7
32. Towards the close of the year the buildings at Sohawa were reported
to be approaching completion. It is anticipated they will be ready for occu-
pation during the early part of the next official year.
33. Mr. Leese has been most energetic and unremitting in his labours to
advance our knowledge of the diseases of the camel. Considering his work
has been carried out often in trying circumstances, the success achieved is
highly commendable. I consider we are greatly indebted to him not only for
the zealous manner in which he has carried on his work but also for the pro-
gress made.
Other diseases.
34. Table IV shows the number of animals treated and castrated by
Veterinary Assistants while on tour.
The number of Veterinary Assistants
employed has increased by nearly a hundred, viz., from 517 to 614. With the
exception of Rajputana, additions have been made in every Province. Mad-
ras shows 38 Veterinary Assistants now employed. In last year's report
none were recorded. The work performed by Veterinary Assistants indicates
general progress. Over 11,000 more villages were visited and the number
of cases treated (excluding castrations) exceeded those of last year by 63,741.
Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.
35. A reference to Table V will show that there were 327 Veterinary
Dispensaries in working order during
the year under report, against 408 in the
previous year. Burma shows a decrease of 107 Dispensaries and Madras of
2. An explanation on this point will be given later. In Rajputana and
Bengal the numbers remain the same as last year; in all other Provinces there
is an increase shown.
There is nothing special worthy of note under this head. Madras ex-
plains that the reduction of two Veterinary Dispensaries is due to those at
Ongole and Ellore having been transferred from Government administration
to that of the District Boards of Guntur. Burma explains as follows in
regard to the reduction of 107 Dispensaries:—
"There being no hospital in charge of any District Veterinary Assist-
ant as in Indian Provinces, it has been deemed advisable, for
the purposes of Table V, to disregard the dispensing of medi-
cines by Veterinary Assistants from their supply at head-quar-
ters and to consider them all as itinerating Veterinary Assist-
ants only. The number of dispensaries is therefore reduced
to one, viz., that attached to the Veterinary hospital at Insein."
36. The receipts and expenditure connected with Veterinary hospitals
are detailed in Table VI. The financial results are satisfactory showing an
increase under 'Receipts' and a decrease under 'Expenditure.'
The total strength of the subordinate veterinary staff employed and the
work performed will be found fully detailed under the head " IV.—Subordin-
ate Establishment."
III.—BREEDING OPERATIONS.
(1) Bovines.
Stud bulls and their produce.
37. Discrepancies in figures still continue, vide paragraph 165 of last
year's report. The closing balance of
stud bulls, the property of Government,
was shown to be 58 in the previous year, whereas the opening balance this year
(Table VIII) is reported to be 63, and this is stated to be the correct number.
As compared with last year's figures there is an increase of 53 stud bulls
maintained by Local Boards.
38. Bengal reports that the demand for bulls for stud purposes is in-
creasing and urges the necessity of Government starting a large breeding
farm as early as possible. The local farms maintained by the Court of Wards
Estates at Siripur and Bettiah are reported to be supplying bulls to meet
their own requirements. The class of animals is well reported on. The site