NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1932.
11
CHAPTER IV—VETERINARY EDUCATION.
(A) The Veterinary College, Insein.—Mr.
G. Pfaff, B.Sc., M.R.C.
V.S., held charge of the College throughout the whole of the
year under review. He was assisted by U San Hla, Assistant Principal,
two Veterinary Inspectors and two Veterinary Assistants, one of whom
was attached to the College only with effect from 9th March 1932.
(B) Refresher
Course.—Three
Refresher Courses were held during
the year in which 34 Veterinary Assistants from different Circle
charges were trained in recent methods of prevention and treatment
of disease.
(C) Veterinary
Education.—The
opening of the College was post-
poned for financial reasons. It is to be hoped that there will be no
further postponement as the need for a trained staff will be an urgent
one in a few years' time.
(D) Veterinary Instruction
in the Districts.—Veterinary
Officers
employed in the districts have delivered lectures and held demonstra-
tions in the villages when on tour. These lectures are gradually arous-
ing the interest of the cattle owners and the village headmen, who
are becoming more enlightened about cattle diseases and the rules for
their control.
LEAFLETS AND BULLETINS.
During the year under review the Department issued the following
leaflets and pamphlets: —
(1) Leaflet No. 1 of 1931—Rinderpest. (In English and Burmese.)
(2) Leaflet No. 2 of 1931.—Foot-and-Mouth Disease. (In English
and Burmese.)
(3) Leaflet No. 1 of 1932.—Glanders. (In English and Burmese.)
(4) Leaflet No. 2 of 1932—Hints on breeding of cattle. (In English
and Burmese.)
(5) Leaflet No. 3 of 1932.—Stomach worms in sheep. (In English
and Burmese.)
(6) Leaflet No. 4 of 1932.—Hints on hygiene for cattle owners. (In
English and Burmese.)
(7) Pamphlet—Handbook of Papers on Veterinary Subjects. (In
Burmese.)
(8) Elementary Microbiology. (In Burmese.)
In addition to the above Bulletin No. 2 of 1928 on " Method of taking
Blood Smears " was also translated into Burmese and was distributed
among the subordinate officers.
12
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
CHAPTER V—VETERINARY RESEARCH.
1. LABORATORY RESEARCH.
Staff.— Mr. G. Pfaff, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., held additional charge of
the Veterinary Research Laboratory during the year.
Mr. Smith, B. Sc., M.R.C.V.S., Field Veterinary Research Officer
was in charge of District Research duties during the year except during
the period 30th April 1931 to 9th June 1931 when he was deputed to
undergo a course of training in Departmental subjects at the Agricultural
College, Mandalay.
Two Veterinary Inspectors and one Veterinary Assistant were
attached to the Laboratory at the commencement of the year. One of
the Inspectors was transferred on promotion to Sub-Circle duties in
Field Section and the remaining Inspector was promoted and given a
temporary appointment of Veterinary Superintendent in the Research
Laboratory.
The equipment of the Laboratory was increased by overseas pur-
chases, the principal items being a pulping machine for grinding of
tissues and a Refrigerator, both of which were purchased for use in
the experimental work to be initiated in connection with the prepara-
tion of a vaccine for active immunisation of animals against Rinder-
pest. Eleven books of reference were purchased for the Research
Library and Scientific journals for reference to current literature on
Research were subscribed to.
Routine Work.—Smear examination. During the year 770 blood
and organ smears were examined of which 470 were submitted by the
Veterinary Staff and 275 by private animal owners. The following
diseases were diagnosed: —
Anthrax ...
Surra ...
Piroplasmosis
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia
Tetanus ...
Blackquarter
Fowl Cholera
Microfilaria
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
44
31
2
7
1
1
2
4
92
There was a marked falling off in the number of smears submitted
during the last five months of the year.
Fceces.—One hundred and twenty-two samples of faeces were
examined, nearly all being from dogs.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1932.
13
Post Mortems.—Post
Mortem examinations were made on eleven
carcases sent to the Laboratory.
Examination
of food-stuffs.—Fourteen
samples of Bran were
examined for various owners of horses.
Vaccines.—Two
batches of Anthrax spore vaccine (bovine strain)
totalling 1,700,000 doses were made and tested out on experimental
animals at the Laboratory.
One batch of Anthrax spore vaccine (equine) totalling 300,000 doses
was made and tested.
The total number of doses issued for inoculation of elephants and
cattle during the year was 5,947, viz., elephants 5,235, cattle 690 and
buffaloes 22.
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—Eight
thousand six hundred doses of
vaccine were prepared at the Laboratory and 1,810 Standard doses
issued for immunisation of buffaloes.
Rinderpest.—Only
199 doses of Rinderpest Virus were issued.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in keeping the strain going in
Kyaukpyu susceptible cattle owing to the absence of effective quarantine
facilities and the occurrence of diseases in the area surrounding the
Laboratory. Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Rinderpest were transmitted
to the available experimental animals by cattle brought to the
hospital for treatment in October and realising the impossibility
of continuing work under these conditions, without great expense, it
was decided to discontinue the production of the virus for Double
inoculations in the districts until such time when facilities could be
provided.
The Kyaukpyu cattle used in this work were not found to be as
susceptible as Cheduba cattle but they gave satisfactory reactions and
can be used in the future for this work so long as Ramree remains
free from Rinderpest.
Surra.—Experiments
on a small scale were carried out to determine
the prophylactic value of Naganol against Surra.
A field experiment was conducted on clinical cases brought to the
College Dispensary for treatment. The experiment was not satisfac-
tory as several of the horses were sold soon after they had put on
condition and we were unable to hold post mortem examinations on
horses which died. In all 25 horses were treated, the dose of Naganol
being that recommended by the makers, i.e., 1 gm. per 100 Kg.
followed after a week by .5 gm. per 100 Kg. and again after a week
by .5 gm. per Kg. About eight animals died. It was impossible to
get the villagers to co-operate effectively, so adequate observations on
the horses could not be made nor could the date of deaths be ascer-
tained. The immediate effect of the treatment in nearly all cases was
recovery of the animal, but if this recovery was permanent or not it
2
14
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA
was impossible to determine. The prophylactic treatment was
carried out on Laboratory horses under experimental conditions.
These horses were given Trypanosomes subcutaneously at intervals
by inoculation. The strain was obtained from a mule in Upper
Burma and kept going in dogs. The makers state of Naganol that
" a single dose of 1 gm. per 100 Kg. should afford a sufficient protec-
tion lasting for two months," i.e., the dose is 44 gms. per 100 lbs.
This statement could not be confirmed. Incidentally, it was found that
3 grm. per 100 lbs. killed a horse in 10 days.
1.5 gms. per 100 lbs. protected a horse for 4½ months but
permanently damaged him.
One gram per 100 lbs. caused acute toxic jaundice. Surra infection
was resisted subsequently for (up to date) three months. In this
particular case, treatment of the toxic effects of Naganol saved the
animal, but it is evident that a drug which has such a small margin
of safety should not be used with impunity. In the animals under
experiment at the Laboratory—
25 gms.
45 gms.
.5 gms.
67 gms.
Naganol per
Naganol per
Naganol per
Naganol per
100 lbs.
100 lbs.
100 lbs.
100 lbs.
protected for about 30 days.
protected for about 30 days.
protected for about 30 days.
protected for about 20 clays.
Only one horse was used in each case.
All the horses used were in very good condition when put into the
experiment. From the observations thus far made it seems that
Naganol in non-toxic doses protects against Surra for about a month.
It might be that the experimental horses have been subjected to too
heavy doses of Trypanosomes. The dose given has been roughly about
1 cc of blood showing fairly frequent trypanosomes on microscopic
examination. To expose the experimental horses to natural infection
would give no useful information as from three to eight horses have
been kept constantly with the Surra horses for periods up to nine
months without one of them contracting the disease.
Further experiments will be undertaken with Naganol, using very
much smaller doses of virulent blood. The ideal experiment would
be a field test by exposing animals to natural infection, but, owing to
lack of funds, such an experiment cannot at present be contemplated.
On the other hand if Naganol can cause symptoms of toxic jaundice
in animals doing no work, it is possible that this effect will be more
pronounced in working animals.
Kumrie.—Preliminary
investigations were undertaken in cases of
this disease procured for experimental purposes from the owners.
Five cases were under various experimental treatments during the year
and although in all cases alleviation of the symptoms could be produced
by treatment adopted, indications of the cause of the disease were not
sufficiently definite to record.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1932.
15
Osteoporosis.—Experimental
treatment on one case sent to the
Laboratory was undertaken. The treatment of this is not considered
to be a practical proposition and good results were not anticipated.
This disease requires investigating under Burma conditions but before
attempting any work on prevention or production of cases experimen-
tally, special stables and paddocks will be required which under present
conditions of financial stringency would not appear to be possible for
some years.
FIELD RESEARCH.
The field research officer carried out the following duties during
the year. He was assisted by one Veterinary Assistant, who was
transferred to him in the latter half of the year, and by the district
Veterinary Staff when the work was of such a nature as to require their
assistance.
1. Double inoculation of Cattle at De La Salle Institute, Twante.
2. Double Inoculation of Cattle at Hlegu.
3. Two demonstrations of Anthrax inoculations to Timber
Assistants of the timber firms who had not received instruc-
tion previously at Toungoo and Pyinmana.
4. Inoculation of Forest Department elephants in areas where the
District Veterinary Staff could not be spared or had not
been trained to carry out this inoculation.
5. Supervision of preliminary field tests on elephants with the new
batch of Bovine Strain Anthrax Vaccine prepared at Insein
during the year.
6. A survey of parasites infesting animals in Burma as indicated
in the infestation present in animals slaughtered at the
Rangoon Slaughter Yard.
7. Establishment and supervision of the Elephant Sick Camp pro-
vided by the timber firms at Minbyin, Pyinmana area, for
a period of three months (from December 2nd, 1931, to
March 7th, 1932.)
At this camp a study was made of treatments of wounds and injuries
and experimental treatments applied.
Internal parasites were collected at post mortems and from fresh
droppings.
Ecto. parasites were collected and the collection of internal and
external parasites submitted to England for definite determination.
Anthelmintic drugs were tested out practically by counts of eggs and
larvæ in the fæces and the effects of varying doses of drugs studied.
Studies of the blood of the animals under observation were made at
frequent intervals.
16
REPORT ON THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
A study of feeding methods, administration of drugs and general
care and maintenance of elephants was carried out.
This work will be reported on separately by the officer concerned
when completed and should constitute a very valuable contribution to
the present (incomplete) knowledge of these animals in health and
disease.
CHAPTER VI—SURVEY OF THE YEAR'S WORK-
ING RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Animal Mortality during the year.—During the year 1931-32, 60,311
deaths were recorded from all causes among the stock in the Province
of Burma. This represents a mortality of 0.96 per cent and shows
a substantial decrease of 19,247 when compared with last year's
figures. If this could be accepted as a true record of general mortality
there would be reason for considerable satisfaction but on comparison
with figures for general stock mortality in other countries where con-
ditions are even more favourable for cattle it is evident that many
deaths are not recorded.
(A) CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.—The deaths recorded from contagious
diseases totalled 11,821 which is an increase of 1,922 on last year's
totals. Deaths from Rinderpest were increased during 1931-32 by
1,676.
The stock mortality position during the year may therefore be
considered as fairly satisfactory. The increase which was noted
previously in this report in the total preventive inoculations carried
out against Rinderpest during the year, viz., 29,067 indicates that the
work of the staff in the districts has been considerably increased in
connection with this disease and, with the increased mortality, this
points to the commencement of a periodic cycle of prevalence.
Rinderpest.—Rinderpest was present during the year in the majority
of the districts in the Province. Arakan remained free and very little
infection occurred in the Tenasserim Division.
It was not found possible to introduce the Serum-Virus method
of conferring permanent immunity against Rinderpest into general
practice in the districts for various reasons, chief of which was the
lack of efficient provision for maintaining a strain of the virus at the
Laboratory.
The immunisation by Serum-Alone inoculation against Rinderpest,
which was vigorously pushed in all outbreak areas, has given dis-
appointing results principally on account of the fact that it is almost
impossible to obtain permission from all owners for inoculation or to
collect all the incontact cattle when inoculation is in progress. The
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1932.
17
uninoculated cattle which remain are the means of keeping infection
smouldering and as the transient immunity conferred by Serum is lost
in 12—14 days, re-infection of the herd occurs and the outbreak again
flares up.
While the present policy of voluntary inoculation is continued Serum-
Alone inoculation can only act as an additional aid in controlling
outbreaks and reliance must be placed on segregation and isolation
measures. Serum inoculation certainly reduces the local mortality from
the disease and on this account its continued use is justified.
The question of control of the disease at its source and prevention
of spread by trade cattle and cart traffic is at present engaging the
attention of the Department and it is proposed to submit a practical
scheme for the approval of Government during the coming year.
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease.—The
mortality from Foot-and-Mouth
showed a decrease of 1,272 in the year under report from the previous
year's totals. The disease was widely distributed but was mild in
character.
Anthrax, Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia,
and Blackquarter
show increas-
ing incidence in the riverine, delta and coastal districts.
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—An
increase of 1,464 deaths over the
deaths recorded in the previous year from this disease indicates
that it is on the increase and steps are being taken to induce
owners in the infected areas to have their animals inoculated
with vaccine before
the
disease
appears.
The
disease is
irregular in its occurrence and except in rare cases owners do not
allow inoculation to be carried out until an outbreak occurs. By the
time vaccine can be obtained and inoculation arranged the outbreak
has usually subsided and the operations from a Departmental point of
view are extremely unsatisfactory.
It is usually difficult in the case of these three diseases to obtain
material for definite diagnosis as carcases or sick animals are seldom
found on Veterinary Inspection, and without this evidence prophylactic
inoculations cannot be carried out with satisfactory
results. The
diagnosis by the villager on the clinical symptoms alone has been
found to be too unreliable to accept in order to differentiate the three
diseases.
Surra was recorded principally from the northern districts and the
figures for the year show a decrease in the incidence of the disease.
Sporadic outbreaks of the disease may occur in any part of the province
as infection in cattle is very widespread. An outbreak which occurred
near Insein was made use of for testing out curative treatment on cases
at the Research Laboratory.
Glanders.—Occurred
only in Bhamo where one case was diagnosed
by Mallein inoculation and destroyed.
18
REPORT
ON
THE
VETERINARY
DEPARTMENT,
BURMA,
PROPHYLACTIC INOCULATION WORK.
Preventive inoculations were performed
during the year in
connection with three diseases, viz., Rinderpest, Anthrax, and Hæmor-
rhagic Septicæmia. A small batch of animals were also inoculated
against Blackquarter.
Inoculation work against Rinderpest has increased very considerably
since the previous year and at present constitutes the main function
of the Class II and subordinate staff. The cost of this method of
dealing with the disease is at present very high and it is a matter for
future consideration if the results justify the continued expenditure.
Where all incontact cattle can be inoculated and efficiently segregated
the results are extremely good but there is a growing tendency to rely
on inoculation too much and to segregate only the visibly affected
animals. Under these conditions the course of the disease is only
slowed up and re-inoculations which become necessary at 14-day inter
vals are not always agreed to if the disease appears to be on the wane.
The increase in the inoculations against this disease during the
year under review occurred mainly in the South-Western and Central
Circles. The absence of effective supervision in the areas affected
by the rebellion became apparent and energetic measures had to be
taken to control the spread of the disease.
Arrangements are now nearly complete for commencing research
work on production of a vaccine for Rinderpest. This vaccine has
been engaging the attention of Veterinary Research workers in various
parts of the world in the last few years and recent results are extremely
hopeful. The vaccine aims at establishing a permanent immunity at a
single inoculation and although the method of conferring protection
has disadvantages from a Veterinary point of view in that it maintains
infection in the area, its successful introduction would be a great advance
on both the Serum-only and Serum-Virus methods at present used
in conferring immunity.
Inoculation against Anthrax in elephants, cattle, and buffaloes was
continued during the year under report. The inoculation of elephants
with spore vaccine prepared at Insein gave very satisfactory results.
Swellings at the site of inoculation were of much less frequent occur-
rence than in the previous year and practically no local or general
reactions were shown in animals which had been inoculated some 12
n onths previously. In non-inoculated animals the reactions were mild
e cept in the older animals which appear in many cases to possess a
d cided predisposition to the development of œdematous swellings at
the site of the inoculation and in the dependent parts of the body.
A more attenuated vaccine suitable for the inoculation of horses
was prepared at the Laboratory during the year and when this has
b en tested out on a fair number of equines in the districts and the
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1932.
19
resulting immunity estimated it will be utilized for the initial inocula-
tion of elephants. This it is expected will overcome the development
of local swellings on primary inoculations in these animals. The im-
munity conferred by spore vaccine in elephants is expected to last about
12—18 months and this has been borne out in practice as no deaths
have yet been recorded from naturally contracted Anthrax in animals
which have been inoculated and there is increasing evidence that the
vaccine has been responsible, since its introduction, for a considerable
decrease in elephant mortality.
Anthrax vaccinal on of cattle and buffaloes was continued in
localised areas mostly in contractors' animals, with very satisfactory
results. In these animals no local and very slight general reactions
result from the inoculation of the vaccine.
Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia.—Protective
inoculation with a killed
culture of the causal organism was practised in several outbreaks mainly
in the Tenasserim Sub-Circle.
It is still too early to pass a definite opinion on the duration of the
immunity conferred or the degree of protection given. The vaccine
produced no ill effects which could be noted subsequent to inoculation.
(B) NON-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.—The figures for the work of the
subordinate staff during the year show a decrease in number of individual
cases treated, but an increase of outbreaks of disease attended, when
compared with the previous year's figures.
This was the result of instructions, reducing the number of touring
days on general work, which were issued to the staff on account of the
necessity for curtailing expenditure.
Towards the end of the year arrangements were made for replacing
the heavy touring medicine chests which have been carried by the
Veterinary Assistants at considerable cost to Government, with a
portable metal emergency treatment case with a view to effecting
economies in the cost of the Department. These
new portable
Veterinary cases will be introduced early next year.
(C) WORK ON THE VETERINARY STAFF.—The remarks under this
heading in last year's report are still applicable. Officers of the Depart-
ment have a great number of difficulties to contend with in carrying
out their duties and the results are not always satisfactory.
Under
the existing methods of disease control in animals as laid down in the
Cattle Disease Rules it is only to be expected that moderately good
results would be achieved by the staff. Veterinary work in the Province
so far as Rinderpest is concerned (and this is the most important cattle
disease) is limited to measures of suppression in outbreaks but no
organised prophylactic or preventive operations which would have
for their object the localisation of infection, by the prevention of spread