NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
37
Black-quarter—Table II.
21. During the year under report 1,348 deaths ware re-
ported from Black-quarter as compared
with 569 during the previous year.
Like last year, Jhelum District suffered most, where alone
411 animals were reported to have died of this disease.
Vaccinations
against
Black-qurater—Table III.
22. Vaccinations against Black-quarter were performed
on 15,776 animals in 114 villages of 7
districts against 9,823, 95 and 5 respec-
tively during the previous year. Dar-
ing the year under report again there had been a marked in-
crease in the number of vaccinations performed against
Black-quarter.
The Director, Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory,
Muktesar, has promised us a new and improved vaccine
against this disease which we hope to try during the current
year.
Other Contagious Diseas-
es—Table II.
23. During the year under report 310 deaths were re-
ported to have taken place amongst
bovines from other contagious diseases
as compared with 246 in the previous
year. These include the following diseases :—
Cow-pox, Liver Fluke, contagious Pleuro Pneumonia
Gillar and Rabies.
I (c).—Other Animals.
Mortality—Table II.
24. Three thousand, seven hundred and twenty-six
deaths took place amongst other animals
of the Province as compared with 6,70 7
in the previous year. Detail of the mortality is given
below :—
Rinderpest ...
Foot and Mouth disease
Contagious Pleuro Pneumonia
Mange ...
Gillar ...
Rabies ...
Goat-pox ...
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
Black-quarter ...
Liver Fluke ...
Influenza ...
Other contagious diseases
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
... 353
... 191
... 261
... 10
542
... 2
... 2
... 191
... 18
... 20
... 8
...
2,128
...
3,726
38
II.—OTHER DISEASES.
Treatment of Diseases in
villages—Table IV.
25. During the year under report 14,213 villages
were visited by Veterinary Assistants on
tour. Eighty-two thousand six hundred
and eighty-five animals were treated
and 58,534 castrations performed as compared with
20,217 villages, 130,551 cases and 52,527 castrations
during the previous year. It is sad to have to report
the decrease in the number of villages visited and
animals treated, clue of course to the diminished travelling
allowance. This further supports our case that it cannot
pay this Province to maintain a Veterinary Department if
working expenses cannot be provided.
The increase in the number of castrations is encourag-
ing and points to no loss of energy on the part of the Depart-
ment.
The whole question of cattle breeding is so intimately
connected with castration (as no real improvement in cattle
in villages is possible, so long as immature and deformed male
stock have access to the cows) that the continued success
of the castration campaign started some years ago is
particularly gratifying. A large number of castrations are
now done with the Italian Burdizzo's castrator origin-
ally introduced into the Province by Mr. Cross. It is
bloodless method and is becoming very popular.
III.—VETERINARY HOSPITALS.
Number of Veterinary
Hospitals—Table V.
26. In the beginning of the year under report there
were 3 73 Veterinary Hospitals in the
Province. During the year 3 new
Veterinary Hospitals were started at :—
Pattoki, District Lahore.
Nankana Sahib, District Sheikhupura.
Muridki, District Sheikhupura.
Thus at the close of the year there were 176 Veterinary
Hospitals in the Province.
The administrative approval for the opening of a new
Veterinary Hospital at Bhowana in the Jhang District and to
the provision of an additional Veterinary Assistant for that
hospital during the year 1925-26 has been accorded by the
Punjab Government.
39
The District Board of Montgomery has admitted the
necessity of starting a new Veterinary Hospital at Chicha-
watni in the Montgomery Tahsil but on account of lack of
funds have approached Government for the grant of
Rs. 20,000 only for the purpose during the year 1924-25.
Administrative approval of Government is awaited to
the opening of Veterinary Hospitals at :
(1) Qilla Sardar Harnam Singh instead of Manan-
wala, District Sheikhupura.
(2) Indoura, District Kangra.
(3) Campbellpur, District Attock.
Necessary provision to meet the pay of additional
Veterinary Assistants for these places already exists in the
budget for the year 1924-25 and it is hoped that the opening
of Veterinary Hospitals, will not be long delayed,
New Veterinary Hospitals are proposed for the follow-
ing places as soon as the necessary preliminaries have been
completed :—
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
Anandpur,
District Hoshiarpur.
Satrah,
Ghorewah,
Ahmadnagar,
Shergarh,
Musakhel,
Tret
Ahmadpur Sayal,
Mian Channu,
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
Sialkot.
Gurdaspur.
Gujranwala.
Montgomery.
Mianwali.
Rawalpindi.
Jhang.
Multan.
A private Veterinary dispensary has been started as
an experimental measure by the District Board of Gujran-
wala at village Kolu Tarar, Tahsil Hafizabad. A retired
Veterinary Assistant has been re-employed by the Board and
placed incharge of this dispensary.
Many offers of help have been received from the zamin-
dars towards the opening of new Veterinary hospitals, these
could not be entertained however owing to the paucity of
staff which makes it impossible to commit ourselves to fur-
ther expansion of the activities of the Department without ad-
ditional cadre. Meanwhile proposals have been submitted to
Government for an increase in the cadre of Veterinary Assist-
ants to meet the needs of special localities where Veterinary
aid is urgently required. The following gentlemen have
40
generously contributed to the opening of new Veterinary
hospitals :—
Diwan Bansi Lal of Akalgarh, Gujranwala District,
Chaudhri Malha Singh of Indoura, Kangra District,
Rai Bahadur Lala Sewak Ram, M.L C.
The Sargodha Veterinary hospital, which in 1909 was
handed over to the Army Remount Department on the for-
mation of the local horse breeding area, was by the unani-
mous decision of the District Board, Shahpur, re-transferred
to the Civil Veterinary Department to meet the expansion
of this Department's activities in the district. It is satisfac-
tory to note the popularity of the work of our staff as
expressed in this resolution from the Local District Board.
Work at
Veterinary
hospitals—Table V.
27. The total number of animals treated in the Veteri-
nary hospitals during the year under
report was 496,072 against 430,942
during the previous year. In addition
80,289 cases against 103,832 last year were supplied with
medicines but were not brought to the hospitals. Thirty-
nine thousand two hundred and twenty-five castrations were
performed in these hospitals against 27,484 during the
previous year.
Buildings of Veterinary
hospitals.
28. Many Veterinary hospitals are still accommodated
in hired and temporary quarters on ac-
count of the unfavourable financial con-
dition of the District Boards. The
total expenditure on buildings during the year under report
amounts to Rs. 83,171 as compared with Rs. 74,648 during
the previous year and Rs. 1,17,3 3 the year before. In
order to relieve District Boards of heavy expenses of build-
ing Veterinary hospitals at outlying stations steps are being
taken to prepare plans on cheaper lines.
Simla Veterinary hospital.
29. The receipts and expenditure of the Simla Veteri-
nary hospital during the year were
Rs. 11,1\ill\8 and Rs. 7,880 against
Rs. lu,728 and Rs. 8,443, respectively,
during the previous year. The surplus of the income over
the expenditure which must have been credited into the Gov-
ernment Treasury by the Municipality was Rs. 3,258 against
Rs. 2,285 ( or Rs. 973 more than ) last year. The mini-
mum amount that is required to be paid to Government
annually ( according to the terms of transfer of the insti-
tution) on account of pay and allowances of Veterinary
41
Assistant and interest on the initial cost of the hospital plus
that on the additional expenditure on buildings at 4½ per
cent. is Rs. 3,459 per annum. The net loss to Government
is therefore Rs. 201 against the net loss of Rs. 1,174 last
year.
The question of raising the charges of this hospital in
order to cover the increased cost of maintenence and make
it at least self-supporting is still held in abeyance. Certain
economies in the existing expenditure were however suggest-
ed which are being acted upon.
Abolition of fees at
Veterinary hospitals.
30. It is gratifying to note that in spite of imposition
of certain restrictions in the way of
charging fees at Veterinary hospitals,
the income derived during the year
under report has shown a perceptible increase, it being
Rs. 21,301 as compared with Rs. 18,919 during the previous
year.
Part III.—Breeding Operations
I.—BOVINES.
Stud
bulls—Table
VII.
31. At the close of the year under report there were
1,774 stud bulls at work in the various
districts of the Province against 1,637
last year. There were 318 additions
and 181 casualties during the year. Indents for 226
Hissari bulls were received during the year which were
supplied from the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar.
The following is a detail of the bulls shown in column
3 of Table VII:—
Hissar breed from Government Cattle Farm.
...
Hissar breed from the Farms in Montgomery
District ... ... ...
Rohtak breed ... ...
...
...
Montgomery breed from the Farms in the Multan
District ... ... ...
Dajal breed ... ... ...
Dhanni breed ... ...
Strayed bulls recovered during the year
Buffalo bull ... ... ...
Total ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
226
6
18
10
3
52
2
1
318
42
The Department's activities with regard to cattle
breeding are necessarily dependant on the funds made
available for this purpose either by Government or the
District Board. Nearly two years have elapsed since
administrative approval was given to the Hariana Cattle
Breeding Scheme but the necessary funds have not yet been
granted which were to provide the Government subsidy.
The District Boards of Rohtak and Gurgaon have however
in accordance with their resolution allotted funds for this
purpose and under the circumstances a fairly satisfactory
beginning has been made in developing the resources of the
famous tract in order to meet the needs of the canal
irrigated districts for plough cattle. Particular credit is
due to the Gurgaon District Board for its sympathetic
treatment of the local cattle breeding industry by making
it possible to supply at quarter price 110 applicants with
bulls specially chosen by them during the year from the
Government Cattle Farm, Hissar. The action of this
Board is specially commended to the attention of other
District Boards which have not yet shown the same
appreciation of the economic importance of cattle breeding
to their districts.
The financial position of the various District Boards
makes it a matter of increasing difficulty to find the funds
which are needed for the encouragement of the cattle
breeding industry. No improvement in this respect can be
anticipate 1 until some percentage of District Board funds
is allotted to cattle breeding so that a definite programme
of expansion can be adopted by each district. It is evident
that under the present precarious system of finding funds
little real headway can be made in cattle improvement
faced as we are with the difficulty of not being able to
guarantee even replacement of the casualties occurring
amongst the 1,774 scud bulls which comprise the present
strength of District Board bulls working in the districts.
This is very regrettable in a Province like the Punjab the
progress of which is so closely associated with the cattle
breeding industry. We may attribute this position to a
general lack of appreciation of the economic importance
of cattle breeding otherwise it would be reckoned as a key
industry and treated as such. The need therefore for
extensive propaganda to educate public opinion regarding
its importance is urgent. A start has been made in a small
way by the formation of a representative society of cattle
43
breeders in the Dhanni tract with a view to organising
public interest in the work of the Dhanni Cattle Breeding
Scheme and a similar society is being organised for Hariana
cattle breeders. It is felt that the large landowners who
can best afford to take a part in the revival of the indigen-
ous breeds of cattle are they who have shown least
enthusiasm to do so and in this respect differ very re-
markably from men of similar position in other stock
breeding countries who have been noted pioneers in any
movement concerned with the breeding of live stock.
There would appear to be none of the social prestige
attached to the breeding of high class cattle amongst our
large landowners as in other countries, to remedy which the
formation of such societies has certain possibilities when
they once begin to function properly as breeding societies.
It is gratifying to record that another such society was
started at the close of the year in the Multan District. Its
programme includes the improvement of all classes of live-
stock and the encouragement, of all measures to that end.
Already the society has given a great impetus to the work
of castration in the district and is considering the question
of the provision and improvement of stud bulls. This so-
ciety owes its inception mainly to the energy and enthu-
siasm of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Fyson, to whom the
thanks of the Department are due.
Hariana Cattle Brooding
Scheme.
82. Some difficulty is being experienced in procuring
really suitable bulls. This is accentu-
ated by the custom of early castration
prevalent in the district and the diffi-
culty of selecting animals for bulls when in the calf stage.
Many develop defects as they grow up, not readily
noticeable when they were calves. The Rohtak District
Board intend apparently during the present year to utilise
the money voted for the scheme in the purchase of mature
bulls. It is to be hoped that they will confine their pur-
chases to locally bred animals as advised by the Superinten-
dent, South Punjab, and not introduce animals from Rajpu-
tana as has been proposed.
Crossing with bulls from Rajputana will not improve
the local breed and is altogether contrary to the original
plan of the Hariana scheme.
44
Dhanni Cattle Breeding
•Scheme.
33. The Dhanni Cattle Breeding Scheme is making
encouraging progress. The number of
bulls at work has increased. Seven
thousand one hundred and fifty-seven
cows were covered by these bulls as against 4,462 last year.
A cattle breeding association has been initiated under most
promising auspices and a start has been made with a herd
book. Unfortunately owing to plague several cattle shows
in connection with the scheme could not be held. A very
successful show was however held at Jatli in the Rawalpindi
District. The scheme like all other Veterinary Department
activities is still suffering from lack of special staff and the
regular Veterinary staff in the area are to be congratulated
in having accomplished so much. The extra work thrown
on them in shape of checking coverings, the results of
covering the opening of herd book, etc., have been consider-
able.
Cattle Breeding Grants.
34. The majority of grantee farms have now reached
the full strength of their herds and no
doubt on the whole progress is being
made.
The fact that cattle breeding on irrigated tracts com-
pares so badly from the pecuniary point of view with any
other kind of farming militates against these farms. So
long as barani cattle breeding areas still exist in the Pro-
vince, from which bullocks can be imported at less than
it costs to rear them on irrigated land, cattle breeding on a
large scale can only exist in the Canal Colonies under the
artificial conditions of these farms and there is no incentive
for the grantees to devote more attention to their cattle
than the conditions of their leases make imperative. Taking
this fact into consideration the present position of these
farms as a whole is not discouraging and it is possible that
the opening up of further large areas for irrigation may
raise the price of plough cattle sufficiently to supply the
much desired pecuniary incentive to those engaged in the
industry.
Of the two breeds maintained on the farms, as was to
be expected considering that they are the indigenous cattle
of the tract, the Sahiwal breed has up to date made most
progress. This is all the more gratifying in consideration of
the fact that prior to the formation of these farms it was
becoming increasingly difficult every year to purchase good
specimens of this breed. The Department has now no
45
difficulty in supplying the existing demand for stud bulls of
this breed with good specimens bred on these farms.
Milk records are being kept on all the farms and
grantees now understand how they should be kept and are
beginning to appreciate the necessity for them and how
valuable is the information to be derived from them.
Milk records are also being very well kept at Kadirabad,
one of the farms for Hissar breed, and on all of them pro-
gress has been made with the work of gentling and handling
cows and heifers with a view to milking and milk recording
in the future. The Hissar or Hariana cows with proper
handling becomes quite as docile as the Sahiwal. It is a
moot point, however, and one that this experiment will do
something to solve ; whether the breed will do as well and
develop as well under stall feeding as under free grazing
conditions.
The Shergarh Cattle Farm which owes so much to the
enthusiastic advocacy of Syed MohamadHussain Shah, M.L.C.,
has made a good start. This farm is a colony of small
holdings, from ½ to 2 squares of land each, the lessees who
are all junglies and Sayads having to maintain 2 approved
cows per square. Many of the cows collected up to date
by these men are unusually good specimens of the Sahiwal
breed.
II.—EQUINES.
Number of Stallions —Table
VIII.
35. At the close of the year under report there were
62 horse and pony stallions in non-
selected districts of the Province as
compared with 65 at the close of the
previous year. The number of donkey stallions was 76
against 70 last year.
During the year the Palwal and Ballabgarh tahsils of
the Gurgaon District were transferred from the control of
this Department to the Army Remount Department for
purposes of horse, mule and donkey breeding in these areas.
As a result of this 2 horse and 2 donkey stallions had to be
transferred to the Army Remount Department, thus bring-
ing the sanctioned scale of horse and donkey stallions for
"non-selected districts" from 73 and 82 to 71 and 80, res-
pectively.
The Province is at present short of 9 horse and 4 donkey
stallions.
46
Government has been approached with a view to find
the money to make good this deficiency but up to date the
necessary funds have not been provided.
This is to be regretted as deficiency in stallion power
must lead either to overwork of stallions present or to good
mares being covered by undersized, underbred tats and a
consequent set back to our horse breeding operations.
Service of
stallions—
Table VIII.
36. The total number of mares covered by horse and
pony stallions during the year under
report was 100 and 3,647, respectively,
as compared with 128 and 3, 40 during
the previous year.
Total number of mares covered by donkey stallions
during the year under report was 3,240 against 3,242 in the
previous year.
Feed and keep of stal-
lions.
87. The average cost of feed and keep of stallions for
the year under report was Rs. 529 per
horse, Rs. 510 per pony and Rs. 305
per donkey as compared with Rs. 618,
Rs. 639 and Rs. 318, respectively, during the previous year.
III.—BUFFALO BREEDING.
Improvement
in
the
supply of milk and ghee.
38. Towards the end of the year under report the
attention of municipalities was again
drawn to the importance of providing
approved bulls if any improvement in
urban milk supplies was desired.
Their attention was also drawn to the proceedings of
the Punjab Government (Ministry of Agriculture) No. 6648,
dated 23rd May 1922, and indents were invited for Sahiwal
breed and buffalo bulls. I regret to report that most
municipalities appear to take no interests in the subject
and the response to our invitations for indents has been
bad.
IV.— GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDING.
39. During the year under report 64 cross-bred merino
rams and 82 ewes were issued from the Government Cattle
Farm, Hissar, to private breeders of the following districts
as compared with 47 rams and 121 ewes during the pre-
47
vious year. The animals were as usual paid for in full by
the applicants :—
District.
Jhelum ...
Kangra ...
Muzaffargarh ...
Montgomery ...
Lyallpur ...
Shahpur ...
Gurgaon ...
Ambala ...
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Rams.
3
20
4
2
9
5
18
3
64
Ewes.
...
...
..
...
61
16
5
...
82
It is to be hoped that the sheep breeding societies
now being helped into being by the Co-operative Depart-
ment will do something to stimulate interest in this import-
ant and much neglected industry.
V.—FAIRS AND SHOWS.
Fairs and Shows—Table
IX.
40. The statistical information regarding Cattle Fairs
and Shows under this Department
is incorporated in Table IX. Horse
Fairs were held in 3 districts and Cattle
Fairs in 19 districts. The following statement shows the
number of horse and cattle fairs and shows attended by
the Officers of this Department during the year under
report :—
Attending Officers.
Chief Superintendent, Civil Vet-
erinary Department, Punjab.
Deputy
Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Central
Punjab, Lahore.
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, North Punjab,
Rawalpindi.
Deputy
Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Rawal-
pindi.
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, South Punjab,
Ferozepore.
Deputy. Superintendent,
Civil
Veterinary
Department,
Ferozepore.
Horse fairs
or shows,
..
2
...
...
...
...
Cattle fairs
or shows.
5
6
5
6
6
4
48
The remaining fairs or shows were as usual either
attended by the Veterinary Inspectors of this Department or
abandoned on account of the prevalence of plague, etc.
VI.—MISCELLANEOUS.
Co-operative Societies.
41. According to the latest list received from the
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punj-
ab, Lahore, the following Co-operative
Societies were at work in the Province at the close of the
year under report :—
Cattle Insurance Societies.
Rohtak District
Jullundur District
Gurgaon District
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
28
3
8
34
Rohtak District
Shahpur District
Jhelum District
Gujrat District
Mianwali District
Multan District
Shahpur District
Gujrat District
Shahpur District
Attock District
Jhelum District
Jhang District
Cow-breeding Societies.
...
...
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
Total ...
Cattle purchase Societies,
...
...
... ...
... ...
Total ...
Sheep-breeding Societies.
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ..
Total ...
2
5
3
11
1
22
2
2
1
5
2
2
2
1
7
During the year under report 5 Cattle Insurance Socie-
ties were closed in tahsil Jhajjar of Rohtak District on
account of unsatisfactory working. This set back is mostly,
if not wholly, due to the prevalence of plague in the dis-
trict. Persistent propaganda in favour of Co-operative