No. 1449, DEVELOPMENT, 6TH OCTOBER 1925
23
4. The itinerating staff was increased by six during the year. The number of
non-contagious cases treated rose from 33,705 to 38,206 and of castrations from
6,844 to 8,005. It has been suggested that a more economical disposition of the
present limited veterinary staff might be made by abolishing touring posts and
posting a veterinary assistant to each taluk who will be responsible far work at his
headquarters and in the neighbourhood, including attendance on outbreaks of disease.
A trial will, if possible, be given to the experiment next year
5. A regrettable feature of the year was the large increase in cattle mortality
consequent on outbreaks of rinderpest in Kurnool, Gaujam. Kistna, Cuddapah and
South Kanara. Compulsory inoculation was enforced in parts of Kurnool, Cuddapah
and South Kanara and the total number of inoculations performed rose from 13,5 40
to 29,269. The itinerating staff attended to 85 per cent of the outorealcs reported
against SO per cent in the previous year and treated 31,616 cases against 6,325.
The importance of promptitude in reporting outbreaks of disease cannot be too much
emphasized; the Government regret to observe that a number of village officers still
fail to realize their responsibilities. The Government observe with satisfaction that
42 municipalities have adopted by-laws for the maintenance of cattle mortality
registers which will facilitate the work of the department.
6. The number of convictions under the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals was 4,704 against 4,312 in 1924-25. Out of this number, only 930 cases
were sent by magistrates for treatment in veterinary infirmaries. Though the pro-
portion of cases sent for treatment is higher than in the previous year, the Govern-
ment consider that magistrates still do not make sufficient use of their powers in this
respect. As in previous years, most of the convictions under the Act come from one
district, Trichinopoly. The Government have no reason to suppose that cruelty to
animals is specially prevalent in Trichinopoly: they can only conclude that in other
districts measures of prevention receive insufficient attention. The Government are
glad to observe that all district boards except Salem and all municipalities except
Anantapur, Tiruvalur and Mangalore, have exempted persons bringing animals for
treatment from the payment of tolls.
7. The working of the Veterinary College and the hospital attached to it was
satisfactory. The number of students was smaller than in the previous year; the
examination results were creditable.
8. The receipts and expenditure of the department, as reported by the Account-
ant-General, are as follows:—
Receipts—
College receipts ..
Contribution from local
bodies .. .. ..
Other receipts .. ..
Deduct refund .. ..
RS.
13,436
973
8,541
165
22,785
A.
10
14
4
15
14
P.
10
7
5
6
2
Expenditure —
Veterinary instruction
..
Superintendence .. ..
Subordinate establishment.
Hospitals and dispensaries.
RS.
1,17,776
82,421
1,79,067
1,80,104
5,59,369
A.
3
7
8
7
10
P.
4
8
9
9
6
The corresponding figures for the previous year were Rs. 22,353 and Rupees
5,39,29b, respectively. In addition, a sum of Rs. 34,280-0-5 was expended by the
Public Works Department on veterinary buildings against lis 37,981 in 1923-24.
9. Mr. D. A. D. Aitchison combined the post of Chief Superintendent and
Principal of the College; the administration of the department as a whole and of the
College was satisfactory and creditable to him and his staff
(By order of the Government, Ministry of Development)
G. T. H. BRACKEN,
Secretary to Government.
To the Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department.
Principal, Madras Veterinary College.
„
Local Self-Government Department.
„ Public Department.
„
Accountant-General.
„
Board of Revenue Land Revenue and Settle nent).
„
Government of India, Department of Education, Healta and Lands, with C.L.
Editors' Table.