26
No. 2022, REVENUE, 4TH SEPTEMBER 1915.
4. A satisfactory feature of the year is the large increase in the number of
rinderpest inoculations, the figures being 94,944 against 38,947 for the previous year.
There was also a decided improvement in the aggregate outturn of work by touring
veterinary officers, the total number of cases treated having risen from 8,868 for
1912-13 and 12,264 for 1913-14 to 21,483 in the period under review. All districts,
however, did not share in this improvement; the Government observe that the out-
turn, as judged by the figures appearing in Table No. IV, was particularly indifferent
in Tanjore.
5. In spite of the preventive measures taken by the department the ravages of
rinderpest proved exceptionally severe and the deaths from anthrax also show a
considerable increase. The Superintendent has not touched on the causes of this
increased mortality, especially from rinderpest, or on the results of the inoculation
work carried out as a prophylactic or cure. The Government would like this subject
investigated and the conclusions arrived at formulated either in a special report or in
the next annual report. Unfortunately the paucity of trained hands makes it
impossible at present to conduct a systematic campaign against rinderpest on an
adequate scale. As a means of controlling importation from the adjoining States of
Hyderabad and Mysore, the Superintendent has arranged, however, for timely inti-
mation of outbreaks of rinderpest occurring in taluks bordering on Madras districts in
return for similar information in regard to British territory.
6. With a view to remedy the deficiency in staff the Government have increased
the number of annual admissions in the Veterinary College from 20 to 30 and have
also under their consideration the feasibility of a further temporary increase from 30
to 40. The report of the Principal discloses the fact that though there is no longer
any difficulty in securing a sufficient number of candidates qualified for admission,
a large number of those selected actually fail to join the College. This circumstance
shows the necessity of selecting in the first instance a large number of candidates
than is required so as to ensure that the ultimate strength of each year's class shall
not fall materially short of the strength desired.
7. The prolonged use of temporary depots as places of quarantine for cattle
destined for Ceylon having proved most unsatisfactory, the Government hope before
long to see a permanent depot established at a suitable site. The final selection of
the site, however, awaits the decision of the Government of Celyon as to whether the
cattle trade should in future be carried on via Dhanushkodi or as at present by the
Tuticorin route.
8. M.R.Ry. V. P. Subramanya Mudaliyar Avargal, Deputy Superintendent of
the Civil Veterinary Department, having retired with effect from 14th August 1915,
M.R.Ry. H. C. Sampattu Ayyangar, Senior Lecturer of the Madras Veterinary College,
has since been appointed to the post.
9. The Government desire to express their appreciation of the work
accomplished by the officers of the department during the year under review.
(True Extract.)
L. DAVIDSON,
Secretary to Government.
To the Board of Revenue (Revenue Settlement).
„ Public Department.
„ Local and Municipal Department.
„ Judicial Department, with copy of notes.
„ Agricultural Adviser to the Government of India.
Copy to the Government of India, Department of Revenue and
Agriculture, with C.L.
Editors' Table.