Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary
Department
United Provinces, 1911-1912.
1. The administration report of the department for the year ending March
31st, 1912, is herewith submitted.
2. I held charge of the department throughout the year, and Mr. C. W.
Wilson carried out the duties of Second Superintendent.
3. I was 135 days on tour and travelled 607 miles by road and 19,079 by
rail. I toured in 22 districts, supervising the veterinary inspectors, and the work
of the district board veterinary assistants, as well as the veterinary hospitals and
dispensaries under this department. Sites for establishing more of these
institutions were also seen and selected. I inspected most of the stallion stands,
and the stud bulls maintained by local bodies and private estates. It was
necessary on several occasions to visit the stallion dépôt at Moradabad for
inspection and selection of these animals for issue to districts; and a great deal of
time had to be spent at the newly established bull-rearing farm at Kheri. During
these tours district officers, landowners, and others interested in the rearing of
stock were interviewed and conferred with. I visited the Awagarh estate with a
view to re-establishing the breeding stud there; also other estates to advise on
cattle-breeding schemes. I inspected the various dak-tonga lines, and where possible
the working bullocks of the most important municipalities were seen. I travelled
to Bombay for the purchase of stallions, and visited the Imperial Bacteriological
Laboratory, Mukhtesar, to confer with Major Holmes on the question of serum and
vaccines. Shows and fairs were attended, and I officiated on the horse and cattle
judging committee at the Khairabad agricultural show. I personally attended and
carried out investigation and research in 22 outbreaks of disease and where
necessary directed inoculations and experiments.
4. Mr. Wilson, Second Superintendent, was on tour 142 days, during which
time he travelled 437 miles by road and 14,525 miles by rail. He toured in 22
districts, inspecting the work of the subordinate veterinary staff, attending
outbreaks of contagious diseases and conducting inoculations and research
operations. He was deputed to Dehra Dun for the investigation of surra and
attended the Karwi and Sardhua cattle fairs, and the agricultural exhibitions at
Hardoi, Rae Bareli and Sultanpur. He visited the Government cattle farm,
Hissar, for the purpose of selecting bulls for various local bodies and private estates,
and attended Lahore, Bombay and Madras to act on the board of examiners at the
annual examinations at the veterinary colleges. All the stallion stands in his
circle were inspected and sites were selected for proposed new dispensaries. He
personally was present and carried out investigations in 18 outbreaks of disease.
VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.
5. As suitable training in inoculation work and methods is now provided
at the veterinary colleges, it has been found unnecessary to depute the newly
joined veterinary assistants to the laboratory at Mukhtesar for this purpose;
hence a great saving in time and expense is effected. The new graduates on
joining the department are now given practical demonstrations in elementary
bacteriology and research methods at the head quarters laboratory at Lucknow
before sending them out to districts; and when possible they are allowed to
accompany an inspector to outbreaks of disease where inoculations are conducted,
thus gaining some practical experience in the field.
6. It is to be regretted that the offer of scholarships for the training of
students at the veterinary colleges fails to attract but a very few young men to
enter the profession, although every opportunity has been taken to give it publicity
and encourage candidates. The reason may be that the class of man available in
these provinces has not the natural inclination for practical work amongst horses
and other domesticated animals (such as is the case with many Punjabis and
other Northern races), usually preferring clerical work. It is moreover noticed
that from those who become qualified only a small percentage develop into first-
class practitioners. During the year under report very few presented themselves
for selection, none of which proved either eligible or suitable. With the