12
The Amritsar Veterinary-
Hospital.
71. During the year, the Municipal Veterinary Hospital at Amritsar,
which was formerly controlled by the Municipality, was
placed under the charge of this Department. It will be
seen from Appendix VII. K. that by this change the Municipality has saved
Rs. 523 in comparison with last year.
The
Simla Veterinary
Hospital.
72. The Imperial Veterinary Hospital at Simla has been taken over as a
provincial institution from April 1st, and it is probable that
during the year 1904-05 a Veterinary Hospital will be built
to take the place of the present temporary quarters.
Treatment on tour in
villages.
Appendix VII. N.
73. The number of animals treated by itinerating Veterinary Assistants
is shown in Appendix VII. N. During the year, 33,517
animals were so treated against 30,939 last year. Itinerating
men are now equipped with an approved pattern of saddle
bags which they take with them on tour. When Veterinary Inspectors are
appointed, Veterinary Assistants will have their tours approved beforehand and
they should then be made in a more systematic manner.
Fees and charges.
74. An attempt has been made to establish a uniform scale of fees and
charges at veterinary institutions in districts. The charges
have been fixed at the lowest possible rate and barely cover
the actual cost of medicines. Charges are now to be levied from all persons who
pay income-tax, the principle adopted being that they can well afford payment. The
new schedule of fees was promulgated with the Director of Land Records' Circular
No. 2 of 1903. Deviations from the standard rates are permissible with the
previous sanction of the Director of Land Records where these are necessitated by
special local conditions. The new system was adopted in July, and in some places
at a later date. The revenue at Veterinary Hospitals under this heading is shown
in Appendix VII. K. In addition thereto, Rs. 191-8-9 were realised on account of
fees, &c., at some Veterinary Dispensaries.
Remarks by the Director
of Land Records.
75. It is to be regretted that unforeseen expenditure on plague has
caused delay in the provision of a hospital building at
Ráwalpindi. From the experience gained at Amritsar,
Ferozepore and other places, I am confident that a hospital will supply a real
want at Ráwalpindi, as it would in any other station where there is considerable
wheeled traffic, and where there are a large number of well-to-do English and
native residents. I am informed by the Deputy Commissioner that the institution
will be opened during the current year. In the meanwhile, no appointment
has been made as yet to the post of Veterinary Assistant sanctioned for the
hospital. The work of the Simla Hospital is at present carried on in two hired rooms
in the bazár. There is pressing need of buildings with stabling accommodation to
enable the Veterinary Assistant in charge to keep cases under his immediate super-
vision. It is also very important that a central position should be secured. It
is hoped that the site of the bullock train office will be made available for this
purpose. A Veterinary Hospital was recently sanctioned for Sargodha, and it is
expected that the new hospitals at Ráwalpindi, Lyallpur and Sargodha will be
opened during the current year. Captain Walker's success in obtaining dispensary
accommodation for itinerating Veterinary Assistants during the ten days in each
month which they spend at head-quarters is very satisfactory. As noted last year,
the system of working is that a Veterinary Assistant passes ten days in each
month at his head quarters and tours for the remaining twenty, visiting the largest
villages and staying a certain time at each.
The levy of fees from income-tax payers has not affected the attendance
at hospitals. A small decrease in the number of in-patients is counterbalanced
by an increase in out-patients. The system of charging those who can afford to
pay the bare cost of medicine is, I think, sound and should be unobjectionable.
The receipts which will accrue will, doubtless, be a welcome set-off against the
expense incurred by Local Bodies. The total receipts this year amounted to
Rs. 628-10-6 as against Rs. 116-6-0 in 1902-03. The new system was only in
force for varying and short periods at the different hospitals, so that more reliable
date will be available next year.