9
and the typist came here from Veterinary Office, Eastern Bengal and Assam,
where the former was second clerk and is new to his work here.
71. They have all done their best to help me to run the department under
rather difficult circumstances, in that part of the cadre are employed under the
regulations of Eastern Bengal and Assam and part under those of old Bengal.
They have given me every assistance in drawing up a scheme to amalgamate
these two sections.
72. There is necessity felt for another clerk, and Government will be
approached this year for sanction of this post.
PART V.-EXPENDITURE OP THE DEPARTMENT.
73. Table XIV (a) shows the cost of the department during the year.
PART VI—GENERAL REMARKS.
74. In many districts there is urgent need for the employment of addi-
tional Veterinary Assistants, the number of men already posted being quite
inadequate for the amount of work and the large area to be covered. In prac-
tically all cases where this is most necessary the District Boards have rejected
the proposal to post extra men on the ground of lack of funds.
75. The principal districts that are unable to employ more men on this
account are Burdwan, Jessore, Nadia, Dacca, Barisal, Chittagong, Noakhali,
Dinajpur, Malda, Rangpur, Khulna and Rajshahi.
76. In Tippera, Mymensingh and Hooghly three new posts have been
created and filled during the current year.
77. There is no scarcity of men, as many more graduates pass out of the
Bengal Veterinary College than employment can be found for.
Thus it is
possible to pick the best men in order of merit and general fitness for the posts
vacant.
78. Cattle-poisoning.—Cattle-poisoning is still a very common practice and
the cause of serious loss annually, and it seems practically impossible to detect
the culprits so that little can be done to stop it, though the attention of the
District Officers has been drawn to this matter.
79. The Cruelty Act, where it is in force, is not working satisfactorily, as
the owners are fined only, and not compelled to have the animals treated by
Veterinary Assistants, when a certificate could be given as to the animal's fit-
ness to return to work; nor are the penalties imposed sufficiently heavy in
cases where the first fine is paid and the animal at once put to work and seized
again.
80. Glanders Act.—Where in force, the working of the Glanders Act is
fairly satisfactory and it is improving. Comparatively little trouble has been
met this year in the enforcing of the provisions of the Act. It would be well
to extend it to the whole of the province, making all Veterinary Assistants,
Inspectors under the Act, and, Civil Veterinary Department Inspectors, Practi-
tioners under the Act.
81. Breading and improvement of cattle.—This branch of veterinary work in
this province is particularly bad, and the result of attempts to remedy it most
discouraging, owing to the absolute indifference of the owners to the condi-
tion of the cattle they have. Nowhere will they spend money, nor labour to
feed their cattle; the land is easily tilled, strong cattle are not absolutely neces-
sary and commercial crops yield early profits.
82. In addition, the people know literally nothing about breeding, and
do not trouble to use the stud-bulls where provided, nor feed the cow when
often served, nor the calf when born; under such conditions the best cattle
would degenerate in time, to the present standard. If by any chance good bull
calf is bred, he is castrated being worth more at the moment as a bullock.
Better than literature and lectures, perhaps small demonstration farms rearing
Bengali cattle will drive home to them the improvement and consequent profit