No. 2486, REVENUE, 19TH AUGUST 1912.
5
(iii) Veterinary Hospitals.—No new hospitals were started during the year, nor
any change took place in the management of the existing ones, viz., 19 excluding the
hospital attached to the Madras Veterinary College. It is impossible to compare the
figures of this year with those of previous years, for it was found that the assistants in
charge of hospitals were giving a most elastic use to the words "admission" and
"attendance." A circular on the subject was issued defining exactly the meaning of
these words so that in future it will be possible to estimate exactly the amount of work
each hospital is doing. Leaving out the question of improvement on last year's work
the hospitals at Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Bellary, Cocanada and Pithapur show an
average monthly admission of over 100 new cases which may be considered quite satis
factory. The hospitals at Vellore and Sivaganga have done badly during the year and
those at Berhampur and Ongole do not show the improvement hoped for. Owing to the
small size of the towns it is perhaps too much to expect the hospitals at Sivaganga
and Ongole to show as good figures as those in larger places, but this excuse cannot
be made applicable to the hospitals at Vellore and Berhampur. At both of these
fees are levied for the treatment of cattle, which the District Boards have now been
asked to discontinue. It remains to be seen whether this will have the desired effect.
In this connection, it may not be out of place to observe that the Superintendent
has noticed a tendency amongst some of the assistants in this department to loose their
keenness and energy after their appointment to a hospital. After doing several years'
touring work a man is apt to look forward to an easy billet which, compared with
touring work, a hospital certainly is, and does not always take as much trouble with
his patients as could be desired, the result being shown in the varying popularity of
the hospitals especially amongst the more ignorant classes.
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(i) Bovines.—At the commencement of the year there were 18 bulls of which
one died and four were sold. Six bulls were purchased during the year so that there
were 19 bulls at its end. The number of coverings performed by ten bulls for
which registers were maintained aggregate so far as reported to 398. Again it has
not been found possible to obtain a complete record of the number of coverings of
these bulls, the reason being that in some places, e.g., in Guntūr
six
bulls are stationed, the animal is left to wander about with the village herd at will.
Owing to receiving no food but what he obtains himself, he becomes thin and weak
and loses his virility, with the result that he then becomes unpopular and is driven
away to another village. In addition to this, as he is always loose with the herd it is
impossible to obtain a correct return of the coverings he makes. The Collector has
been addressed on the subject, with a view either to place these bulls in the custody
of the village munsif, who would be allowed a small feeding charge, or to hand them
over to one of the wealthier ryots in a village who will guarantee to look after them.
This is being done in other parts of the Presidency, and it is found the bulls are well
looked after, and therefore remain popular and the maintenance of a register becomes
an easy matter.
(ii) Equines.—Nine stallions were maintained by Government at the commence
ment of the year, but of these Sheik fell and died while attempting to serve a mare.
Sunshine, Jumna and Selim were cast for age and disease and were destroyed and Ali
and Ahmed sold by auction. The three remaining stallions together with the other
stallions before they were disposed of covered during the year 114 mares which
gives an average of 21 per stallion as against 18.10 last year. This increase is un
doubtedly due to the interest shown in these operations by Mr. Dalrymple Hay who
on several occasions took a stallion with him, when touring in the district in which
they were located and encouraged ryots to make use of the animal. It is doubtful
if, without Mr. Hay's help, the average number of coverings would have been any
better than last year's.
A complete report, however, on the subject has been called for and will be sub
mitted by the Superintendent during the current year.
The three stallions remaining viz., Turk, Rahiman and Samavoy are stationed
at Tiruppur, Kangayam and Palni, respectively, and have enjoyed good health
throughout the year.
2486 R.—2