NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
3
The following statement shows the diseases treated :—
Diseases of the Digestive system ... ...
Diseases of the Respiratory system ... ...
Diseases of the Urinary system ... ...
Diseases of the Genital system ... ...
Diseases of the Nervous system ... ...
Diseases of the Skin ... ... ...
Diseases of the Eye ... ... ...
Diseases of the Ear ... ... ...
Intestnal Parasites ... ... ...
Wounds ... ... ... ...
Castrations ... ... ... ...
Lameness ... ... ... ...
Not classified ... ... ... ...
Rinderpest ... ... ... ...
Foot-and-mouth disease ... ... ...
Rabies ... ... ... ...
Surra ... ... ... ...
Distemper ... ... ... ...
Demodectic mange ... ... ... ...
Sarcoptic mange ... ... ... ...
Dirofilaria immitis ... ... ... ...
Osteoporosis ... ... ... ...
Tuberculosis ... ... ... ...
495
103
15
63
19
49
64
63
483
222
26
26
420
1
31
16
6
30
1
69
3
1
1
The total of receipts for the treatment of animals was Rs. 2,645.
3. Veterinary Dispensary at the Rural Reconstruction Unit, Tatkôn.—
Most of the cases treated were wounds, digestive disorders, worms
and debility.
The following table shows the work done :—
New cases treated ... ... ...
Returns for treatment ... ... ...
Cases not seen, but medicine supplied ...
Animals from Tatkôn Village ... ...
Animals from outside areas ... ...
In-patients
... ... ... ...
Out-patients ... ... ... ...
1,4 87
156
1,041
305
1,338
17
1,626
The 1,041 cases not seen are included in the total of 1,487 new cases
treated. This leaves 446 cases brought to and seen at the dispensary
or an increase of 74 over last year, but still an average of only just over
one case per day.
The Veterinary Inspector in charge continued to perform the duties
previously carried out by him at the Tatkôn cattle-breeeding farm, but
as soon as the farm is transferred to Inbaung it is proposed to replace
him at the dispensary by a Veterinary Assistant, who will be quite
capable of doing the dispensary and rural reconstruction work at Talkôn
under the frequent supervision of superior officers stationed at
Yamèthin.
4
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
CHAPTER III.—CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS.
INCIDENCE OF DISEASE AND MORTALITY.
1. Rinderpest.—The
total mortality from this cause was 1,673,
compared with 3,929 last year. The majority of the deaths occurred in
Shwebo (418), Pegu (365) and Toungoo (246). Full statistics are given
in the appendices.
Hæmorrhagic
Septicamia.—The
mortality was higher than last year,
being 4,293 as against 3,613. Mergui again suffered most severely, with
708 deaths, followed by Akyab (692), Bassein (423) and Tavoy (342).
Anthrax.—The
heaviest mortality was in Akyab (412), Pakôkku (115),
and Shwebo (91). The total deaths amounted to 1,567 compared with
1,220 last year.
Blackquarter.—373
deaths were reported, the majority being in
Tharrawaddy (39) and Pakôkku (31). Total mortality last year was 424.
Surra.—This
disease was responsible for the death of 133 ponies
and 17 cattle. In Pakôkku alone 57 ponies died.
Glanders.— No case was reported.
Foot-and-mouth
Disease.—This
was rampant, very few districts
escaping infection. The mortality was heaviest in Lower Burma,
where 954 out of the total of 1,117 deaths occurred, S09 being in
Bassein District. Last year the fatal cases numbered only 96.
PREVENTIVE INOCULATION.
2. Rinderpest.—478,625
cattle and buffaloes were immunised with
desiccated goat spleen vaccine, an increase of 59,271 over last year.
Serum was given to only 63 animals, this being in an outbreak in
Myaungmya District where vaccination was not agreed to.
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—51,683
animals were inoculated with
hæmorrhagic septicaemia vaccine, against 43,141 last year.
Lower
Burma again showed the highest number of vaccinations (33,927),
followed by 8,851 in Arakan.
Anthrax
(A)
Inoculation
by Departmental
Officers.—12,438
bovines, 198 equines and 192 elephants were given vaccine. The number
of bovines shows a decrease of 264 compared with last year, but this
decrease is more apparent than real, as many more were given the
vaccine simultaneously with hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine, as
mentioned below.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
5
(B) Inoculation by Private Persons.—3,304 elephants were inoculated
by the Forest Assistants of the timber firms, and trained Forest
Department officers also inoculated 358 of their elephants. This total
of 3,662 elephants is an increase of 714 over last year. In addition 363
equines at the Pyawbwe Stud Farm were vaccinated.
Double Hæmorrhagic Setyicæmia and Anthrax
Inoculation.—This
campaign was pushed extensively in areas where there was good reason
to suspect that deaths were occurring from time to time from disease
which might be either anthrax or hæmorrhagic septicæmia, or where
both had been definitely proved to exist. 63,777 bovines received the
simultaneous vaccination, compared with 16,868 last year. Most of
these were done in Arakan and the Lower Burma Charge. The method
was introduced into Upper Burma during the year, but only 7,529
were actually done in the Upper Burma Charge and Central Charge.
Particulars are being collected with a view to finding out what effect
the double inoculation may be assumed to have had on mortality
in the various areas concerned, but it will take some time to collect
sufficient data to form definite conclusions.
Strangles.—201 ponies at the Pyawbwè Stud Farm received a full
course of autogenous vaccine prepared at Insein.
Blackquarler.—160 bovines were vaccinated at old outbreak areas
in the South Western Circle where the diagnosis was confirmed by
microscopical examination.
QUARANTINE STATIONS ON INTER-DISTRICT TRADE ROUTES.
3. Several places were inspected during the year with a view to
ascertaining their suitability as quarantine or inoculation stations.
Some were unsuitable, but one or two, although possessing certain
disadvantages, were provisionally selected as possible sites should it be
decided to put such a scheme into operation. If it is proceeded with,
the final sites chosen will depend upon the location of any frontier
quarantine stations, and as it has not yet been decided whether the
latter shall be established or not, the matter is kept in abeyance in the
meantime.
FRONTIER POSTS.
4. The existing open season frontier posts near the Thailand and
Shan States borders were manned as usual and animals in transit
inspected on arrival by the Veterinary Assistants on frontier duty.
6
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
The following table shows the animals inspected, last year's figures
being given in brackets :—
Inspection Post.
(1)
From Siam—
Thingannyinaung ...
Papun ... ...
(Dagwin) ...
From Shan States—
Leiktho ... ...
Cattle.
(2)
331
(80)
15
(71)
4,588
(2,715)
Buffaloes.
(3)
227
(164)
...
...
...
Pigs.
(4)
822
(823)
...
...
...
Ponies.
(5)
51
(43)
...
..
4
(60)
Goats.
(6)
...
(27)
...
(47)
...
As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the question as to whether
proper quarantine stations should be erected at points near the border
is still under consideration by Government, and preliminary estimates
of the cost of such stations at Thingannyinaung and Leiktho have been
obtained and submitted.
CHAPTER IV.—VETERINARY EDUCATION.
INSEIN VETERINARY COLLEGE.
1. (1) A sixth batch of students completed the twelve months' course
in March 1940. Of the 19 students 7 were stipendiary, 3 non-
stipendiary, 6 from the Shan States and 3 from the Chin Hills.
17 students were successful in the final examination.
The Evans Memorial Medal for the highest marks obtained in the
final examination was awarded to Maung Kyin Pe.
(2) Nine graduates of Indian Veterinary Colleges received post-
graduate training before being posted to districts.
STUDENTS UNDER TRAINING IN FOREIGN COLLEGES.
2. (1) One student was sent to the Madras Veterinary College.
At the end of the year the following Burma students were under
training in India :—
College.
Madras ... ...
Calcutta ... ...
Total ...
1st Year.
1
...
1
2nd Year.
...
...
...
3rd Year.
3
1
4
(2) The two Burmans studying for the M.R.C.V.S. diploma
continued their training at London and Dublin Veterinary Colleges
respectively.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
7
CHAPTER V.—VETERINARY RESEARCH LABORATORY,
INSEIN.
ROUTINE WORK.
(In this section the figures in brackets are the totals for 1938-39.)
1. Pathological
Specimens examined—(a)
Bloodsmears.—During
the
year 1,369 (1,440) bloodsmears from the districts were examined. Of
these 853 (780 were submitted by officers of the Veterinary Depart-
ment, 436 (592) by the various timber firms and 80 (68) by the Military
Police, Forest Department and others. 609 (441) smears were from
cattle and buffaloes, 543 (608) from elephants, 120 (262) from equines
and 97 (129) from other animals.
Of the 338 (222) positive smears, 52 (117) were Surra—42 (91)
horses, 6 (18) elephants and 4 (7) cattle and buffaloes ; 61 (36) were
anthrax—5 (2) horses, 2 (2) elephants, and 54 (31) cattle and buffaloes ;
95 (47) were hæmorrhagic septicæmia—all in cattle and buffaloes ; 123
(15) were filariasis, all in elephants ; 3 (6) were piroplasmosis—1 (3) in
bovines and 2 (3) in dogs ; 2 (1) were epizootic lymphangitis in mules ;
and 1 was blackquarter in a bovine.
During the year 1,174 smear preparations made at Insein were
examined from animals used for vaccine production or experimental
purposes.
(b) Faces.—549 (599) specimens of faeces were examined of which
518 (488) were from dogs, 3 (13) from horses, 23 (32) from cattle and
buffaloes, 3 (63) from elephants, and 2 (3) from other animals.
(c) Other Palhological
Specimens.—382
(215) were
examined
including dried ear specimens, skin scrapings, urine, vomited material,
bacteriological swabs, material in formalin for histological examination
and carcasses for post-mortem examination. Of these 335 were from
cattle and buffaloes, 19 from elephants, 12 from equines, 12 from dogs,
and 4 from other animals. Sub-inoculations from dried ears into small
laboratory animals led to the diagnosis of 44 (30) cases of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia and 26 (21) cases of anthrax, all in cattle and buffaloes.
These figures are included in the number of positive smears given in
(a) above. Amongst the specimens examined histologically, diagnoses
were made of three cases of epithelial tumours and several cases of
pneumonia.
2. Vaccines prepared and issued.—The following batches of vaccine
were prepared :—
Rinderpest desiccated goat spleen vaccine...
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia vaccine ...
Anthrax vaccine ... ...
Strangles vaccine ... ...
Autogenous vaccine for elephants ...
70
18
6
7
2
(55) batches Nos. 214 to 283.
(12) batches, Nos. 54 to 71.
batches.
(1) batches Nos. 12 to 18.
(3) batches Nos. 7 and 8.
8
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Vaccines issued were as follows :—
Rinderpest desiccated goat spleen vaccine
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia vaccine
Anthrax spore vaccine for bovines
Anthrax spore vaccine for elephants ...
Anthrax spore vaccine for equities ...
Strangles vaccine ...
Autogenors vaccine for elephants ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
645,200 (610,900) doses.
119,388 (72,340) doses.
83,670 (40,375) doses.
7,183 (6,285) doses.
5,742 (3,910) doses.
752 (1,309) doses.
3 (5) courses.
The following biological products were also issued from Insein
during the year :—
Blackquarter vaccine ...
Rinderpest serum ...
Mallein for I D.P. test ...
Mallein for subcutaneous test
Tuberculin for intradermal test
Tuberculin for subcutaneous test
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Doses.
275
50
1,421
147
2
4
3. Museum.—Work on the collection, classification and mounting of
morbid specimens was continued and permanent mounts of over 100
specimens have now been prepared. The latest methods for preserva-
tion of natural colour and appearance have been used and the. collection
includes specimens of all the common diseases met with in Burma,
forming an exhibit valuable for educational and demonstration purposes.
The mounting of an elephant skeleton was completed and additions
to the Osteological collection in process of mounting included skeletons
of two Burmese buffaloes and an Indian milch buffalo. Material
collected from post-mortem examinations on two elephants from Prome
included a fractured humerus of 18 months' duration.
RESEARCH WORK.
4. (a) Rinderpest—(i) Bull Virus.—The bull virus (Kungyangon)
virulent strain was maintained for experimental purposes by monthly
passage through susceptible Kyaukpyu cattle and storage in the form of
dried powdered spleen at about 4.?°F. The 87th passage of this strain
was done on the 13th March 1940.
(ii) Goal Virus.—The goat virus (vaccine) strain was maintained
by not longer than weekly passage through goats and storage at about
42°F. in the form of dried spleen powder. The 410th passage at Insein
of this strain was done on the 30th March 1940.
A small test was done on goats to determine whether the virulence
of the strain was altered by this long series of passages : one goat was
infected with spleen powder passage 407 and its reaction observed.
Blood from it was taken on the 4th day and injected into two more
goats. Of the three animals, two died from rinderpest, one on the 9th
and the second on the 12th clay after infection, and the third had a servere
sustained reaction, indicating no loss of virulence for goats.
FOR THE YRAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
9
(iii) Duration of Immunity.—The
duration of immunity produced
by desiccated goat spleen vaccine was investigated by giving the vaccine
to Kyaukpyu and local cattle and at intervals giving virulent bull virus
to some of the animals. Throughout the time of this experiment the
animals were segregated and were kept with susceptible Kyaukpyu
cattle. At no time did these susceptible animals contract rinderpest, so
it is presumed that at no time was the immunity of the animals in the
experiment reinforced by contact with the disease.
The last five cattle in this experiment were tested for immunity
against virulent rinderpest on the 14th December 1939. Of the five
cattle, four were bred locally and one was a Kyaukpyu animal.
Each
received subcutineously 2.5 cc. citrated blood withdrawn from a
Ky ukpyu animal at the height of its reaction on the fifth day after
injection with bull virus. Two Kyaukpyu controls were given the same
amount of blood. No reactions occurred amongst the immune cattle ;
of the two controls one died of rinderpest, the other recovered after a
severe reaction. These cattle were immunized with goat spleen vaccine
in December 1935, and have not been exposed to subsequent natural
infection, so the immunity produced by the vaccine remains solid for
at least four years.
(iv) Immunization
of Buffaloes—The
effect of Dried Goat Spleen
Vaccine on Buffaloes.—An experiment was undertaken to determine :—
(1) The influence of the quantity of dried goat spleen vaccine on
the reaction and immunity developed.
(2) If long-drawn-out
reactions may he due to inoculated
buffaloes contracting rinderpest before their immunity is fully developed.
(3) If susceptible buffaloes can contract rinderpest by contact with
reacting buffaloes.
(4) If susceptible buffaloes can develop immunity by contact with
buffaloes reacting to the vaccine.
1. The influence of the quantity of Dried Goal Spleen Vaccine on the
reaction and immunity developed.—The dose of vaccine at present issued
for cattle is 00025 gram. In this experiment six buffaloes were each
given 0.25 gram (100 times the cattle close), six buffaloes were each
given 00025 gram (the cattle dose), six buffaloes were each given
0.00025 gram (one-tenth the cattle dose), and six buffaloes were
each given 0.000025 gram (one-hundredth the cattle dose). There was
little if any difference in the reactions provoked by 0.25 gram and 0.0025
gram. With 0.00025 gram the peak temperature was reached a little
later and the reaction was slightly more protracted. 0.000025 gram
failed to immunize one animal, which was subsequently killed by bovine
virus, and caused delayed protracted reactions in the other five. With
the exception of one buffalo which got 0.000025 gram, all the buffaloes
were immunized against a dose of bovine virus sufficient to kill all six
controls in six to eleven days.
10
REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
The following conclusions may, therefore be drawn :—
(a) A severe or fatal reaction is not to be ascribed to the quantity
of vaccine injected.
(b) A very small dose may fail to immunize (probably because the
injected fluid contains no virus) and, when it does protect, the onset
of immunity may be slightly delayed.
(c) There is nothing gained in safety by giving less than the dose
now used for cattle.
2. Long-drawn-out reactions. —Eight buffaloes were given bovine virus
seventy-two hours after they had received the vaccine. Previous
experiments on cattle had shown that this " kicked up" the temperature
when it was about to fall ; the same effect was noted in the buffaloes,
and the temperature did not return to normal until about 17 days after
the injection of the vaccine. It is, however, doubtful if infection soon
after inoculation is a factor in the severe reactions reported in
buffaloes.
3. Infection by contact.—Three buffaloes were kept in close contact
with the inoculated buffaloes and they never showed any rise in tempera-
ture or any other signs of rinderpest. There is, therefore, no infection
by contact.
4. Immunity by contact.—To ascertain if susceptible buffaloes could
develop immunity by contact with reacting buffaloes three animals were
kept in contact with the buffaloes which had been given the vaccine.
Since all died of rinderpest after receiving bovine virus, it must be
concluded that no immunity is developed in this way.
General observations on the above experiments.—All the inoculated
buffaloes lost a lot of condition during the reaction, and this notwith-
standing the fact that they were well fed and kept under ideal
conditions. Three animals developed surra : one on the 2nd November,
21 days after getting the vaccine, and the others, which were used as
controls, soon after arriving here. All rapidly responded to treatment.
It is possible that surra may be a complicating factor in field inoculations.
Coccidiæ were not detected.
It would seem inadvisable to inoculate buffaloes unless they can be
well fed and well cared for, and given at least 30 days' rest after
inoculation.
(b) Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—The increased demand for hæmorr-
hagic septicæmia vaccine and the fact that concentrated meat extracts
were for a time not available, led to the use of fresh broth made from meat
of goats slaughtered for rinderpest vaccine. Each week sufficient meat
is kept from the slaughtered goats to produce 30 litres of broth and this
is all used in the production of hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine, of
which new batches of from 60 to 90 litres each are now being made
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 1940.
11
every fortnight. Experiments were done to determine the best pH value
of the broth and as a result of these a standard pH value of 7 2 is used ;
further experiments on the optimum temperature for the growth of the
organism showed that 37°C. was the most suitable.
In order to maintain the virulence and anti-body producing
properties of the organism used in the production of this vaccine, which
tend to decrease with repeated subculturing in spite of frequent passages
through small laboratory animals, new strains are isolated from all
positive ear specimens from the districts and added to the polyvalent
strain, which now contains organisms from all parts of Burma.
(c) Anthrax.—For the testing of vaccines a batch of virulent spore
emulsion was made from a strain isolated from a buffalo ear received
from Kawa. The minimum lethal dose of this emulsion for sheep was
found to be 0.0000005 c.c.
Anthrax vaccine continues to give good results. Information
regarding post-inoculation history of cattle is not available, but since
inoculated elephants and horses are under strict control information
about these two species is accurate. During the year no inoculated
elephant or horse died of natural Anthrax ; one uninoculated elephant
died of the disease. Unfortunately isolated severe reactions to the
vaccine still occur. During the year two elephants died as a result of
inoculation. In the blood smear of these elephants microfilariae were
very frequent, but it is not known how far this complicated the
reaction to Anthrax vaccine.
(d) Strangles.—Strangles vaccine is made for use at the Government
Stud Farm, Pyawbwe, and three closes of 10 ccs. are given at weekly
intervals: several batches of vaccine were made during the year.
Details of the incidence of the disease at Pyawbwe are not yet available
but it is understood that the vaccine has considerably reduced the
number of cases.
(e) Preservation of Vaccines.—At the Laboratory vaccine is stored
at 42°F, and before issue no contamination has ever been noticed. In
some unused bottles of vaccine returned from the field mould
contamination was found. Since the vaccine is preserved in formalin
the lowest dilution of formalin to prevent this mould contamination
was determined. No growth took place in a dilution of 1 in 750, so to
be on the safe side vaccines are now preserved in a dilution of 1 in 500,
and sample bottles of each batch of vaccine are stored at room
temperature to observe if any contamination develops.
It was also determined if the development of contamination was
related to the bottle caps and methods of sealing. As a result of these
experiments bottle caps are now sterilized by dry heat and during