29
No. 646 of 1921.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT (VETERINARY);
Office of the Commissioner in Sind,
Government House, Karachi, 30th June 1921.
MEMORANDUM.
The Commissioner in Sind has the honour to submit the report of the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Sind, on the working of the
Veterinary Department during the year 1920-21.
Charge.
2. Mr. Farbrother was in charge of the Department up to the 3rd
February 1921, when he proceeded on combined
leave. Khan Bahadur Haji held charge from the
4th February to the 28th March 1921, when the veterinary charge of Sind was
separated from that of Baluchistan and Rajputana, and placed in charge of
Mr. Jerrom from the 29th March 1921. As no officer has been appointed to
hold veterinary charge of Baluchistan and Rajputana, this charge is held by
the Sind Superintendent in addition to his regular duties.
Mortality Statistics.
3. The year has been an unhealthy one for cattle and much disease
prevailed. The total reported mortality from con-
tagious disease rose from 1,688 in the previous year to
10,564 during the year under report. It is not improbable that the actual
mortality was even heavier. The increase is chiefly due to very severe outbreaks
of rinderpest. Contagious pleuro-pneumonia and anthrax were also responsible
to some extent. The complaint again occurs that outbreaks of epidemic disease
are not promptly reported by the tapadars and zamindars. The attention of the
district officers is being drawn to this. The Commissioner has under con-
sideration a scheme for the more efficient registration of human vital statistics,
and he will consider the advisability of entrusting the work of reporting cattle
epidemics to the same agency.
Inoculation.
4. It is satisfactory to note that the number of inoculations against rinder-
pest rose from 975 in the previous year to 20,473
during the year under report. They are reported to
have done much towards checking the mortality resulting from a widespread
epidemic. Eleven camels and 251 cattle were inoculated during the year with
anthrax and hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum respectively. Inoculation work
was vigorously carried on, especially in the Upper Sind Frontier district.
Dispensaries.
5. No new dispensaries were opened during the year under report. To
meet the demand for additional Veterinary Assist-
ants, Government, in their Order No. 1734, dated 11th
June 1920, sanctioned the deputation of two additional students during the
year 1920, and also increased temporarily the rate of the scholarship to meet
the high cost of living.
Professional work.
6. The aggregate number of cases treated at the several dispensaries rose
from 18,527 in the previous year to 19,170 during
the year under report, and the number of animals
treated on tour rose from 4,728 to 5,678. The increase is inconsiderable, but
no great development in this respect can be expected until the staff of the
department is sufficiently strengthened to admit of extensive operations
throughout the mofussil.
Veterinary instruction.
7. There were seven stipendiary students studying at the Bombay Vete-
rinary College. Of these four appeared for the 2nd
and three for the 1st Professional Examinations.
All the students passed and were promoted to higher classes.
Breeding operations.
8. The District Local Board Arab stallion standing at Larkana covered
67 mares against 59 during the previous year, and 2
District Local Board bulls in the Upper Sind Frontier
district covered 112 cows against 63 last year.
N 9—8