6
South Punjab.—Veterinary-Lieutenant Smith.
" Amritsar.—This dispensary is quite the best equipped and most useful institution
of its kind in the South Punjab.
" Hoshiárpur.—The Deputy Commissioner writes that the usefulness and popularity
of this dispensary is increasing.
" Umballa.—This dispensary has continued to increase in popularity.
" Rohtak.—There is no accommodation for in-patients at this dispensary.
" Ludhiána.—I quite agree with the Deputy Commissioner who remarks that this
institution is yearly becoming more popular.
"Ferozepore.—This dispensary was only started in December. At my inspections
was satisfied that in a short time this institution would supply a popular need.
"Jalálabad.—Rai Bahádur Maya Dás, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Manager of the
Mamdot Estate, explains the decrease by stating that the season was a particularly
healthy one, hence fewer animals were in need of medical aid, otherwise the dispensary is
fairly popular."
Veterinary-Captain Gunn in his report on the cattle of the four districts
inspected by him, also speaks well of the dispensaries at Hoshiárpur and
Siálkot.
Working of the subordi-
nate staff.
10. The Superintendent, North Punjab, (Veteri
nary-Lieutenant Trydell) writes :—
" It is impossible to tell whether the Salútrís carry on their work satisfactorily, as
they were only in each instance with me for about a day in their respective tahsils.
I examined most of them in the treatment of various diseases and their answers were on
the whole satisfactory; but it was no proof that they put their knowledge into practice.
The fault to find in their replies is that they invariably forget to take into consideration
that nursing, dieting, &c., is the first thing to be thought of ; the general comfort of the
animal seems to be a minor detail with them. They fly at once to name every conceivable
drug in the Pharmacy when asked the treatment for the simplest disease."
Castration of colts.
11. The number of castrations by Veterinary Assist-
ants seems to be steadily falling-off, as will be seen below—
1895-96
1896-97
1897-98
1898-99
...
...
...
....
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1,444
1,219
967
778
The remarks of the Superintendents on this subject are as follows:—
North Punjab.—Veterinary-Lieutenant Trydell.
" I cannot account for the decrease unless it is the Veterinary Assistants do not
exert themselves enough in this matter. Siálkot Salútris have done very well. The
Salútris of this district have castrated 132 (last year 118), and I feel sure that such good
results are almost entirely due to the Veterinary dispensaries. The people of this district
are rapidly gaining confidence in our method of treatment; besides I think the Salútrís in
Siálkot are a more active lot than in any other district, and certainly gave me the idea of
taking far more interest in their work generally."
South Punjab.— Veterinary-Lieutenant
Smith.
" It is difficult to explain this decrease. It may be partly due to slackness on the
part of Veterinary Assistants, although I cannot say I noticed many animals whilst on
tour on which an opportunity for operating had been lost. I think it is partly explained
by the older animals having been operated on in previous years, a less number being left
for castration during the year under report."
The large and increasing number of castrations in Siálkot, a district not
famous for horse-breeding, seems to show that the decrease in other districts is
most probably due to the indolence or rapacity of the Veterinary Assistants.
It stands to reason that if a Veterinary Assistant expects a good fee for carrying
out castrations, the owner of an entire will, if he desires to castrate, prefer to have
the operation performed by a non-professional.
The number of castrations by Imperial Salútrís has also fallen off.