11
and mouth disease during the year. In Burma, the falling off is explained by
the great prevalence of rinderpest and the urgent necessity which existed for
the employment of the Veterinary Assistants in arranging for and attending
to the segregation of animals during outbreaks.
65. There is an increase in the number of castrations performed,—1,385
against 1,088 ; of which 718 were equines, 517 bovines and 150 others.
66. As remarked last year, touring in villages is a most important part
of a Veterinary Assistant's work when he is not employed in dealing with
outbreaks of contagious disease by inoculation. It brings him in contact with
the people and if properly directed, he is, besides saving a number of animals
which would otherwise be lost, enabled to collect valuable information on his
tours both as regards breeding and disease.
Veterinary
Hospitals and
Dispensaries.
67. Table V shows the number of these institutions, the Veterinary Assis-
tants employed and the number of animals treated as in and out-patients. It
is gratifying to note that there are at present 290 against 269, an increase of
21 during the year. These institutions vary very considerably in importance
and size from the large well equipped Hospital with in-door accommodation
for patients, a forge, etc., to the standard pattern dispensary forming a head-
quarters where the Assistant can be found and where equipment and instru-
ments can be kept and cases treated. The unanimous opinion of all Superin-
tendents is in favour of the erection of a dispensary at the headquarters of
each Veterinary Assistant and with this opinion I cordially agree. Much
good work can be done in them, they are convenient as headquarters where
the Veterinary Assistant can always be found when not on tour or attending
outbreaks ; medicines, instruments and equipment can be properly kept and
inspected there and sick animals treated. Each hospital and dispensary in fact
forms a focus from which the neighbourhood is infected with the knowledge
of the benefits to be derived from rational treatment of animal disease.
68. Very satisfactory progress has been made in providing large and well
equipped hospitals in the Punjab, those of Gujrat, Mooltan and Murree having
been opened during the year. The new building at Ludhiana was opened by
the Financial Commissioner and that at Simla is finished, whilst those at
Delhi and Rawalpindi are being built and that at Sargodha will be opened
early next year. Proposals are in train to rebuild the Amritsar and Amballa
hospitals and to provide new ones at Kurnal, Jullunder, Gurdaspur, Jhang
and Jhelum. Captain Walker is to be congratulated on the progress he has
made in this direction during the year.
69. Five new dispensaries have been opened in the United Provinces,
seven in the North-West Frontier Province, five in the Central Provinces and
two in Bengal. I am glad to note that a provision of Rs. 15,000 has been
made by the Central Provinces Administration for the construction of a
hospital at Nagpur Sadr. More attention is reported to be given to the sub-
ject in the Berars. The chief difficulty District Boards have to contend with
is lack of funds for the purpose.
70. Three hundred and eight (308) Veterinary Assistants were employed
in dispensaries during the year, an actual increase of 27 over last year. The
total number of in and out patients treated during the year was 89,841 equines,
131,220 bovines and 44,636 other animals, or a total of 265,697. The figures
shown last year were incorrect owing to the fact that Burma showed 74,503
animals treated in dispensaries in error. The actual figures last year were
57,553 equines, 91,837 bovines and 32,111 others, or a total of 181,501. It
will be seen, therefore, that a very satisfactory increase in the numbers has
taken place especially in the number of bovines and equines treated.
71. The receipts were Rs. 2,11,362-10-6 against Rs. 1,82,229 last year;
and the expenditure Rs. 2,51,292-9-9 against Rs. 3,19,378 last year. The
expenditure includes the pay of Veterinary Assistants and menial staff em-
ployed. The increase in the receipts and the decrease in expenditure is very
satisfactory, the former amounting to Rs. 29,133-10-6 and the latter to
Rs. 68,085-6-3. These institutions are a great success and make a profit in
United Provinces, Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind, Rajputana,