6
43. Contagious disease amongst other animals.—No reliable returns have
been received in regard to the prevalence of contagious disease amongst animals
other than horses and cattle. It is well known of course that considerable
numbers of camels must have died from Surra, and, similarly, a great number
of dogs from Rabies, which is very prevalent in the north of India at any rate.
Municipalities are beginning to take some steps to reduce the numbers of stray
dogs in towns, but it is more difficult to cope with this disease in country places.
In the course of time we may, however, hope for an improvement in this
direction.
Other disease.
44. Table IV gives, in addition to " contagious disease ", the number of
castrations performed, number of animals treated for other disease, villages
visited and number of Veterinary Assistants employed on tour. This Table
shows 1,14,928 cases of non-contagious disease were treated by Veterinary As-
sistants on tour. Of these 30,090 were equines, 75,136 bovines and 9,702 other
animals, in addition to the number treated for contagious disease and castrated.
45. Many animals suffering from ordinary non-contagious maladies are, un-
less properly treated, rendered useless. Touring in villages and rendering help
in this direction is, I consider, a very important part of a Veterinary Assistant's
duties, as it brings him in contact with the people and shows them the benefits
to be derived from our methods. The number of Veterinary Assistants employ-
ed at present, however, is too few to do very much in this direction.
46. The number of animals castrated by Veterinary Assistants on tour was
1,088, of which, 636 were equines against 1,048 last year. The decrease is
due to the fact that a number of districts containing the greater part of the horse
stock have been handed over to the Remount Department. Three hundred and
five oxen were operated on.
Veterinary Hos-
pitals and Dis-
pensaries.
47. Table V shows the number of animals treated at Veterinary Hospitals
and Dispensaries. I am glad to be able to report a very substantial increase in
the number of these most useful institutions during the year. The last year's
report shows that, excluding Burma and Madras, there were 88 hospitals and
dispensaries in the whole of India. The present returns show that excluding
the two Provinces noted above, we have 182, whilst in Burma there are 82 and
in Madras 5, giving a total of 269. There has been an increase in every Prov-
ince, but the most marked advance is noticeable in the Punjab where there
was last year only 7 and this return shows 80, chiefly dispensaries. This reflects
credit on the two Superintendents employed in this Province.
48. The total number of in-patients treated was 4,760 equines, 3,030 bovines
and 1,376 other animals, or a total of 9,166 against 2,523 equines, 1,917 cattle
and 682 other animals, or a total of 5,122 last year. The numbers of out-pa-
tients treated are 54,459 equines, 159,249 bovines and 30,462 other animals
or a total of 244,170 against 37,835 equines, 113,340 bovines and 27,760 other
animals, or a total of 178,935 last year. Many of these dispensaries and hospitals
have been only very recently opened, a gradual increase having occurred
during the whole year under report, so that the increase in cases treated is very
material and satisfactory.
49. The receipts were Rs. 1,82,229 against Rs 1,13,095 last year, and the
expenditure Rs. 3,19,378, against Rs. 2,06,641 in 1903-04. This shows an in-
crease in receipts of Rupees 69,134 and an increased expenditure of Rupees
1,12,737. Burma shows no receipts. The Punjab, Rajputana and North-
West Frontier Province show a profit on working. These institutions are of the
utmost value and will be increased in numbers as greatly as possible. This is, I
think, an important step in developing the Department and it is here that the
people will first realise the benefits of our work, as cases can be properly treat-
ed under our system. The great difficulty is that Local Bodies are, in many
cases, too poor to be able to build, equip and finance them. So that very often,
no matter how willing they may be, they are unable to start them. Doubtless,
funds will be made available from the new grant to assist in starting and im-
proving these useful institutions, as has already been done by the Government
of the Central Provinces which devoted the sum of Rs. 25,000 to this purpose.