2
5. Five thousand two hundred and forty seven patients were treated
in the Veterinary College Hospital during the year, a slight increase of some 300.
The rise in the number of canine patients from 21 † to 576 shows how much
the canine branch of the institution is appreciated. The Lieutenant-Governor
observes that the number of horses shod at the college has fallen, and would
be glad if the Principal would consider the possibility of appointing a really
first class farrier to be in charge of this important branch of the work. It is
believed that this would fill a very much felt want in the capital of the Province.
6. Sir Charles Rivaz takes this opportunity of recording his marked
appreciation of the great advance made in the research work of the college.
The progress achieved in this important branch of veterinary study cannot
fail to be of the greatest practical advantage to the Province, and His Honour
considers that both Major Pease and Captain Baldrey deserve great credit
for the enterprise and enthusiasm with which they have devoted themselves to
the investigation of cattle and equine diseases and for the measures which they
and their staff have taken for making the results of their labours available
for the agricultural population.
7. The staff of the Civil Veterinary Department was increased during
the year by the creation of the appointment of the third Superintendent, who is,
in addition to controlling the veterinary work of the Noth-West Frontier
Province, to be in charge of that in the Rawalpindi division and the district
of Miánwáli. The new incumbent, however, has not yet been appointed,
and the bulk of the work has been done by Captain Walker and Mr. Oliver.
The sanctioned increase in the number of Inspectors from 6 to 12 did not take
effect till the current year. Ninty-six Veterinary Assistants were employed and
the ideal of having one for each tahsil is being gradually attained. The remark
in part IV of the report that better terms are offered to Veterinary Assistants
in other departments is not clear, and the comparison intended is probably
with other provinces. The difficulty in obtaining qualified assistants is, however,
hardly likely to continue if the number of graduates passed out of the College
is maintained at any thing like the present figure, as the number of possible
appointments will not be commensurate with the supply of candidates. Three
new Veterinary Hospitals were opened at Gujrát, Multán and Murree. Progress
was made in the construction of hospitals at Ludhiána, Delhi and Ráwalpindi.
8. The grant of three lakhs by Government for the development of the
Agricultural and Veterinary Departments has enabled the Director to initiate many
important improvements during the year, and the further financial assistance re-
cently provided out of the six-and-a half lakhs granted to district boards will
remove many of the obstacles in the way of improvements to which allusion is
made in Captain Walker's report. The expenditure during the year in the de-
partment is reported to have been Rs. 2,92000, of which Rs, 1,39,000 was
borne by Imperial Funds, Rs. 92,000 falling on Local and Rs. 61,000 on Pro-
vincial Revenues. The rise in the receipts of Veterinary Hospitals from
Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 16,000 was counterbalanced by a development in expenditure
from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 13,000.
9. There was a considerable fall in the number of cases of contagious dis-
ease reported, due to the decrease of foot and mouth disease, but the mortality
from such causes remained stationary. Of the deaths from contagion among
equines which have been reported from the " non-selected" districts a large pro-
portion were due to surra in Lahore. That disease and lymphangitis epizootica
have now been scheduled in respect of the city and civil station of Lahore under
the Glanders and Farcy Act, the difficulty of providing an adequate establish-
ment for the purpose of diagnosis being considered an insuperable obstacle to
scheduling them in respect of the province generally. A valuable treatise on
Dourine by Major Pease appeared in the course of the year, and the Director
issued practical instructions for its detection and suppression in the " non-select-
ed " districts of the Punjab.