2
reported. To give a true idea of the incidence of cattle disease in the Province
it is also advisable to make a slight addition to Table III and insert two
additional columns after column 4, the headings of which should be as
follows :—
(1) Number of outbreaks in which inoculation was not allowed.
(2) Number of outbreaks not attended.
8. Inoculation, I regret to say, is still far from popular and has not been
as widely resorted to as last year. The figures quoted in the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department's report illustrate this fact. Inoculation is,
however, appreciated in Purnea and is more widely resorted to there than in
other districts.
9. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, draws attention to
the increase in cases of cattle poisoning due to the rise of the price of hides.
The attention of the Inspector-General of Police may be invited to the remarks
of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department.
10. Including the hospital at Bettiah, which was completed during the
year, two new hospitals were opened. It is disappointing to find that the
Begu Sarai hospital has been constructed so badly by the donor that the
District Board are unable to take it over. The large increase (viz., 7'661) in the
number of cases treated as compared with the number treated last year is a
satisfactory feature of the year's work. The shoeing forges still prove suc-
cessful. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, hopes that in time
a forge will be established at every district headquarters. One of the chief
difficulties to overcome in opening a forge is the difficulty experienced in
securing the services of a trained farrier.
11. All the applications for bulls for breeding purposes received during
the year could not be complied with for want of bulls. The only farm in this
Province where bulls are now being bred for use is Bettiah. This farm has
only just been started and it is too early yet to judge of its prospects. It is
not large enough, however, to warrant the appointment of a separate Manager
to look after it. The officers of the Bettiah Estate with the help of the Veteri-
nary Department ought to be able to manage the farm. It is a great pity
that the farm at Siripur was closed when the Hatwa Estate passed out of the
Court of Wards. The work of several years has been thrown away. The
whole question of the improvement of cattle breeding is still under considera-
tion and definite proposals will be submitted after completion of the
preliminary cattle survey by the Special Officer to be appointed this cold
weather.
12. As regards staff, the time has come for the appointment of Deputy
Superintendents and the question of their appointment will be raised as soon
as suitable men are available. The large area of the Province makes it
impossible for the Superintendent to give that close attention to the work
of the subordinate staff which is so necessary.
13. The remarks of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, on
the subject of the treatment of cruelty to animal cases deserve attention. The
subject is a difficult one and its settlement must depend largely on the attitude
of the local authorities and the steps they take to deal with this admitted
abuse.
14. Mr. Quinlan has worked with great energy throughout the year and
in particular has set before himself the task of eliminating useless and
unreliable officers and raising the standard of efficiency of the Veterinary
Department.