REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
AGRICULTURE.
CALCUTTA, THE 31ST AUGUST 1909.
RESOLUTION––No. 3268AGRI.
READ—
The Annual Report of the Bengal Veterinary College and of the Civil Veterinary
Department, Bengal, for the year 1908-09.
On the 1st of April 1908 the charge of the Civil Veterinary Department
was separated from that of the Bengal Veterinary College. Throughout the
year Colonel F. Raymond, F.R.C.V.S., has been in charge of the College and
the administration of the Glanders and Farcy Act in Calcutta and the
suburbs, while Mr. D. Quinlan, I.C.V.D., has held charge of the Civil Veterinary
Department.
2. The Bengal Veterinary College.—The college has been very ably
managed by Colonel Raymond throughout the year. The bulk of the students
naturally belong to Bengal, but 53 are from Eastern Bengal and Assam, and
10 from other Provinces. The high percentage (86.2) of the third-year
students who passed the diploma examination testifies to the efficiency of the
instruction. The health of the students has been good throughout the year;
but a hospital is being organized in connection with the hostels to provide
against any outbreak in the future. The Principal reports that the conduct
of the students has been excellent. On the occasion of the prize-giving last
year the Lieutenant-Governor expressed his satisfaction with this feature of
the college, and sanctioned a special grant for the preparation of an athletic
ground, in order that the students might have increased facilities for athletic
exercise.
The expansion of the college has been again postponed for want of
funds, but it has been found possible to provide a sufficient amount for the
Assistant Professor's quarters, so that this officer may always be in residence.
3. The provisions of the Glanders and Farcy Act have been more strictly
enforced during the year, and the efficient administration of the Act has not
been attended by any increase of friction. Horses, mules and donkeys in
Calcutta increase in number every year and now amount to over 13,000
animals. During the year the staff was able to inspect 4,007 stables, in 90 of
which glanders was detected, and the necessity for the work is shown by the
fact that out of 296 animals seized one-half had to be destroyed because they
were suffering from contagious disease. Colonel Raymond has introduced the
plan of paying small sums in compensation to those whose livelihood depends
on the animals destroyed, and it has been found that this has greatly facilitated
the administration of the Act at a very slight expense.
4. With the college report is incorporated the first annual report of the
Raymond Research Laboratory. This institution, which was commenced in
1906, now comprises a central building with a working room for the
pathologist, a bacteriological laboratory, a chemical laboratory, a micro-
photographic and drawing-room and a dark room. There is also a cellar for
the storage of biological products; and attached to the establishment are
post-mortem and inoculation rooms. Valuable work has been done in
diagnosing diseases in connection with the Glanders and Farcy Act, in
rabies, and in more obscure cases admitted into the hospital for treatment or
post-mortem examination. To the Civil Veterinary Department assistance was
rendered in the diagnosis of diseases in the mufassal. By means of the
laboratory much valuable instruction has been given to the senior students
about the infectious diseases of India, Colonel Raymond has organized a post-
graduate course for officers of the Department.