GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL.
REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
Agriculture Branch.
RAMNA. (Dacca), THE 16TH AUGUST 1919.
RESOLUTION—No. 1133T.R.
READ—
The Annual Reports of the Veterinary College and of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, Bengal, for the year 1918-19.
COLONEL A. SMITH, Principal, Bengal Veterinary College, continued to
hold charge of the College as well as of the office of Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, throughout the year, Mr. P. J. Kerr and Mr. A. D.
MacGregor being still absent on military duty. As in the previous year, all
touring and inspection work of the department was performed by Babu Sarat
Chandra Pal. Deputy Superintendent, who was on Jour for 73 clays, and
inspected most of the important hospitals and dispensaries of the province.
One veterinary assistant of the department returned from field service at
the conclusion of the term of his agreement for two years, while seven others
were on military duty.
2. The number of students at the Bengal Veterinary College at the end
of the session was 165, of which number 63 belonged to Bengal, while most
of the others came from Bihar and Assam. There has been a steady
increase in the number of students, the figures for the previous three
years being 135, 148 and 157 ; of these numbers 51, 54 and 55 respec-
tively belonged to Bengal. Thirty-three students graduated from the College at
the close of the session. Nine graduates belonged to Bengal and have subse-
quently been employed as veterinary assistants ; but there is still a demand
for qualified assistants. To improve their prospects their pay has been
raised from Rs. 30—10/5—70 per mensem to Rs. 50—10/5—100 per mensem.
The Governor in Council trusts that the improved prospects will attract
a large number and a better class of students to the Bengal Veterinary
College and thereby improve the efficiency of the department.
3. The report of the Civil Veterinary Department shows a considerable
decrease in the mortality of animals from contagious diseases during the
year, the total number of deaths reported being 15,569 as against 26.486
in the previous year, The most striking decrease was under the head
rinderpest, the number of deaths being 10,772 as compared with 21,126 in the
previous year. The decrease is reported to be due to the proper organisation of
inoculation campaigns by the Veterinary Department in the affected localities.
The death-rate from anthrax was, however, heavier this year than last year,
owing to a particularly severe outbreak in the Sundarbans of the
24-Parganas. It is reported that, owing to the nature of this malady, its
sudden onset and rapidly fatal termination, only in a few cases were veteri-
nary assistants able to reach the seat of trouble in time to be of any
assistance.
There were virulent outbreaks of rinderpest during the year all over
Calcutta and its suburbs. Prompt measures were taken in each outbreak to
prevent its spread and inoculation was performed in 4,984 cases.
4. During the year under report the itinerant veterinary assistants
visited 13,462 villages and treated 58,025 animals, compared with 11,520
villages and 67,333 animals in the previous year.
5. In Calcutta and its suburbs all the stables were regularly inspected
Glanders and farcy were detected in 13 and surra in four stables, against
two and three respectively in the previous year. In the mufassal 17 deaths
from glanders were reported as against 27 in the previous year. The
mortality was the highest in the district of Bakarganj, where 13 cases occurred.