NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
12
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
bottling of vaccine are soaked in 1 in 100 formalin, and finally sealed
with paraffin wax. By this method contamination has been eliminated
and the caps preserved.
(f) Histological work.—Among the specimens for pathological
examination received and examined was some material from one case
of Rathedaung disease in buffaloes and cattle. Animals which had
been immunized against Anthrax and Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
contracted, and died from a disease the symptoms of which were
apparently of nervous origin. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia and Anthrax
were excluded by repeated blood smear and dried ear specimen
examinations and parts of internal organs from one case were received
for histological examination. Unfortunately they were poorly preserved,
but in sections the presence of an acute encephalitis and an early stage
of proliferative hepatic cirrhosis was established. In the absence of
further material, properly preserved, for detailed study the lesions seen
are suggestive of a plant poisoning especially when considered with
field reports indicating that the disease is not contagious and stating
that it occurred in cattle grazing along river banks soon after heavy
floods.
(g) Diseases of Elephants—(i) Filariasis.—During
the
year
microfilariae have been found in the blood of 93 elephants. With very
few exceptions these elephants had either died suddenly or were subject
to chronic skin abscesses or swellings of the limbs. There is some
evidence to suggest that the microfilariæ are more frequent in the
peripherial blood during the night than during the day. Large doses
of arsenic in some cases have reduced the number of microfilariae in
the blood. During the post-mortem examination of one very aged
female elephant, two adult filariae were found in the tissues around the
heart. These worms have been tentatively identified as Dirofilaria
repens. There seems little doubt that filariasis is responsible for many
sudden deaths and for local swellings and chronic skin conditions.
(ii) Surra does not cause a heavy mortality in elephants, but
deaths do occur from the disease. Naganol in doses of one ounce
repeated after eight days has proved effective both in the treatment and
prevention of the disease. This drug is at present unobtainable ; in
any case its price almost prohibits its use. For elephants infected with
or exposed to surra, 30 grains of acid arseniosus a day for 20 days,
repeated, if necessary, after ten days, was found to be fairly effective.
(iii) Warbles.—In the prevention of warbles, encouraging results
have been obtained by the use of a spray consisting of one part of neem oil
and nine parts of kerosene. An adequate ration of grain to keep the
animal in good condition also appears to prevent warbles, while
washing with Soo Yit is both preventative and curative.
FOR THE YRAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940,
13
(iv) Feeding of Grain.—Feeding paddy to elephants has been
practised fairly extensively this year, in some areas because there was
very little natural fodder and in others to determine whether the feeding
of paddy was economically justified. It is definite that paddy fed
animals do more work, work longer and finish up the season fitter and
fatter than those given no grain ration. The indications are that the
practice is economically sound, but on this question all are not yet
agreed.
(v) Tonics.—Pills containing 10 grains of arsenious acid and five
grains of strychnine hydrochloride have been tried on a fairly large
scale. A course of one pill a day for ten days repeated after an
interval of ten days appears to have a good tonic effect, especially on
older elephants.
CHAPTER VI.—STOCK BREEDING.
1. Mr. J. Bhattacherjee, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., D.T.V.M., F.C.S.,
F.Z.S., M.R.San.I, Burma Veterinary Service (Class I), Deputy
Director of Veterinary Services, Yamèthin, took over charge of the
Cattle Breeding operations on 1st August 1939. At the Tatkôn farm.
the staff remained the same as last year.
2. The acquisition of land at Inbaung was completed and a Site
Committee met to decide upon the layout of buildings, etc. The
execution of the buildings was begun and was still in progress at the
end of the year.
3. The Stock Breeding Advisory Committee was revived and
re-constituted but there was not time to hold a meeting before the end
of the year. The scope of its activities will be extended beyond that
of the old Committee, particularly with a view to forming co-operative
societies of cattle breeders. The latter matter will receive attention
after the farm has been firmly established at Inbaung and when the
type of animal desired has been fixed.
4. The necessary culling of undesirable stock referred to in last
year's report was taken in hand this year, 88 animals being disposed of
by auction, comprising 52 bulls, 20 cows, 9 heifers and 7 calves. The
reasons for culling were predominance of Indian characteristics, bad
conformation, emaciation, skin disease, and coat colour not up to
standard.
5. Worm infestation accentuated by over-stocking has been fairly
prevalent and has been responsible for some losses, but on the whole
the general health of the cattle has been good. Artificial feeding was
necessary throughout the year.
14
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURM A
6. At the end of the year the number of animals at the farm was :—
Stud bulls
Young bulls
...
...
Cows with calves
Dry cows
Heifers
Calves
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
33
30
27
41
31
166
7. The total cost of the farm during the year was Rs. 9 560
compared with Rs, 7,640 last year.
CHAPTER VII—SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. Total Animal Mortality.—Deaths from all causes amounted to
118,088, compared with 97,203 last year. The figures are compiled
from foils of the cattle death registers, submitted by headmen.
The
majority of the deaths were due to ordinary non-contagious diseases,
debility, and other causes such as wounds, accidents and snake-bite.
Probably many of the cases reported as snake-bite, however, were in
reality anthrax or hæmorrhagic septicæmia.
In addition to these deaths 170 deaths in elephants were reported
from timber firms, causes being various.
2. Contagious Diseases.—The mortality this year was 9,185, a decrease
of 315 from last year. In addition 11 deaths in elephants were
reported from timber firms, one being suspected anthrax.
Facts about rinderpest will be found in Chapter III and in the
appendices. The policy of wide-spread vaccination has been continued
everywhere except in Arakan and in the Tavoy and Mergui Districts.
The latter two districts have been free from natural outbreaks of this
diseasel for a large number of years, being off the trade routes, and
moreover contain many buffaloes, hence vaccination is not yet being
proceeded with there. In Arakan the incidence of anthrax and hæmorrhagic s
diseases, coupled with shortage of staff, has prevented a rinderpest
vaccination campaign being undertaken. Where vaccination has been
carried out the results have been most satisfactory. The fact,
ascertained this year, that the vaccine gives a solid immunity for at
least four years, is of great interest and importance.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 3lST MARCH 1940.
15
The following table shows the numbers of cattle vaccinated in the
different Districts during the four-year period ending with the year
under review : —
District.
(1)
Toungoo ... ...
Amherst ... ...
Mandalay ... ...
Yamèthin ... ...
Sagaing ... ...
Upper Chindwin ... ...
Kyauksè ... ...
Myitkyina ... ...
Pegu ... ... ...
Magwe ... ...
Hanthawaddy ... ...
Bhamo ... ...
Lower Chindwin ... ...
Pakôkku ... ...
Meiktila ... ...
Maubin ... ...
Thatôn ... ...
Katha ... ...
Tharrawaddy ... ...
Myaungmya ... ...
Salween ... ...
Prome ... ...
Insein ... ...
Myingyan ... ...
Pyapôn ... ...
Thayetmyo ... ...
Shwebo ... ...
Minbn ... ...
Bassein
... ...
Henzada ... ...
Total ...
Cattle population
excluding calves
and buffaloes)
to nearest
1,000.
(2)
96,000
113,000
81,000
166,000
194,000
3-1,000
71,000
35,000
142,000
240,000
102,000
31,000
210,000
235,000
165 000
106,000
113,000
82,000
132,000
71,000
4,000
133,000
82,000
242,000
49,000
142,000
296,000
145,000
173,000
190,000
3,785,000
R.D.G S. vacci-
nations done
in cattle (exclud-
ing buffaloes).
Total to nearest
100.
(3)
84,100
98,800
67,000
131,300
138,900
21,200
44,100
21,700
87,800
140,900
54,500
15,800
105,900
108,300
72,100
45,100
47,600
33,500
50,800
27,300
1,500
46,400
27,600
66,400
12,600
36,000
71,900
30,500
36,100
39,200
1,764,900
Percentage of
cattle population
vaccinated.
(4)
87.6
87.4
82.7
79
71.5
62.3
621
62
61.8
58.7
53.4
50.9
50.4
45
43.6
42.5
421
40.8
38.4
38.4
37.5
34.8
336
27.4
257
25.3
24.2
21
20 8
20.6
45.5
As, apart from actual outbreak areas, attention has been concen-
trated on cattle routes and on the more valuable of the stock in the
various districts, the number immunised to date, though a relatively
2
16
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
small percentage of the total cattle population, yet should tend to
afford a good measure of economic protection to the country. The
campaign will be steadily continued, re-vaccinating cattle at the end of
the four-year period and at the same time vaccinating any newly-intro-
duced animals. The response of the cattle-owner has been very good
on the whole, though unfortunately some owners still prefer to wait until
the natural disease breaks out. Such apathy, more than the negligible
mortality and generally mild reactions due to the vaccination, results in
fewer numbers being done than would otherwise be the case.
The arrangements made last year with the Thailand authorities for
the better control of rinderpest on the Amherst District border were
proceeded with and some progress made. The Director of Veterinary
Services, Burma, met the Veterinary Expert, Bangkok, on the border
and decided which of the suggested measures would be practicable.
Nearly all the cart-bullocks engaged in to-and-fro movement across the
border at Myawaddy have been immunised, but the vaccination and
control of movement of sale cattle is likely to offer greater difficulty.
The question of opening proper quarantine stations on the Burma
side of the border has not yet been settled. It is bound up with the
revised Livestock Importation Rules, which are still under the
consideration of Government. In the meantime the belt of immune
cattle previously established in the Kawkareik Township has been
maintained against the danger of introduction of rinderpest from
Thailand, and it is therefore considered that a quarantine station is not
a prime necessity.
Foot-and-mouth disease during the year under report was wide-
spread in spite of segregation measures being enforced wherever
possible. The mortality was unusually heavy, but this is attributed to
the fact that in the Delta, where most of the deaths occurred, the
outbreaks coincided with severe floods and consequent shortage of
suitable fodder, resulting in the deaths of animals which under normal
circumstances would have recovered. As in other tropical countries,
segregation of incontact animals has almost invariably had little effect on
stopping the spread of this disease in a village-tract, and proposals have
now been submitted to Government which, if accepted, will render
such segregation non-obligatory, while at the same time the stoppage of
movement into or out of the affected area will tend to prevent spread
beyond it. This will result in the disease running its course more
quickly in the affected village-tract and animals will have recovered
and be ready for work instead of being incapacitated at a time when
they are required. There is nothing new in the idea, and it was in
fact the procedure allowed for in the old " Cattle Disease Rules,
1914".
Glanders was not reported from any district throughout the year.
As mentioned in last year's report, it had been hoped that it would be
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
17
possible to test the gharry ponies in the Mandalay Municipality.
Unfortunately before the Municipal authorities could come to any
decision on the measure of assistance which they could afford to this
Department for the purpose of carrying out the test, the Municipal
Committee was superseded and the question had to be re-opened
by the Committee which succeeded it, with the result that
no action could be taken during the year. It is feared that the funda-
mental objection to the slaughter of reactors to the Mallein test may
prove an obstacle very difficult to surmount when the question of giving
the necessary assistance for the carrying out of the test is the point at
issue. Without such assistance, however, it would be no easy task for
officers of this Department to undertake the work. The gharry owners
may not co-operate, especially as no compensation is given for animals
destroyed.
3. It is again a pleasant duty to acknowledge the help given to the
Department by District Officers, whose assistance and ready co-opera-
tion has played an appreciable part in the measures the Department
has been able to take for the prevention and control of contagious
disease.
The work of the field staff has been very satisfactory on the whole,
and the staff at the Veterinary College and Research Laboratory has
continued to do very useful work under the enthusiastic and efficient
supervision of the Research Officer and Principal, Mr. Pfaff.
4. The cost of the Department during 1939-40 was Rs. 6,00,425
compared with Rs. 5,65,040 for 1938-39.
S. R. RIPPON,
Director of Veterinary
Services,
Burma.
APPENDICES.
TABLE 1.—
TABLE 2.—
TABLE 3.—
TABLE 4.—
TABLE 5.—
CHAPTER VIII.
Statement showing general animal mortality during the year
1939-40 and comparative figures for 1938-39 ... ...
Statement showing the deaths from contagious diseases amongst
animals in the Province during the year 1939-40 ...
Statement showing preventive inoculations performed during the
year 1939-40 ... ... ... ...
Statement showing the work of the Veterinary College and the
results during the year 1939-40 ... ... ...
Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ending 31st
March 1940 .. ... ... ... ...
PAGE
20
21 & 22
23—28
29
30
CHAPTER IX.
(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 X.
Graphs showing annual mortality per 1,000 of bovine population due to
Rinderpest, Foot-and-Mouth and Anthrax from 1906 to 1939 and the
monthly incidence of the principal contagious diseases during this
period.
20
APPENDICES.
TABLE 1.—Statement showing General Animal Mortality during the year 1939-40, and comparative figures for 1938-39.
Charge.
(1)
Upper Burma ...
Central ...
Lower Burma ...
Arakan Circle ...
Total for 1939-40 ...
Total for 1938-39 ...
Contagious Diseases (Departmental officers' figures).
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
113
3
17
...
133
179
Anthrax.
(3)
90
...
8
...
98
5
Glanders
(4)
...
...
...
...
1
1
Other Diseases.
(5)
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rinderpest.
(6)
692
410
571
...
1,673
3,929
Bovines.
Foot-and-Mouth disease.
(7)
135
13
954
15
1,117
96
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.
(8)
202
516
2,638
937
4,293
3,613
Black-quarter.
(9)
84
54
227
8
373
424
Anthrax.
(10)
321
167
501
480
1,469
1,215
Other Diseases.
(11)
...
15
14
...
29
38
Totals.
(12)
1,637
1,178
4,930
1,440
9,185
9,500
Non-Contagious Diseases (District officers'
figures).
Debility and old age.
(13)
12,026
5,765
30,568
1915
50,274
39,600
Snake Bite.
(14)
3,648
1,250
5,242
141
10,281
9,678
Accident.
(15)
4,245
3,001
2,038
384
9,668
6,336
Other causes.
(16)
13,591
8,270
15,490
1,329
38,680
32,089
Totals.
(17)
33,510
18,286
53,338
3,769
108.903
87,703
GRAND TOTAL.
(18)
35,147
19,464
58,268
5,209
118,088
97,203
APPENDICES.
21
TABLE 2.—Statement showing the Deaths from Contagious Diseases amongst
animals in the Province during the year 1939-40.
District.
(1)
Bhamo ...
Katha ...
Myitkyina ...
Shwebo ...
Lower
Chin-
dwin.
Upper
Chin-
dwin.
Sagaing ...
Mandalay ...
Kyauksè ...
Pakôkku ...
Minbu ...
Thayetmyo
...
Total,
Upper
Burma Charge.
Magwe ...
Meiktila ...
Myingyan ...
Yamèthin ...
Toungoo ...
Total
Central
Charge.
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
3
10
24
1
...
10
...
2
3
57
3
...
113
...
...
...
3
...
3
Anthrax.
(3)
...
90
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
90
...
...
...
...
...
...
Glanders.
(4)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Other Diseases.
(5)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
16
9
199
418
...
...
50
...
...
...
...
...
692
...
15
86
63
246
410
Foot-and-mouth
Disease.
(7)
1
...
17
4
4
16
9
6
...
76
1
1
135
7
...
...
2
4
13
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
(8)
15
74
67
...
...
12
...
...
6
3
25
...
202
93
18
38
220
147
516
Black-Quarter.
(9)
...
...
...
5
15
...
...
...
21
31
...
12
84
28
5
9
12
...
54
Anthrax.
(10)
25
...
...
91
8
36
16 7
...
115
4
19
321
51
13
...
28
75
Other Conta-
gious diseases.
(11)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
15
Total Bovines.
(12)
57
83
283
518
27
64
75
13
27
225
30
32
1,434
179
51
133
325
487
(Surra)
167 15 1,175
(Surra)
Total Equines and
Bovines,
(13)
60
183
307
519
27
74-
75
15
30
282
33
32
1,637
179
51
133
328
487
1,178
22
APPENDICES.
TABLE 2.—Statement showing the Deaths from Contagious Diseases amongst
animals in the Province during the year 1939-40—concld.
District.
(1)
Amherst
Thatôn ...
Salween ...
Tavoy ...
Mergui ...
Bassein ...
Myaungmya ...
Maubin ...
Pyap6n
Henzada ...
Prome ...
Tharrawaddy ...
Insein ...
Hanthawaddy ...
Pegu ...
Total,
Lower
Burma Charge.
Akyab ...
Kyaukpyu ...
Sandoway ...
Arakan
Hill
Tracts.
Total,
Arakan
Circle.
Total for 1939-40
Total, for 1938-39
Equines.
Surra.
(2)
3
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
5
...
5
...
...
17
...
...
...
...
...
133
179
Anthrax.
(3)
4
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
8
...
...
...
...
...
98
5
Glanders.
(4)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Other Diseases.
(5)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
...
...
...
...
...
...
33
9
83
...
...
...
37
44
365
571
...
...
...
...
...
1,673
3,929
Foot-and-mouth
Disease.
(7)
6
3
11
...
...
809
93
...
...
...
...
1
10
15
6
954
13
...
2
...
15
1,117
96
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.
(8)
62
89
...
342
708
423
176
90
190
15
13
46
218
68
198
2,638
692
197
48
...
937
4,293
3,613
Black-Quarter.
(9)
4
...
...
...
...
35
...
43
...
86
17
39
...
...
3
227
...
...
8
...
8
373
424
Anthrax
(10)
93
29
15
Other Conta-
gious diseases.
(11)
...
...
11
Total, Bovines.
(12)
165
121
37
(Lebetnar)
11
1
354
(Surra)
5
1
714
(Lebetnar)
147
...
... 3
64
14
50
22
26
22
501
...
...
...
...
...
1
1,414
302
142
276
165
45
(Surra)
...
...
...
...
2
136
287
153
594
4,905
(Surra)
12
(Lebetnar)
412
40
28
...
480
1,460
...
...
...
...
...
17
1,117
237
86
...
1,440
8,954
(Surra)
12
(Lebetnar)
1,215
2 9,315
(Rabies)
11
(Surra)
25
(Lenbetar)
Total, Equines and
Bovines.
(13)
172
121
37
354
714
1,418
302
146
276
165
50
136
292
153
594
4,930
1,117
237
86
...
1,440
9,185
9,500
APPENDICES.
23
TABLE 3.—Statement showing Preventive Inoculation performed during the
year 1939-40.
District.
(1)
Myaungmya
Total
for
1939-40.
Total
for
1938-39.
Bhamo ...
Mutkyina ...
Katha ...
Shwebo ...
Upper Chin-
dwin.
Lower
Chindwin.
Sagaing ...
Mandalay
Kyanksè ...
Pakôkku ...
Minbu ...
Thayetmyo ...
Total, Upper
Burma
Charge.
Magwe ...
Meiktila ...
Myingyan ...
Yamèthin
Toungoo ...
Total, Central
Charge
Amherst ...
Thatôn ...
Salween ...
Bassein ...
Myungmya
Maubin ...
Pyapon ...
Henzada ...
Hanthawaddy
Prome ...
Insein ...
Tharrawaddy
Pegu ...
Total, Lower
Burma
Charge.
Total
for
1939-40
Total
for
1938-39.
Method of inoculation
( 2)
Anti-Rinderpest
Serum Alone.
Rinderpest D G.S. Vaccine.
Source of Product.
(3)
Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute,
Muktesar.
Veterinary Research Laboratory Insein.
Total number of Vill-
age-tracts affected
during the year.
(4)
1
1
15
1
26
8
56
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
91
...
2
7
7
12
28
...
...
...
...
I
1
6
...
...
...
...
...
...
8
127
545
Number of outbreaks
in which inoculation
was undertaken.
(5)
1
1
2
...
3
8
56
...
...
7
...
...
...
84
166
324
...
2
6
7
4
19
...
...
...
...
... 1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
344
478
Number of animals
which died uninocu-
lated in course of
outbreak.
Bovines.
(6)
33
33
324
16
204
16
418
...
...
38
...
...
...
...
...
692
...
15
79
62
114
270
...
...
...
...
33
9
83
...
34
...
30
...
157
346
...
...
1,308
3,935
Equines.
(7)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others.
(8)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
21
(pigs)
Number of animals
inoculated.
Bovines.
(9)
63
63
36
2,912
4,912
5,860
26,858
4,607
23,327
63,733
24,072
6,500
38,25s
6,661
10,666
2,18,366
21,327
9,879
7,930
30,153
28,168
1,00,457
34,196
10,166
693
5,654
11,001
15,367
2,545
8,531
11,467
7,114
2,987
15,012
35,009
1,59,802
4,78,625
4,19,354
Equines.
(10)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others.
(11)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... 1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of inocu-
lated animals which
died of the disease.
Bovines.
(12)
...
...
...
4
2
15
20
67
7
2
9
1
127
3
...
4
...
16
23
26
4
...
...
24
...
...
...
5
1
...
4
19
83
253
347
Equines.
(13)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Others,
(14)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...