( 10 )
The fees realised and credited to the District Board fund during the year
under report was Rs. 89-4, and there was an expenditure of Rs. 1,130-6-1, of
which the details are given in Appendix XVII.
I would remark that the amount of fees credited is hardly in reasonable-
proportion to the number of animals treated, even if due allowance be made for
free patients and for the fact that half the fees go to the Veterinary Assistant.
In my opinion the dispensary can be made to pay its way if properly super-
vised and could maintain two Veterinary Assistants.
33. Dumka.—I inspected the site of the dispensary, which is suitable.
Funds had been collected and the mud walls of the buildings had begun to rise, but
through some misunderstanding, the rain was permitted to wash a large part
of them away. Owing to the dearth of sufficient subscriptions, the dispensary
is now in abeyance. Nevertheless the Veterinsry Assistant, J. N. Mukerjee,
has itinerated in the district and done satisfactory work. There is no Local
Board or Municipality in Dumka, so the institution is under a local Committee
with the Subdivisional Officer as President. Mr. W. S. Coutts, late Sub-
divisional Officer of Dumka, took the greatest interest in the matter, and the
following note was made by him on the working of the dispensary:—
" This dispensary was started about a year ago from funds collected by private sub-
scriptions in the Sadar subdivision.
" At present the funds in hand amount in all to Rs. 471, and there is a monthly expendi-
ture not inclusive of medicines, instruments, Veterinary Assistant's travelling allowance
and other extras, of Rs. 51. To meet the monthly expenditure there is an income, which
we can depend on to collect, of about Rs. 40 to Rs. 50. There is thus a monthly deficit on
subscriptions. The accounts, of course, do not show this, because original donations have
been paid in, which will not be renewed, and which show an apparent excess of income over
expenditure. The true monthly income, however, is from subscriptions; of these we cannot
expect to collect more than about Us. 50, whereas to carry on the work properly and make
the institution a really useful one would entail an expenditure of, I should say, about
Rs. 75 per month.
" So far as I can see, there is no hope of raising a sum of anything like this in this
subdivision. I would, therefore, suggest that the institution be made a general one for the
district. In all the subdivisions, outbreaks of cattle disease are constantly occurring, and
if the Subdivisional Officers were written to, I have no doubt that they would willingly
interest themselves in the scheme. They might be asked to enquire and find out what
donations and subscriptions could be raised in their subdivisions.
" I think that it this were done, it would be found that monthly subscriptions of nearly
Rs 200 could be got. If this amount or oven Rs. 150 per month were raised, I would
propose that in addition to the present Veterinary Assistant, another should be appointed
for touring through the subdivisions; the present man to remain at head-quarters as a rule,
but also to tour when necessary. To make the scheme work really properly, another touring
man should be appointed, as the district is a large one, and long distances by road have
to be travelled, but funds might not be sufficient for that, unless Government were willing
to help us, which it is possible, if the institution becomes a district one, it would do.
" As the institution is at present, however, it is bound to fail for want of funds. It will
be a great loss, for, in several outbreaks of rinderpest, I have seen excellent results. I have
done all I can to raise more subscriptions, but neither zamindar nor people realize the value
of the scheme, and we are forced to draw on our capital to meet current expenses.
Gradually, no doubt, people will see the benefit of the institution, but meanwhile, the money
for carrying it on is going. I feel sure, however, that if subscriptions were raised from all
the subdivisions and a touring man appointed, we could get sufficient money to keep the
work going, especially if Government will agree to help us."
The total receipts of the dispensary were Rs. 1,212-6-3, against an
expenditure of Rs. 689-1, showing a balance of Rs. 523-5-3 (Appendix XVII).
Five hundred and thirty-one out-patients were treated at the dispensary,
of which 528 were cured, one died, and two are under treatment (Appendix
XVI).
The Veterinary Assistant visited 15 villages and treated 254 cases in the
mufassal, of which 208 were cured and 46 died (Appendix XV).
34. Cuttack.—The Chairman of the District Board of Cuttack reports
that the staff of the dispensary consists of a Veterinary Assistant and a peon.
Three hundred and twenty-eight animals were treated at the dispensary
as out-patients during the year, which, added to the number remaining on the
1st April, raised the total to 351. The results of treatment are detailed in
Appendix (XVI). Most of the animals which attended the dispensary suffered
from surgical complaints. A large number of cart-bullocks were attended
to at the dispensary by order of the Magistrate. These bullocks were examined