8
The dispensaries at Daska, Pasrúr and Raya are branches of the
Central Dispensary at Siálkot. The Superintendent, South Punjab, has
inspected all the dispensaries in his circle, and reports that these institutions
continue to increase in popular favour and are undoubtedly doing a great
deal of good and useful work. Judging from the great success which has
attended the Sialkot Dispensaries, the Superintendent of the North Punjab
regrets that more has not been done in this direction in other districts of his
circle. When the organization of Veterinary Assistants is accomplished, it is
the intention of the Superintendent to submit a scheme to start several other
small dispensaries where needed.
Work done by Veteri-
nary Assistants.
The greater part of the work done by Veterinary Assistants is done on
tour from village to village. The total number of cases
treated was 57,020 against 56,998 last year. The services
of these men are said to be much appreciated by the zamíndárs. The details of
the scheme to make the service a provincial one are practically completed.
The number of castrations by Veterinary Assistants was 680 compared
with 778 last year. The decrease is to be attributed to the fact that many
young animals were in poor condition owing to the fodder scarcity, and in such
cases the operation was postponed.
VI.—TOURING OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
The Superintendent of the North Punjab, Veterinary-Lieutenant
Trydell, made a long district tour in the districts of Jhelum, Ráwalpindi
and Hazára in order to become more intimately acquainted with the people
and the condition of their stock; he supervised very thoroughly the work
of the zilladárs and Veterinary Assistants in these districts. He also visited
most of the other districts in his circle and attended the fairs at Emínabad,
Jhang, Bannu, Shahpur, Lahore and Ráwalpindi.
Veterinary-Lieutenant Smith, the Superintendent of the South Punjab,
acted as Superintendent of the Northern Circle in addition to his own duties
for three months. He visited all the districts and dispensaries in his circle,
and was present at all the fairs of importance, acting as a member of the
Judging Committee at Amritsar, Hánsi and Kapurthala Horse Shows. He
inspected the Simla, Dalhousie, Dharamsála, Srínagar and Abbotabad Dâk
lines. He acted as a member of the Annual Examination Board of the Punjab
Veterinary College. He also purchased mules for the Army Remount
Department, and the Hissár Cattle Farm, and inspected the horse-boxes and
trucks on the Railways. Both these officers devoted themselves to their work
with untiring energy and deserve credit for the way in which they performed
their duties during the year.
VII.—GENERAL.
The Provincial cost of the Civil Veterinary Department was less than
last year, (Rs. 16,009 against Rs. 21,045). The saving was chiefly under the
head of travelling allowance, as the expensive journeys to Kashmir to suppress
the severe outbreak of glanders in the previous year fortunately were not
necessary in the present year. Appendix IX, Provincial Table P, shows
the expenditure on veterinary objects by the District Boards of the Province.
The cost of the Veterinary Assistants and dispensary charges as shown
in column 4 amounts to Rs. 39,645. The District Boards of Siálkot, Hissár
and Ferozepore have devoted the largest sums towards Veterinary work.
The District Board of Jhang, which now appears to be the richest Board in the
Province, is apparently in a position to spend more of its income than it does in
this direction. It is understood, for instance, that at least 20 zamíndárs of the
colony have applied to have Hissár bulls placed in their charge,