13
that foot and mouth disease occurs in the camel. Jhooling has been found to
be contagious. A form of specific peritonitis was met with in the Montgomery
district. A separate report is being prepared regarding Filariasis. Various
other diseases have been studied and noted on.
143. Three parasites have been added to the check list, i.e., Thelazia
leesei, a new parasite, causing ophthalmia, Tœnia centripunctata, common
also in the sheep, and Onchocerca fasciata, found coiled up in nodules in the
subcutaneous tissue. D. hepaticum was found in 2 per cent. of the camels
examined and the larvæ of Linguatula tœnioides once in the mesenteric
glands.
144. Sanction has now been accorded for the erection of the necessary
buildings at Sohawa so that disease may be more thoroughly studied.
145. Mr. Leese has continued to devote himself whole-heartedly to his
work in very trying and unhealthy conditions and I consider that he deserves
great credit for the progress which he has made during the year.
146. Table IV gives the number of animals treated and castrated by
Veterinary Assistants on tour. The
number of Veterinary Assistants em-
ployed has increased from 472 (vide last year's report) to 517. With the
exception of Sind, Rajputana and Baluchistan, the number of Veterinary
Assistants has been added to in every other Province. They visited 83,114
villages against 64,380 last year; treating 450,919 cases of which (excluding
1,662 castrations and 258 cases treated in cattle markets for lice) 282,470
were of contagious diseases and 166,529 non-contagious maladies against
189,124 and 150,573 respectively last year. This increase of 109,302 may be
regarded as very satisfactory.
Other diseases.
147. A reference to Table V will show that 408 Veterinary dispensaries
were at work during the year under
report against 380 last year, or an
increase of 28. The increases are 3 in the United Provinces, 8 in the
Punjab, 8 in Bombay Presidency, 5 in Madras Presidency, and 4 in Burma.
148. The number of in and out-patients treated was 518,787 against
428,402 last year. Satisfactory increases appear in the United Provinces,
Punjab, Eastern Bengal and Assam, Bombay, Central Provinces, Burma and
the North-West Frontier Province and North Punjab.
Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.
149. In Bengal of 27 dispensaries the one at Jessore was closed, as the
Veterinary Assistant was ordered to do only district work. The dispen-
saries which call for special notice as regards work are Larpur, Muzaffarpur,
Bankipur, Bhagalpur, Gya, Ranchi, Burdwan, Arrah and Cuttack. Propo-
sals have been submitted for establishing Veterinary hospitals at Bettiah,
Motihari and Beguserai, and it is hoped they will be in working order during
next year.
150. The eight shoeing forges in the districts of Bengal are generally
reported to be doing good work and gaining in popularity.
151. The work done by itinerating Veterinary Assistants is reported as
satisfactory. The falling off in the number of cases as compared with last
year's figures is accounted for by the fact that the actual number of new
cases treated are now recorded. Inoculations and old cases for which only
advice was given are now excluded.
152. In the Bombay Presidency the work done at the various dispen-
saries, with a few exceptions, show satisfactory progress indicating that these
institutions are appreciated by the people. The average number of cases
treated per dispensary is about the same as last year if the 8 new dispen-
saries (several of which were in working order for only a few weeks of the
year) are included; but if we exclude these, the average is 2,674 against
2,266 last year.
153. In the Punjab there were 94 Veterinary hospitals against 86 last
year. The total number of cases treated was 199,066 against 144,882 in the
previous year. These figures represent a very satisfactory increase and in-
dicate the growing popularity of these institutions. Of the 94 Veterinary
hospitals 59 are constructed on standard plans and the remainder are accom-
modated in other buildings. A new hospital at Amritsar has long been
anticipated, but has not been started yet. The Sargoda Veterinary hospital
46 I. G., C. V. D.