Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General, North-West
Frontier Province,—No. 758-Ag., dated 13th August 1914.
READ—
Report on the working of the Civil Veterinary Department for the year ending 31st March 1914.
REMARKS.—Mr. Woodley held charge of the Department from 1st April
1913 to 22nd March 1914 when he proceeded on leave, making over charge to
Mr. Meadows, Assistant Bacteriologist, Muktesar, U. P. Mr. Woodley inspected
all the Veterinary Hospitals in the Province except one, and most of the Tonga
lines: he attended the several Horse Shows and Cattle Fairs held during the year
as well as the Agricultural Show at Tarnab. While at Peshawar he inspected
the Police horses, Mr. Meadows accompanying him; and Mr. Meadows visited
the Veterinary Hospital and Stallion Stud at Kohat.
2. Veterinary instruction.—Two candidates deputed from the Kurram
Agency and Dera Ismail Khan District passed the last final examination of the
Punjab Veterinary College. There being no vacancies available in the Pro-
vince it was not possible to give them appointments, but their names have been
noted for future employment.
3. Veterinary establishment.—The sanctioned strength of the Depart-
ment remained unaltered. One Veterinary Assistant resigned the service and
two were discharged during the year. The two Veterinary Inspectors are
reported to have done good work, but the circle of the Bannu Inspector perhaps
requires some re-arrangement, and the Superintendent will be asked to consider
the matter.
4. Disease and its treatment.—Cases of contagious diseases rose from
14,045 to 23,790 in the year under review, but it is satisfactory to note that the
number of fatal cases declined from 3,496 to 1,700.
5. Veterinary institutions.—The number of hospitals was 19 as before.
56,459 cases were treated in these institutions, against 49,465 cases last year.
As observed by the Superintendent it is clear that these institutions are becom-
ing more and more popular. Veterinary Assistants on tour visited 1,504
villages and treated 23,028 animals as compared with 1,377 villages and 10,944
animals last year and 635 castrations were performed on tour against 517 last
year. Additions and extensions to certain hospitals are still required and these
will receive attention in due course.
6. Breeding operations—The sanctioned scale of stallions for the
Province stood at 21 horses and 17 donkeys: 11 horse, 8 pony and 16 donkey
stallions served at the studs during the year. The total number of mares covered
was 1,909 against 1,954. There were 16 rams and 5 ewes of the Merino breed
in the Hazara District at the close of the year: the experiment with Merino rams
is still being continued in that district, but the Superintendent was unable to
visit Kagan during the year and none of the District Officials inspected the.
sheep. The attention of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, and
the Deputy Commissioner, Hazara, is drawn to the desirability of personally
watching the experiment year by year.
7. Shows and Fairs.—Horse Shows and Cattle Fairs were held during
the year in all the districts and were generally well attended. Altogether
Rs. 11,803 were spent on these Shows, of which Rs. 5,254 were contributed
by Local Bodies and Rs. 6,549 by Government. A Horse and Cattle Show
was held at Parachinar in Kurram for the first time with private contribu-
tions and proved successful.
8. General.—The question of the appointment of a whole-time
Superintendent for this Province is still under consideration.