( 5 )
OTHER DISEASES.
See table IV.
27. The veterinary assistants visited 19,691 villages against 19,786 in the
previous year and treated 45,687 animals for other contagious diseases than those
already reported on. Although from this it would seem that this particular branch
of work continues satisfactory, still the opinion is held that when contagious
disease is not prevailing, these men could be more usefully employed at dispensaries,
if more were established at headquarters, than in touring about the country looking
for isolated cases to treat.
At present, however, there are insufficient of these institutions, and until
there is a substantial increase in the subordinate staff things must remain as they
are.
INVESTIGATION OF DISEASE.
28. During the year under report specimens of blood, morbid tissues,
intestinal and other parasites have been submitted to the new laboratory at head-
quarters by veterinary inspectors, assistants, and also from district authorities for
bacteriological and pathological investigation and opinion. Examinations were
made, the results have been noted and communicated to those persons interested.
In connection with certain diseases experiments have been carried out and obser-
vations made. Animals affected with various obscure diseases have also been sent
for investigation but owing to lack of accommodation much useful material has
had to be refused since there was no place to keep them in. The necessity for
an experimental and research station at headquarters in connection with the
laboratory already established has been previously pointed out and the inconve-
nience which is experienced from the want of such. Owing to the development of
the department and the increasing interest shown by the public in its endeavours to
mitigate animal disease, it has become necessary to devote more attention than
fomerly to that branch of work which includes research. Such diseases as kamri,
barsati, akrah, dourine, pleuropneumonia of goats, fowl spirochaetesis, malignant
jaundice (piroplasmosis) of the dog, as they occur in India, all call for more accurate
knowledge, and at such a place at it is proposed to establish, work in this direction
could be carried out with much benefit. Sanction has now been accorded for the
erection of a suitable building in Lucknow. The important subject of surra has
been further studied with the view of devising methods of prevention and to find an
effective treatment. The arsenical treatment adopted by Major Holmes, Imperial
Bacteriologist, has been applied with more or less satisfactory results.
29. Tuberculosis.—Some time ago in view of the campaign to be carried
out against human tuberculosis, Mr. Oliver pointed out the importance of making a
systematic enquiry relative to the extent to which bovines in these provinces
were affected. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, in approving the proposal to
carry out a series of investigations by the Civil Veterinary department in order to
obtain the required information, desired that the enquiry should be confined
primarily to the city of Cawnpore. This has been done and the results of the
investigation communicated to Government in a separate note. Kamri, fowl
cholera, fowl spirilosis, akrah, &c., have been brought under investigation.
30. Cattle poisoning.—Cases of criminal cattle-poisoning have been reported
from six districts. These were investigated and handed over to the police to deal
with.
Morbid material from virulent outbreaks, &c., was collected during the year
for the Imperial Bacteriologist and assistance was rendered the Foot and mouth
Disease Commission in securing affected animals for observation and experiment.
VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
See table V.
31. There are now 46 hospitals or dispensaries in working order in the
province. Those large and well-equipped institutions in the important cities and
towns, with adequate accommodation for in-patients are classed as hospitals, while
the less important ones of limited accommodation come under the head of dispen-
saries. There has been an increase of six during the year under report at the
following places :—
Cawnpore, Dehra Dun, Gonda, Kasia (Gorakhpur), Sahaswan (Budaun), and
Biswan (Sitapur), and extensions, alterations, and improvements have been carried
out to the existing premises at Kasia, and an entirely new building erected at