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opportunities to the students of making themselves familiar with the contagious
diseases which they will be called upon to diagnose. (Appendices VII, VIII,
IX, and X).
16. At the request of the Director of Land Records and Agriculture,
Bengal, the Commissioner of Police has sent one horse for treatment, and I
hope he will send more, and through the courtesy of the Chairman of the
Calcutta Corporation and also on Mr. Lyon's recommendation, 11 municipal
bullocks suffering from rinderpest have recently been treated in the College
Hospital. Although 8 of these bullocks died within a few hours of their
admission into the hospital, owing to the cases being far advanced when
sent, yet they afforded the students some further opportunities for clinical study
of the disease, and as I hope arrangements will be possible whereby we shall be
able to treat the cases earlier I look forward to a smaller death-rate in future.
Two municipal ponies suffering from glanders were also admitted into the
hospital. The students have also been to the Municipal Gowkhana to take
temperatures of the cattle with the view of early detection of disease in connec-
tion with the recent outbreak of rinderpest among the municipal cattle. The
increase in the number of cases treated at the college—from 1,034 to 1,530—has
contributed considerably towards the clinical instruction of the students during
the year under report.
17. I have also recommended that the Entally hospital, under the
Bengal Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, VIII of 1890, be closed and its work
transferred to Belgatchia. This will also afford a certain amount of clinical
instruction in the management of contagious cases, and at the same time cause
a saving to the municipality of about two-thirds of the cost of the Entally
hospital.
18. The number of operations performed in 1898-99 was 364 as against
272 last year, which shows an increase of 92 over the last year. (Appendix
XI).
19. The revised scale of fees for the treatment of animals came into force
on the 4th June 1898. Since that date to 31st March 1899, 83 first-class
patients were admitted, of which 76 were in-patients, and 7 out-patients as
against 53 in-patients and 19 out-patients, or a total of 72 of the corresponding
period of 1897-98 ; and the fees received were Rs. 2,111 under the new rules
against Rs. 1,557 under the old rules. The working under the new rules,
therefore, shows an increase of 11 first-class patients and of Rs. 554 as fees over
those under the old rules. The second-class patients for the above period
show a decrease from 120 under the old rules to 95 under the new rules. But
the amount of fees realised is Rs. 170.6 in excess of that received under the old
rules. This is explained by the fact that, according to the new rules the mini-
mum charge is Rs. 8 for an in-patient and Rs. 2 for an out-patient, as against
8 annas and free treatment, respectively, under the old rules.
THE AMBULANCES.
20. The ambulances, as reported last year, continued to be of great
service during the year under report. The Principal of the Lahore Veterinary
College requested me to furnish him with plans of one of our ambulances,
so that the Lahore Veterinary College might also benefit by the successful
experiment that has been carried out here.
THE FORGE.
21. The number of horses shod in the Institution during the year 1898-99
was 393 as against 307 shod last year, which shows an increase of 86 over the
last year.
FINANCIAL.
22. The income from fees for treatment and shoeing of animals in the
Institution amounts to Rs. 6,046-12-9, of which Rs. 5,878-4-9 have been realised
in 1898-99, and the cost of feeding the patients is Rs. 5,553-11. Taking
Rs. 5,878-4-9, the actual amount realised, as the income, there is a profit of
Rs. 324-9-9. It was reported last year that there were Rs. 50-6 outstanding
for fees. Of this, Rs. 5-10 have been realised in 1898-99 and Rs. 44-12 are
still outstanding from two defaulters against whom cases have been decreed.
B 2