105
596. I then visited Bhopal and discussed with Captain Newmarch, the Political
Agent, the introduction of horse-breeding in the Narsinghur and Rajgarh States.
597. In December, I proceeded to Burma in order to discuss with the
authorities certain questions on which the Government of India required informa-
tion, and as I consider that no more fitting opportunity than the present will be
found to record my opinion of the work done in that Province, I avail myself
of it to say that the organization of the Civil Veterinary Department in Burma
is about as perfect as any that can possibly be wished for. From Rangoon and
from Mandalay I made short excursions to carefully consider the working of the
Subordinate Veterinary Establishment, and after very careful enquiry, I felt
firmly convinced that the closer that we can possibly assimilate the system in India
to that which exists in Burma, the better will be the working of our Subordinate
Staff. This question will be found fully dealt with under the heading of Veterinary
Assistants.
598. I carefully enquired into the system of registration of cattle mortality
in Lower Burma, which is far in advance of anything in India, and am now in a
position to advise the various Local Governments on the subject when the time
arrives for the more complete elaboration of the various systems now in vogue.
599. The points on which the Government of India had requested me to
report, and which I was able to discuss with the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department and His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, were:—
(a).—The necessity for the formation of a Rearing Depôt for ponies and
mules at Pyawbwc.
The formation of such a Depôt had been advocated by my predecessor,
but I found that circumstances had so altered since 1893 that no such necessity
existed at the present time. The reasons for this being that British and Native
Regiments are not now supplied with ponies in any number, and the demand for
mules is restricted to the requirements of the Commissariat Department.
(b).—The building of a Veterinary Hospital to ensure the practical training
of Veterinary Assistants.
After carefully discussing this question I came to the conclusion that no
necessity existed for the expenditure which would have to be incurred. The
establishment sanctioned for Upper and Lower Burma is 80 Veterinary Assistants,
of which 68 are already appointed. The number of students to be educated in
future will be few, amounting only to the number required to replace casualties,
and as I assured myself that those that were employed were, generally speaking,
practical men, and that they had been trained with the present number of cases
available, I was in a position to advise the Government of India that the building
of a Veterinary Hospital was not necessary.
(c).—The necessity of appointing a second Veterinary Officer for Burma.
Whilst I was in a position to advise Government that no expense need be
incurred in the abovenamed projects, I felt it incumbent to recommend the immediate
appointment of a second Veterinary Officer for Burma. I attach such importance
to this measure, that I feel I will be excused if I enter fully into my reasons for
advocating this appointment. They are contained in the following report submitted
to Government:—
I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government of India, that during my visit to Burma, I
have most carefully considered the advisability and necessisty for the appointment of a second Veterinary Officer for
that Province, and fully agree with the opinion expressed by my predecessor in 1894, that such an appointment is
most urgently called for. In fact so strongly have I been impressed with the importance of the work which is now
being done, that I would solicit the Government of India, to address the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for
India, without delay, in order that sanction for the appointment of a second Officer may be obtained as soon as
possible. My object in bringing this matter forward at a time when I know that the financial position scarcely
warrants such a procedure, is, that I feel that this appointment has already been too long delayed.
In Lower Burma there are 17 districts not including the Salween or the Arakan Hill, Tracts. In Upper Burma
there are 17 districts exclusive of the Northern and Southern Shan States, the Chin Hills, and Kachin Hill Tracts.
In this vast area, 80 Veterinary Assistants will shortly be employed, and already 68 are posted, and the work
done by these men, under the supervision of Veterinary-Captain Evans is, as has been shown in my Annual
Administration Reports, enormous. When we take into consideration the fact that in Lower Burma alone 1,770,517
cattle exist, and further, when we consider that the agricultural wealth of the country entirely depends on its cattle,
I feel that we cannot do too much to assist the cultivator in endeavouring to keep his cattle free from contagious
disease.
The Burman is totally different to the Indian ryot, inasmuch as he values his bullocks, and takes the very
greatest care of them. A Burman would be ashamed to own a bullock that was in bad condition; for this reason he
owns only a number sufficient for his actual requirements; but these are cattle such as one rarely sees in the hands of
the Indian cultivator. The Burmans are fast recognising the value of Veterinary Assistants, whose work is daily
becoming of greater importance; in fact, this Province is far in advance of any other as far as this Department is
concerned.