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gratis, but certain fees might be levied from Government servants or Native gentlemen who can afford to pay for
treatment, and those might be arranged on a sliding scale. Further information on the subject of these most useful
institutions can be obtained from the Annual Administration Report of this Department for 1895-96, pages 156 to 161.
940. The Board of Revenue agreed with my proposal which was submitted
to the Local Government. The following is an extract from their Resolution on
the subject:—
The Board has already in its Proceedings, Mis. No. 678 of 1896, proposed that the six Stock Inspectors now
under notice of discharge may be offered the choice of remaining in Government service as Subordinate Veterinary
Assistants and in paragraph 2 of the letter read above, the Inspector-General suggests that these men should be
placed in charge of Veterinary dispensaries to be started at selected places. This suggestion is in accordance with the
proposals of the Madras Government, made in G. O., No. 515, Revenue, dated 4th July 1890, paragraph 16, and until
the present year a provision has since been annually made in the budget to allow of such dispensaries being started.
The Board supports the proposal of the Inspector-General, and if it meets with the approval of Government, will be
prepared to frame a detailed scheme for giving effect thereto in consultation with that Officer.
I regret however that the Madras Government did not agree with my
suggestion, but dismissed the Stock Inspectors, and as yet that Presidency is
without a single dispensary.
941. I am glad to have to report that Bengal has made very considerable
progress during the past year in establishing Veterinary Dispensaries. Her Highness
the Maharani of Dumraon, the Hatwa Raj Estate, and Mr. Toomey in Behar,
have each established a Veterinary Dispensary for the benefit of cattle owners on
their Estates, and it is probable that by next year several other of these valuable
institutions will be established.
942. I have also to record the good work done in the Central Provinces and
Berar. The numbers of animals treated having increased twofold during the year,
which goes to prove how much these intitutions are appreciated.
943. It is admitted that there is always considerable difficulty in starting
new institutions in this country, but when people see the useful work it does it
soon becomes popular. A Veterinary Assistant should hold permanent charge of a
dispensary, otherwise if he goes on tour his absence will lead to disappointment,
and unpopularity of the institution.
Bengal.
944. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal, states as
follows:—
Sitamarhi.—The Veterinary Assistant Ram Lal Bhattacharjce is doing very well and seems to give satisfaction.
The Sub-divisional Officer of Sitamarhi reports that the work of the Veterinary Dispensary was conducted in a
satisfactory manner during the year under report. He forwards a statement showing the receipt and expenditure of
the Dispensary, which goes to show that Government has contributed Rs. 200 towards the maintenance of the dispen-
sary, besides which a local grant is made of Rs. 250, and a subscription of Rs. 1,374-11-6 is derived from other
sources. These amounts, supplemented by a sum of Rs. 819-6-0, the last year's balance, have raised the total of the
receipts to Rs. 2,644-1-6. The total expenditure amounts to Rs. 2,631-2-0, and there is a balance of Rs. 12-15-6 left.
It will thus be seen that the dispensary is doing very well indeed, and offers an encouraging example. With
regard to the treatment of patients, the Sub-divisional Officer reports that the Veterinary Assistant was employed in
treating patients at the hospital, and in going out to villages whenever epidemics of cattle disease broke out. He was
also sent to the subscribers houses to treat their cattle. His services were mostly used by the planters and educated
natives who subscribe to the hospital. Scarcely any patient was brought in by the ordinary ignorant cultivators.
The total number of cases treated by the Veterinary Assistant is 294, of which 253 were cured, 28 relieved,
and 13 died. This is nearly double the number of cases treated last year.
Howrah.—In my last Annual Report it was stated that a proposal had been made to establish a Veterinary
Hospital at Howrah from the donation of Rs. 20,000 offered by Babu Rameswar Maliah. The Secretary to the
Howrah Municipality reports that no hospital has yet been established.
The Veterinary Assistant in charge of the municipal cattle by name Bankim Chandra Chandra is reported to
have treated 116 cases of which 95 were cured and 21 died. He was appointed on 1st July 1896. Besides the direct
charge of the animals belonging to the Commissioners, he inspects the animals seized by the S P. C. A. His work is
satisfactory, but his attendance is not regular.
Dumraon.—I am glad to report that Her Highness the Maharani of Dumraon has established at her own cost a
Veterinary Hospital on the 1st of January 1898. and a passed student of this Institution, named Satya Churn Mukerjee,
was placed in charge of the hospital on that date. A set of draft rules was made by the Manager of the Estate for
the management of the hospital, which after a few alterations made by me, were approved. At the time of my
visit, the dispensary was nearly finished. It is situated near the Dumraon railway station in a large enclosed space
which includes a good well near the dispensary and a grove of young trees.
The Manager of the Dumraon Estates reports that the Veterinary Assistant looks after the Raj cattle, and that
his work has been satisfactory. As yet there has been no opportunity for the public to express an opinion of him.
As the hospital has not yet been fully appreciated by the public, they have not sent in their cattle.
Gaya.—I have visited Gaya. A site has been selected for a Veterinary Dispensary near the new Dak bunga-
low, and I understand that the work of erection will begin shortly. The site is a very good one.
A Veterinary Assistant, named Nanda Lal Gupta, has been permanently employed under the District Board
since 15th October 1897.
Patna.—I have inspected this dispensary. It is in a good situation, but the Veterinary Assistants' quarters
are not very comfortable. I made certain suggestions about the keeping of accounts. The Vice-Chairman of the
Patna Municipality reports that the Veterinary Assistant was employed on the treatment of sick animals, both in-door
and out-door, and was in charge of the hospital. The work of the Veterinary Assistant was, on the whole satisfac-
tory, and the public opinion about him is good.
The Veterinary Assistant reports upon the working of the Dispensary as follows:—
The dispensary was first established in a small hut in the Municipal office at Sadikpur far off from the
head-quarters. with few medicines and appliances. In March 1897 the Into Chairman of the Municipality visited
the place, and seeing its miserable condition ordered it to be removed to its present locality, which was done in April
1897. Since then it has been furnished with more medicines, instruments, and appliauces than what was supplied
at its opening, but yet much remains to be added. Though the present site of the dispensary is good, its accom-
modation for in-patients and for the Veterinary Assistant is not good. Several patients could not be treated owing
to the want of accommodation for in-patients.