Civil Veterinary
Department.
Annual Administration Report of the—and
the Annual Report on the working of the
Glanders and Farey Act in Bombay for
the year 1905-06.
No. 10857.
REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
Bombay Castle, 15th November 1906.
Letter* from the Principal, Bombay Veterinary College, No. 255-L., dated 19th July 1906.
Letter* from the Director of Agriculture, No. A.—5046, dated 25th September 1905—
Submitting the Annual Administration Report of the Civil Veterinary Department in
the Bombay Presidency for the year 1905.06.
RESOLUTION.—The reappearance of rinderpest, from which this Presidency
has for a long time past been free, is regrettable, Government concur with the
remarks contained in the opening sentence of paragraph 4 of the Director's
review, and hope that an early decision will be arrived at on the reorganization
scheme which, they learn, has been referred to His Majesty's Secretary of State
for India. It must be remembered that the progress of reorganization must of
necessity be gradual and the full effect of it a matter of considerable time.
Meanwhile, as regards rinderpest, every endeavour should be made to impress
on the people the advantages of inoculation, advantages which are sufficiently
patent on an examination of the results even in this Presidency where up to the
present it has been possible to have comparatively little recourse to this valuable
prophylactic measure. Valuable and convincing results on a far larger scale have
been obtained in Northern India. As the Director points out, and as experience
in Ahmednagar and Bombay shows, much can be done by practical demonstration
and explanation of the effect of inoculation, and cattle-owners, once they under-
stand its benefits, are not likely to be slow in resorting to it when an epidemic
threatens their stock. It is hoped that District and Táluka officials will do
their utmost in those places where the disease is prevalent to assist the
Veterinary staff by gaining the understanding and consent of the people.
Government will await with interest the results of the temporary appointments
made in affected districts, but must emphasise the necessity, in order that
any appreciable good may be done, of active co-operation on the part of
Mámlatdárs and their out-door establishments. It would be premature to
discuss here the question of establishing a contagious diseases ward at Parel,
and proposals on the subject must be awaited. The idea, however, of inducing
Local Boards to allow their untrained men to take the inoculation course at
Muktesar is a good one and has the approval of Government. The Director's
proposal to allow a post-graduate course to be taken at Muktesar or elsewhere
has already been recommended to the Government of India.
2. A marked increase has been effected throughout the Presidency and in
Sind, both in the number of animals treated at head-quarter dispensaries, and
in the amount of touring done and of treatment given in villages. This increase
is unfortunately largely due to the greater prevalence of epizootic disease, such
as foot and mouth. But it is a matter of satisfaction that on the occurrence of
such disease the people show readiness in applying for aid to the dispensaries
and Itinerant Veterinary Officers, and there can be no doubt that part of it at
least is due to increased energy on the part of the latter. Although, however,
a greater or less degree of improvement is generally apparent, there is still
in the case of a number of districts considerable room for further development,
and the standard laid down in paragraph 2 of Government Resolution No. 9468,
dated 23rd November 1905, is as yet a long distance from attainment. It is
hoped that the measure described in paragraph 5 of the Director's review will
have good results. But Government are inclined to think that it may be
possible to apply a stronger stimulus to graduates in charge of dispensaries at
which attendance is inexplicably low. A monthly or quarterly return to the
Superintendent of current attendance contrasting it with attendance during the
corresponding period of the previous year might be of use. The Director is
requested to consider this suggestion.
* Not printed.
Rev 3150