103
I also had an interview with the Member of the Board of Revenue,
when questions connected with the investigation of cattle disease on a better
deferred system were discussed.
Calcutta:Inter-
views with His
Honour the Lieute-
nant-Governor and
others.
I then proceeded to Calcutta, where I had interviews with His Honour the
Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon'ble Member (Revenue), and the Director of
Land Records and Agriculture. The main points discussed were:—
Dispensaries.
(a) The advisability of legislation to enable District Boards to start
dispensaries and to appoint Veterinary Assistants.—Municipalities
have this power, but District Boards have not. The Lieutenant-
Governor explained to me that this must wait until other
alterations in the Act were made, but that he had already given
his opinion that he saw no reason why District Boards should not
start them, as no objection would be raised.
Method to increase
practice.
(b) Legislation to register the College as a place under the Cruelty to
Animals Act, by which Magistrates would be empowered to send
cases to the College for treatment.—I pointed out how necessary
this is, as, owing to the three years' course starting shortly, more
practice would be required.
Hide and Serum
experiments. Rin-
derpest.
(c) Hide and Serum Experiments.—The experiments had reached the
first stage, but R1,000 was required to complete them. This
was arranged for.
Glanders and
Farcy in Calcutta.
(d) Glanders and Farcy Act.—No systematic method of dealing with
this disease exists, nor are any cases reported to the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, although the disease exists in the
city. I explained how the matter had been dealt with in
Bombay. This question is, however, one more connected with
the Commissioner of Police. I, however, asked Veterinary
Major Raymond to keep it in view.
Tick Plague.
The question referring to the importation of Queensland horses and its
reference to Tick Plague were discussed.
Bengal Veterin-
ary College.
I then made a most careful inspection of the Bengal Veterinary College
at Belgatchia, and was much struck with the change that had taken place.
I saw the students handle animals—both equine and bovine, perform operations,
saw them on parallel and horizontal bars and riding over jumps, and I cannot
speak too strongly of the improvement which has been made in this institu-
tion.
Inspection at
Babugarh.
Examination of
Nalbund class,
Lahore.
I then proceeded to the Babugarh Depôt on 27th December 1898, to
inspect the working of the mares on the Farm, from which place I visited
Rawalpindi to see the work which was being done in rebuilding the stallion
stables. On returning from Rawalpindi, I halted at Lahore to attend the
examination of the Nalbund class, and was very pleased with the workmanlike
manner in which the men shod the animals.
Jacobabad Hois
Show.
I then visited the Jacobabad Horse Show, which, as will be seen, was a
great success. This being the first opportunity which I had had of inspect-
ing the stallions since I assumed administrative charge of horse and mule-
breeding operations in Sind, I found it necessary to get rid of three horses and
three donkeys, which were useless. Many alterations are required in the Pro-
spectus of the Jacobabad Horse Show in order to foster horse and mule-breeding.
These were most fully discussed with the Deputy Commissioner, Upper Sind
Frontier; amongst the more important alterations required are:—
Conference with
Deputy Commis-
sioner, Upper Sind
Frontier, and the
Superintendent,
Civil
Veterinary
Department. Balu-
chistan and Sind.
(a) That the class for unbranded mares should be expunged.
(b) That a class for branded fillies should be introduced.
(c) That prizes should not be given for colts over one year of age.
(d) To encourage breeders in Sind who cannot compete with the Brood
mares and young stock of the Frontier Beluchis, it was decided
to have two closed classes for Sind mares and produce.