NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1937.
13
Mr. Bhattacharjee submitted two papers for publication :—
(1) A check List of the nematode parasites of domesticated
animals in Burma ;
(2) A check List of the trematode and cestode parasites of the
domesticated animals in Burma.
3. General—(a) Glanders in Maymyo.—During the year a very
severe outbreak of Glanders was dealt with in Maymyo. The gharry
quarter had become grossly infected by open cases, and as the stables
constituted in nearly all cases the ground floor of the owners' wooden
houses, the difficulties presented in the disinfection of the stalls and
isolation of infected animals may be realized. In August and September
456 horses were tested with mallein and of these 139 were destroyed.
At the last test in March, there were four reactors out of 380 animals
tested. One hundred and seventy-six (176) horses were destroyed
during the year. The intra dermal palpebral test was employed in all
cases.
(b) Epizootic Lymphangitis.—Epizootic Lymphangitis was diagnosed
in pus smears from a mare belonging to Lt.-Colonel Childers and kept
at the Government Stud Farm, Pyawbwe. No other cases were detected
on examination of the remaining animals by the Research Officer. As
the mare had never been off the farm it was not possible to trace the
source of the outbreak.
(c) Veterinary Meeting.—All gazetted officers, with one exception,
attended the very successful meeting of officers of the Department
held at Insein from 14th to the 16th September. This was the first
Departmental Conference held in Burma and the benefits derived from
free discussions on problems of Veterinary organisation and disease
control amply justified the time spent. If possible meetings of a
similar nature will be held in future at intervals of one or two years.
(d) Laboratory.—During
the year Pathology, Biochemical and
Parasitology Laboratories were furnished and equipped.
(e) Land.—The production of Rinderpest vaccine, involving the
keeping of herds of experimental goats, has rendered the present area
of land insufficient for requirements and proposals have been made for
acquiring a further eleven acres adjoining the Laboratory grounds.
With this additional land it is also hoped to undertake work on the
production of a vaccine for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the near
future.
(f) Stables.—Minor alterations were made to the old quarantine
stables to give more accommodation for experimental animals.
2
14
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
(g) Visits to Institutions,
etc.—Mr. D. T. Mitchell, Director of
Veterinary Services, attended the meeting of the Animal Husbandry
Wing of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research at Madras in
December. At the conclusion of this Conference he visited the
following Institutions :—
(1) Serum Institute, Bangalore.
(2) Imperial Diary Farm, Bangalore.
(3) Government Farm at Hosur.
(4) Agricultural Farm, Coimbatore.
(5) Cattle Stud Farm of the Pattagor of Palayakottai, South
India.
CHAPTER VI.—SUMMARY AND REMARKS.
Animal Mortality.—The
total animal mortality from contagious and
non-contagious diseases in 1936-37 was 117,404 being an increase of
11,684 on the total deaths recorded during 1935-36. The results of
these two years are not strictly comparable as in the year under report
the figures for the deaths from contagious diseases are taken from the
Departmental returns which are considerably higher and more
accurate than the figures in the District returns formerly recorded in
annual reports. The total mortality represents a percentage mortality
of 1 "91 against a recorded percentage of 1.72 for 1935-36.
Many deaths from old age, accident, and slaughter, are still
unreported and so the figures given above do not represent the true
total mortality. Deaths from contagious diseases have decreased by
2,353 but in non-contagious diseases there has been an increased
mortality of 14,037 on the figures for the previous year due for the
most part to more efficient recording of deaths by the village headmen
as a result of Departmental activities.
Contagious Diseases—(1) Rinderpest.—Nine
hundred and eighty-four
(984) outbreaks of this disease were dealt with during the year by the
staff compared with 614 for 1935-36. Mortality from this disease
showed an increase of 2,562. Lower Burma was relatively free from
the disease but there were a number of severe and extensive outbreaks
in Upper Burma which taxed the capacity of the staff to the utmost
to deal with. Mortality was heaviest in Upper and Lower Chindwin,
which districts alone accounted for approximately 50 per cent of the
total deaths in the Province from this disease. In the Upper
Chindwin the animals, mostly buffaloes, were very wild and difficult to
collect for inoculation and their owners did not give the co-operation
and assistance which is necessary for effective control of the disease.
The outbreaks in this area were a continuation of outbreaks existing
from 1935-36, which have already been noted on in the report for that
year.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1937.
15
(2) Foot-and-Mouth Disease.—This disease assumed a mild form in
most outbreaks but was widely disseminated in the Province and caused
considerable dislocation of work at the ploughing season in many areas.
(3) Anthrax.—A decrease in the incidence of this disease was
recorded in the year under report. Vaccination was effective but was
difficult to arrange for, due in great part to staff shortage and to late
reporting of outbreaks after all deaths had ceased. The outbreaks
were in all cases localised and the mortality was low.
(4) Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—A marked decrease in the deaths
from this disease is recorded, the mortality of 3,937 being 4,317 less
than in the previous year.
Vaccination against this disease is becoming more popular but large
areas of the coastal belt and delta known to be infected are still unpro-
tected by annual inoculation.
(5) Black Quarter.—The incidence of this disease showed a
decrease of over 50 per cent during the year. The mortality was low
in the isolated sporadic outbreaks.
(6) Surra —The returns for this disease show a considerable increase
and this is largely due to the fact that blood smears are being sent more
frequently than formerly from suspected cases of this disease.
Most of the mortality occurred in privately owned animals as
Naganol protection is being used to prevent infection in Government
owned ponies in Police units in frontier posts where formerly the
disease was of frequent Occurrence.
(7) Strangles.—This disease caused considerable trouble at the
Pyawbwe Stud Farm during the year but gave rise to no deaths.
Vaccination with dead cultures of the specific organism has been
adopted as a preventive and this year a new type of this vaccine was
used on an experimental basis.
(8) Glanders.—Extensive
infection by this disease was found
during the year amongst the gharry ponies at Maymyo but as the
result of repeated application of the I.D.P. Mallein test at six
week intervals the disease was eradicated within a few months.
During this time 176 animals affected with the disease were
shot. Half the value of the animals up to a maximum of Rs. 50 each
was paid by the Department as compensation to the owners of the
animals destroyed. The disease originated in ponies bought in the
adjoining areas of the Shan States. Arrangements have now been
made to have all ponies tested periodically in future and to quarantine
all new introductions until they have passed the Mallein test This
together with registration of ponies and frequent stable inspections
will, it is hoped, prevent a recurrence of Glanders in this area. The
Municipality of Maymyo co-operated in the work of control and gave the
Departmental Officers every possible assistance. When staff is
16
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
available for the work, it is proposed to extend the application of Mallein
as a test for Glanders to all Municipal and Town Committee areas and
arrangements are now being made for the introduction of a system of
identification of animals which have passed the test.
PROPHYLACTIC I N O C U L A T I O N WORK.
The main work under this heading during the year was in connec-
tion with Rinderpest, the animals inoculated against the disease being
increased from 94,012 in 1935-36 to 367,246 in 1936-37. All these
animals with the exception of 2,447, were inoculated with Goat Spleen
Vaccine, which gives immunity against the disease for over two years
Vaccinations were carried cut in outbreak areas but the greater
number of the animals were in clean areas, the work being carried out
during the non-working period of the cold weather season in cattle near
the main roads, on cattle routes, and in the cattle breeding areas This
extensive vaccination should in a very short time have a marked effect
in decreasing the annual mortality from the disease. Vaccination
against this disease in buffaloes was introduced generally during the
year with marked success. The dose given to these animals is very
much smaller than that given to cattle and when it was found that this
reduced dose could be used with safety in the immunisation of these
animals sanction of Government was obtained to its general use in the
Province.
The use of Anthrax Spore Vaccine and Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
Vaccine for susceptible animals was continued during the year with
satisfactory results.
Remarks.—The main work of the Department throughout the year in
the Laboratory and in the Field has been directed against contagious
diseases of animals and in particular to Rinderpest. In spite of the
fact that in this disease the mortality is slightly higher than in the
previous year, this work is considered to have been successful as the
large increase of animals actively immunised during the year and the
rapidity with which outbreaks were brought under control and localised
by the use of spleen vaccine indicates that the Department has now at
its disposal a cheap and effective method of preventing and eradicating
this disease in the future.
The effect of the campaign against this disease should be apparent
during next year, as vaccinations are being continued and vigorously
pushed in clean and outbreak areas.
The work of control of contagious diseases in this Province,
particularly Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth, is considerably handi-
capped by the free movements of cattle and buffaloes which occur at
most seasons of the year in all areas. " Stand still orders " are only
possible to enforce, and then ineffectively, in the actual presence of
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1937.
17
disease, and this is often found to be too late to stop spread. Until
protective inoculations have become more popular and have been
made compulsory as a routine procedure in the case of Bazaar sellers'
animals, trade cattle, and animals used for cart traffic between
Townships and Districts, the hope of eradicating contagious diseases
completely in any area of the Province is remote.
The concentration of susceptible and infected cart animals at Pagoda
Festivals, Markets, and Bazaars, their distribution later along main
roads and to the adjoining Districts, gives contagious diseases ideal
conditions for spread. On one occasion it was reported that a Festival
in the Lower Chindwin District, at which nearly a thousand carts were
counted, was responsible for the wide dissemination of Rinderpest in
three districts.
The results of vaccination against Rinderpest during the year has
had a very good effect in popularising preventive inoculations in
general as it has on many occasions been demonstrated to the cattle
owners in a practical manner that vaccinated animals have resisted
infection successfully in a subsequent outbreak involving the
unvaccinated animals of the same village. These observations have in
the latter part of the year induced cattle owners to offer a larger
percentage of their animals for vaccination.
Until however 100
per cent of the cattle in each village can be protected by vaccination
simultaneously, there will remain a sufficient number of susceptible
animals to allow infection to smoulder in the herds and prevent its
final eradication.
Work on the production of Foot-and-Mouth Vaccine had to be
further postponed pending increased acreage and facilities for the
preliminary experimental work at the Insein Laboratory.
Plans for the acquisition of the necessary land were maturing at
the end of the year and it is considered that work on this disease will
be possible in 1937-38.
With the increase in vaccine production, the staff and accommo-
dation for Research at the Insein Laboratory is now being found
insufficient to meet requirements and Research work on new problems
has had to be slowed up or in some cases suspended. It will be
necessary in the near future to provide separate isolated sections for
the manufacture of each of the vaccines, which are now being produced
in a laboratory room common to all.
Proposals in this connection are at present being prepared for
submission to Government.
Owing to shortage of field staff for carrying out the intensive
inoculation campaign against Rinderpest, a number of temporary
record clerks up to a maximum of 12 was sanctioned by Government
to assist inoculation parties, thus releasing one Veterinary Assistant
18
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1937.
from each party. These clerks were taken on locally and were
employed on many occasions during the year. Their employment
effected a considerable saving in the cost of inoculation work and they
were found very useful in augmenting the staff available for
vaccination.
The co-operation between District officers and the Field staff of
the Department was on many occasions favourably commented upon
by Departmental officers during the year. This is fully endorsed by
practical experience and observations.
The work of the staff throughout the year has been consistently
good. From the many officers who carried out their duties with
efficiency and enthusiasm special mention may be made of the
following :—
Captain S. R. Rippon
...
U Pe Than
...
...
U Tun Hlaing, Magwe
...
U Kyaing, Moulmein ...
...
U Nyan Kyaw, Insein
...
U Po Nyein, Katha ...
...
U Ohn Pe, Insein ... ...
U Chit Pe, Prome ... ...
U Chu Khin, Moulmein ...
U Po Thet, Magwe ... ...
U Po Hmi, Mônywa ... ...
Maung Po Chi, Mogaung
...
Maung Tha Dun Aung, Pyapôn ...
Mating Po Hmi, Pyu ...
...
Maung Hla Gine, Moulmein ...
Maung Ba Thaung, Yenangyaung
Deputy
Directors.
Veterinary
Superinten-
dents.
Inspectors.
Assistants.
The cost of the Department during 1936-37 was Rs. 5,15,216 an
increased expenditure of Rs. 43,938 over the cost during 1935-36.
D. T. MITCHELL,
Dated, 2nd October 1937.
Director of Veterinary Services, Burma.
APPENDICES
CHAPTER VII.
TABLE
1.—Statement showing general animal mortality during the year
1936-37 and comparative figures for 1935-36 ... ...
TABLE
2.—Statement showing the deaths from contagious diseases amongst
animals in the Province during the year 1936-37
...
TABLE
3.—Statement showing preventive inoculations performed during the
year 1936-37 ... ... ... ...
TABLE
4.—Statement showing the work of the Veterinary College and the
results during the year 1936-37 ... ... ...
TABLE
5.—Statement showing the deaths from disease in the Mounted
Infantry Ponies and Transport Animals ... ...
TABLE
6.—Statement showing the number of animals treated and deaths
from contagious diseases and non-contagious diseases in
the Federated Shan States during the year 1936-37 ...
TABLE
7.—Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ending 31st
March 1937 ... ... ... ...
PAGE
21
22
24
28
29
30
31
CHAPTER VIII.
(a) Map showing the areas in which Anthrax occurred.
(b) Map showing the areas in which Foot-and-Mouth occurred.
(c) Map showing the areas in which Rinderpest occurred.
CHAPTER IX.
Graphs showing annual mortality per 1,000 of bovine population due to
Rinderpest, Foot-and-Mouth and Anthrax from 1906 to 1936 and the
monthly incidence of the principal contagious diseases during this period.
APPENDICES.
21
TABLE 1.—Statement showing General Animal Mortality during the year 1936-37, and comparative figures for 1935-36.
Charge.
(1)
Upper Burma ...
Lower Burma ...
Arakan Circle ...
Total for 1936-37 ...
Total for 1935-36 ...
Contagious Diseases (Departmental officers' figures).
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
104
10
...
114
58
Anthrax.
(3)
4
...
...
4
...
Glanders.
(4)
183
1
...
184
...
Other diseases.
(5)
10
...
...
10
2
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
27,791
3,280
...
31,071
28,509
Foot-and-mouth disease.
(7)
62
25
11
98
113 I
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.
(8)
113
2,982
842
3,937
8,254 I
Black-quarter.
(9)
255
119
31
405
909
Anthrax.
(10)
182
356
152
690
929
Other diseases.
(11)
...
20
...
20
112
Totals.
(12)
28,704
6,793
1,036
36,533
38,886
Non-Contagious Diseases (District officer's figures).
Debility and old age.
(13)
7,927
25,426
1,932
35,285
29,420
Snake Bite.
(14)
1,996
5,419
400
7,815
7,455
Accident.
(15)
8,641
1,994
988
11,623
4,732
Others causes.
(16)
8,734
14,683
2,731
26,148
25,227
Totals.
(17)
27,298
47,522
6,051
80,871
16,834
GRAND TOTAL.
(18)
56,002
54,315
7,087
1,17,404
1,05,720
22
APPENDICES.
TABLE
2.—Statement showing the deaths
from
Contagious Diseases
amongst animals in the Province during the year 1936-37.
District.
(1)
Shwebo ...
Bhamo ...
Katha
...
Myitkyina
Lower
Chind-
win.
Upper
Chind-
win.
Mandalay
Kyauksè ...
Sagaing ...
Pakôkku ...
Magwe ...
Minbu ...
Thayetmyo
Myingyan
Meiktila ...
Yamèthin
Total,
Upper
Burma
Charge.
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
...
14
5
18
...
52
...
2
1
11
...
1
...
...
...
...
104
Anthrax.
(3)
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
..
...
...
...
1
1
4
Glanders.
(4)
...
...
...
3
...
...
176
...
...
4
Other diseases.
(5)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
9
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
1,560
885
877
491
7,404
9,391
2,164
418
1,717
1,379
(Strangles)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
90
...
...
801
397
217
(Epizootic
Foot-and-mouth
disease.
(7)
...
1
14
34
...
...
...
...
6
4
...
1
1
...
...
1
Lymphangitis)
183
9 27,79]
(Strangles)
1
Epizootic
62
Lymphangitis
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
(8)
...
7
...
...
...
6
...
...
2
...
3
6
72
3
4
10
113
Black-quarter.
(9)
4
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
9
13
89
4
32
4
98
1
255
Anthrax.
(10)
1
1
48
14
7
23
...
...
4
12
...
2
46
3
4
17
182
Other Conta-
gious diseases.
(11)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remarks.
(12)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total Bovines.
(13)
1,565
895
939
539
7,411
9,420
2,164
418
1,738
1,408
182
13
151
811
503
246
28,40
Total Equines and
Bovines.
(14)
1,565
909
944
560
7,411
9,472
2,342
420
1,739
1,432
182
14
151
811
504
248
28,704
APPENDICES.
23
TABLE
2.—Statement
showing
the
deaths
from
Contagious
Diseases
amongst
animals
in the Province
during
the year
1936-37—concld.
District.
(1)
Amherst
Thatôn ...
Salween ...
Tavoy ...
Mergui ...
Bassein ...
Myaung-
mya.
Maubin ...
Pyapôn ...
Henzada
Prome
...
Tharra-
waddy.
Insein ...
Hantha-
waddy.
Pegu
...
Toungoo
Total,
Lower
Burma
Charge.
Akyab
...
Kyaukpyu
Sandoway
Arakan
Hill
Tracts.
Total,
Arakan
Circle.
Total for
1936-37
Total for
1935-36
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
1
1
...
...
...
1
4
...
...
...
...
...
3
...
...
10
...
...
...
...
...
...
114
58
Anthrax.
(3(
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
...
Glanders.
(4)
...
...
...
...
...
1
Other diseases,
(5)
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
162
432
6
...
...
157
(Suspected) ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
184
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
9
469
637
157
32
...
11
11
82
434
690
3,280
...
...
...
...
...
31,071
(Strangles)
1
(Epizootic
Dymphangitis)
...
2 28,509
(Strangles)
Foot-and-mouth
disease.
(7)
...
4
...
...
...
5
2
2
1
...
11
...
...
...
...
...
25
...
11
...
...
11
98
113
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
(8)
29
89
1
9
1,970
197
129
27
120
...
35
20
181
49
92
34
2,982
371
424
47
...
842
3,937
8,254
Black-quarter.
(9)
4
...
...
2
...
21
9
15
35
22
6
...
...
...
5
...
119
...
...
31
...
31
405
909
Anthrax
(10)
10
42
...
Other Conta-
gious diseases.
(11)
...
...
19
(Lebetnar)
12
...
17
14
11
...
7
21
13
70
44
48
47
356
...
1
Remarks.
(12)
...
...
...
...
...
(Surra)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
19
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(Lebetnar)
1
(Surra)
142
5
5
...
152
690
...
...
...
...
...
19
...
...
...
...
...
...
(Lebetnar)
1
(Surra)
929
11
68
...
Total Bovines.
(13)
205
567
26
23
1,971
397
623
692
313
61
73
44
262
175
579
771
6,782
513
140
83
...
1,036
36,221
38,826
(Labetnar)
25
(Surra)
7
(Sheeppox)
1
(Tuber culosis)
Total Equines and
Bovines.
(14)
206
56b
26
23
1,971
399
623
696
313
61
73
44
262
178
579
771
6,793
513
440
83
...
1,036
36,533
38,886
24
APPENDICES.
TABLE
3.—Statement showing Preventive
Inoculation
performed
during
the
year
1936-37.
District.
(1)
Bhamo
...
Myitkyina ...
Katha ...
Shwebo ...
Magwe ...
Yamèthin ...
Meiktila ...
Total, Upper
Burma
Charge.
Myaungmya
Tharrawddy
Pegu ...
Toungoo ...
Total, Lower
Charge.
Grand Total
for 1936-37.
Grand Total
for 1935-36.
Shwebo ...
Katha ...
Myitkyina ...
Bhamo ...
Upper Chind-
win.
Lower
Chindwin.
Sagaing ...
Mandalay
Kyauksè ...
Pakôkku ...
Magwe ...
Minbu ...
Myingyan ...
Meiktila ...
Yamèthin ...
Thayetmyo ...
Total, Upper
Burma
Charge.
Method of inoculation
(2)
Anti-Rinderpest serum alone.
Rinderpest D.G.S. Vaccine.
Subcutaneous.
Source of Product.
(3)
Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute, Muktesar.
Veterinary Research Laboratory
Insein.
Total number of vill-
age tracts affected
during the year.
(4)
77
19
18
5
2
...
...
121
49
2
15
47
113
234
...
344
18
19
77
91
299
162
186
87
90
11
...
69
58
35
...
1,546
Number of outbreaks
in whch inoculation
was undertaken.
(5)
11
16
20
1
2
1
6
57
1
1
5
3
10
67
521
64
20
16
36
27
303
88
89
26
64
6
...
32
47
20
...
838
Number of animals
which died uninocu-
lated in course of
outbreak.
Bovines.
(6)
...
...
...
...
45
...
23
68
3
6
42
38
89
157
10,318
334
825
367
510
1,278
3,119
971
1,302
222
1,281
36
...
740
342
195
...
11,522
Equines.
(7)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
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...
...
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...
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...
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Others.
(8)
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...
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...
...
...
...
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...
...
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...
...
Number of animals
inoculated.
Bovines.
(9)
651
184
28
7
646
30
173
1,719
37
129
301
261
728
2,447
79,866
26,084
1,897
4,140
3,539
6,848
25,793
22,744
18,867
15,510
19,129
22,567
3,300
6,410
13,816
10,999
8,474
2,10,117
Equines.
(10)
...
...
...
...
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Others.
(11)
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...
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...
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...
...
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...
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...
...
...
...
...
Number of inocu-
lated animals which
died of the disease.
Bovines.
(12)
21
...
...
...
7
...
5
33
...
...
2
...
2
35
1,341
29
197
41
41
204
260
86
135
30
65
2
2
15
16
26
5
1,154
Equines.
(13)
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Others.
(14)
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