7
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
48. The total Provincial expenditure of the department excluding Veterinary
instruction rose from Rs. 2,31,783-12-5 the previous year to Rs. 2',62,000-6-11.
VI.—OFFICE STAFF.
49. The strength of the office establishment remained the same as in the previous
year and the work of the staff including the Office Veterinary Assistants was, as usual,
satisfactory. The staff feel that they reasonably expected more favourable treatment
in respect of the revision of their pay, and as there are some grounds for their
disappointment, it is hoped that Government will give due consideration to the
representations recently made by the Superintendent on their behalf and thus remove
the grievance which they have felt for some years.
VII.—GENERAL REMARKS.
50. The statistics according to table XV show that the year has been a compara
tively healthy one for live-stock. Rinderpest, however, was severe in a few
districts.
The itinerating staff has recently been somewhat strengthened and it was
possible for Veterinary Assistants when reports were received in time, to attend
outbreaks and take necessary action quicker than it could be done in the past. If
the village officers were prompt in reporting outbreaks, the mortality could, no doubt,
be lessened but many do not appear to have yet realized their responsibility in the
matter, for during the year the staff made 257 reports against them for slackness in
this direction.
51. Owing to lack of staff and want of information regarding cattle routes and
the absence of efficient legislation, diseases like rinderpest in the past could only be
checked by inoculations at the seat of outbreaks of the disease. The first two draw-
backs have of late been removed to some extent and this has enabled Mr. Ware
to make an effort to check, as far as possible, the importation of rinderpest from the
Hyderabad State by opening cattle pounds on the routes by which cattle going to the
Native State for grazing usually return. Ay Kistna and Guntūr districts are usually
affected first, and as the animals return from grazing in November and December, the
sanction of Government was obtained to establish cattle pounds on the two important
routes in those districts, viz., Sattenapalle-Guntūr road and Nandigama-Bezwada road
and to enforce the Cattle Disease Act for three months from 1st November 1920 in
Bezwada and Guntūr taluks.
The hospital pound on the Sattenapalle-Guntūr road was ready for use only
on 20th December 1920, although the Veterinary Assistant posted as poundkeeper
was on duty on 5th November 1920. It was reported that the cattle began to return
from grazing by this route earlier than usual for want of fodder. Three thousand
nine hundred and fifty-eight animals were inspected, but no cases of rinderpest were
detected. It is mentioned elsewhere in this report that Guntūr district was almost
free from rinderpest during the year, the deaths recorded being only six. It is
remarkable that the animals that returned from grazing-brought no rinderpest with
them.
The pound on the Nandigama-Bezwada road was opened on 23rd November
1920 and the poundkeeper inspected 6,892 cattle and 3,981 sheep and goats. Of the
cattle, six animals were suspected for rinderpest and the necessary action taken. It
is reported that most of the cattle examined came from the grazing areas in British
territory.
From the information given in the foregoing paragraphs, it may be inferred that
the year has been a healthy one for cattle in the Hyderabad State also.
52. It appears that, owing to the scarcity of fodder, His Exalted Highness the
Nizam's Government have decided to permit in future cattle from outside their domi
nions into the grazing areas in the State only when there is surplus grass available
after the requirements of the cattle in the Dominions have been satisfied. If cattle
in the British territory were prohibited from entering into the Hyderabad State,
hospital pounds on the cattle routes might not be. necessary.