Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General, North-West Frontier
Province,-No. 769-Ag., dated 28th August 1911.
READ—
The Report on the working of the Provincial Civil Veterinary Department for the year
ending 31st March 1911.
REMARKS.—Mr. Carless was in charge of the Department throughout
the year with the exception of a few days at its commencement. He made
extensive tours in the Province and inspected most of the Veterinary institutions;
checked inoculation work, and also attended the Horse and Cattle Shows held at
various centres.
Veterinary instruction and establishment.
2. There are now 5 students from this Province holding scholarships
from Local Boards undergoing training
at the Punjab Veterinary College. One
qualified during the year and was appointed to the Dargai Hospital in the
Malakand Agency. The fact that the difficulty of obtaining qualified men to
fill the present cadre has now practically disappeared despite a considerable
enlargement in late years is no doubt chiefly due to the practice adopted by
Local Boards of assisting suitable candidates in meeting the cost of their
training. The growing popularity and improved prospects of the Veterinary
Department has also contributed to a considerable degree in bringing about
the result indicated.
It is satisfactory to note that most of the Assistants on the present
establishment are now qualified for inoculation work.
3. An additional appointment of Veterinary Assistant was sanctioned
during the year, and the establishment now stands at 27 Assistants with two
Inspectors. The activities of the Department have considerably expanded of
late years, and with the increase of work the necessity of further supervision is
making itself more strongly felt. The appointment of a whole-time Super-
intendent for the Province will, in fact, shortly be inevitable, particularly if
efforts are to be made to encourage improvements in cattle breeding.
Disease and its treatment.
4. The figures for contagious diseases have fallen from 35,168 cases
in the previous year to 25,724 during
the year under report.
Veterinary institutions.
Two new hospitals were opened during the year under report, bringing
up the number to 19. 42,202 cases
were treated at these institutions during
1910-11, an increase of roughly 3,000 over last year's figures. Veterinary
Assistants on tour visited 1,369 villages and treated 11,397 animals. Thus over
53,000 animals were treated in all, a striking indication of the usefulness of the
Department.
Breeding operations.
5. The sanctioned scale of stallions for the Province is 19 horse and
17 donkey stallions. The establishment
was not, however, complete during the
year, and as a result the total coverings fell from 1,707 to 1,642.
Favourable reports have been received from experts with regard to the
wool produced from the cross between the imported merino ram and the local
ewe in Kaghan (Hazara District), and breeding operations will be extended in
that locality and, it is hoped, in other parts of the Province.
Shows and Fairs.
6. Rs. 10,755 were spent on Cattle and Horse Shows during the year, the
sum being contributed in roughly equal
shares by Local Bodies and the Imperial
Government. Shows were held in all the districts, and were in most cases well
attended.