( 11 )
by the Veterinary Assistant as to their fitness for work, and those which were
found unfit were not allowed to work until thoroughly cured. Hackney
carriage horses and ponies were treated.
Eighty-one operations were performed. There were also nine post-mortem
examinations held at the dispensary, but for want of proper staff, such as
compounder and sweeper, whose services are required on such occasions, great
inconvenience was felt. Examinations for cruelty to animals have to be made
by the Veterinary Assistant, but the dispensary does not receive any aid from
Government on this account. During the absence of the Veterinary Assistant
on tour, the dispensary remains closed, and animals which are brought during
that time go away without treatment.
Number of patients
last year.
Prom October 1898
to March 1699.
142
Number admitted during the
year under report.
328
The Chairman gives the marginally noted figures which show that the
number of patients has increased by
22 per cent. during the year as com-
pared with that of the preceding year,
and says that the people are gradu-
ally appreciating the usefulness of the
dispensary.
The Veterinary Assistant visited 95 villages in the mufassal and treated
1,053 patients, of which 460 were cured, 356 relieved, and 237 died (Appendix
XV). The epidemics in many places were not allowed to spread, as the
villagers were instructed to adopt preventive measures and to use common
country medicines.
The cost of the dispensary is met partly from the District Board funds
and partly from subscriptions. The total receipts during the year were Rs. 737,
against Rs. 819 in preceding year, and the total expenditure was Rs. 741 (the
excess of Rs. 4 being paid by the District Board), against Rs. 825 in the preceding
year (Appendix XVII). The Chairman observes with regret that the monthly
subscriptions have come down from Rs. 64 in March 1899 to Rs. 24 in March
1900. He also remarks that the Veterinary Assistant lacks energy, and the
subscribers are said to complain that their animals are not regularly treated and
inspected. The complaint may possibly be due to the absence of the Veterinary
Assistant in the district; but he has been told that he is not giving all the satis-
faction he should, and that his retention of the appointment depends upon his
doing his duty properly.
I have inspected the dispensary. I do not think a compounder is neces-
sary, and no doubt a sweeper can be hired when necessary. I am glad the
number of patients is increasing, and hope in time an itinerating Veterinary
Assistant will be engaged.
35. Burdwan.—The Chairman of the District Board of Burdwan reports
that the total number of animals treated at the dispensary during the year
under report was 383, as detailed in Appendix (XVI), against 152 in the
previous year. The number treated by the Veterinary Assistant in the interior
of the district was 417, against 231 in the previous year. The nature of the
cases treated is shown in detail in Appendix (XV). The number of the
affected villages visited by the Veterinary Assistant was 42, against 32 in 1898-99.
Appendix (XVII) shows in detail the income and expenditure of the
Veterinary dispensary during the year. The Municipalities of Raniganj,
Kutwa and Asansol continued to contribute Rs. 5 a month, and the Burdwan
Municipality Rs. 10 a month, towards the maintenance of the dispensary.
The total amount paid by the Burdwan District Board was Rs. 542-13-9, against
Rs. 574-4-7 in the previous year. The dispensary was first opened in the
preceding year, hence the cost of instruments and medicines was greater than
during the year under report.
Two rooms in the kutchari compound continue to be used for the
dispensary; the Veterinary Assistant attending there from 7 to 10 a.m., while
he remained at head-quarters. There is a proposal now under the consideration
of the District Board, for the construction of a hospital for cattle.
The work of the Veterinary Assistant was pronounced to be satisfactory.
There is a good deal of sporadic cattle disease in the interior, with which his
services were useful in dealing.
The dispensary was inspected by Mr. E. H. Brand, senior Lecturer of the
Bengal Veterinary College in March.