NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
10
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Immunizing value of dried goat spleen vaccine after storage for 30
days at room temperature.—Two Kyaukpyu cattle were each given 0.5
grm. of dried goat spleen after storage for 30 days at room temperature.
Both developed a mild thermal reaction and a very severe temperature
reaction to virulent bull virus given 30 days later. Both controls died.
This also indicates that a big dose of vaccine attenuated by storage
confers some protection whereas a small dose does not.
(e) Immunizing value of Desiccated Goat Spleen Vaccine stored at 37°C.
and at room temperature for 12 hours alternately.—The vaccine was
tested after storage for six, eight, ten and twelve days, two Kyaukpyu
cattle being used on each occasion, each animal being given 0'0025
grm. Previous experiments had shown that 0.005 grm. of the vaccine
immunizes after storage for three days at 37°C. This experiment shows
that six days' storage at 37°C. and at room temperature for twelve hours
alternately destroys the immunizing properties of the vaccine, indicgting
that the attenuation which commences at 37°C. is not arrested by
subsequent storage at a lower temperature.
(f) The Immunization of Buffaloes.—A small experiment was done on
15 buffaloes to determine the effect of the quantity of Rinderpest Desic-
cated Goat Spleen Vaccine on the severity of the reaction. The
buffaloes were about 18 months to 3 years old. They were in fairly
good condition when given the vaccine but lost condition fairly rapidly
while under experiment. The following conclusions were drawn :—
(1) The reaction is not dependent upon the quantity of the vaccine
(2)
very small dose of vaccine may provoke a reaction but may
give insufficient protection.
13, 0.00025 grm. of dried spleen powder protects buffaloes against
2.5 c.c. virulent blood.
It is proposed to do further work on older buffaloes to confirm these
findings and to determine the cause of the rapid loss of condition after
inoculation.
(g) Bennett's Glycerine-water Vaccine.—Bennett showed that a glyce-
rine water emulsion of spleen of a bovine killed at the height of reaction
to virulent Rinderpest is attenuated by storage, and that it may safely be
used as a vaccine after three days at 37°C., and remains effective for
30 days at this temperature. It was thought that this vaccine would be
useful in certain areas in Burma. Vaccine prepared by Bennett's
method was given to Kyaukpyu cattle, weighing about 200 lbs., in
quantities equivalent to one grm. of spleen pulp. The vaccine was
used after storage for 4, 6, 15 and 20 days at 37°C. two Kyaukpyu cattle
being used on each occasion. All were subsequently given virulent
blood on the same day, so that the interval between the injection of the
vaccine and the injection of the virulent blood varied, being 27 days
for the 4-day group, 25 days for the 6-day group, 20 days for the 15-day
group and 11 days for the 20-day group. Both animals in the 20-day
group died ; one in each of the other groups died, the other
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1939.
11
recovered after reacting severely, all having mouth lesions. All deaths
were due to Rinderpest and occurred within 11 days of the injection of
the virulent blood.
(h) The effect of Desiccated Goat Spleen Vaccine on Mythuns.—An
error crept into last year's Annual Report in describing the field test on
mythuns in the Chin Hills. It was stated that the twelve animals
inoculated received the dose usually given to buffaloes.
This is
incorrect. Six of the animals were given the dose usually given to
cattle, which was at that time six times the buffalo dose. The interest"
tug point is that all the four mythuns which died of Rinderpest as a
result of the vaccination received the smaller dose, and that all the
mythuns which received the larger dose recovered after showing severe
reactions. The conclusion drawn at the time was that the reaction is
not dependent upon the quantity of the vaccine, which later tests on
buffaloes has tended to confirm.
(2) Kumri—(a) Aetiology.—Further unsuccessful attempts were made
to transmit Kumri to horses by the intracerebral injection of emulsions
of brain and spinal cord of horses affected with the disease.
(b) Therapeutics.—Repeated courses of strychnine, injected daily
in increasing doses until toxic symptoms appeared, had no influence on
the disease.
Investigations on this disease, extending over several years, may be
summed up as follows :—the casual agent has not been identified and
of the many drugs tried not one has been found of any value.
(3) Diseases of Elephants—(a) Anthrax, which not long ago caused
heavy losses to elephant owners, is now successfully prevented by
annual vaccination. There are, however, several other important
affections of elephants, and some of these have been investigated.
(b) Surra does not cause a big mortality in elephants. Arsenious
acid in doses of 20 grains a day is beneficial and has the advantage of
being cheap and as it is kept handy it may be used in suspected cases.
In one outbreak Naganol was successfully used in doses of half an
ounce, repeated after an interval of eight days. Subsequent investigation
showed that one ounce of Naganol had no ill effect on an aged medium-
sized elephant. The dose of this drug should, therefore, be not less
than one ounce for adult elephants.
(c) Rinderpest.—As outbreaks of Rinderpest in cattle
may
disorganize work with elephants because of the fear that these animals
may contract the disease, an 8 year old elephant was given a
subcutaneous injection of Rinderpest bull virus in the form of dried
spleen. Beyond arise in temperature of 1.4°F on the 4th and 5th day,
the elephant showed no ill effects from the injection, supporting the
experience of others that elephants are not susceptible to Rinderpest.
(d) Filariasis has recently been found to affect many elephants,
the diagnosis being made by the identification of microfilariae in blood
32
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
smears. Microfilariae have been found in the blood smears from
several elephants which have died suddenly after severe exertion.
Unfortunately there has been no opportunity of doing a post mortem
examination on such an elephant, but it is hoped that further work,
now in hand, will throw light on this subject.
(e) Intestinal Parasites.—No satisfactory treatment has been found
for intestinal parasites in elephants, the chief reasons for this being—
(a) The huge bulk of the intestinal contents, and the inadvisability of
reducing this by starvation of the elephant.
(6) The lack of a reliable
purge for elephants. Post mortem examination has shown that even
after receiving arsenic and tartar emetic daily over a long period
elephants still harbour enormous numbers of worms.
(f) Warbles or Potwet.—This troublesome complaint is being
investigated and various preventive and curative measures are being
tried. No conclusive results have yet been obtained.
(g) Harness injuries cause heavy losses. Attempts are being
made to improve on the harness used and much improvement has been
effected in the treatment of these injuries.
(h) Boils.—Autogenous vaccines have given excellent results in a
few elephants in which other treatments have failed.
(i) Anæsthesia.—A 70 years old female elephant was given 150
grms. of chloral hydrate as a 7'5 per cent solution in 10 per cent
sodium citrate in normal saline. She dropped ten minutes after the
completion of the injection and slept for an hour. She regained her
feet twenty minutes later and one hour after that was able to walk,
though a little unsteadily.
(j) Tonic Drugs and Grain Ration.—Efforts
are being made to
induce owners to give a grain ration instead of numerous tonics, and,
when tonics are considered essential, to confine the choice to such drugs
as arsenic and strychnine, which are readily taken by the elephant.
(k) Histology.—A study is being made of the histology of elephant
tissues.
(4) Parasitology.—The identification of ecto and endo-parasites was
continued.
(5) Biochemistry.—A large number of biochemical analyses of
blood and urine of horses suffering from Kumri was carried out.
Biochemical analyses were made of locally grown green grasses, at
various stages of growth.
INSTRUCTION..
3. Six probationary Veterinary Inspectors, graduates of the Madras
and Bengal Veterinary Colleges, were given a short practical course in
infectious diseases, as also were the six Inspectors and fifteen Veterinary
Assistants who attended the Refresher Course.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1939.
13
GENERAL.
4. 10.746 acres of land were acquired for the development of
research work. An incubator room was constructed, and an extra
room for use in the preparation of Rinderpest vaccine.
DISTINGUISHED
VISITORS.
5. Professor S. Lyle Cummins, C.B., C.M.G., M.D., LL.D., Tuber-
culosis Expert, visited the Laboratory on the 24th December, 1938.
Lord Cochrane of Cults visited the Laboratory on the 6th January,
1939.
CHAPTER VI—STOCK BREEDING.
1. The cattle breeding farm remained at Tatkôn. A Veterinary
Assistant was transferred from the field staff and placed on duty at the
farm, but the Veterinary Inspector in the charge of adjacent Rural
Reconstruction Centre continued to be responsible for accounts,
recording and general supervision. The remaining staff consisted of a
stockman, six labourers and one durwan.
2. During the year it was realized that the number of animals on
the farm was at least four times the number which ought to be main-
tained on it, and that the cattle as a result were rapidly deteriorating
in size and bone and were becoming useless for the purpose for which
they were intended. It was considered that the retention of this herd
could be provided for only if an increased grazing area was made
available before the dry weather season of the year under report. It
was therefore strongly recommended that the scheme, referred to in
last year's Report, in connection with the establishment of a cattle farm
under open conditions of grazing, and which had been rejected by
Government, be reconsidered.
In the meanwhile it became necessary
to place the animals on an increased ration scale expected to cost over
Rs. 1,000 per month.
Actually the extra cost was only approximately
Rs. 400 per month. Planting of jowar was not taken in hand because
it was thought that the transfer to open conditions of grazing would be
sanctioned and could take place early in the present year. Grass seed
(Paspalum) was, however, planted, but proved a failure.
In February
the paddocks were nearly as bare of grass as a roadway and were
producing no cattle feed. They were used by the cattle only for
exercise.
In the initial scheme for transfer of the farm to open grazing
conditions it was proposed to acquire over 2,000 acres at Inbaung,
Yamèthin District, at a total estimated cost of capital and recurring
expenditure of over Rs. 71,000 and nearly Rs. 10,000 respectively.
Government had decided in 1937 that consideration of this scheme
should be postponed. In October, 1938, revised proposals were
2
14
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
sanctioned for the acquisition of only 463 69 acres, at a cost of
Rs. 13,932, together with fencing, water supply and construction of
quarters for the staff at a cost of Rs. 28,210. At the end of the year
acquisition proceedings were still in progress, but it will be at
least another year before the transfer of the farm from Tatkôn can be
effected. Extension of the area at Inbaung will undoubtedly be
necessary in the future, if a herd of reasonable dimensions is to
be maintained.
3. The heifers and cows bred on the farm are good in conformation
and type, but the bulls are disappointing, and drastic culling will be
necessary. It will be a considerable time before village distribution
can take place.
4. Foot-and-mouth disease broke out in February and ran through
the herd, as it was impossible to segregate. The policy adopted was
to let the disease run through the herd as quickly as possible. The
outbreak caused further loss of condition, but subsided without any
casualties.
5. At the end of the year the numbers of animals were :—
Cows with calves ... ...
Calves ... ... ...
Dry cows ... ... ...
Heifers ... ... ...
Young bulls ... ... ...
Stt:d bulls ... ... ...
Bullock (working) ... ...
Total ...
42
42
32
32
57
7
1
213
6. The total cost of the farm during the year was Rs. 7,640
compared with Rs. 2,318 last year.
CHAPTER VII.—SUMMARY
AND RECOMMEN-
DATIONS.
1. Total Animal Mortality.—During
1938-39 the total recorded
mortality from all causes was 97,203, which is an increase of 4,039 over
last year. In some hill areas the maintenance of cattle death registers
by headmen is not in force ; in fact in many such places the headmen
are illiterate. Many deaths are still not reported, but there is at any
rate no falling off in this respect, and gradual improvement may be
expected both in this and also in the more accurate determination of
the cause of death.
2. Contagious Diseases.—These accounted for 9,500 deaths, a
decrease of 6,618 from last year. Reporting was on the whole satis-
factory, but it is of course in a year when the outbreaks have been
numerous that one is in a better position to form conclusions as to
the way in which this important duty of villagers and headmen is
carried out.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 3lST MARCH 1939.
15
The rinderpest vaccination campaign has been carried on to as
great an extent as possible, and has no doubt materially assisted in
reducing mortality. It is, however, premature to attribute to vaccination
the absence of widespread outbreaks during the last three yaars.
The
peak years of greatest mortality during the periods of irregular cyclical
recrudescence have been 1906, 1910, 1919, 1925 and 1936, and the
mortality in 1936 was more per 1,000 of the bovine population than it
was in 1910, while in 1917 the mortality was lower than it has
been during the present year, though no doubt in the earlier years
reporting of deaths was not so efficient. It should be borne in mind
that importation from Siam has decreased of late years, and this may
have a bearing on the freedom from Rinderpest of the Salween, Thatôn
and Amherst Districts. Much larger numbers of cattle enter from the
Shan States into Yamèthin (Upper Burma) and Toungoo (Lower
Burma) and in those districts, in spite of vaccination, the Rinderpest
mortality has continued the heaviest.
Last year in Yamèthin 54,211
were vaccinated compared with only 23,288 in Toungoo. This year
39,993 were done in Yamethin and only 19,864 in Toungoo.
In Lower Burma districts vaccination can be carried out for only
about six months of the year, due to climatic reasons and the ploughing
and carting seasons. Moreover in many parts of Lower Burma the
cattle in a village are not easily collected for vaccination, as they are
frequently kept scattered in small herds here and there. In Upper
Burma vaccination can be carried out over a much greater period of the
year, and the village cattle are more often than not kept all together
in an enclosure at night, and so are more easily dealt with. In both
Upper and Lower Burma many of the cows are rather refractory and
difficult to deal with. Although the best cattle are bred in the recog-
nized breeding districts of Upper Burma a considerable amount of
breeding goes on in Lower Burma, so that Lower Burma has many
cows in addition to the more amenable trained bullocks purchased
from Upper Burma. Notwithstanding these difficulties the staff in
Lower Burma last year vaccinated 197,648, compared with 351,916
done in Upper Burma, and this year 137,128 have been vaccinated
in Lower Burma compared with 261,500 in Upper Burma. These two
years' work alone represent the vaccinatian of 18 per cent of the
cattle population in Upper Burma and of 14 per cent in Lower
Burma.
As more of the Veterinary Assistants receive a training in
Rinderpest vaccination technique it should be possible for them
afterwards to inoculate larger numbers of animals in their township
charges. They will be able, if necessary, to work on their own and in
this way it is hoped shortly to increase the total number of immunized
cattle. It is largely a matter of organization and intelligent drawing up
of programmes. The system has already been introduced into Lower
16
REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA,
Burma where, as has been indicated, it is necessary to work against
time, and the results have been quite promising.
Comparatively few buffaloes have been vaccinated, on account of
their very low resistance to the virus of Rinderpest. In one case in the
field a buffalo escaped after receiving only an infinitesimal quantity of
vaccine from the prick of a needle, and before the barrel of the syringe
had been attached. This animal reacted just as severely as others
which received the full dose. It is the subsequent mortality in buffaloes,
however, and the great loss of condition in those which recover from
the reaction, which still prevents wholesale vaccination of these
animals being undertaken. Experimental work is now being carried
on at Insein in connection with this problem.
In last year's report a reference was made to certain proposals
regarding compulsory inoculation, which it was intended to submit
to Government this year.
The co-operation of the Siamese
authorities was sought in order to try and effect a better measure
of Rinderpest control on the Amherst District Border, by vaccination of
Siamese sale cattle at the Frontier and of all cart-bullocks engaged in
to-and-fro trade. It was arranged that a preliminary survey should be
carried rut by the Siamese authorities, and this is being done.
The other proposals, involving amendment of the " Contagious
Diseases of Animals (Villages) Rules, 1936 " to make provision for
compulsory inoculation, were not submitted, and it is now considered
that they were too far-reaching for present-day conditions.
The draft of the Revised Livestock Importation Rules was
reconsidered with a view to making the Rules more practicable.
Proposals were submitted for the introduction of new legislation
for the improvement of agricultural stock and the prevention of
overstocking of grazing areas and village lands, but it was agreed that
the matter should be kept pending a decision of the Fiscal Committee
on the question of a Cattle Tax. Similar proposals have been discussed
several times since 1909, and especially since the Stock Breeding
Committee, 1917, but have hitherto not been considered to be feasible.
There is nothing to add to last year's remarks concerning the
position with regard to foot-and-mouth disease. The Department
continues to waste time and money in attempting to deal with the
outbreaks by segregation, in accordance with the existing Rules.
Proposals for altering the Rules to bring them more into line with,
those in force in some other tropical countries have not yet been made
and this matter will now receive early attention. It will be necessary to
adopt measures best suited to this country. In Rhodesia, for instance,
vaccination is combined with stoppage of movement over a wide area,
requiring cordons of special police, and the enclosing with fencing of
belts of country sometimes as much as 250 miles in circumference, as
well as slaughter of calves born during the period of infection after
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1939.
17
inoculation. Such would be quite impracticable here. The vaccine
used there protects for about six months, giving an immunity of no
longer duration than that which results from a natural attack of the
disease in Burma. Nevertheless it is intended to pursue the approved
policy of manufacturing a vaccine so soon as facilities are available.
So far as Anthrax, Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia and Blackquarter are
concerned, it has been possible for many years to obtain vaccines to
protect against these, but outbreaks are usually of such a sporadic nature
and the diagnosis is so often in doubt, that widespread inoculation
would hardly have justified the expenditure involved, even if the staff
had been sufficiently large to allow of such activities in addition to the
more important work of rinderpest control.
Glanders eradication received further attention, the Mandalay
Municipality being invited to express its views on some draft Rules
intended to facilitate the application of the " Glanders and Farcy Rules,
1936. " It is hoped that it will be possible to take some definite action,
in the way of introducing periodic mallein testing of gharry ponies,
during the coming year, first in Mandalay and later on in other
Municipalities.
It is a matter for congratulation that the sanctioned cadre of
Veterinary Inspectors and Veterinary Assistants has been increased
during the year, thus continuing the steady policy of enlargement which
has been a feature of the Department since its inception over 50 years
ago, except for the lean years of retrenchment. It may be expected
that a still larger cadre will be required at some later date, if the
research work being done is to bear fruit in the shape of practical result
in the field and not to remain of academic interest only. At the same
time due attention will be paid to possible economies, in so far as these
do not interfere with the performing of essential work.
Thanks are due to the District Officers for their assistance to the
staff of the Department, particulary in helping to get the consent of
cattle owners to prophylactic inoculation, and in endeavouring to
popularize it
The departmental staff has worked well, with very few exceptions.
Particularly good work has been done by Mr. G. Pfaff, Veterinary
Research Officer, to whom the Department is indebted for the very
successful Rinderpest vaccine now in almost daily use. He has worked
at high pressure during the absence of his other Class I officers on
leave, and deserves the highest praise.
He was very ably assisted by U Tun Aung, Assistant Principal.
The cost of the Department during 1938-39 was Rs. 5,65,040.
S. R. RIPPON,
Offg. Director of Veterinary Services,
Burma.
Dated 25th July 1939.
APPENDICES.
TABLE 1.—
TABLE 2.—
TABLE 3.—
TABLE 4.—
TABLE 5.—
CHAPTER VIII.
Statement showing general animal mortality during the year
1938-39 and comparative figures for 1937-38 ... ...
Statement showing the deaths from contagious diseases amongst
animals in the Province during the year 1938-39 ...
Statement showing preventive inoculations performed during the
year 1938-39 ... ... ... ...
Statement showing the work of the Veterinary College and the
results during the year 1938-39 ... ... ...
Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ending 31st
March 1939 ... ... ... ... ...
PAGE
20
21 & 22
23-27
28
29
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 1938 and the
monthly incidence of the principal contagious diseases during this
period.
20
APPENDICES.
TABLE 1.—Statement showing General Animal Mortality during the year 1938-39, and comparative figures for 1937-38.
Charge.
(1)
Upper Burma ...
Lower Burma ...
Arakan Circle ...
Total for 1938-39 ...
Total for 1937-38 ...
Contagious Diseases (Departmental officers' figures).
Equities.
Surra.
(2)
154
25
...
179
141
Anthrax.
(3)
3
2
...
5
29
Glanders
(4)
...
...
...
...
10
Other Diseases.
(5)
...
...
...
...
1
Bovines.
Rinderpest.
(6)
1,782
2,147
...
3,929
11,161
Foot-and-Mouth disease.
(7)
7
24
65
96
328
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.
(8)
422
2,209
982
3,613
3,265
Black-quarter
(9)
328
50
46
424
336
Anthrax.
(10)
394
584
237
1,215
796
Other Diseases.
(11)
3
36
...
39
51
Totals.
(12)
3,093
5,077
1,330
9,500
16,118
Non-Contagious Diseases (District officers
figures).
Debility and old age.
(13)
13,635
24,363
1,602
39,600
35,991
Snake Bite.
(14)
4,336
5,124
218
9,678
8,282
Accident.
(15)
4,008
1,967
361
6,336
5,426
Other causes.
(16)
16,312
14,607
1,170
32,089
27,347
Totals.
(17)
38,291
46,061
3,351
87,703
77,046
GRAND
TOTAL.
(18)
41,384
51,138
4,681
97,203
93,164