( 2 )
inoculated against this disease which causes heavy loss to cultivators through-
out the Province. His Excellency in Council considers that the education of
the raiyat to a proper understanding of the value of inoculation is a matter
of prime importance, and he would impress on the officers of the Depart-
ment the desirability of utilizing every opportunity for explanation and
demonstration of the benefits of this operation when touring in the mufassal.
5. The itinerant veterinary assistants visited 8,055 villages as against
7.103 in the previous year. Outbreaks of diseases are being reported more
frequently than in the past, and it is gratifying to observe that much greater
interest is now being taken in this matter both by members of the
Agricultural Associations and by private persons. The arrangements for
notifying casualties still, however, leave much to be desired. The village
panchayats have not yet realized the importance of their duties in this
respect and steps should be taken to impress upon the Presidents and
Collecting Members of these bodies the necessity for prompt action. The
speedy arrival of a veterinary officer at the scene of an outbreak of disease
may be the means of saving the villagers from heavy pecuniary loss, as the
statistics show that inoculated animals survive the epidemic in all but an
infinitesimal number of cases. His Excellency in Council desires, therefore
to repeat the injunction given to the veterinary assistants in the Resolution
of the late Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam for the year 1910-11
to the effect that they should lose no opportunity of impressing on the
people the necessity for reporting even sporadic cases of: disease at the time
of occurrence.
6. In Calcutta and its neighbourhood 3,800 stables were inspected,
of which only 15 were found to be infected with glanders, as compared with
34 in the previous year. The Governor in Council notices with regret the
complaint made by the Superintendent. Civil Veterinary Department, that
certain municipalities adopted an obstructive attitude towards the officers
entrusted with the administration of the Glanders and Farcy Act. An
enquiry will be made into the matter. Although contagious equine diseases
are not of such serious importance as bovine diseases in this Presidency, the
figures show that the Department does not neglect this branch of veterinary
work. The system of granting compensation to the owners of animals des-
troyed has greatly facilitated the stamping out of disease.
7. It is reported that in certain districts the existing staff of veterinary
assistants has been found to be insufficient to cope satisfactorily with out-
breaks which occur in remote parts of the mufassal. The proposal to increase
the number of veterinary assistants in the near future will be carefully
examined.
8. The important question of improving the breed of cattle has been
engaging the attention of Government for some time. The demand for bulls
for breeding purposes is on the increase, but the indigenous stock is poor and
fodder is often deficient. The complaint that no attempt is made to select
the best cows for breeding and that immature bulls are allowed to cover the
herd is general and well-founded, but no efficient remedies for such difficulties
have been found during the past 15 years. If suitable bulls can be obtained
in local cattle fairs, as is suggested by the Director of Agriculture, every
endeavour should be made to prevent their being castrated and to promote
their distribution for breeding purposes throughout the country. The Gover-
nor in Council is confident that the Director of Agriculture will give to this
important matter the careful consideration which it demands, and he will be
prepared to support any suitable scheme for encouraging the improvement of
the livestock of the country by means of the selection of the best animals for
breeding purposes that the Director after full enquiry may be prepared to
recommend.
9. Measures were adopted during the year to carry out a survey and
census of cattle in the Province. The Director of Agriculture's report on the
subject has not yet been submitted to Government.
10. There has been a striking falling off in the number of animals sent
for treatment under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act both in Calcutta
and in the mufassal. Only 148 animals were sent for treatment to the Veteri-
nary College Hospital, although the number of prosecutions was 11,330. It