78
WORK DONE BY VETERINARY ASSISTANTS.
Introductory.
504. Table N will show that 218 Veterinary Assistants were employed during
the year under review, that they visited 32,827 villages and treated 181,536
head of cattle; if to this number is added those treated at Dispensaries, we
find that 236,000 animals were treated. No comparison can be drawn with
last year's working as no abstract has hitherto been submitted. The
mortality amounting as it did to only 11.5 per cent. must be considered
satisfactory.
N.-W. Provinces,
505. The Veterinary Assistants treated the large number of about 48,000
head of cattle and other animals. Amongst this number were 11,317 cases of
foot-and-mouth disease. It is in the treatment of such diseases, which are amen-
able to medical aid, that the services of Veterinary Assistants are of great
value rather than in the treatment of cases of rinderpest in which disease
but little can be done until preventive inoculation is introduced.
506. The work done by the Veterinary Assistants in these Provinces is very
satisfactory, especially when it is borne in mind that only 32 out of 48 dis-
tricts have employed them up to date.
Punjab.
507. Seventy-three Veterinary Assistants were employed: they visited
13,817 villages and treated 56,998 head of cattle.
508. Much good work is done by these men, and I am glad to find that they
are gaining the confidence of the zemindars and that complaints regarding them
are very few. Their work will be better still when they are under more super-
vision than they are at present.
Sind.
509. Four Veterinary Assistants are employed: they visited 102 villages and
treated 4,699 cases. The mortality among such cases as were treated amoun-
ting as it did to only 1.5 per cent., must be looked upon as very satisfactory.
Bombay.
510. The present establishment of Veterinary Assistants is 18, but in the
near future it is contemplated to add 9 itinerating men and to appoint a senior
Veterinary Assistant.
When the establishment is complete, it will consist of:—
3 Senior Veterinary Assistants.
24 Dispensary Veterinary Assistants.
50 Sub-divisional Assistants.
The men at present on the establishment have been employed mainly in
Dispensaries: they have done good work which will be found recorded in the
"Veterinary Dispensary " section.
Bengal.
511. The demand for the services of Veterinary Assistants in Bengal is
greater than the supply, which constitutes a gratifying and practical proof of
their work. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, states that in
many instances he was compelled to call upon the senior students and teachers
to do temporary work in the districts. He gives a complete list of all men
that have passed since this College was started—50 in number. All are in
employment except one who was ill all the year.
512. Over 9,000 animals were treated by these men in addition to 3,428
treated at the dispensaries.
Madras.
513. As I have before pointed out, Madras is inadequately supplied with
a Subordinate Staff. Only five Stock Inspectors are employed, but even this
number would be of value if they were efficient: this, however, they are not.
They have now been employed on the Bacteriological Survey in certain districts
for the past five years, and the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
reports them as not qualified for a work of this kind in which scientific know-
ledge and power of correct observation are required.
514. During the past year the work has been concentrated in the districts of
Salem and Coimbatore. This has led to more satisfactory results as it has
enabled it to be carried out under the supervision of the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, and in this way some information regarding local breeds
of cattle and cattle management has been collected.