No, IV-20—285.
FROM
J. McSWINEY, ESQ., I.C.S.,
DIRECTOR OF LAND RECORDS AND AGRICULTURE, ASSAM,
To
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM.
Shillong, the 29th June 1921.
SIR
I HAVE the honour to forward the annual report of the Civil Veterinary
Department for the year ending 31st March 1921, together with a brief report on the
Veterinary work in the Manipur State.
2. Mr. Harris was in sole charge of the Department for the whole year and
toured for 170 days. He inspected the work of Veterinary Inspectors, Staff Assistants
and 16 hospitals and dispensaries. He visited Manipur in connection with a severe
outbreak of rinderpest and has been appointed Veterinary Adviser to the State. He
attended the Bengal Veterinary College as a Member of the Board of Examiners and
a conference regarding the milk supply at Shillong. In the Laboratory 212 speci-
mens of various kinds were examined against 311 in the previous year. I inspected
the dispensaries at Silchar, Hailakandi, Sylhet, Dhubri. Goalpara, Nalbari, Barpeta,
Nowgong, Mangaldai, Jorhat and Dibrugarh. The Chief Commissioner visited the
hospital at Silchar and the dispensaries at Kohima, Mangaldai, Goalpara and Barpeta.
3. The scholarships tenable at the Bengal Veterinary College are at present of:
the value of Rs. 15 per mensem. Six scholarships were held during the year, of
which five were in the third year and one in the second year class : two stipendiaries
passed the final examination and have since been appointed Veterinary Assistants in
addition to three Local Board stipendiaries and one private student who also qualified.
No new stipend was granted last year. Ten Veterinary Assistants were deputed to
the College for a two months' "refresher" course.
4. The total number of deaths from contagious disease was 47,0S3 against 39,188
in the previous year. As I have previously noted little reliance can be placed on the
actual figures, but they probably reflect proportionately any large increase or decrease.
The heaviest mortality was reported from Sylhet, Kamrup, Goalpara, Nowgong and
Sibsagar and was due mainly to rinderpest, which was reported from all district and
caused 20,887 deaths against 17,443 in the previous year: in Sylhet alone there were
9,441 deaths against 6,803.
5. The outbreaks reported during the year were 561 against 383 in the previous
year. The number of inoculations against rinderpest increased by 21,536, the total
number of animals inoculated being 43,511. The extensive outbreak in the Surma
Valley was responsible for 33,464 inoculations. Out of the total number of 48,891
animals inoculated there were 443 deaths, while 9,971 died before inoculation.
6. There were reported 44 deaths from cattle poisoning, of which 7 cases were
confirmed after post-mortem examination and. 13 cases were confirmed by the Chemi-
cal Examiner to the Government of Bengal. Eight cases of poisoning were reported
amongst the inoculated animals at Nazira, while the Veterinary Assistant at Mangal-
dai suspected poisoning in about 60 cases, but these could not be confirmed by exami-
nation. Only 25 cruelty cases were sent to the Veterinary hospitals at Gauhati, Sil-
char and Shillong. The number of acts of cruelty even in these three places was no
doubt greater: when cases are sent up, the attention of trying Magistrates was direct-
ed to section 6 (4), Act XI of 1890, in Government Circular No. 3R., dated the 23rd
March 1917, to the Deputy Commissioners, Cachar, Kamrup and Khasi Hills. I
think that a renewed reference to the section is now desirable.
7. There was a considerable improvement in the work of the Assistants in spite
of their short number and absence for training. The number of cases treated on tour
and castrations performed was 61,710 against 59,182 in the previous year. The
number of treatments of contagious diseases increased by about 50 per cent, while