2
the existence of cattle disease. Elsewhere there is said to he a marked im-
provement in reporting which is due to the constant inspections made by the
Superintendent and to the help rendered by District Officers and Superintend-
ents of Police. Until recently the Police Manual laid down that only Veterin-
ary Inspectors might examine the register of epidemics and cattle diseases
maintained at the thanas, but the Inspector-General of Police has at my
instance issued a circular directing that Veterinary Assistants also may inspect
these registers.
4. The number of deaths from contagious diseases amongst bovines rose
from 18,227 of last year to 28,365, rinderpest alone being responsible for
23,085. Mr. Quinlan thinks that this is an under-estimate and that 35,000
would be nearer the mark. There were 3,882 outbreaks of rinderpest against
1,525 of the previous year, but the number attended, viz., 60 per cent. shows
a considerable improvement over that of last year, viz., 24 per cent. only.
In addition to Champaran other districts which suffered from this disease were
Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Palamau, Monghyr, Angul, Manbhum, Cuttack, Bhagal-
pur and Puri. As is shown by the percentage of outbreaks attended and the
number of inoculations effected, vigorous efforts were made to deal with these
epidemics. Mr. Quinlan was however greatly handicapped by the paucity of
his staff, the absence of reserve and staff veterinary assistants and again lays
stress on the importance of increasing the strength of both the superior and
subordinate establishment. It is hoped, that the scheme for the improvement
of the position of the veterinary service which was submitted to Government
last year will conduce to the better working of the Department. Nothing,
however, will be effectual which does not induce a steady flow of candidates of
the agricultural classes to centres of veterinary education whether in Calcutta or
in the United Provinces. At the present rate of progress it will take a number
of years before the Veterinary Department is adequate to the task before it.
5. The total number of inoculations performed during the year rose to
130,027 against 121,020 of the previous year.
It should be remembered
that for the three years 1910-11 to 1912-13 the average number of inocu-
lations effected was no more than 19,000 per annum, so that the magnitude
of the extension of preventive inoculation should be realised and all credit
given to the Superintendent and his staff. Of these inoculations the Veterinary
staff proper were responsible for 85,688 while the aboriginal staff in Ranchi
have 41,339 to their credit.
The former figure represents an increase of
32,579 on the previous year's work. The latter shows a decrease of 26,795
which is reported to be due to resignations and dismissals among the staff
as well as to opposition met with in certain villages in the Munda country.
Steps are being taken to train new men while the assistance of the local
Officers has been invoked, and it is hoped that next year will show better
results. Inoculation for rinderpest was introduced during the latter part of the
year, but only 3,223 operations were performed.
The missionaries have
continued to render material assistance, but there is no doubt that to make the
scheme a genuine success more supervision by the Superintendent, Civil Veterin-
ary Department, is required and this is hardly possible while he has to strugge
single-handed with epidemics throughout the whole province.
6. The number of hospitals working fell from 22 to 20 during the year, as
the Veterinary Assistants employed by the Dumraon and Hathwa estates were
absorbed into Government service and these posts have not been filled up The
number of in-patients and out-patients treated at the 20 dispensaries was
28,044 against 23,849 of the previous year. The Bettiah Raj dispensary
has been enlarged during the year and is now one of the best dispensaries
in the Province. The question of building a new hospital for Ranchi is under
the consideration of the District Board and a number of other schemes for
hospitals or quarters are coming satisfactorily to a head. Local bodies now 6how
no reluctance to sanction expenditure on veterinary aid and only the difficulty
of providing staff hinders a rapid development.
7. The Government Cattle-breeding farm at Sepaya is making satisfactory
progress ; a full account of Mr. Mackenzie's work will be given in the report
of the Agricultural Department.