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of opinion that the standard of efficiency is not up to that of the provincial staff.
Some reason for this may be found in the fact that they are not subject to the
same discipline as these officers; they are the servants of the district boards or
those bodies which actually pay them and as such they can often evade compliance
with the wishes of the superintendent in technical matters which would not be
easy to do if they were directly under the administrative and technical control of
the civil veterinary department officers.
It is beginning to be generally realized that in those places where there is no
hospital the practice of locating of a veterinary assistant in a suitable dispensary
with a small supply of drugs and instruments at his disposal, is productive of
more good work than if he is touring around an enormous area of country, in
which case his work is bound to be more or less sketchy, and his work and
movements very difficult to control. When stationed at a dispensary the
neighbouring animal owners usually know where they can find him, and will
bring their animals for treatment if necessary. In outbreaks of contagious disease
he is expected to temporarily shut his dispensary and proceed to the seat of
disease.
V.—EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
See table XIVA.
49. The cost of the department according to the statement furnished by
the Accountant-General shows an increase, viz. Rs. 1,08,132 against Rs. 82,724
in the previous year. The increase is mainly due to the opening of the
Madhurikund cattle farm at Muttra.
VI.—GENERAL REMARKS.
50. The work of the civil veterinary department still continues to increase
out of all proportion to the staff and facilities provided for it. In every branch of its
work considerable progress has been made. There is also ample outside evidence
that the department is steadily gaining popularity, and the demands on the
services of its officers is daily growing larger. As the result of extended facilities
for training in scientific methods, the efficiency of the subordinate staff is
increasing. Whatever is possible is being done to render the department's
activities primarily of benefit to the agricultural community. The established
success of the serum treatment against rinderpest has made a very favourable
impression, but it is unfortunate that the shortage in the supply of the material
this year should have occurred just at the time when it had become so necessary.
It will be seen that the number of outbreaks attended and animals treated is
annually increasing, and systematic and early notification of disease is having very
satisfactory results. Horse-breeding operations continue to flourish, and so much
so that there have this year been 361 more coverings than have been ever
previously recorded. New hospitals and dispensaaies are gradually being established
with a daily increasing attendance. Considerable attention is being paid to cattle-
breeding. One farm at Kheri is already issuing stud bulls, and another at Muttra
has been established and is now being stocked. One hundred and forty-one bulls
are now distributed about the province at stud work. Sheep-breeding experiments
are being carried out with encouraging results.
Owing to the rapid expansion of the department and the wide scope of its
activities it is evident that an increase in the superior staff will soon be imperative.
I consider that for the future not less than 3 Imperial officers and 3 Deputy
Superintendents will be necessary for the efficient control of the numerous branches
of the work.
51. For rendering genuine assistance in the work of inoculation 7 certificates
have been awarded, viz. 3 in the district of Cawnpore, 2 in the district of Ghazipur,
and one each in the districts of Naini Tal and Bara Banki.
52. My thanks are due to Mr. C. W. Wilson, 2nd Superintendent for the
valuable assistance he has rendered during the year in the control of the department
and investigation of disease, and also to Deputy Superintendent M. Niaz
Mohamad, who has worked with great energy and conscientiousness. The work
of the subordinate staff, both the clerical and technical, has been most satisfactory
and deserves due credit.
E. W. OLIVER, M.R.C.V.S., F.Z.S.,
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary department,
United Provinces.