41
No. G-.378 OF 1914.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT :
Office of the Commissioner in Sind,
Government House, Karachi, 21/24st July 1914.
MEMORANDUM.
The Commissioner in Sind has the honour to submit the annual report of
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Sind, Baluchistan and Raj-
putana, on the work of the veterinary department in Sind during the year
1913-14.
2. The Department remained in charge of the Superintendent, Mr. J. G-
Cattell, throughout the year, assisted by Khan Sahib S. G. Haji, Deputy Super-
intendent. Both these officers did a considerable amount of touring by rail;
but it is essential that both the Superintendent and his Deputy should tour
more systematically by road in the districts of Sind, in order to get into closer
touch with stock-breeders and agriculturists. Instructions have been issued by
the Commissioner towards this end and steps will be taken to ensure that these
instructions receive proper attention in future. Although it is difficult for Vete-
rinary Assistants to leave their dispensaries for any length of time, the Com-
missioner would be glad to see efforts on their part to do some touring as apart
from visits to villages for attendance on cases. The popularity and progress
of the Department depend largely on the confidence with which the Veterinary
Assistants can inspire zamindars, and this can best be done by visits to the
villages of the latter marked by successful operations and inoculations there.
3. In order to overcome the difficulty of obtaining suitable candidates
from Sind for the Bombay Veterinary College, the Commissioner has found it
necessary to reduce the educational standard hitherto required of candidates and
to admit men otherwise suitable, provided they possessed a sufficient knowledge
of English to follow the course of studies. It has at the same time been neces-
sary to raise the amount of the scholarships for Sindhi scholars to Rs. 35 per
mensem, the maximum admissible under the rules. While the sons of land-
holders are still preferred, other candidates are chosen, should the first be
lacking. Educated Mussalmans have now so many lucrative appointments open
to them in the province that they have hesitated to enter a small department
where the chances of promotion are not very great. But to attract Mussalmans
it has been necessary to take the two steps mentioned above.
4. The year has on the whole been a favourable one. Deaths from rinder-
pest, surra, anthrax and hæmorrhagic septicæmia all decreased. The large
number of inoculations against hemorrhagic septicemia in the Nawabshah
district is gratifying. The three cases of bubonic plague among the monkeys of
the Karachi Zoological Gardens were only remarkable for the local excitement
caused by the closing of the garden to the public. The attention of the Col-
lector of Karachi and the President of the Karachi Municipality will be drawn,
to the remarks of the Superintendent on the increase of rabies in Karachi. A
case of South African horse sickness was detected by the Deputy Superintendent
from amongst the chargers of the officers of the 18th Infantry which arrived at
Karachi by the R. I. M. S. "Hardinge'' on 14th October 1913, and is import-
ant as being the first of its kind detected in India. In view of the highly
contagious nature of the disease, the horse was kept under observation for 18
days and was finally destroyed under the advice of the Imperial Bacteriologist
in India. The contacts were segregated and were finally discharged after being
found free from all symptoms of the disease. In the absence of a lazaretto,
which is one of the great needs of Karachi from a veterinary point of view, it
was necessary to utilize an open space on the outskirts of the town as a tempo-
rary hospital.
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