No. 1320 S. (Rev. & Agri.—Genl.), dated Simla, 31st August 1916.
From—The Hon'ble Mr. H. D. CRAIK, 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 on the Punjab Veterinary College, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, Punjab, and the Government Cattle Farm, Hissar, for the
year 1915-16.
2. The staff of the Veterinary College is still below strength, and the
retirement of Mr. Gaiger in consequence of injuries received in the course of his
duties is much to be deplored; but the results of the examinations were
eminently satisfactory, and Colonel Pease and his assistants are to be congra-
tulated on the success obtained. Of the 70 new students more than half—an
unusually high proportion—belonged to the Punjab, and 31 of these were private
students. If this progress is maintained, it should within a few years make
good the deficiency in the establishment of the Civil Veterinary Department,
which during the year owing to the war and other causes was 54 or 25 per cent.
under strength. It is satisfactory to find that the graduates of the college can
count on ready employment, and the fact that of the 160 graduates who have
passed out within the last 3 years, 140 are employed by Government or local
bodies and 20 by Native States, none being available for private practice, shews
the keenness of the demand.
An interesting development of the year was the institution of a post-
graduate course. The class for this course is limited to 20, of whom three in
each year are to be selected from among the Veterinary Inspectors and Assist-
ants of the Punjab, the remaining 17 places being open to candidates from
Native States and other Provinces. The course has been made compulsory for
Veterinary Assistants before promotion to the rank of Inspector. The year was
also notable for the opening of the new College buildings by His Excellency
Lord Hardinge in December last. The increased facilities for training afforded
by the new buildings have led already to great improvement in the training of
the students, while the greatly enlarged accommodation provided in the hospital
is reflected in the number of in-patients treated, which rose from 756 in 191 -15
to 1,355 in the year under report. On the other hand, there was a decrease in
the number of out-patients, and this is attributed to the distance of the new
hospital from the city, and the Lieutenant-Governor hopes that the scheme
for a municipal dispensary to serve the more distant parts of the city will
materialise.
3. Though the subordinate establishment of the Civil Veterinary De-
partment was 25 per cent. below its sanctioned strength, the record of work
accomplished was highly satisfactory and reflects the greatest credit on Colonel
Farmer and the other officers of the Department. The Lieutenant-Governor
cordially endorses the commendation which the Director of Agriculture has
bestowed on the work of the Chief Superintendent, who, in spite of the increased
pressure of his ordinary work, found time to assist the Army Remount Depart-
ment in various ways. Nearly 13,000 villages were visited and over 128,000
animals were treated by the touring members of the staff. In particular, the
number of castrations performed was nearly double that of the previous year,
and the progress in this respect is a most encouraging proof of the extent to
which popular prejudice is being overcome and the value of the Department's
work is being recognised. Further evidence of this fact is to be found in the
number of inoculations and vaccinations against rinderpest, hæmorrhagic sep-
ticæmia and blackquarter performed in a year which in comparison with the pre-
vious year was singularly free from these diseases. The year was in fact very
healthy on the whole, and the only disquieting feature was the reappearance
after an interval of several years of dourine in the Dera Gházi Khan District.
Over 300,000 animals were treated as in- or out- patients in veterinary
hospitals and dispensaries: a total more than double that of any other Province
in India. In this, and indeed in nearly every, branch of veterinary work the