the consumers. Out of a
total sum of Rs. 64,159-0-3 due to the Muktesar Institute, a sum of
Rs. 40,781-13-4 including the Government grant of Rs. 2,129-15-5
made to the district board, Hazaribagh, was recovered from
the consumers and credited to Government leaving a balance
of Rs. 23,377-2-11 outstanding on the 1st April, 1938. The slight
decrease in the expenditure on serum is partly attributable to the
protection of cattle by Goat Tissue Virus method against
Rinderpest on a wider scale.
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NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED.
77. During the year altogether 374,203 fresh patients were
treated by the touring veterinary assistant surgeons in mofussil
as well as at headquarters, compared with 332,072 patients
treated in the year 1936-37. Of the total number, 15,250
cases were treated for contagious diseases and 265,453 cases for
non-contagious diseases while the rest 93,500 patients represent
castrations. This shows an increase of 42,131. In addition to
the above, 33,404 old cases were also treated and 2,568 animals
suffering from Foot and Mouth disease were supplied with
medicines by the staff.
78. The touring veterinary staff visited 51,292 villages
during the year as compared to 46,585 villages visited by them
in the year 1936-37.
The details of the work done by the veterinary assistant
surgeons on tour are shown in Table IV.
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VETERINARY DISPENSARIES.
79. The response from the local bodies to suggestions for the
expansion of their veterinary activities was satisfactory during
the year under report. As mentioned in the previous report, the
district board of Purneah sanctioned as a temporary measure
2 posts of (3rd and 4th) touring veterinary assistant surgeons
for the Sadr subdivision. Two posts of (2nd) touring veterinary
assistant surgeons were also sanctioned by the district board,
Shahabad, for the Sadr and Bhabua subdivisions and the
District Committee, Santal Parganas, for the Sadr and
Deoghar subdivisions. In addition to these, one post was
sanctioned by the district board, Muzaffarpur, for the Hajipur
subdivision. One of the two posts of (3rd) touring veterinary
assistant surgeons, which were under consideration of the district
board, Champaran, has since received the sanction of Govern-
ment. The proposal for a post of (2nd) touring veterinary
assistant surgeon for the Gumla subdivision was under the
consideration of Ranchi district board. Although there is a big
demand for this class of officers, some local bodies who have
not yet provided for a 2nd touring veterinary assistant surgeon
in each subdivision could not provide funds for the same due to
financial stringency.
The number of veterinary assistant
surgeons employed in districts increased from 107 to 120 during
the year.
80. Rural Veterinary Dispensaries.—There were 122 rural
(field) veterinary dispensaries at work in the beginning of the
year. During the year under report, 11 new dispensaries were
opened and 1 was closed, the total number of such dispensaries
at the close of the year was 132. Of these 64 dispensaries were
working in the North Bihar Range, 44 in the Central Range and
24 in the Chota Nagpur Sub-Range. Altogether 143,441 fresh
cases including 38,933 castrations were treated at these dispen-
saries as compared with 123,278 fresh cases treated during