(5)
Investigation of disease.
34. During the past year the work at the headquarters laboratory has
continued to increase very considerably and a great number of specimens of blood,
morbid tissues, intestinal parasites and other material have been received from the
district veterinary staff, veterinary inspectors, district officers, and private persons
for examination and opinion. In these cases the results are noted and, where
possible, the diagnosis confirmed, and the persons interested accordingly informed.
Investigations have been carried out in the slaughter-houses and the Burma
dried meat factories of these provinces. A separate report on the subject is being
submitted with proposals for putting the butchering trades under more efficient
control. At the request of the Australian Government Entomologist further
enquiry was made into the prevalence of "Onchocerca Gibsoni" or Worm
Nodules' in the cattle of this country. The necessary information and specimens
were obtained and forwarded to the officer in question.
Virulent rinderpest blood and other morbid material was collected during
the year for the Imperial Bacteriologist for experimental and other purposes.
Some continued enquiries have been made in regard to cattle tuberculosis,
spirochetosis in fowls and kamri, and experiments have been carried out in the
preventive and curative treatment of distemper by vaccine treatment.
35. The new research station for accommodation of animals under
scientific observation has recently been completed and was formally opened by
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor in November last. Already it has proved
of great use and many interesting cases have been received. Since its opening a
number of experiments have been carried on in connection with certain diseases,
such as barsati, akrah, ardaha, dourine, pleuropneumonia of goats, fowl
spirochetosis, malignant jaundice (piroplasmosis).
With these increased facilities it is hoped that not only we shall be able
to do more towards the elucidation of obscure diseases but the younger members
of the staff will have more opportunity for observation and study of methods of
research.
Several animals suffering from "kamri" have been received for treatment
and observation and experiments have been carried out with a view of discovering
the cause of the disease and a remedy for it. In some tracts considerable loss
to horse owners annually results from the ravages of this malady, which up
to the present appears to have defied efforts at curative treatment.
The
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary department, would be glad of any cases for
investigation if owners would inform him when an outbreak or even a single case
occurs.
Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.
See table V.
36. There are now 61 hospitals or dispensaries in the provinces as against
49 of last year, being an increase of 12; those at Jansath, Ghaziabad, Shikohabad,
Kheragarh, Fatehabad, Khair, Hathras, Atrauli, Dataganj, Deoria, Sidhauli and
Misrikh having been opened during the year. Others are about to be established
at Kairana, Allahabad, Phulpur, Karchana, Roorkee, Kasganj, Tilhar, Jalaun,
Mohanlalganj, Malihabad, Bikapur and the question of new premises for the
present hospital in Moradabad is still under consideration.
It is satisfactory and encouraging to record that the total number of cases
treated during the year at hospitals and dispensaries was: out-patients 62,040 and
in-patients 5,762, making a total of 67,802; an increase of 11,335 on last
year's return. Some districts have introduced the system of charging a small
scale of fees to those owners who can afford to pay, whilst others are as yet averse
to the procedure. It has now been adopted and is meeting with considerable
success at Lucknow, Cawnpore, Agra, Dehra Dun and Jhansi, where it has been
found to work well, and in some cases so much income is realized as to render the
institution practically self-supporting, while other smaller dispensaries earn a not
inconsiderable sum towards their expenses. The animals of all poor persons are
treated gratis, and only those in a position to pay are charged. I think this
system might be introduced at several other hospitals, as I do not anticipate that
the levy of fees would in any way affect the attendance at the institutions.
A travelling veterinary dispensary has been started in the Etawah district
but it is too early yet to predict what success it is likely to meet with.