215
837. The foregoing only shows colts castrated by Imperial Salutris. The
following have been castrated by Salutris belonging to District Boards and
other bodies. The numbers castrated by them are as follow:—
North-Western Provinces ... ...
North Punjab ... ... ...
South „ ... ... ...
Baluchistan ... ... ...
1895-96.
... 201
... 801
... 643
...
69
1,714
1896-97.
145
540
679
234
1,598
838. The reduction, only amounting to 352, must be looked upon as
satisfactory under the circumstances.
Horse-breeding—
Provincial.
839. There has been an increase of 10 pony stallions employed by District
Boards and other bodies during the year, the number standing now at 170.
840. Seven thousand seven hundred and sixty mares were covered, against
7,682 last year. An actual increase in the number covered during a year, such
as 1896-97 has been, must testify to the popularity of the District Board
ponies.
841. The number of produce known to have been dropped is 2,167, against
1,872 last year, showing an increase of 295. This gives an average of 15.47
per stallion employed.
Colleges
and
Schools.
842. The results obtained at the final examinations show an improvement
over last year, viz.:—
Bombay . . . . . . . . .
Lahore . . . . . . . . .
Rajputana
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bengal . . . . . . . . .
1895-96.
64.4
69.3
81.9
63
1896-97.
60
71.8
88.2
64.5
843. We do not hear such complaints this year as we did last, about the
want of practical knowledge shown by the students: still there can be no
doubt that there is great room for improvement in this direction.
Cattle-disease.
844. In no year since the formation of the Civil Veterinary Department has
such good work been done in connection with cattle as has been done during
the year under review, and I feel that when the Subordinate Veterinary Depart-
ment is sanctioned, if only Government will sanction a few more officers,
whose duties will be solely those having reference to cattle, we shall be in
a position to do incalculable good in the country.
Veterinary Dis-
pensaries.
845. The Veterinary Dispensaries have done excellent work in the Punjab;
new dispensaries have been started. I would be glad to see one of these most
useful institutions in all large centres. The North-Western Provinces are
very backward, having only one dispensary. The two dispensaries in Central
Provinces have done excellent work, 3,717 cases having been treated at Nagpur
and Raipur. Bombay still continues to do the good work it has done for some
years past. Ninteen thousand six hundred and thirteen cases were treated in
the 16 dispensaries, against 16,999, showing an increase of 2,614 over last
year.
Cases treated by
Veterinary As-
sistants
846. It has frequently been urged that the Superintendents employed in
the Punjab and North-Western Provinces do but little work connected with
cattle. I own that they have but little time to devote to this important branch,
and it is imperative that more officers be appointed to superintend this portion
of the work: still I think that the progress made in both these provinces will
prove that they are not as unmindful of cattle as they are supposed to be.
847. In the Punjab 66,946 cases were treated, or an increase of 2,615
over last year. In the North-Western Provinces 16,511 were treated, against