NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
13
No. 143-L. of 1924.
BOMBAY VETERINARY COLLEGE.,
Parel, 4th June 1924.
From
K. HEWLETT, ESQUIRE, O.B.E., Indian Veterinary Service,
Principal, Bombay Veterinary College and
Government Veterinary Officer, Bombay City and
Harbour Veterinary Department;
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Revenue Department, Bombay.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the Annual Administration Report
of the Bombay City and Harbour Veterinary Department for the
year 1923-24, dealing with Equine diseases scheduled under the
Glanders and Farcy Act within the Town and Island of Bombay,
Bandra Municipality, and Bombay Harbour and with the work
performed under the Live Stock Importation Act.
2. I held charge of the Department upto 31st July when I pro-
ceeded on leave and Mr. Sowerby, the Assistant Government Vet-
erinary Officer, took over. I returned from leave and resumed my
charge on 22nd December afternoon and continued to hold it till the
end of the year. Khan Sahib Dhakmarvala acted as Assistant Gov-
ernment Veterinary Officer during the period Mr. Sowerby acted for
me. Khan Sahib D. F. Dubash, the Deputy Suprintendent, held
charge of his appointment throughout the year.
3. During the year under report 47 horses were destroyed under
the Glanders and Farcy Act as under :—
(i) Glanders.—There were 43 cases detected during the current
year, 29 of which were clinical and 14 non-clinical as against
25 (18 clinical and 7 non-clinical) in 1922-23 and 56
(34 clinical and 22 non-clinical) in 1921-22. Of the 43 cases
of Glanders, eight belonged to Arab dealers, thirteen to
private individuals, fourteen to owners of carriages plying for
hire and eight were ownerless. By caste these were 3
Walers, 21 Arabs and 19 country breds.
(ii) Epizootic Lymphangitis.—There were two cases of this
disease during the year as against 10 in last year and 5 in the
preceding year. Of these one belonged to an owner of
carriages plying for hire and one was ownerless. Of these
one was an Arab and one, a country bred.
(iii) Surra.—There were two cases of this disease in this year
as against 19 during last year and 31 in the preceding year.
Of these two one belonged to an owner of carriages plying
for hire and one was ownerless. Both of these were country
breds.
14
4. During the year under report 2,275 horses, 1 donkey and 171
mules were imported into Bombay as against 2,981 horses, and 11
mules last year and 3,069 horses, one mule, 3 donkeys and one
zebra in the preceding year.
5. The following table shows the number of horses, mules, and
donkeys imported into Bombay from various ports :—
Name of Ports.
Australian Ports ... ... ...
English Ports ... ... ...
Egyptian Ports ... ... ...
Arabian Ports ... ... ...
Persian Gulf Ports ... ... ...
Indian Coast Ports ... ... ...
Ceylon Ports ... ... ...
African Ports ... ... ...
Total
Horses.
665
161
15
10
1,366
53
4
1
2,275
Mules.
......
......
... ..
......
12
......
......
159
171
Donkey.
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
1
1
6. Of those imported from the Persian Gulf Ports 1,164 were
animals for the ordinary Bombay market while others were imported
in connection with the movement of troops from the Gulf.
7. There were two consignments of Queensland horses during the
year.
8. There were 2,390 horses imported under the Live Stock
Importation Act and 1,201 of these were allowed to land after ins-
pection of their certificates and the remaining 1,189 were detained
and tested with mallein for Glanders and 8 having reacted were
destroyed.
9. Buildings—During the year the new Lazaretto was completed
and taken over from the Public Works Department.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
K. HEWLETT,
Indian Veterinary Service,
Principal, Bombay Veterinary College and
Government Veterinary Officer, Bombay City
and Harbour Veterinary Department.
15
APPENDIX I.
Financial Statement of the Bombay City and Harbour Veterinary Department of the year 1923-24.
Budget Sanction Heads.
Establishment ... ...
Conveyance Allowance to Inspecting Staff ...
Grant for mallein ... ...
Compensation for horses destroyed for glanders
Grant for burning carcasses ... ...
Telephone charges ... ...
Contingent charges ... ...
Building and repairs ... ...
Rents. Rates and Taxes ... ...
Uniform to Inspectors ... ...
Plague Allowance ... ...
Total ...
Amount.
1922-23.
Rs.
20,134
3,535
1,000
1,000
800
575
1,670
52,000
1,028
430
100
82,278
a.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
p.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1923-24.
Rs.
23,711
4,260
1,000
2,000
800
575
1,639
53,460
1,158
430
100
89,133
a.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
p.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Actual Expenditure Heads.
Establishment
Conveyance Allowance to Inspecting Staff
Cost of mallein
Compensation for horses destroyed for glanders.
Burning carcasses ...
Telephone charges
Contingent charges
Building and repairs ...
Rents, Rates and Taxes
...
...
Uniform to Inspectors
Plague Allowance
...
...
Total ...
Amount.
1922-23.
Rs.
18,456
3,384
710
808
1,483
175
838
51,874
558
370
......
78,659
a.
8
12
10
0
4
0
15
1
4
0
7
p.
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
11
0
0
1
1923-24.
Rs.
19,621
3,229
939
340
800
225
496
53,450
465
370
......
79,939
a.
7
15
12
0
0
0
8
15 1
9
0
3
p.
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
4
17
No. 8316 of 1924.
From
KHAN SAHEB J. D. BUXY,
Acting Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Bombay Presidency, Poona;
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Revenue Department,
Bombay.
Poona, 28th June 1924.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit for the consideration of His
Excellency the Governor in Council the Annual Administration
Report of the Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay Presidency,
for the year 1923-24.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. D. BUXY,
Acting Superintendent, C.V.D.,
Bombay Presidency.
Q 3—3
19
ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1923-24.
Mr. E. S. Farbrother held charge of the office of Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay Presidency, throughout the
year, with the exception of the month of February 1924, when he was
on leave owing to sickness and Khan Saheb J. D. Buxy, Deputy
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, acted as Superin-
tendent in addition to his own duties. Mr. Farbrother was on
tour for 87 days and travelled 3,397 miles by rail and 1,114 miles
by road. He visited 10 districts and inspected 31 dispensaries
and selected sites and buildings for 4 dispensaries and examined
horses for Glanders and Farcy in Poona. lie was unable to tour
in March owing to illness. He also served as a member of the
Board of Examiners at the Bombay Veterinary College in April
1923 and conducted the Supplementary Examination at the same
College in December 1923.
He presided at the opening ceremony of the Veterinary Dispen-
sary building at Kumta and visited Vaccine Institute at Belgaum
during the course of his tour.
Khan Saheb J. D. Buxy as acting Superintendent was on tour
for 8 days and travelled 890 miles by rail, and 50 miles by road.
He visited one district and selected buildings for two new
Veterinary Dispensaries.
2. Khan Saheb J. D. Buxy held the post of Deputy Superin-
tendent and Personal Assistant to the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, throughout the year.
He was on tour for 65 days and travelled 6,151 miles by rail,
339 miles by road and 40 miles by sea.
He visited 6 districts and inspected 7 Veterinary Dispensaries
and 2 stallion stands. He selected sites and buildings for 3
Veterinary Dispensaries.
As usual he visited the Bombay
Pinjrapoles and advised the Pinjrapole authorities on veterinary
matters.
He attended the outbreaks of Epizootic Limphangitis, Foot and
Mouth and Rinderpest at Chembur and Bhiwandi Pinjrapoles and
inspected the horses under Glanders and Farcy Act at several
places.
He attended the conference of the Graduates of the Bombay
Veterinary College held at Surat in the month of March 1924
under the Presidentship of the Honourable Khan Bahadur Shaikh
Ghulam Husain Hidayatallah, Minister of Local Self-Government.
I.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTIONS.
3. The usual practical instruction in field work was given to the
newly appointed Veterinary Assistant Surgeons.
20
II.—TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
Table II.
4. Contagious diseases were reported from all the districts and
the City of Bombay. In 1814 outbreaks
attended, 70,742 attacks and 11,457
deaths from contagious diseases were reported as against 70,340
attacks and 11,254 deaths recorded during the last year. There was
neither a marked increase or decrease in the number of attacks or
deaths compared with the figures of the preceding year. During
the year 1,771 outbreaks were reported to Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons and 1,814 were actually attended by them as against
1,864 in the preceding year. Veterinary Inspectors attended 67
outbreaks.
Equine Contagious Disease.
5. Forty-six cases of Glanders were reported of which 40
occurred in the Bombay City and four in Thana and two in Poona.
During the preceding year 29 cases were reported from the
Bombay City and 2 from Poona.
Only one case of Anthrax in equine was reported from the
Bijapur District, which died.
Surra appeared in the City of Bombay and Ahmedabad, Broach,
Panch Mahals, Surat, West Khandesh, Thana and Kolaba Districts.
One hundred and two horses attacked by the disease were
confirmed and were either destroyed under the Glanders and Farcy
Act or died before action could be taken.
Other diseases include three cases of Strangles of which two
were reported from West Khandesh and one from Nasik and two
cases of Epizootic Lymphangitis were reported from Bombay
City.
Bovine Contagious Disease.
6. Rinderpest was reported from all districts except Panch
Mahals and Dharwar Districts. The number of deaths recorded
from this disease was 5,166 against 4,767 in the previous year.
The disease was prevailing more or less throughout the year in
almost all the districts. Ahmedabad District, however, recorded
the highest number of attacks and deaths and next to it were the
Broach, Bijapur and Kaira Districts. It was more widely preval-
ent during the year owing to the scarcity of fodder, on account of
which there were free movements of the infected herds of cattle of
graziers, in search of grazing.
7. Foot and Mouth Disease prevailed in all the districts and
51,412 cases were reported to be affected and 348 died against 52,096
attacks with 364 deaths in the last year. All the districts were
affected with this disease but Kanara suffered the most, recording
13,559 attacks and 129 deaths, chiefly due to the fact that several
village officers neglected the duty of promptly reporting the out-
breaks to the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons concerned. Broach,
Surat and Nasik Districts recorded more than 4,000 attacks.
8. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia was reported from all districts
No case was reported from the City of Bombay. There were 3,528
21
attacks and 2,847 deaths from this disease as against 2,715 attacks
and 2,183 deaths recorded in the last year. The disease was more
severe in Satara, Belgaum and Dharwar Districts and was compara-
tively lesser in the Gujarat except in Kaira District owing to
insufficient rainfall.
9. Black Quarter outbreaks were reported from 13 districts with
a total mortality of 2,043 as against 3,167 deaths reported last
year. Ahmednagar and Poona Districts were more affected than
other districts but the percentage of mortality was far higher in
the Poona District being 96 per cent. than in the Ahmednagar
District which was 72 per cent. Diagnosis was microscopically
confirmed in 31 outbreaks out of 217 attended.
10. Anthrax was reported from 12 districts, and 491 animals
were reported to have succumbed to this disease as compared with
766 deaths during the last year. The disease was confirmed
microscopically in 12 outbreaks out of the 91 attended.
11. Other contagious diseases in bovines include Dengue and
Bovine Piroplasmosis. The former was reported from Ahmednagar,
Poona, Satara, Belgaum, Kanara and Kolaba Districts and the
latter was detected in the Kanara District.
Contagious Diseases in other Animals.
12. Rinderpest, Anthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease, contagious
Pleuro-Pneumonia and Variola were reported in sheep and goats,
from Ahmedabad, Broach, Ahmednagar, West Khandesh, Bijapur,
Dharwar and Kanara Districts. Surra in camels was reported
from the Broach District and fowl cholera from the Thana
District.
Ninety cases of Rabies in dogs were dealt with by the Veterinary
staff as against sixty-five last year. The brains of forty dogs
suspected to be suffering from this disease were sent to the Bombay
Bacteriological Laboratory for examination.
Preventive Measures.
Table III.
13. During the year under report 14,854 inoculations were
carried out against Rinderpest by the
" Serum alone" method in 144 out-
breaks against 10,374 in the preceding year in 93 outbreaks. In
the outbreaks in which inoculation was performed 2,537
uninoculated animals and 112 inoculated animals were reported
to have died.
14. In 89 outbreaks of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia 8,598 cattle
were inoculated against the disease with protective serum as
against 3,262 in the last year. In eight villages 1,143 animals
were vaccinated against this disease as against 915 animals in 6
villages in the previous year. Among the inoculated animals
there were 11 deaths only, while the mortality among uninoculated
animals amounts to 1,433 during the course of the disease.
15. Five hundred and two animals were protected by Anti-
Anthrax Serum in eight outbreaks, with three deaths among the
22
inoculated animals and sixty-eight among the uninoculated
animals.
16. Arrangements have now been made with the Director,
Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory, Muktesar, to supply a filtrate
and a potent serum to protect cattle against Black Quarter, which
will be carried out during the next year on receipt and the results
carefully watched.
17. During the year Rs. 1,142-15-0 were recovered as fees for
inoculations against Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia and Anthrax and
for vaccination against Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia as against
Rs. 619-14-0 recovered in the preceding year.
18. The inoculations against Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia and
Anthrax and vaccinations against Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia are
gaining increasing confidence of the cattle owners which is notice-
able from the increase in the number thus protected and the amount
of fees realised. Although people are generally unwilling to pay for
inoculation fees, still in view of the loss of their live-stock, some
of the intelligent and educated people prefer to take the advantage
of protective measures on payment of fees.
Other Diseases.
Table IV.
19. The number of villages visited by 83 Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons was 2,785 against 2,363 by
80 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons last
year. During their tours they treated 29,389 animals for con-
tagious diseases, and 6,881 for non-contagious diseases. Five thou-
sand three hundred and seventeen castrations were performed
during the year against 1,062 during the previous year.
As stated in the last year's report attempts were made to
popularise castration by the Burdizzo Castrator. Almost all the
District Local Boards have indented for at least one in their
District as an experimental measure and Bijapur, Dharwar,
Belgaum and Thana have purchased more than one. The District
Local Boards of Ahmedabad, Panch-Mahals, Sholapur and
Ratnagiri, and Bandra Municipality, however, have not yet
purchased any. It is a pity that these Bodies have not been able
to introduce this most humane and efficient instrument, which has
given such a wide satisfaction. Castrations by this method are
becoming very popular and the number of castrations have
increased considerably, particularly in the Bijapur District, where
the Collector Mr. C. G. Henderson, I.C.S., has continued to take
special interest in this direction. This method of castration is
being pushed on with vigour and have taken a firm hold on the
people, because it causes no pain and requires no after-treat-
ment.
Investigation.
20. During the year under report 245 specimens were sent by
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons to Sir D. M. Petit, Patho-
Bacteriological Laboratory, Parel, for examination and two for the
College museum.
23
Veterinary Dispensaries.
Table V.
21. Six new Veterinary Dispensaries were opened during the
year, viz., Vagra in the Broach District,
Kapadvanj in Kaira District, Naval-
gund and Nargund in the Dharwar District, Hungund in the
Bijapur District and Karmala in the Sholapnr District.
Including the new dispensaries the number at work at the end
of the year was 83 against 77 dispensaries at the close of the last
year. The number of cases treated was 100,576 against 100,947
and medicines were supplied to 40,958 cases for home treatment
against 47,136 cases last year.
The decrease is due to shortage of rains which has caused less
number of fly-blown and wound cases.
A Veterinary Assistant Surgeon was deputed during the year to
the Dangs in the Surat District in order to give Veterinary aid to
the people and to control cattle diseases. It appears from his report
that there is ample field for Veterinary work in this area and there
is a great need of a permanent Veterinary Assistant Surgeon being
posted to the Dangs, at least during the fair weather.
22. The construction of permanent buildings for Veterinary
Dispensaries progresses very slowly. It is, however, a matter for
gratification that people appreciate the necessity of Veterinary
treatment and contribute for the construction of Dispensary build-
ings. The construction of new buildings started at Kumta by the
District Local Board, Kanara, last year with the help of popular
contributions was completed and the new building " The Premabai
Veterinary Dispensary" was opened on 22nd October 1923. Simi-
larly the Italva Dispensary has been removed to Eru Four Roads
in Jalalpur Taluka and a building with three rooms was cons-
tructed at a cost of about Rs. 7,500 by Mr. R. K. Rasoia for the
Veterinary Dispensary at Eru and Mr. Gulabbhai of Eru purchased
the site for Rs. 2,400 for the dispensary. In addition to these, the
District Local Board, Kaira, has secured a donation of Rs. 8,000 for
the Kapadvanj Veterinary Dispensary. A sum of about Rs. 1,000
was collected by local subscriptions to help the Veterinary
Dispensary at Vagra in Broach District for the construction of an
in-patient shed.
The Ahmedabad District Local Board, also, secured a donation
of Rs. 6,000 for the Veterinary Dispensary building at Dhanduka.
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1) Bovines.
23. Nil
(2) Equines.
(i) Horse and Pony Stallions.
Table X.
24. At the beginning of the year 23 stallions, viz., 10 horses and
13 ponies were at stud. Daring the
year 6 horses and 8 ponies were sold by
auction, 4 horses and 4 ponies were transferred to the District
24
Local Boards, Ahmednagar and Sholapur, and 1 pony stallion was
returned to his owner, as the Horse Breeding operations were
discontinued by Government.
Table XI.
25. During the year 740 mares were covered as against 1,154
in the previous year, the average per
stallion being 39.56 against 43.36.
The reduction is accounted for by there being fewer stallions at
stud and the Horse Breeding operations being practically discon-
tinued since December 1923.
Table XII.
26. The average cost of maintenance per stallion was
Rs. 706 against 746 last year.
(ii) Donkey Stallions.
27 There is no mule breeding carried on in this Presidency.
(3) Others.
28. There is nothing to report under this head.
(4) Fairs and Shows.
29. No horse shows were held during the year.
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
Table VII.
30. The strength of the subordinate staff at the close of
the year was as follows:—
Veterinary Inspectors
Veterinary Assistant Surgeons
...
...
...
5
... 95
At the close of the previous year there were 95 Veterinary
Assistant Surgeons employed. The services of one Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon were transferred to the Agricultural Department.
One resigned, three died and one retired on invalid pension. Six
new Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were appointed during the year
making the total number employed at the end of the year 95.
All the Veterinary Inspectors have worked efficiently during
the year.
The following Veterinary Assistant Surgeons are specially
commended for their good work:—
S. N. Phatak
M. G. Kulkarni
H. B. Shirsathe
J. G. Kulkarni
M. P. Gandhi
C. N. Desai
B. B. Patel
M. A. Merchant
M. K. Garudachar
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ahmednagar.
Belgaum.
Poona City.
Hubli.
Ahmedabad.
Broach.
Bulsar.
Surat.
Dharwar.
25
G. V. Dadhe
Y. K. Shete
U. Y. Gadag
G. G. Chebbi
R. N. Naik
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Jalgaon.
Baramati.
Bagalkot.
Indi.
Kumta.
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Table XIV-A.
31. The table of expenditure of the Department is supplied by
the Accountant General and includes
expenditure on account of the Bombay
City and Harbour Veterinary Department and also apparently
expenditure on account of the Bombay Veterinary College. The
actual expenditure from Provincial Revenues incurred by this
Department was Rs. 2,28,499-9-8 as against Rs. 2,29,216-6-7,
last year.
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
32. The year under report has not been, on the whole, a very
healthy one for live-stock generally, for two reasons, (1) famine
conditions and scarcity of fodder owing to failure of the rains in
some of the Districts and (2) more prevalence of Rinderpest.
Prompt measures were taken by the staff to control the spread of
contagious diseases and protect animals against them.
An advance made in castrations by the new method with the
Burdizzo Castrator is a noticeable feature of the year, and it is
hoped that it will be more popular with the cultivators and cattle
owners in course of time as they know its advantages by experience,
as compared with the old and inhumane country method of mulling.
This method is not only most humane but does away with all the
trouble of after treatment and dressing.
There is still room for improvement in the reporting of contagious
diseases. If the village officers report promptly, the work of the
Department would be much facilitated and the help given to cattle
owners far greater.
Weekly returns of Contagious Diseases in XIV-D Form are not
submitted regularly by the village officers, in spite of the orders
of the Collectors on the subject. Receipt of these returns regularly
every week from the village officers till the disease has completely
subsided is of the greatest importance for the Veterinary Assistant
Surgeons, to know the progress of the disease and so to enable
them to pay a second and even a third visit to infected villages
to check its spread.
Horse Breeding.—The horse-breeding operations have ceased to
exist under the orders of Government, but it is satisfactory to note
that the District Local Boards of Ahmednagar and Sholapur have
continued to maintain the stallions at their own expense, as the
Districts are situated in the horse-breeding tract.
The staff has on the whole worked well during the year.
Mr. V. Y. Sovani, the Head clerk of this Deparment, retired on
Q 3—4
26
superannuation pension from 1st October 1923 after a period of
37 years' faithful service. His place has been filled up by the
Second clerk Mr. C. T. Udas, whose work is found quite
satisfactory.
Government have been pleased to change the designation of the
Subordinate staff from "Veterinary Assistant" to "Veterinary
Assistant Surgeon", which has been highly appreciated by the
members of the service. Government have been further pleased
to revise the scale of pay of the Veterinary Assistant Surgeons,
converting the Junior and Senior grades from Rs. 65-3-95, and
Rs. 100-3-130, into a continuous time scale of Rs. 60-4-140 with
efficiency bar at Rs. 100.
At the request of the Agricultural Adviser to the Government
of India the following programme of work is included in the
Annual Report:—
The energies of the Department will be directed towards the
practical application of modern scientific methods of treatment of
disease, both curative and prophylactic.
J. D. BUXY,
Acting Superintendent, C.V.D.,
Bombay Presidency.