2
under the consideration of Government during the year.
The solution
appears to lie in the direction of utilizing other Government servants who are
in a position to obtain information of the outbreak of cattle disease to supple-
ment the reports now submitted by the police. By far the largest number of
deaths from bovine contagious diseases, viz., 5,154 out of a total death-roll of
7,637, was caused by rinderpest. The mortality would have been far more
serious but for the valuable results obtained from preventive inoculation.
There were 146 outbreaks of this disease, resulting in the death of 2,067
uninoculated animals. On the other hand, out of 19,085 animals which were
inoculated, only 43 or about 0'2 per cent. died. Similarly, there were only 3
deaths among 2,407 animals inoculated for hæmorrhagic septicæmia, and only
one out of 286 inoculated for anthrax. It is reported that considerable
prejudice against inoculation still exists among the cultivators. Only time
can cure this, and the Governor in Council is confident that the persistent
and tactful efforts of the officers of the Veterinary Department will in the end
overcome, objections which are due to ignorance and inexperience.
5. The itinerant veterinary assistants visited 10,409 villages as against
8,055 in the previous year. Three new assistants were appointed during the
year, bringing the number up to 62. excluding the 5 divisional inspectors.
This number falls far short of that which it is hoped eventually to reach,
viz.. two veterinary assistants to each subdivision ; but there are hopeful
signs that local bodies are beginning to realize their responsibilities in this
direction, and several applications have recently been received by Govern-
ment for additional officers.
6. The stables in Calcutta and the neighbourhood, in the area under
the Glanders Act, were regularly inspected by the staff of the Veterinary
College. A further decrease in cases of glanders was observed, the disease
occurring in only 4 stables as against 15 last year. Hut there was an
increase in cases in the mufassal, 240 out of a total of 260 deaths occurring
in the Sodepur Pinjrapole. There were severe outbreaks in Barisal and
Mymensingh. The question of extending the provisions of the Glanders and
Farcy Act, which in the eastern districts has hitherto been in force only in a
few specified areas, has been engaging the attention of Government, and
orders will shortly be issued bringing the Act into force throughout the
province. The Governor in Council notes with satisfaction that Mr. Kerr is
able to report that comparatively little trouble has been experienced this
year in enforcing the provisions of the Act, and that the obstructive attitude
of some municipalities, to which a reference was made in last year's review,
has, except in one instance, given place to a more reasonable policy.
7. The number of patients treated at the various dispensaries shows a
large increase, viz., from 17,289 to 22,106, or over 27 per cent. Rather less
than one-fourth were in-patients.
Satisfactory progress is shown in
practically all the districts of the province. At Dacca considerable difficulty
has been experienced in selecting a site for the new veterinary hospital,
which is greatly needed, and special difficulties have been reported from
Burdwan and Mymensingh, which will be dealt with in due course. In
connection with the remarks made in last year's Resolution on the subject of
the want of accommodation for in-patients at certain places, the Superinten-
dent states that the only places where such accommodation is urgently
required are Bakarganj and Dacca. Proposals for erecting a new dispensary
building with all the necessary accommodation at Dacca are now under
consideration, and the Governor in Council will issue orders to the Director of
Agriculture to submit a scheme for Bakarganj as soon as possible.
8. The difficult and important question of the improvement of cattle
breeding has continued to engage the attention of Government and of the
Agricultural Department. Shortly before the close of the year the sanction
of Government was accorded to the establishment of a cattle and cultivation
farm at Rangpur, and a prominent place in the work of the farm will
be given to the improvement of the breed of cattle. The main object of the
farm is to demonstrate to private persons the feasibility of such under-
takings and the possibility of working them at a profit, and it is hoped that,
if success attends the present experiment, Government will ultimately be
able to withdraw in favour of private enterprise. Progress, however, must