AGRICULTURE.
CALCUTTA, the 18th AUGUST 1900.
RESOLUTION-No. 3111.
Read—
The Annual Report of the Bengal Veterinary College and of the Civil Veterinary
Department, Bengal, for the year 1899-1900.
Letter No. 75T.A., dated the 8th July 1900, from the Director of Land Records,
Bengal, submitting the above Report with his remarks.
The Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary Department of Bengal was
received on the 20th of July, about 50 days later than the prescribed date.
It contains a clear and brief account of the progress of the Veterinary College
during the year, the development of local veterinary institutions, the history
of the epidemics during the year, the experiments made with the object of
checking disease, and the attempts made to improve the local breeds of cattle.
2. The Veterinary College.—The period of tuition now extends over three
years, and it is satisfactory to find that all those who completed the second-
year course last year continued their studies. The number of new students
was large also; and altogether 36 pupils attended the annual examination, the
results of which were very creditable to the Principal and tutors. Last year
there were no Muhammadans in the College, but no less than five have now
completed the first-year course.
3. Stipends.—All the students who appeared in the annual examinations
held stipends, 22 being provided by Government and 14 by District Boards or
private individuals. In addition valuable prizes were given to the most
successful students by gentlemen interested in the welfare of the College.
4. The Infirmary.—The
number of patients again increased, and if the
arrangements now contemplated are completed, whereby the infirmary will be
registered under the amended Cruelty to Animals Act, and the Entally
Glanders Hospital of the Calcutta Municipality will be transferred to the College,
there will be a large addition to the patients and increased opportunities to
the students for the observation of animal diseases. Financially the receipts
grew from Rs. 5,878 in the previous year to Rs. 6,355, whilst in consequence of
various economies the expenses decreased from Rs. 5,553 to Rs. 4,502. The
surplus of Rs. 1,853, which may bo taken as a partial remuneration for the
medical services rendered, is satisfactory and typical of the practical character
of the administration of the College.
5. Veterinary Assistants.—As all the students of last year have continued
their studies, the number of passed assistants has not increased. The demand
for their services is great, and is likely to increase in the near future, as the
scheme for the organisation of a veterinary department is developed.
That
scheme contemplates the eventual provision of a dispensary in each district with
a veterinary assistant in charge and an itinerant assistant employed in the
interior. Already most of the District Boards have agreed to these proposals in
a modified form, and no doubt ultimately the success of these institutions in
neighbouring districts will lead public opinion to insist on their adoption
in the remainder. There will thus be for some years a steady demand for
qualified assistants, to the best of whom will be open the prospect of employment
on the inspecting staff which will ultimately be created. Meantime, of the
35 men who have passed out of the Belgatchia Institution, no less than 25
hold appointments and 6 are in private practice. Of the remainder 1 only
has proved unsuccessful.
6. Veterinary Dispensaries.—A detailed report of these institutions has
been submitted by the Superintendent, from which it is gathered that some
are successful financially and professionally and others are only partially so.