( 2 )
the deputation of new graduates to the Imperial Bacteriological laboratory,
Muktesar, has now altogether been discontinued. A course of practical
demonstration in pathology and bacteriology can be obtained now at the head-
quarter laboratory in Lucknow by young veterinary assistants, and these men
before being drafted to a district have acquired a knowledge of laboratory methods
essential to those working in the field.
6. It is regrettable that, as mentioned in last year's report, the offer of
scholarships still fails to attract suitable young men of these provinces to enter the
veterinary profession, in spite of inducements held out to them to do so. The assis-
tance of the Director of Public Instruction was solicited, however with no good
result as very few candidates have been recruited. The reason for this, as previ-
ously pointed out, seems to be the natural disinclination of the young men in these
provinces towards any sort of practical work amongst domesticated animals. Last
year it was suggested that if this state of things continued it would be advisable
to throw open the scholarships to suitable men, residents of the Punjab and other
allied provinces. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor however was of opinion
that no recourse should be made to this if it could be possibly avoided. The
condition of things nevertheless remains as heretofore and after several years' trial
the danger of the inadequate number of graduates for the department remains
imminent.
7. Of the students sent to the Bengal Veterinary College two passed the
final class examination and five out of six were successful in the final examination
of the Punjab Veterinary College, Lahore. The two remaining men at the Lahore
college passed the first year examination. The student sent to Bombay Veterinary
College passed the first year examination. The seven new graduates have joined
the department and are now undergoing training.
8. A scientific association known as "The United Provinces Veterinary
Medical Society " has recently been formed by the members of the subordinate
staff of the department, which has for its main objects the advancement of
veterinary science and interchange of professional ideas amongst its members.
The issue of a vernacular scientific periodical in connection with the society
has also been started and already possesses a large circulation. Awards and
certificates for the best articles upon veterinary and other scientific subjects will
be distributed.
A Civil Veterinary Manual has now been compiled and is complete with
rules for the guidance of district boards in regard to breeding and veterinary
treatment of animals, in addition to directions for veterinary inspectors. Instruc-
tions concerning inoculation, disinfection, collection and packing of material for
diagnosis and investigation are given together with directions for care of Govern-
ment stallions and copies of rules under the Glanders and Farcy, Dourine and
Surra Acts are appended. The Manual has been submitted to Government for
sanction.
9. A pamphlet dealing with "Surra" has been published and circulated
amongst those people whom it is likely to interest and a monograph on rinderpest
is now being compiled and will shortly be published.
Mr. E. W. Oliver gave a series of lectures on meat inspection to recently
appointed health officers, and veterinary inspecter Raza Husain conducted
practical demonstrations on this subject in the slaughter-houses. Printed copies
of these lectures were forwarded to the Sanitary Commissioner, United Provinces,
and to the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, 2nd circle.
TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
See table II.
10. During the year under report 75,571 cases of contagious disease have
been notified from practically all districts in the province with a reported mortality
of 24,602. Rinderpest, as usual, has been the most serious and has accounted for
17,363 of the deaths reported. Although this might at first glance appear to be
an excessive number, it is pointed out that with the increasing attention given
to and facilities for ascertaining details and reporting outbreaks, many more now-
a-days come to light than in past years, when it frequently happened that in a
severe season hundreds of outbreaks occurred without being reported, but since
these reports are submitted with much more system and regularity it is highly
probable that only now approximately accurate estimates of the amount of con-
tagious disease with its consequent annual mortality are being obtained.