10
Training of inefficient
Veterinary Assistants at
the
Punjab
Veterinary
College.
(Post-graduate course).
"Having obtained your permission I propose, when the College staff "
"regains its normal strength, to send as many men as"
"possible whom I have discovered are backward in pro-"
"fessional knowledge to the College in batches for"
"periods of three months. They will be able to attend"
"lectures and demonstrations, and I shall, as far as possible, give some atten-"
"tion to them myself when in Lahore. I think this post-graduate course"
"should be of great benefit to many of the men as owing to lack of profes-"
"sional supervision they have forgotten a good deal of their professional work."
Equipment and carriage
of medicines.
"A statement is attached showing the number of animals treated and"
"castrations performed during the year, Animals treated at dispensaries"
"have not been included in these figures. There is much useful work in"
"front of these District Veterinary Assistants in connection with disease"
"and breeding among domestic animals. At present they tour regularly in"
"their circles and give advice which is not always taken. Some have"
"medicines which they are able to use with advantage, but many are very"
"imperfectly equipped both with medicines and instru-"
"ments. I am of opinion that contributions from Local"
"Bodies on a fixed scale are required for the purpose of equipment, and"
"some arrangement is necessary to enable the men to carry their medicines,"
"&c., with them when on tour. Sufficient I think can be taken in saddle"
"bags on a riding pony, provided a room for dispensing at head-quarters"
"is given. Each should spend about 20 days on tour in his circle and ten"
"days at his head-quarters where he can do any serious operations requir-"
"ing consecutive attendance and attend to animals brought in. He would"
"of course be always available for urgent duty anywhere in his circle."
"These men are now being equipped by me with necessary registers"
"and forms to enable me to check their work, and they will all work in"
"future on similar lines. In addition to supplying me with information"
"concerning disease, they will now be required to send me certain in forma-"
"tion in connection with cattle breeding,"
VII.—TOURS OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
During the year under report Veterinary Lieutenant Smith was in
charge of both the North and South Punjab Circles. He visited the following
districts:—Shahpur, Lahore, Jhang and Miánwáli in the North Circle, and
Ferozepore, Amritsar, Umballa, Muzaffargarh, Gurdáspur, Jullundur, Dera
Gházi Khan, Ludhiána and Rohtak in the South Circle. He also attended
horse shows held at Jhang, Gujránwála, Ráwalpindi, Hánsi, Amritsar, Jalál-
abad, Delhi, Karnál, Dera Gházi Khan and Umballa. Mr. Smith also inspected
the dak lines of Rawalpindi to Srínagar, Kálka to Simla and Pathápkot to
Dalhousie and Dharmsála; and the Veterinary Dispensaries at Amritsar, Rohtak,
Ferozepore, Ludhiána, Umballa and Jalalabad.
Veterinary Lieutenant Walker inspected every dispensary in the
Punjab, and visited every district except Kángra and Simla. He visited out-
breaks of disease in Lahore, Jhelum, Rawalpindi and Siálkot Districts to ini-
tiate inoculation work and make investigations. He also visited the fairs at
Hánsi, Amritsar, Jalalabad and Hissár. Both these officers deserve credit for
good work done during the year.
VIII.—GENERAL.
The formation of the provincial service of Veterinary Assistants and the
appointment of a Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department to super-
vise these men, and to initiate and supervise measures for the prevention and
cure of disease among cattle, has been a great advance. I venture to think
that the above report of half a year's work under a new regime does credit
to Veterinary Lieutenant Walker, and also that it will justify the Local Gov-
ernment in completing the measures necessary to make the scheme of a subor-
dinate veterinary service a complete success. The experience so far gained
points to the following measures as still required to ensure this object:—(1) the
establishment of a Veterinary Hospital at the head-quarters of every district,