(2)
daily increasing demand for the services of veterinary assistants some action seems
necessary. If from bonâ fide inhabitants of these provinces suitable students are
not forthcoming, I would suggest that the scholarships may be thrown open to men
from the Punjab and other provinces, provided of course that they undertake to
serve this government when qualified.
7. Of the students deputed to Bengal, one in the final class has successfully
passed his examinations and joined the department and two in the second-year
class have passed into the final year's class. At the Lahore College out of five in
the final class three have qualified and will now join the department. The five
students in the second class have passed into the final. One failed in one subject
and will be re-examined in June, and one has been allowed to study for another
year. A specially selected student has been sent to Bombay Veterinary College to
be trained with a view to filling an appointment as deputy superintendent, and one
inspector who has been promoted on probation to this new grade is undergoing a
course of training at head quarters.
8. A monograph on the indigenous cattle of the United Provinces has been
published and circulated amongst those interested in the question, and a bulletin
dealing with surra is in the press and will shortly be published.
TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
See table II.
9. During the year under report there has been a satisfactory decrease in
the extent of, and mortality from, contagious diseases. The cases notified from
the whole of the province amounted to 38,510 against 1,23,695 of last year. The
mortality in all animals is reported at 14,333, being less than half that of the
previous year. A great improvement is noticeable in the direction of early
notification of disease from districts, while the owners themselves are beginning to
realize the advantage gained by securing veterinary aid in the early stages of the
outbreaks.
EQUINE.
10. As I mentioned in a previous report equine contagious disease occurring
in the 4 selected horse-breeding districts, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Bulandshahr
and Meerut, is dealt with by the Army Remount department, while the Army
Veterinary Corps deals with the affected animals in the various branches of the
Military department. The figures here only refer to cases brought directly under
the notice of the Civil Veterinary department.
11. Glanders and Farcy.—Twenty-three cases of this disease were detected
during the year, and occurred in the districts of Lucknow, Dehra Dun, Benares,
Almora and Naini Tal. The disease assumed a somewhat severe form in Lucknow
and Benares. Prompt measures however were immediately taken to deal with it,
and with the assistance of the provincial staff the disease was soon suppressed. As
it is believed that many cases of glanders occurring amongst animals belonging to
the poor and ignorant classes are secreted with a view to evade compulsory destruc-
tion, a proposal to award some small compensation in those cases which are
considered deserving is under consideration. This should bring more cases to
light and strengthen our hands in keeping down the disease.
12. Surra.—This disease made its usual appearance in the tracts along
the foot of the hills, viz. the Kathgodam-Naini Tal road and Dehra Dun, and also
occurred in the districts of Bareilly, Banda, Fatehpur, Basti and Lucknow: 115
animals either succumbed or were destroyed under the Act. Experiments with
a view to find a practicable cure were carried out (see Investigation of Disease).
13. Dourine.—An outbreak of this disease occurred during the year in
Shahjahanpur and entailed the temporary closing of one of the stallion stands
there. Six animals were found affected and dealt with under the new Dourine
Act. Steps were taken to trace, register and keep under observation any suspicious
animals used for breeding purposes, and it is now hoped that the disease has been
so far eradicated.
14. Tetanus.—Eighty-two cases of this disease are notified by veterinary
assistants as having been brought to them for treatment, out of which 52 are
reported to have died.
15. Strangles.—One hundred and eighty cases of this disease were treated
by veterinary assistants, out of which 23 proved fatal.