( 6 )
Etawah. There is still further need for establishing more of these institutions as
the superintendents are of opinion that every district headquarters and large tahsil
should possess a hospital or dispensary according to its size and requirements.
It is satisfactory and encouraging to record that the total number of cases
treated during the year at hospitals and dispensaries was: out-patients 43,106 and
in-patients 4,061, making a total of 47,167, an increase of 6,775 on last year's return.
Some districts have introduced the system of charging a small scale of fees to those
owners who can afford to pay, whilst others are as yet averse to the procedure. In
those places where the system has been adopted and carried out in a businesslike
way it has proved a success and has in no way affected the popularity of the
hospitals. In Lucknow, the hospital has brought in an income of Rs. 2,593
during the year, and has had an average daily attendance of four new cases.
BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1) BOVINES.
(i) Stud bulls.
See table VIII.
32. During the year there has been a great increase in the number of stud
bulls maintained by the Civil Veterinary department, district boards, municipali-
ties, courts of wards, and private estates, and stud animals are now maintained in
36 districts.
The provision of adequate bull power appears to be giving a considerable
impetus to the cattle-breeding industry, which year by year is arousing greater
interest in the minds of the public of the province. The endeavours of the Civil
Veterinary department have been directed towards the production of—
(a) Improved working bullocks for ploughs, wells, and general agricultural
purposes as well as for heavy draught work.
(b) A higher milk-yielding class of cows.
For the latter purpose a further batch of 13 bulls of the Hissar breed was
obtained form the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, this year and issued where
required.
BULL-RERING, AND BREEDING FARMS AND DÉPÔTS.
See table IX.
33. The bull-rearing farm at Kheri is now in working order and continues
to progress satisfactorily. Some improvements and additions to the buildings are
being made and the provision of a bridge to span the stream which it is necessary
to cross in order to reach the farm is under consideration. Arrangements are also
being made to clear all the jungle, and it is hoped within a few years to convert
the whole 500 acres into first-class grazing land. There is at present 268 head
of young stock on the farm. With the exception of an unfortunate outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease the health and condition of the animals have continued
good. As anticipated last year, it has been possible to issue 25 good young stud
animals in 1912, which is much earlier than the original scheme provided for and
a further batch of 26 will be ready in May and again during the cold weather
of 1913.
As the Hissar Cattle Farm has now passed under the control of the Punjab
Government the future supply of bulls from that source can no longer be safely
assured, and since everything points to a still greater demand for the heavier
breeds of bulls such as Hissar, Kosi, &c., for the western districts of this province,
as well as for improvement in the breed of milch cattle, a scheme has been
submitted for establishing another farm for breeding animals suitable to meet this
demand. The farm will be set up in the Muttra district.
(2) EQUINES. (UNDER LOCAL BODIES.)
(i) Horse and pony stallions.
See table X.
34. At the beginning of the year under report there were 56 stallions on
the register, all being the property of the provincial government.
35. Six stallions were purchased by the department during the year, four
were castrated and sold as they were considered unfit for further stud purpose,
one died from snake-bite, thus leaving a balance of 57 at the end of the year. Forty-
eight stallions were employed at stud.
See table XI.
36. The number of mares covered by these stallions has amounted to 2,759;
an increase of 20 on the previous year's coverings. The increase would have been