2
unable to compete on equal terms with the Veterinary Assistants from the Bengal
districts, but now they should have a better chance. The increase in the number
and amount of the stipends recently sanctioned should produce more candidates, while
the general spread of education and the consequent greater competition for clerical
posts under Government will probably compel more to adopt the veterinary profes-
sion. We were enabled to send the full number of stipendiaries this year to Belgachia,
but their general standard of education was lower than I should have wished.
4. Treatment of disease.—The principal classes of infections diseases with
which the Department have to deal are foot-and-mouth disease, hæmorrhagic septi-
caemia and rinderpest. The total mortality from contagious diseases is reported as
45,542 against 48,232 in 1911-12. As in the previous year, rinderpest was re-
sponsible for most of the deaths, the number reported being 23,424 : of these, 13,282
were reported from Lakhimpur alone, where an outbreak of virulent type occurred
in Dibrugarh subdivision. It is gratifying to see the very marked decrease in the
number of deaths from rinderpest in every district except Lakhimpur and from other
diseases as well. At the same time I am afraid that but little reliance can be
placed on the statistics of Table II. Under the orders conveyed in Circular No. 2E.,
of 17th February 1909, from the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam, the
figures are supplied by the police and, though they are checked by the Veterinary
Assistants, it is obvious that, apart from the fact that the gross numbers cannot be
in most cases based on reality, the separate returns for different diseases, as given by
an unprofessional agency, must be grossly inaccurate. For example the return from
Darrang shows 281 deaths of dogs from distemper: there can been foundation of
fact for this figure. I am afraid that I cannot suggest any means of making the
statistics more accurate except the impossible one of recording vital statistics of
animals : even if it were possible to initiate this procedure, the notorious inaccuracy of
our human vital statistics would prevent us from placing a great deal of reliance on
the results.
The number of outbreaks has fallen to some extent and it is due to a smaller
number of outbreaks from rinderpest, which are 235 against 263 in the previous year.
Last year 34,942 animals were inoculated and 7,464 died before inoculation : this year
the figures are 30,439 and 8,653. The total number of inoculations against rinderpest
was 27,361, the greatest number being in Lakhimpur in the course of no less than
60 outbreaks : Silchar and Sibsagar had 3,642 and 3,801 inoculations in 31 and 32
outbreaks, respectively.
The increase in the number of cases treated by Veterinary Assistants on tour is
most satisfactory in view of the fact that only two itinerating Veterinary Assistants
were added to the cadre during the year; the number of cases treated for non-conta-
gious diseases was 33,917 against-6,533 in the previous year and this increase indi-
cates considerable progress in obtaining the confidence of the people, without which
little can be done.
5. Report on outbreaks.—Though the statistics of inoculation and general treatment
carried on by the Veterinary Assistants during the year are very encouraging, there
is one drawback, the overcoming of which would at once multiply many times the
number of inoculations and greatly decrease existing cattle mortality. I allude to the
question of reporting outbreaks of cattle-disease. In his review of last year's report
the Chief Commissioner desired that a scheme should be worked out to this end. The
system that was in vogue has been much improved, and at present Government officers,
tea garden managers, gaonburas, panchayats and private persons are being supplied
with post card forms to report at once to the Chairmen of Local Boards whenever
they obtain information of the outbreak of any disease, in order that Veterinary
Assistants may immediately proceed to the spot and, if necessary, inoculate all the
cattle in the neighbourhood. The great stumbling block is the apathy of the people
due to their ignorance of what can be done to stop contagion : this will take time to
dissipate. The Local Boards have also been directed to send to tea garden managers
and other employers of labour warning notices of outbreaks in the neighbouring
villages, and this innovation, it is hoped, will help towards restricting contagion.
6. Breeding operations.—The question of the improvement of agricultural cattle
formed the subject of a special enquiry in 1911-12 in the Province of Eastern
Bengal and Assam and we are still awaiting the report on this by the Special Officer,
The advantages gained from the few stud bulls are somewhat problematical, as the
progeny are generally starved and grow up as stunted and weakly as their mothers.
The bulls at the Shillong Farm are hot stud bulls and should not, strictly speaking,
have been included in Table VIII, because, as explained by the Superintendent in
paragraph 50, they are for sale. The financial results of Table IX would hardly pass
an auditor: we are losing money heavily in providing folder for this herd.