6
As usual this disease was most prevalent in Kangra District where 241
animals died. Many of the cattle in that district are very badly looked after and
have not the vitality to resist severe foot and mouth disease. As stated
last year this is one of the few contagious diseases in which Veterinary Assist-
ants are able to render medicinal treatment. They are able to do good work
in this way.
Black quarter.
35. Black quarter was reported from 18 districts. The mortality of
affected animals in this disease is severe.
It breaks
out regularly in certain villages in Hoshiarpur and
Ludhiana Districts at certain seasons of the year. As foreshadowed last year,
some inoculations were undertaken with a well-known prophylactic imported
from abroad. Mr. Oliver reports that the inoculations were done at the request
of the cattle owners with satisfactory results. The actual figures are 79 animals
inoculated with one death.
Forty-six uninoculated animals died during the
course of the outbreaks. Applications were subsequently received from Sialkot,
Hoshiarpur and Jhelum for inoculation, but they could not be complied with as
under orders of the Government of India no sera or prophylactics are to be
used in future unless obtained from the Muktesar Laboratory.
Outbreaks visited per-
sonally.
36. Mr. Oliver was able to visit outbreaks of disease in 5 districts
for the purpose of diagnosis and investigation.
Treatment of disease in
villages.
37. Table IV shows the number of villages visited by Veterinary
Assistants and the number of patients treated by them for
contagious and non-coutagious diseases. Most of the cattle
treated for contagious disease were treated for foot and mouth disease. As a rule
Veterinary Assistants arrive too late to treat animals suffering from bæmorrhagic
septicæmia or black quarter. 39,622 animals were treated as against 33,517 last
year. 527 animals were castrated, 312 of these being equines. The decrease in the
number of equine castrations is due to the fact that in selected districts many
animals are castrated by the Veterinary Staff of the Army Remount Department,
Animals treated in villages by itinerating men are shown separately from those
treated at headquarters. Since the appointment of Veterinary Inspectors it
is possible to exercise a greater check on the tours of the Veterinary Assistants.
SECTION III.—VETERINARY HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
General.
38. There are now 9 Veterinary Hospitals in the Province, which is an
increase of two on last year.
The Simla Veterinary
Hospital was taken over from the beginning of the year
from the Imperial Government. The Lyallpur Veterinary Hospital was opened
in February.
An itinerating man with a dispensary had already made a
beginning at that place. Veterinary Hospitals are in charge of stationary men.
They are doing good work and the old established ones can be said to be in a
flourishing condition. Amritsar, Sialkot and Gujranwala are deserving of special
mention.
The Dispensaries are in charge of itinerating men and they are usually
open the last ten days of every month.
Buildings.
39. In the case of Veterinary Hospitals, most of the buildings are satis-
factory. The new hospital at Lyallpur has been built on
the standard plan and a similar one is being built in
Ludhiana, the old building at that place not being suitable. Ambala requires
better buildings and the matter is under consideration. The accommodation at
Simla is only temporary and very indifferent. Plans for a new hospital have been
prepared and sanctioned. It is expected that the new Simla Veterinary Hospital,
with accommodation for in-patients, will be built during the next six months.
New Veterinary Dispensaries are being provided at Zira, Moga, Khanga
Dogran, Jhelum, Gurdaspur and Samrala. Some of these may eventually develop
into hospitals. A few districts are backward in supplying adequate accommoda-
tion for itinerating men at their headquarters. The necessity for premises of this
description becomes very apparent when it is seen what a number of animals are
brought to headquarters for treatment during the time the Veterinary Assistant
in charge is present. Beyond this, Veterinary Assistants must have a place in
which they can keep their equipment and dispense their medicines.