( 4 )
In addition to this they have castrated 842 animals and attended 38,613
cases of contagious diseases exclusive of those animals treated in hospitals and
dispensaries.
Investigation of disease.
31. During the year under report many interesting specimens of blood,
morbid tissues, intestinal and other parasites have been submitted to the laboratory
at headquarters by veterinary inspectors and assistants and also from district
authorities for bacteriologioal and pathological examination: Examinations have
been made and the results have been noted and communicated to those persons
concerned. Satisfactory work has also been carried out at the experimental and
Research station at Badshahbagh. Investigations were conducted in connection
with kamri, pleuro-pneumonia in sheep and goats, gillar barsati, akrah, fowl-cholera,
piroplasmasis, etc. A series of experiments to determine the most economical and
effective form of drug treatment for the numerous internal and external parasites
of sheep and cattle are also being carried out. At the request of the Imperial
Entomologist, Pusa, certain forms of parasites have been collected and sent to him
for investigation. The prophylactic and curative effects of distemper vaccines and
pneumonia phylacogen have been tested. An enquiry into the methods adopted in
the Burma Meat Trade has been completed and proposals for more efficient
management have been submitted. Rules. are being framed in consultation with
the district boards concerned for the proper sanitary control of this industry.
Cattle poisoning.—Ninety-three cases of criminal cattle poisoning have been
reported from districts. These were investigated and handed over to the police to
deal with.
Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.
See table V.
32. There are now 77 hospitals or dispensaries in the provinces as against
61 of last year being a substantial increase of 16. New veterinary dispensaries
have been opened during the year at Kairana, Budhana, Roorkee, Sikandra Rao,
Kasganj, Dhampur, Najibabad, Chandausi, Tilhar, Allahabad, Phulpur, Karchhna,
Machhlishabr, Mohanlalganj, Malihabad and Bikapur and the question of
establishing new institutions of this kind in the districts of Jalaun, Naini Tal,
Partabgarh and Azamgarh is under consideration.
The general public and district bodies are now realizing the usefulness of
these institutions and the necessity for increasing the number wherever possible,
and it is satisfactory and encouraging to be able to record that the total number
of oases treated during the year at hospitals and dispensaries was— out-patients
77,904 and in-patients 6,572 making a total of 84,476 an increase of 16,674
on last year's return. Some difficulty is being experienced since the outbreak
of the war in obtaining certain drugs and equipment for these establishments.
The travelling veterinary dispensary started in the Etawah District is
working satisfactorily.
III.-BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1) BOVINE.
(i) Stud bulls.
See table VIII.
33. One hundred and forty-five stud bulls and buffaloes are now maintained
in 38 districts, as against 116 of last year and already demands for nearly 60
more have been received, and the animals will be distributed shortly when ready
for stud work. This increase is the result of the recently introduced scheme under
which the civil veterinary department will issue bulls on loan to district boards,
co-operative credit societies and certain other bodies under somewhat similar
conditions to those which have been applied with success in the past in connection
with the locati g of stallions for horse breeding. It is anticipated that during the
next few years there will be an increasing demand for stud bulls, and as far as
possible steps are being taken to provide for this contingency. In those tracts where
the cows are of a generally superior character either for the breeding of plough
cattle or for dairy purposes anew system is being introduced with a view to maintain
an accurate record of breeding operations, and preserve a register of the progeny.
A scheme has been drawn up for local awards of substantial prizes to the best
specimens of young stock sired by these Government bulls, and a strong endeavour
will be made by the department to stimulate public interest in the direction of
cattle breeding on more scientific lines than has been carried out in the past.