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nation was obtained to enter into a contract with a butcher on the above terms, as
proposed by himself, he had completely changed his mind, and absolutely refused to
abide by his word, saying that the arrangement would put him to great loss : for the
carriage of the heifer from Bandora to Bombay and back alone would more than
swallow up the sum bargained for. Altogether, he did not seem at all willing to
enter into any sort of contract with us for the supply of heifers. As a matter of
obligation, however, he said he would give us the use of his calves at Bandora ; but,
even then, would expect Rs. 5 as remuneration. This offer was, of course, useless,
as we required the calves in Bombay. There were only two courses for us to take under
the circumstances ; either to defray all the expenses attendant upon getting the heifers
from Bandora and taking them back, together with Rs. 5 for the loan of each,
to be paid to the butcher, or to buy calves for ourselves. Unfortunately, as stated
before, there being no mart for heifers in Bombay, no heifer fit for our use, or, indeed,
of any kind, could be procured here. To buy them at Bandora, where alone they
could be found, would entail the expenses of taking the animal all the way to Bombay.
Altogether, the thing appeared to be very difficult of accomplishment. I was, how-
ever, determined, at whatever cost, to keep up animal vaccination, for some short
period at least, and then represent the matter to the superior authorities. Whilst
thinking as to what steps I should take in the matter, it occurred to me that
Dr. Hewlett, the Health Officer for the City of Bombay, and the Municipal Commis-
sioner, who, both taking great interest in the progress of vaccination, and have the
butchers under their control, would be able to render me all the necessary assistance
by using their influence with them. I accordingly waited upon Dr. Hewlett, gave
him a full account of what we had done about animal vaccination, and represented to
him the difficulties we were labouring under, and requested him to try to help us out
of them. Dr. Hewlett kindly gave a patient ear to all I had to say, expressed his
gratification at hearing that animal vaccination had proved such a success here,
and showed his concern at our difficulties. He said that he would be only too glad
to render any assistance that lay in his power, but that, circumstanced as he was, he
did not clearly see his way to be of any use in procuring heifers. To induce the
butchers to give us the loan of their heifers would be difficult, if not impossible, seeing
that he could not permit them to be slaughtered for some three or four weeks after
the operation. He might try and see if Mr. Crawford, Municipal Commissioner, could
not be prevailed upon to sanction the purchase of heifers for our use and the feeding
of them for a month from the Municipal funds, and thereafter sell them for whatever
they might fetch. On inquiring, he learnt from the Superintendent of Bazaars that
the price of each heifer would be about Rs. 15, and the feeding would cost some
7½rupees more. We wanted five heifers at least every month, so the Municipality
should have to incur on our account an expenditure of Rs. 112-8-0 per month. Of
this a portion, and a large portion, would ultimately be recovered by the sale of the
animals. Dr. Hewlett, suiting his action to his words, wrote at once an official letter
to Mr. Crawford, representing to him the whole case at it exactly stood, and strongly
recommended that the Municipality would do well in giving the assistance so urgently
required; the more so as it was calculated to further very materially the cause of vac-