14     REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT (INCLUDING THE INSEIN

20. Examination of Thugyis and others.—As directed in?
Development Commissioner's forwarding letter on last year's report
I offer the following remarks on these examinations. It is necessary
to begin by clearing up a serious misapprehension. These examina-
tions were not designed as " First Aid " Classes so that the hope that
they would result in one cultivator in every village being able to
diagnose and treat the more common forms of cattle disease will not
be realised. The text book of examination is the " Manual of the
More Deadly Forms of Cattle Disease in India," obtainable in the
vernacular Burmese from the Superintendent, Government Printing,
Burma. The last addition was published in 1906 and a supply was
issued to any Deputy Commissioner who applied for them for distribu-
tion in his district. The idea of examinations with rewards was first
instituted by the Deputy Commissioner, Bassein, in 1910 and from
the records in this office the system continued for four years after
which it ceased. The system was revived by the Deputy Commis-
sioner, Kyauksè, in 1912, and later extended to Meiktila and
Yamèthin. During the year under report examinations were held in
the undermentioned places and the results of examination are shown
in the subjoined table :—

I do not consider these examinations of much value. The Burman
cultivator has a better knowledge of contagious animal diseases than
his English confrere. An English farmer may be excused for not
recognising Rinderpest or Foot-and-mouth disease but the Burman
cultivator has seen so much of these diseases that he has no difficulty
in recognising them without veterinary aid ; if he conceals the