6
43. The following expenditure was incurred by the Local Boards during the year.
The figures are furnished by the Boards:—
Pay, etc. ... ... ... ...
Allowance, Contingencies, Medicines, etc. ... ...
Stipends ... ... ... ...
Cattle breeding ... ... ... ...
Rs.
36,039
20,526
307
772
a.
13
12
3
4
p.
9
6
6
0
The above does not include the figure of Nowgong Local Board as the records
have been destroyed by fire.
PART VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
44. The increase and general progress in the work of this Department which was
noted in the last annual report has been well maintained. The demand for Veterinary
assistance and advice continues to grow more rapidly in some places than in others,
depending on the ability, energy and tact of the local Assistant. As the demand
increases the present number of Assistants will be found inadequate. The education
of the cattle owner proceeds slowly. The importance of prevention and control of
contagious diseases is not yet appreciated in the slightest degree. The same remark
applies to the improvement of the cattle by careful selection, proper feeding, etc.
45. A sufficient supply of Serum has been received during the year. The num-
ber of doses received in comparison with previous years is shown below:—
Rinderpest ... ...
Anthrax
... ...
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia ...
1921-22.
1,38,000
Nil
Nil
1920-21.
1,76,000
6,000
3,000
1919-20.
89,000
9,000
4,000
1918-19.
36,000
10,000
4,000
46. The Cruelty to Animals Act has been extended to the Dimapur-Mao road
in the Naga Hills district and to the first seven miles of the Shillong-Cherrapunjee
road in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district.
47. A total number of 40 cruelty cases was sent by the Magistrate to the Vete-
rinary Hospitals at Gauhati, Silchar and Shillong. In the districts 97 cruelty cases
and 106 maiming cases were examined at the request of police officers and reported
on by Veterinary Assistants who attended court on 88 occasions to give evidence.
This is a very small number in comparison with the large number of cases in which
no action is taken. I can only repeat the remarks made last year and say that the
large amount of cruelty whether inflicted deliberately or through carelessness and
apathy is not a credit to cattle owners.
48. Surra was fairly prevalent in some areas and the Department does not gain
in popularity by stamping out the disease by compulsory slaughter. In camels a
method of treatment has been found to cure a considerable number of cases. Similar
treatment was tried on three diseased horses here and the result was that one horse
died by an accident, one horse died from a recurrence of the disease and the third
horse has remained free from any signs of the disease for 200 days, his blood being
tested twice a week. It is hoped an opportunity will be given for further experiment
this year.
49. A disease known as contagious Nasal Grannuloma has been becoming more
evident during the last two or three years in this Province. At first the disease was
found troublesome to treat and difficult to cure. This year a new method of treat-
ment by intravenous injections was tried and the results so far have been successful.
50. The number of deaths of cattle from. poisoning brought to the notice of
Assistants was 92. In eleven cases the diagnosis was confirmed by the Chemical
Examiner who reported that arsenic was found in the specimens sent.
51. His Excellency the Governor of Assam inspected the Gauhati hospital during
the year.
52. The Hon'ble Minister, Local Self-Government inspected the following
hospitals and dispensaries during the year—Gauhati, Goalpara, Barpeta, Karimganj,
Sylhet, Habiganj, Sonamganj, Srimangal, Maulvibazar, Jorhat and Golaghat.