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scale the diseases in these districts as well as in Anantapur, Nellore, Vizagapatam and
Gōdāvari. The Government observe with regret that the laxity of village officers in
reporting the outbreak of disease has again given ground for complaint by the Chief
Superintendent who points out that a still greater reduction in mortality would have
resulted had outbreaks been more promptly reported to the Veterinary staff. The
attention of the Collectors is once again drawn to the importance of immediate reports
of outbreak of diseases in the villages.
5. The ' serum simultaneous' method of inoculation against rinderpest has
been definitely gaining ground as a prophylactic against the disease, and the inocula
tions already carried out by the Chief Superintendent have met with considerable
success. It is however matter for regret that an operation of this kind, which it was
intended to carry out on a large scale in the Circars had to be abandoned at the last
stage as the rinderpest virus obtained from the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory at
Bareilly proved to be impotent owing, it is reported, to the impossibility of transmit
ting it in good condition from so great a distance. As the Superintendent points out,
this circumstance emphasises the need for a laboratory in the south of India for the
supply of suitable virus. It is understood that a proposal in this connexion has boon
under the consideration of the Government of India but this Government have had no
official information on the subject, and desire to have a full report from the Chief
Superintendent on the question with any views or suggestions he may have to offer.
The Government note with satisfaction the action of the Ootacamund Municipal
Council which, it is reported, has appointed a wholetime veterinary officer of its own
and trust that other councils will follow the example thus presented.
6. Altogether 22 municipalities have up to the end of March 1922, adopted the
model by-laws relating to the maintenance of cattle mortality registers. An import
ant and salutary provision of these rules is that they lay upon owners of animals the
duty of reporting deaths to the council, thus enabling the Veterinary department to
deal promptly with outbreaks of contagious disease. The importance of the measure
has already been sufficiently impressed on the councils, and the Government hope
that before the end of the current year the majority of the councils will take the
necessary steps in the matter.
7. Notwithstanding the decrease in mortality during the year, it is satisfactory
to note that the subordinate touring staff treated a large number of animals as will
be seen from the following figures :—
Items of work.
1. Inoculations .. .. .. ..
2. Contains diseases treated .. ..
3. Non-contagious diseases treated ..
4. Castrations .. .. .. ..
1917-18.
110,772
11,546
11,013
3,084
1918-19.
131,871
13,044
14,492
4,816
1919-20.
90,614
16,676
16,970
5,708
1920-21.
68,686
13,405
21,153
6,319
1921-22.
70,815
18,119
24,718
6,809
The hospital assistants performed a slightly lesser number of castrations as
compared with 1920-21, the numbers being 2,629 in 1921-22 against 2,668 in 1920-
21. They treated 75,775 cases during the year thus showing an increase of 12,468
over the figure of last year.
8. Only one cattle-show—that at Tiruppur—was held during the year. A special
report on this show has already been published for general information. The Govern
ment notice with regret that the Ongole cattle-show has not taken place since 1918.
The Director of Agriculture will be requested to report the reason and advise as to
whether it may not be desirable to take steps to revive this once well-known show.
9. The College produced satisfactory results but the percentage of passes was
lower than that of 1920-21. The expenditure on the College and hospital attached
to it increased owing apparently to the employment of two additional Imperial
officers. The receipts have however shown a decline. The Principal is requested to
explain this fall in receipts from Rs. 16,060-3-2 in 1920-21 to Rs. 10,412-4-5 in
1921-22.