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taken of asking the municipal councils of those towns, in which a permanent veteri
nary assistant is stationed, if they would employ that officer as their meat inspector
instead of the Sanitary Inspector. By this arrangement the municipality would
benefit by having its meat inspected by the man most qualified to do so, and a great
deal of important information, especially regarding tuberculosis which is occupying
so much of the attention of the medical profession in this country at the present time,
should be obtained for the benefit of the general public. It is to be regretted that
only Coimbatore, Tiruvannāmalai,Tuticorin, Vizagapatam, Berhampur, Rajahmundry
and Vizianagram municipalities of those addressed have so far seen their way to fall
in with the suggestion.
During the year two leaflets, one on the ill effects of communal grazing in
collaboration with the Director of Agriculture, and another on castration were
prepared and distributed throughout the Presidency.
Collectors being almost unanimous in thinking that the distribution of leaflets on
veterinary subjects amongst the villagers would do good, others will be prepared and
distributed as time permits.
Advantage was taken of a visit from Mr. Howlett, the Imperial Pathological
Entomologist to enquire into the cause of so called "warbles" in sheep and goat
skins, and the parasite which causes the damage in those animals was found to be a
tick and not a fly.
Mr. Howlett has also promised to organise a collection of the biting flies of this
Presidency by the subordinate staff of this department.
Notice having been received that a post-graduate course in Pathology and
Bacteriology would be held at the Bombay Veterinary College during February and
March, Inspectors K. Kylasamier and R. Narasinga Rao were deputed to undergo the
course with the sanction of Government.
Post-graduate training for Inspectors is most necessary and at present no
facilities exist at the Madras College for obtaining it.
With the approval of Government a promotion examination was instituted for
assistants who had reached the maximum pay of the third grade before they were
promoted to the second grade. The first examination was held in October 1913.
Out of eight men who appeared, only two passed.
The work of the department and the number of the staff employed continues to
grow and there is evidence to show that the demand for veterinary aid in this Presi
dency will necessitate a larger number of graduates being taken on each year in the
future than in the past, but nothing has yet been done to provide for increased
superintendence.
The services of the present Deputy Superintendent have been extended by one
year, which expires on 13th August 1915, and the dearth of candidates for these posts
still exists.
It appears to be absolutely essential therefore that steps should be taken at once
to procure the services of at least one more Superintendent for otherwise the routine
inspection work, with which at the present time and with the help of a Deputy
Superintendent it is only just possible to cope, will suffer.
Apart from routine work there are many interesting problems which might be
elucidated if the Imperial staff were commensurate with the size of the province.
For instance, why do so many cases of epithelioma of the eye in cattle occur in the
same village or tract; is the disease which affects sheep in large numbers in the
southern districts rinderpest or something else; why are so many calves born around
Berhampur with imperforate anus; and why does surra, although a few authentic
cases occur every year, not tend to become epidemic in Madras? These are only a
few of the questions which occur to one when employed on a tour of inspection and
can only be looked into cursorily.