4
Table V.
Hospitals and Dispensaries.
32. Table V shows the working of the hospitals and dispensaries.
There were 31 dispensaries at the close of last year and four (viz., one at
Balurghat, one at Nilphamari, one at Patuakhali and one at Brahman beria)
were added during the year, thus bringing the total number of such institu-
tions up to 35.
33. The total number of in and out-patients treated at these dispen-
saries was 44,747 as against 43,312 in the previous year.
34. The dispensary building at Bagerhat was under construction
towards the end of the year, and it is expected to be opened shortly.
35. The dispensary at Noakhali will have to be removed soon to a
suitable place owing to encroachment of the river Meghna.
36. The stable building attached to the dispensary at Chittagong
was burnt down in August 1919, and this affected the number of in-patients
to some extent. It is now being reconstructed.
37. The thatched building in which the Veterinary Dispensary at
Dacca was located was blown down by the cyclone of September 1919, causing
serious loss and damage to the dispensary furniture and articles. The Dis-
pensary with as much material as could be saved was therefore removed to
the sheds now existing on the land acquired in 1914 for the construction of a
Government dispensary. The construction of this new hospital, which was
deferred so long on account of the war, is expected to be taken in hand by
the Public Works Department during the current year. The plans and
estimates, amounting to about Rs. 23,000. have been already prepared.
38. The municipal dispensary at Naraingunge was also blown down
by the cyclone. This dispensary is at present maintained by the munici-
pality entirely for the treatment of their own animals. But as it
is a very important place and is soon likely to become the headquarters of a
district, it is essential that there should be a Station Veterinary Hospital for
the treatment of animals belonging to the outside public also. I took the
opportunity of advising the Municipal Board to build the new one in such a
way that it might suit the purposes of both themselves and the public. I
have sent them a copy of the type-plans and trust they will see their way to
taking up the work at an early date.
39. Land was acquired before I went on service at Rajshahi and Pabna
upon which to erect suitable dispensary buildings with accommodation for
in-door patients, but unfortunately nothing was or could be done towards
completion by the district boards although the establishment of Veterinary
Hospitals at these places is a distinct necessity. The need for a similar
hospital is being keenly felt at Berbampore, Jessore, Alipore and Darjeeling,
and it is to be hoped that the district boards concerned will meet the
proposals with consideration when again presented to them.
40. At Midnapore the idea of converting a portion of the old jail into
a Veterinary Hospital is being given effect to now, after a lapse of some nine
years since a hospital was first suggested.
41. There are proposals for constructing dispensaries with quarters for
the Itinerant Veterinary Assistants at Tangail and Contai, according to the
plan prepared by me for the purpose, the cost being much less than that of
a regular hospital with accommodation for in-patients. The Manager of the
Six-anna Estate Santosh, in the district of Mymensingh, has, at the request
of the Magistrate, kindly agreed to meet the cost of erection, etc.
42. Establishment of a dispensary at Serampore is now under the con-
templation of the Serampore and other five riparian municipalities.
43. A shoeing forge was added to the Chinsurah Dispensary during the
year under report, and apart from teaching local farriers to do their work
more carefully and with greater skill, the animals at the same time are being
greatly benefited.
Part III.—Breeding Operations.
44. Table VIII shows the number of stud bulls in use at present in,
the various districts of the province. As reported in the previous year