5
One additional post for an itinerant veterinary assistant was sanctioned for
Purnea Sadr with headquarters at Dhamdaha, and it is proposed to appoint
another assistant to Barahpore in the Buxar Subdivision of Arrah District to
help in the improvement of live-stock.
TABLE V.
As in the previous year, there were 21 hospitals open. A stationary
Veterinary assistant having been appointed to Purulia, five hospitals, i.e.,
Dumka, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau and Begusarai remained in charge of
itinerant veterinary assistants. The hospital at Dumraon was vacant as
before, while hospital buildings were not erected at Hajipur or Dhanbad as
anticipated. A stationary veterinary assistant was sanctioned for Hazaribagh
during the year but the post was not filled for want of staff.
The rebuilding of the veterinary hospital at Bankipore is still under
consideration but it is hoped funds will be available to complete it before the
close of the current year.
The proposals for the construction of hospitals at Puri and Khurda did not
eventuate owing to the financial condition of the District Boards; they are
both essential ; the former especially, in view of the development of the town.
Proposals have been placed before Government for a contribution towards
the cost of the Chaibasa and Dumka hospitals.
The enlargement of the Ranchi hospital is urgent and it is hoped that with
help from Government, an up-to-date institution will be built.
The District Boards shown below contemplate constructing hospitals
or dispensaries during 1920-21 :—
Patna : (1) Dinapur ; (2) Barh ; (3) Bihar.
Darbbanga : (1)
adbubani ; (2) Samastipur.
Chamraraol:- (1) Beitiah; (2) Pagaha.
Muzaffurpur . (1) Hajipur.
Purnea : (1) Kishanganj ; (2) Katibar ; (3) Dhamdahi; (4) Forbesganj.
Shahabad : (1) Buxar-; (2) Barahpur Buxar) ; (3) Sasaram ; 4 Bhabua.
District Road Committee. Santal Parganas : (1) Dumka.
District Road Committee, Singhbhum : (1) Chaibaa.
Nianbhum : (1) Purulia ; (2) Dhanbad.
Balasore : (1) Balasore.
Puri : (1) Puri ; (2) Khurda.
With the exception of the last three, sites for the hospitals have been
selected and plans and estimates prepared and approved. It is expected that
the majority will be completed by. the end of the current year.
31,531 new cases were treated at the hospitals, against 28,528 in 1918-19,
showing an increase of 3,003 patients. This is exclusive of the number of
castrations (519) and cases (6,293) supplied with medicines but not brought to
hospital.
TABLE VIII.
BREEDING OPERATIONS.
A cattle-breeding scheme for the province is before Government.
The cattle-breeding scheme inaugurated in Shahabad District is meeting with
success and it is satisfactory to record that the Government bulls which were dis-
tributed are appreciated and applications have come in for more. Three bulls died
during the year, two as a result of the heavy floods which came up before they
could be removed to Buxar. Three were returned to Sipaya as unsuitable, and
were replaced by others. A cattle show has been started at Niazipur on the diara
about seven miles from Dumraon and proved a success; it is intended to start
another on the same lines at Nainijhor nea Barahpore. They are intended
primarily for the progeny of the bulls and will be confined to the villages
which are served by them. A regular supply of good buffalo bulls from the
Military Dairy Farms is needed to meet the rising demand in all the northern
districts.
Table VIII shows the number of bulls maintained in the districts during
the year.