52
with foot and mouth disease and the Veterinary Officer then gives him a bottle
of medicine for his dozen animals and enters 12 cases treated. I think that this
gives some indication as to the lines on which development should proceed. In
p aragraph 19 of his report Mr. Hewlett rightly says that dispensaries are a centre
from which a correct knowledge of the care and rational treatment of live stock
can be spread; but I am doubtful whether this object is fully obtained by
giving a cultivator a bottle of unknown medicine with an unintelligible name.
In my opinion the main function of a rural dispensary ought to be to diffuse
amongst the people a correct knowledge of Veterinary hygiene, and the treat-
ment of animals in sickness and health. It should give short courses of free
instruction to all who can be got to attend them, and should lose no opportunity
of propaganda by means of lectures, demonstrations and the distribution of
leaflets. Only such medicines should be recommended as are procurable by the
people; and in cases where it is essential to recommend some medicine not
ordinarily procurable by the cultivator adequate steps should be taken to provide
for the supply of the medicine. At one or two agricultural shows lectures were
given regarding the treatment of particular cattle ailments, and a distribution
of leaflets on the subject was made. The cultivators listened attentively and
eagerly took the leaflets; and I may mention that I was several times asked if
I had no leaflets dealing with human diseases, such as guinea-worm.
In connection with the cost of these dispensaries I may remark that the
figure shown in table V represents the cost of the fixed dispensaries, the figure
in table VI the cost of fixed and itinerating dispensaries, and the figure in table
XIV-A (which was supplied by the Accountant General) apparently represents
somothing different, but what that is I am unable to say.
5. To turn to the subject of cattle breeding, the energies of the Department
have been confined to breeding bulls at the Chharodi Farm and assisting in the
purchase of bulls for the cultivators of the Ahmednagar district. The supply
of good bulls is no doubt a matter of importance, and in a country like England
where closed pastures are the ordinary rule and where adequate feeding of
young stock and cows is recognised to be essential, it is a matter of very great
importance. There are some favoured tracts in this Presidency where a fair
grass supply is practically a certainty, and the cattle come off relatively well;
but in most parts the best that the cows and calves can hope for is to regain
some condition in the cold weather after a severe period of starvation in the
hot weather and a gorge of green grass in the rains which produces indigestion,
scouring and tympanitis, while in years of short rainfall many are starved
outright. This constitutes a pretty heavy discount on the benefits conferred by
the good bull; and I am somewhat doubtful as to the exact value of his
services where starvation or semi-starvation is the order of the day. I should
be inclined to say that the question of adequate fodder is the crux of the situa-
tion; and that the locality in which to encourage careful breeding is that
where there is habitually a surplus of kadbi, after providing for the requirements
of the plough bullocks. The provision and economical use of kadbi and other
feeding material is of the utmost importance. Where you can show that
a supply of fodder is assured and that you have 50 fair cows with
a fence round them to keep off outside bulls and animals suffering from
contagious disease the provision of a good stud bull will no doubt be of much
value. It costs more in the first instance to feed animals than to leave them
unfed; but the net profit is greater in the long run and continuous progress is
possible. The subject is no doubt one of agricultural rather than Veterinary
interest; but so is the whole question of cattle breeding and it is mainly as a
matter of convenience that the Civil Veterinary Department undertakes this
work. The question of starting a bull breeding farm in the Deccan has been
under consideration during the past year; and there is a suitable site available
near Sholápur; but I have purposely refrained from making any definite
proposals in this matter until I could see my way a bit clearer.
6. In conclusion, I would request that Government will indicate whether
they approve of the ideas put forward above so that the lines of development
may be made clear. Personally I should like to see a much closer connection
established between the Civil Veterinary Department and the Agricultural
Department.
G. F. KEATINGE,
Director of Agriculture.