( 4 )
The chief work of the Veterinary Assistant is of an itinerant nature.
He inspects all the Raj villages in rotation, both with a view to treat ordinary
cases and especially to deal with outbreaks of infectious diseases.
22. .Palamau.—The Veterinary dispensary, which originated with
Mr. Konstam, a former Magistrate, has been opened. The District Board has
placed a salutri in charge, whom they procured from Lahore. My Inspector
reports that he is ignorant professionally.
The appointment was made without consulting this office.
23. Patna —The dispensary was in charge of Veterinary Assistant, Sarat
Chandra Paul, from 1st April to 5th December, when he was transferred on
promotion to the Civil Veterinary Department, and Veterinary Assistant,
Fanindra Nath Chatterjee, was placed in charge of it.
No cattle disease was reported from the villages, except a case of anthrax.
Twenty-one operations were successfully performed.
ITINERANT VETERINARY ASSISTANTS.
24. Table XXI shows the number of animals treated by Veterinary
Assistants in villages during the year 1902-1903.
GLANDERS AND FARCY.
25. Calcutta and Suburbs.—Fify-seven animals were admitted into the
Belgachia Contagious Diseases Hospital against 33 of last year. Of these, 46
having been found to be suffering from glanders were destroyed, five died of
the disease, and six proved, on mallein test, to be non-glandered.
It is interesting to notice in Table XXI that 319 cases of glanders were
diagnosed in the Sodepore Prinjrapole which receives nearly all its inmates
from Calcutta.
26. In districts.—Thirty-seven (37) cases were suspected to be suffering
from glanders and farcy—7 in Murshidabad, 4 in Backergunge, 3 in Howrah,
6 in Graya, 1 in Ranchi, 3 in Saran (Hathwa Raj), 4 in Barrackpore Canton-
ment, 6 in Dacca, 2 in Hooghly, and 1 in Muzaffarpur—of which 24 were
destroyed, 2 died, and 11 proved, on mallein test, free from glanders.
INSPECTION OF RAILWAY HORSE BOXES AND CATTLE TRUCKS.
27. One hundred and twenty horse boxes and 23 cattle trucks were
inspected by the two Veterinary Inspectors of the Department on the East
Indian and Eastern Bengal State Railways. Advice was given as to cleaning
and disinfecting of the vehicles whenever any mistakes were found.
CATTLE DISEASE.
28. Cattle diseases were reported by thana officers from all the districts of
Bengal, except Bankura, Howrah, Malda and Puri, where the disease occurred,
no doubt, but was not reported. Table XX shows that 41,140 head of cattle
were attacked, of which 16,366 are reported to have died. A comparison
with the last year's figures will show that the numbers under the heading of
" Rinderpest" are less, while those under the headings of " Foot and mouth
disease " and "Other diseases" are greater than last year; the total number,
however, shows a decrease.
29. Temporary veterinary aid was given to Jessore, Backergunge,
Noakhali, Khulna, Mymensingh, Pabna, Bankura, Saran, Alipur Central Jail,
Presidency Jail and Dinajpur Jail. In the majority of these places anti-
rinderpest inoculations were performed, while in others advice as to preventive
measures was given.
ANTI-RINDERPEST INOCULATION.
30. In pursuance of the Government of India's orders, 23 Veterinary
Assistants were sent up to the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory at Muktesar
to receive special training in the process of inoculation, and they were all
passed by the Imperial Bacteriologist as competent for inoculation work.
31. Eleven thousand four hundred and seventy-two (11,472) head of
cattle were immunised this year against 12,829 of last year (Table XXII).