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In Bengal one has been established at Muzuffarpore, and it is decided to
open one at Dacca, Baghalpur and Bankipore, and it is expected that these
may soon be in working order.
In the Central Provinces the Akola dispensary has been reopened.
Bombay continues to make excellent progress in this direction. There are
now twelve stationary and four itinerating dispensaries working, and 17,554
animals have been treated against 14, 315 last year.
New dispensaries are being built at Nasik, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and
new ones opened at Dharwar, Nadiad, Karachi.
The new dispensary at Nadiad is the gift of Sirdar Bahadur Becheridas
Vebaridas Desai and Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit has given Rs. 10,000 towards
the new building at Ahmedabad. This Department is much indebted to the
liberality of these two gentlemen and the interest they take in the veterinary
treatment of animals.
Cases treated by Veterinary Assistants.
560. Burma.—Table N (page cvi) shows the number of animals treated by
Veterinary Assistants during the year by the 45 men employed in the districts.
It will be seen that there is a marked falling off in the numbers, only 23,287
against 42,455 last year. This to due to the fact that disease was generally
less prevalent this year than last.
Punjab.—The numbers of cases treated by the Veterinary Assistants in the
Punjab show a marked increase over last year. Seventy Veterinary Assistants
were employed in the various districts, and these men visited 9,913 villages
treating 64,331 animals against 46,756 last year. Of these 10,120 died, 5,487
were relieved and 48,724 were cured. The average number of animals treated
per Veterinary Assistant is 919.01, and the average number of villages visited is
141.61. The percentage of deaths is rather high, but this is easily accounted for
by the fact that many of the diseases were of a very deadly nature and recoveries
were not possible. Thus the number of deaths from malignant sore throat
and charbon symptomatique was 2,278 out of 2,515. Rinderpest also carried
off 5,854. The average of deaths from ordinary diseases viz. 1,305 out of 20,619
cases, is not very high. Altogether the work done appears to be highly satis-
factory.
North-Western Provinces.—In these Provinces fourteen Veterinary Assis-
tants submitted reports during the year and treated 7,055 animals for disease, of
which 1,117 died, 1,763 were relieved, and 4,175 recovered. Of ordinary diseases
2,881 cases were treated, of which 1,420 were recovered and 1,394 relieved,
whilst 67 died. The average number of animals treated per Veterinary Assis-
tant was 503.92, and the average of villages visited was 37.2.
Altogether a considerable advance has been made in this direction in the
Province. The Superintendent remarks—
"At the beginning of 1895-96 the appointment of five more men was sanctioned, but were unable to enter-
tain them owing to the curtailment of our budget grant."
Fifteen men were at work during the year. These were employed in the
treatment, suppression and prevention of disease amongst horses and cattle
and the castration of colts. They toured through the district visiting differ-
ent villages, enquired for disease and advised as to the best means of treat-
ment. Rules were issued to Veterinary Assistants defining their duties. They
are required to keep a diary in which is entered the places visited and the work
done. They submit a monthly return showing the number of cases treated.
Even with all these precautions their working is not satisfactory. They re-
quire more personal supervision.
561. Table O (page cxi) is a statement showing receipts and expenditure
of Veterinary Dispensaries during 1895-96.
Veterinary
Assistants.
562. The following remarks made in my report to the Punjab Government
on the general supervision of these men are reproduced.
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