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APPENDIX IV.
Note on "The advisability of amalgamating certain veterinary
services in India" by Mr. T. F. Quirke.
On the grounds of economy I think that it would be possible to maintain greater efficiency
of the veterinary services in this country with the same financial expenditure if an amalgama-
tion could be arranged. The present system by which control of equine diseases in the selected
horse breeding districts in the Province numbering fifteen is vested in the Army Remount
Department (Agricultural Circular No. 4) is very unsatisfactory. Our experience is that
there is continually overlapping of work between the subordinates of the two departments,whilst
there is undoubted dissatisfaction in the villages in the method of dealing with equine diseases.
The present veterinary strength of the Army Remount Department is insufficient to carry out
the multifarious duties entrusted to them in addition to the work of dealing with equine diseases
in the villages of their districts. Under the present arrangements only cases of equine disease
when brought to our hospitals are dealt with by our staff in these districts. A Veterinary
Assistant of this Department in course of his work visiting a village in which he detects equine
disease is required to report the fact to the nearest representative of the Army Remount
Department who will take the necessary measures for dealing with the disease. It would obviate
the necessity for a second visit from a similarly qualified member of another Department, if
diseases both equine and bovine were in the control of one Department, which could be in a
position to allocate work more expeditiously than is the rule at present and so economise
staff. In addition, the control of disease in the districts would be under the supervision of
officers belonging to a whole-time India service with experience of village conditions and more in
touch with the people.
Again, I feel that by the present system of working in water tight compartments the valuable
professional experience which is obtainable in Army Remount Depôts, e.g., Mona and Sargodha,
on the horse breeding farms, and military dairy farms is denied to the Imperial and subordinate
staff of the Civil Veterinary Department. As regards Imperial officers such experience would
be invaluable to them throughout their service, whilst for the subordinate staff these depôts
and breeding farms both for horse and cattle would act as a training ground under European
supervision for gaining experience in the care and management of animals in health and disease
before being placed in charge of our district hospitals. When one considers that the progress
of veterinary work in this country depends so much on the efficiency of the individual members
in the veterinary services it would appear important that such opportunities as the country
does offer of gaining professional experience should be opened up for the benefit of the profession.
There are many other points which may be noted in favour of an amalgamation. I feel how-
ever that I have noted sufficiently with a view to the subject being discussed at the veterinary
conference which I trust will include representatives from the different veterinary services in
India.