( 4 )
were found to have died after inoculation. Two thousand four hundred and
forty-three animals were immunised against rinderpest by the Calcutta Glan-
ders Department. There was thus an increase of 3,370 over that of the
previous year. With the staff at my disposal it was hoped that the number of
animals inoculated would have been still further augmented, but owing to the
stoppage of the supply of serum from the laboratory at Muktesar during the
months of September, October, November and December 1909, the returns
are not as satisfactory as I had hoped they would have been. Regarding ino-
culation against rinderpest in the hills, serum, unless administered in extremely
large doses and at short intervals, has not been very effective. Protection by
the " Simultaneous method" will be given a trial next cold weather and a
report issued on the result. Reference has already been made to inoculation
against Black Quarter.
26. In order to avoid in future the inconvenience which this year arose
from the stoppage of the serum supply from Muktesar, the Inspector-General
Civil Veterinary Department, has asked me to make enquiries regarding a site,
and the number of cattle that are available for purchase in Darjeeling and its
neighbourhood, for a laboratory which he intends to establish in that district,
for the supply of serum and vaccines. An Inspector has been deputed to
Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong for the purpose. Such a laboratory
for this province and Eastern Bengal and Assam would be of the greatest
benefit besides stimulating investigation into the various diseases which cause
such a high mortality among horses, cattle and other domesticated animals.
27. Inoculation in some districts has failed again this year owing to the
opposition of the ryots, especially in North Bhagalpur, 24-Parganas and
Hooghly; in Burdwan and Sambalpur they also objected.
I append for information a table showing the number anti-rinderpest
inoculations performed in each district:—
DISTRICTS.
24-Parganas
Jeseore
Hooghly
Burdwan
Birbhum
Gaya
Monghyr
Muzaffarpur
Champaran
Bhagalpur
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of
cattle
inoculated.
Bovines.
220
520
205
306
1,280
324
116
385
230
935
DISTRICTS.
Purnea
Darjeeling
Manbhum
Midnapore
Puri
Angul
Sambalpur
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of
cattle
inoculated.
Bovines.
4,231
401*
272
72
431
662
1,996
12,586
* Includes 87 sheep.
HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
28. Tables V and VI show the working of the hospitals and dispensaries
There were 27 dispensaries at the close of the previous year; none were opened
during the period under report.
29. The hospital at Jessore was closed, as the Veterinary Assistant was
ordered to do only district work. There are thus 26 dispensaries at the
close of this year, of which 22, which are directly under the control of the
Department, were regularly inspected by me or by the Inspectors. The
dispensaries at Sodepur and Hazaribagh Pinjrapoles are managed privately;
while those at Howrah and Cooch Behar are outside my jurisdiction; the
former being supervised by the Principal of the Bengal Veterinary College,
Belgachia, and the latter by the Cooch Behar State. The old dispensary at
Patna was abandoned and new stables and quarters for the Assistant have been
provided at Sabjibagh.
30. Purulia.—This dispensary is progressing satisfactorily. The total
number of in and out-patients treated being 1,292, against 1,079 of the previous
year. One hundred and twenty operations were performed, against 94 of the
previous year Forty-one of these were major operations, all of which except
four were successful.
31. Chapra.—This dispensary is now in the second year of its existence.
The patients treated have largely increased, being 1,307, against 466 of the
previous year. This number would be much larger if native gentlemen would
only take sufficient interest in the work of the assistant.
32. Dumraon.—This institution is maintained by the Dumraon Raj
estate. The number of in-patients is increasing slowly. The hospital has been