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the Indian Veterinary Service designated Superintendent whilst the remainder of
the Presidency was in direct charge of the Chief Superintendent. Each division
was split up into two circles in charge of Deputy Superintendents. The Retrench-
ment Committee were of opinion that distinction between the work of Superintend-
ents and that of Deputy Superintendents was unnecessary and that the Presidency
should he divided into circles, each of which should be in charge of a Deputy
Director working directly under the Chief Superintendent. The Committee's re-
commendation was accepted by Government and, with effect from 1st November,
the first division was abolished and the four circles were reconstituted into five.
The fourth circle, comprising as it does seven districts, is still a somewhat unwieldy
charge especially as its headquarters cannot conveniently be located elsewhere than
at Madras which is situated in a corner of it. In these circumstances, the Govern-
ment have under consideration the question of a further division of the fourth and
fifth circles into three.
3. The Retrenchment Committee also recommended the abolition of the grade
of Veterinary Inspectors as it considered that, although inspection by these officers
served a useful purpose in preventing waste of medicines and misuse and loss of
instruments, the saving in this direction did not compensate for the increased ex-
penditure necessitated by the appointment of inspectors and that inspection by a
Deputy Superintendent only should be sufficient. This recommendation was also
accepted and the change was brought into force in June 1923, a selection grade of
Veterinary Assistants comprising ten appointments on Rs. 125—5—175 being created
to compensate for the loss of prospects caused by the abolition of the Inspectorate. It
is too soon to form an estimate whether the abolition of the Inspectors has resulted in
any loss of efficiency and if so to what extent; but there can be little doubt that it
necessitates closer and more frequent inspection by the Deputy Superintendents of
the work of the Assistants.
4. Six new veterinary institutions were opened during the year. This
represents a satisfactory advance on the previous year when, owing to the prevailing
financial stringency, it was only possible to open two. Since the close of the year
a dispensary has been opened at Tuticorin and sanction has been accorded to the
opening of dispensaries at Anantapur, Gurzala and Kallakurichi.
5. The Chief Superintendent reports a fall in the number of in-patients and
out-patients at no less than 21 institutions. This is attributed to various causes such
as scarcity of fodder, heavy rains, introduction of fees and changes in personnel,
none of which appear adequately to account for it. It should be mentioned that,
although in G.O. No. 823, dated 7th June 1923, the introduction of fees was
sanctioned in hospitals with an average daily attendance of 25 or more, fees are
only charged for certain classes of animals such as camels, elephants, horses, dogs
and cats. Cattle, buffaloes, calves, sheep and goats which provide by far the greater
number of the animals treated continue to be treated free. It may be that the
abolition of the inspectorate has been a more effective agency in bringing about
the decrease than any of those mentioned. The special attention of the Circle
Officers should be directed to improving the efficiency and thereby the popu-
larity of those institutions which show a decline in attendance. It is satisfactory
to note that, on balance, the number of cases treated showed an advance, the total
figures being 85,089 against 80,877 during the previous year. The number of cases
supplied with medicine but not brought to the hospitals again fell heavily but the
Government agree with the Chief Superintendent that no action is called for in regard
to this as the practice of supplying medicine to patients which are not actually
brought to the institution is not one to be encouraged.
6. The Government are glad to note that the mortality from contagious diseases
again showed a marked fall, the figures for 1923-24 being 23,134 against 28,178
in the previous year. They have little doubt that the comparative immunity from
disease which the Presidency continues to enjoy is attributable in no small measure
to the work of the Veterinary department. Black quarter is now an even more
serious cattle disease than rinderpest but fortunately the bacteriological laboratory
at Muktesar has been able to discover an anti-serum which by enabling cattle to be
inoculated during an outbreak should considerably reduce the mortality from this
disease.