Extract from a letter No. 1258 A.T., dated the 1st August 1912, from
Mr. W.B. Heycock, Director of Agriculture, Bihar and Orissa.
2. Mr. Quinlan was in charge of the Veterinary Department throughout
the year with the exception of two short periods, on the first of which he was
absent on privilege leave and on the second was on duty at the Delhi Durbar
as Veterinary Officer to the Volunteer Contingent. On both occasions Colonel
Raymond acted for him, in addition to his own duties as Principal, Bengal
Veterinary College.
3. The introduction of the Provincial Veterinary Service, with effect
from the 1st April 1911, has improved the prospects of the Veterinary Depart"
ment considerably and must lead to greater efficiency. Its effects will be
felt more fully year by year. The constitution of the new Province of Bihar
and Orissa and the abolition of the post of the Inspector-General of the Civil
Veterinary Department scarcely come within the purview of the year under
report. The criticism passed on the latter measure by the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, is out of place and should not have found a
place in his report.
4. It is to be regretted that the students presenting themselves for ad-
mission at the Bengal Veterinary College are few in number and backward.
Possibly the introduction of the new Provincial Veterinary Service may lead
to a better class of students applying for admission. The prospects, however,
of Veterinary Assistants, especially of Itinerant Veterinary Assistants, must
be improved if better men are to be secured. The travelling allowance of
Itinerant Veterinary Assistants has been fixed too low to enable them to
meet their expenses on tour. The life, too, which the Itinerant Veterinary
Assistant has to lead, constantly touring in the interior, is a hard and un-
attractive one. Proposals will be submitted shortly for raising the travelling
allowance of Itinerant Veterinary Assistants.
5. There has been a decided improvement in the reporting of outbreaks
of cattle disease. Members of Agricultural Associations and private people
are gradually realising the importance of promptly reporting cases and are
more ready to assist in bringing outbreaks to the notice of the authorities.
Unfortunately the number of Itinerant Veterinary Assistants is still far too
small and all outbreaks cannot be attended. In most districts more Itinerant
Veterinary Assistants are required. Unless outbreaks reported are regularly
attended there must naturally be some slackness in reporting. Readiness to
report must depend largely on the belief that all outbreaks reported will be
attended.
6. The remarks in the report of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, under Table III, paragraph 1, indicate that all the outbreaks
reported during the year, viz., 128, were attended. Such, however, is not
the case. The total number of outbreaks actually reported was 1,070. Of
these, 707 are reported to have been attended. The figure 128 represents
only the outbreaks attended at which inoculation was consented to. The
large number of outbreaks reported but not attended emphasizes the necessity
of increasing the number of Itinerant Veterinary Assistants. No doubt
Itinerant Veterinary Assistants have not attended as many outbreaks as they
should have done. Still with every effort on their part it was impossible for
them to attend all the outbreaks reported.
7. The misleading nature of the figures quoted is due to the fact that
no register has hitherto been kept dealing with all outbreaks. The only
register of outbreaks kept hitherto has been the inoculation register which
deals only with outbreaks in which inoculation was resorted to. No register
is kept giving details of the numerous other outbreaks which were reported.
The figures given above have been collected from the diaries which contain
merely a statement of the number of outbreaks reported and attended. A
register under my instructions has now been opened to show all outbreaks