( 3 )
cases being carried off, owing to the advanced stage of the disease when
the animals were admitted into the hospital.
The number of infectious cases was considerable, viz., 20 cases of glanders,
5 of tetanus, 92 of rinderpest, 6 of surra (4 horses and 2 cattle), 42 of eczema
contagiosa, 3 of strangles, 2 of influenza, 32 of distemper, 18 of rabies, and 4
of tuberculosis. These afforded ample opportunities to the students of study-
ing most of the infectious diseases.
I would draw special attention to the cases of tuberculosis, as I have
observed in foreign journals a quotation from the Annual Report of the
Imperial Bacteriologist in which he remarks:—"
I have not met any
Veterinary Officer who has observed tuberculosis in cattle in this country."
Every year cases of advanced tuberculosis in cattle are admitted in this
Infirmary, die and are confirmed by post mortem examination.
There were 507 operations performed in 1900-1901, against 400 in 1899-
1900 (Appendix V).
The hospital was declared in October 1900 to be an Infirmary under the
Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Calcutta, Alipur, Sealdah,
Chitpore, Cossipore, and Dum-Dum. Thirty-one animals (19 horses and 12
bullocks) were admitted by order of the Presidency Magistrates of Calcutta up
to March 1901. A good many animals are now coming in from the Presidency
Magistrates' Courts.
A Marwari gentleman, Seth Hardut Rai Chamria, has given Rs. 1,000
towards the erection of a permanent shed for the additional accommodation of
animals seized under the aforesaid Act.
The transfer of the Glanders Hospital from Entally to Belgachia, which
has been under consideration for two years, is, I understand, receiving the
attention of the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta.
THE AMBULANCES.
16. The two ambulances continued to be in demand. One of them was
stationed for some time at the Southern Gowkhana of the Calcutta Municipal
Corporation, so that their infectious cases might be sent to the Belgachia Hospital
at once. It was withdrawn when I found that the Superintendent of the
Gowkhana did not make use of it, and retained infectious cases in the Gowkhana.
THE FORGE.
17. The number of horses shod at the forge in 1900-1901 was 345,
against 351 in 1899-1900. Very few horses came from the Military Officers at
Dum-Dum to be shod this year.
FINANCIAL.
18. The fees for the treatment, shoeing, etc., of animals received during
the year amount to Rs. 7,666-9-3, against Rs. 6,355-15-3 in the preceding year.
They would have amounted to Rs. 7,768-6-3 had the fees for the treatment of
Government animals been charged. The cost of feeding the patients was
Rs. 8,715-2-7, against Rs. 4,502-10-6 in 1899-1900. This excess is due partly
to the increased number of patients, and partly to the unusually high prices of
forage. Taking into calculation the sum of Rs. 3,104-2 still outstanding, the
total fees for the year amount to Rs. 10,872-8-3, giving a surplus of Rs. 2,157-5-8
of fees over the cost of feed, against a surplus of Rs. 1,853-4-9 in 1899-1900.
Outstanding accounts.—Of the sum of Rs. 94-7-6 shown in the last year's
report as outstanding for fees, Rs. 54-14 are still due from two defaulters.
These amounts are not likely to be recovered, though the decrees against both
of them have been executed, and efforts are being made for their recovery.
A sum of Rs. 3,104-2 is still outstanding for the year under report. Of
this, Rs. 2,967-14 are due from the Calcutta Municipality and Rs. 136-4 from
other persons. These dues are not of longstanding, and are expected to be
realised shortly.
The statement showing the provincial cost of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Bengal, for 1900-1901 is appended (Table Q).