No. 2949 S. (Rev. & Agri.—Genl.), dated Simla, 31st August 1914.
From—The Hon'ble Mr. J. P. THOMPSON, I.C.S., Revenue Secretary to Government, Punjab,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Revenue and Agriculture.
I AM directed to submit, for the information of the Government of
India, a copy of the Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary Department for the
year 1913-14, including the Annual Report on the Hissar Cattle Farm.
2. It was stated in last year's review that definite proposals for the
extension of the College course to four years, to be followed by a post-graduate
course of one year, were under the consideration of His Honour. The four
years' course will be inaugurated in October 1914, and the post-graduate course,
it is hoped, in October 1915. In the case of Military students, the present three
years' course will be retained, provided this does not involve separate lectures.
The service has been improved by the creation of a grade of Deputy
Superintendents and by additions to the number of Inspectors.
3. The working of the College is satisfactory, and the percentage of
passes among 2nd and 3rd year students considerably better than in 1912-13.
The demand for admission continues to be very great and many candidates have
to be refused. This fact, supported by the remarks in paragraph 16 of the
report which show that the supply of Veterinary graduates is far below the
rapidly increasing demands of the Punjab and other Provinces, strengthens the
case for a second Veterinary College in Northern India. The Lieutenant-
Governor made a recommendation to that effect last year and the matter is now
under the consideration of the Government of India. The new Veterinary
College at Lahore is nearing completion, but the number of admissions is
dependent not only on the accommodation, but also on the clinical material
available. The paucity of such material has often been lamented by the College
authorities, and it is very satisfactory to find that in the year under report there
was a very marked increase in the number of cases treated. The extra
facilities for treatment and accommodation which the new College will afford
should enable the increase to be maintained.
4. The Lieutenant-Governor entirely approves of the efforts which are
being made to keep Veterinary Inspectors and Assistants up to date in their
professional knowledge by means of local conferences presided over by a
Superintendent. A still more interesting and valuable experiment is that of
giving lectures and demonstrations in villages. Lieutenant-Colonel Farmer's
report gives a graphic description of the economic loss to owners and the
terrible suffering to animals that result from the present appalling ignorance
of the elements of Veterinary treatment. The measures which he and his staff
are taking to dispel that ignorance appear to be eminently practical, and likely
to be adopted by the people, and to take only a single case, it seems probable
that the very large increase in the number of castrations and the humane
methods employed are due to the knowledge of breeding conditions which has
been thus imparted.
5. The Chief Superintendent complains that patwaris neglect the duty
of reporting outbreaks of disease among animals, which is imposed on them by
paragraph 53 of Standing Order 15. The Financial Commissioners will be
asked to take the steps necessary to ensure compliance with these orders. The
remarks of the Director of Agriculture with regard to the shortcomings of
certain District Boards will be brought to the notice of the Commissioners
concerned. It is satisfactory to observe that glanders did not appear at all on
the Pathankot-Dalhousie and the Pathankot-Dharmsala roads during the year
under report. The good work done in the prevention of cruelty to animals,
though His Honour fears it only touches the fringe of the evil, is worthy of
notice.
6. Expenditure by local bodies on Veterinary objects shows a substantial
increase from 3.95 to 4.39 lakhs. The number of animals present at the cattle
fairs of the year was 528,554 as compared with 276,955 in the previous year.