3
and sixty-seven deaths occurred in the Sodepur Pinjrapole alone.
The
outbreaks were very severe also in the four districts, Hooghly, Murshidabad,
Darjeeling and Rangpur.
7. Six new dispensaries wore opened during the year making a total
of 24, all of which were inspected either by the Superintendent or the
circle inspectors, except those at Sodepur Pinjrapole, Howrah and Cooch
Behar, which are under private management. The total number of patients
treated at 23 dispensaries was 24,049 against 21.503 in the previous year.
The dispensary at Cooch Behar remained closed during the early part of
the year for want of a suitable veterinary assistant. Since the close of
the year sanction has been given to the transfer, on certain conditions, of
the services of an assistant on Rs. 30 per mensem for the dispensary,
who will be paid by the Cooch Behar State, but will work under the
supervision and inspection of the Veterinary Department. There is evidence
of good work in all dispensaries in the province, especially in the dispensaries
at Chittagong, Mymensingh and Chinsura.
The establishment of a
Veterinary Hospital at Dacca was sanctioned last year, but the building work
is being delayed owing to difficulties in connection with the site. A part of
the land acquired for the purpose being required by the Eastern Bengal State
Railway, the department is considering whether the remaining area will be
sufficient for the requirements of the dispensary, or whether the whole site
should be abandoned and a new site selected.
8. Only 220 animals were sent for treatment to the Bengal Veterinary
College Hospital in connection with cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act during the year, though 8,455 prosecutions were instituted
under the Act. The number of animals sent for treatment at the hospital
still continues to be small in comparison with the number of prosecutions
instituted. The question has been engaging the attention of Government
for some time, and a committee was appointed to consider whether any
improvement was possible in the law of cruelty to animals, its administration
and the present system under which public and private agencies co-operate
in the suppression of cruelty. The committee submitted its report after the
close of the year.
9. The question of the improvement of the breed of cattle continued to
engage the attention of the Director of Agriculture and of the Superintendent
of the Civil Veterinary Department. It is reported that persistent efforts are
being made by the officers of the department to impress on the minds of
cultivators and owners of cattle generally the advantage of and the urgent
need for care in the breeding and management of cattle, though with very
little appreciable result. His Excellency in Council notices with regret that
though applications were received during the year from several District Boards
for good bulls, no suitable animals could be procured and supplied by the
Superintendent.
10. The cost of anti-rinderpest serum supplied to local bodies in
Eastern Bengal districts was hitherto borne by Government. In Western
Bengal districts, however, the District Boards pay for the serum supplied to
them. As the cost of serum is a proper local charge, Government has
decided that the local bodies in Eastern Bengal districts should also be
required to pay for the serum they use.
11. A proposal submitted by the Director of Agriculture for the appoint-
ment of a Deputy Superintendent for the Civil Veterinary Department was
sanctioned after the close of the year.
12. Orders have been passed since the close of the year on the
proposals for the co-ordination of the different rates of pay and allowances of
veterinary assistants and veterinary inspectors obtaining in the two parts
of the Presidency. The pay of veterinary assistants in the two Western
Bengal Divisions was Rs. 30—5/5—50, and in the three Eastern Bengal Divisions,
Rs. 30—10/5—70. The more liberal rates of pay prevailing in the Eastern Bengal
Divisions have been adopted for the whole Presidency. As regards local and
travelling allowances, the rates already in force in the two parts of the
Presidency will continue except that in the districts of the 24-Parganas,
Khulna and Jessore, where travelling and living are expensive, the more
liberal rates prevailing in Eastern Bengal will apply. The inspectors in