NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2
STAFF ON 31st MARCH 1923.
Post
Name of Officer.
PROVINCIAL-CONCLD.
8. Professor of Phy-
siology,
9. House Surgeon ...
Mr.Baij Nath Singh,
M.A., M.Sc. (act-
ing.)
M. Ghulam Rasul
Khan.
STAFF ON 31st MARCH 1924.
Poet.
Name of Officer.
PROVINCIAL—CONCLD.
8. Professor of
Physiology.
9. House Surgeon
Chaudhri Haq Nawaz
Khan.
Khan Sahib M. Ghn-
lam Rasul Khan.
Mr. Sewell, Professor of Hygiene, resigned his appoint-
ment with effect from 19th November 1923 and in the same
month a request was made that the Secretary of State for
India should be asked by cable to appoint a substitute.
We have recently received an intimation, however, that
pending a decision regarding the future of the services
in the Transferred Departments as recommended by the Lee
Commission, the Government of India have decided not to
recruit any more officers from England in the Indian Veteri-
nary Service as at present constituted.
For the present the subjects of Hygiene and Dietetics
have been omitted from the English Course and in their
place Mr. W. Taylor has given a more extensive course in
Pathology. It is hoped that a substitute for Mr. Sewell
will be found soon and that those students who ought to
have bad Hygiene this year will have it in the next year.
Khan Bahadur Syed Sardar Shah, Professor of Bovine
Pathology, retired from the Punjab Civil Veterinary Service
from 1st January 1924, after 34 years of very useful work
in the Punjab Veterinary College. He was an active helper
in developing and improving the courses of study there and
in spreading a knowledge of Veterinary Science among the
people. I associate myself with the tribute paid to him in
the Principal's report.
Bovine Pathology is now to be taught by the Professor
of Pathology and Bacteriology. Kh. Karam Elahi, Profes-
sor of Parasitology, who was sent to the Molten's Institute,
Cambridge, in February 1923, for a year's training in
Parasitology was still there at the end of the year under
3
report. During his absence his work was done by Mr.
W. Taylor.—
Mr. Haq Nawaz Khan was appointed Professor of
Physiology on probation in the Provincial grade on 20th
August 1923, after his return from England where he
underwent a course of one year and nine months' training
in animal Physiology and Histology at the University
College, London.
Among the non-gazetted staff Sh. Faqir Ali, Assistant
to the Professor of Hygiene, retired from Government
service on medical certificate on 21st June 1923 and he
was replaced by M. Abdul Wahid Khan. As there is no
Professor of Hygiene at present, M. Abdul Wahid Khan is
employed in assisting the Professor of Surgery both in the
clinic and his hospital duties. M. Abdul Wahid Khan also
assists the Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology with
Laboratory work.
The duties on which the staff were engaged during the
year may be classified as follows:—
(a) Teaching Work—
(i) A repetition of the 3rd Year Class of the three
years' Vernacular Course;
(ii) The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year Classes of the
four years' English course for the diploma of
Licentiate in Veterinary Practice (L. V. P.);
(iii) The Vernacular Course of nine months' training
for Farriers;
(iv) The Post-Diploma Course of nine months' duration
for men already in the service;
(b) Hospital Work—
The numbers of students in the College in the year
under report were as follows:—
Full years Courses—
(i) Repetition of 3rd year Vernacular Course
Class ...
(ii) English Course for L. V. P.—
1st year class
39
...
...
2nd
„
„
10
3rd
„
„
10
Total
}22
59
81
B2
4
Short Courses—
(i) Post-Diploma Course (9 months)
(ii) Farriers Course
Total
...
...
1
15
16
It will be remembered that the four years' English
Course for the L. V. P. was started in 1921 in order to replace
the three years' Vernacular Course and to provide men more
highly trained for the Veterinary Assistants posts in the
Department. As no students were taken into the Vernacular
Course since 1920, it should therefore have finished
in March 1923. The final year class was, however,
repeated in the year under report in order to allow failed
students another chance of passing their final examination,
as the students who had failed in the final examination in
previous years had had.
Of the twenty-two students who entered this repeat
course, eleven who had failed in one subject only were
examined in June 1923 and passed out. The remaining
eleven students were examined in March 1924 and four of
them passed in all subjects. The remaining seven will be
re-examined in June 1924. The class will not be continued
further.
As regards the 4 years' English Course for the L. V. P.,
94 candidates applied for admission in June 1923 and 37
were admitted. Three of these were sent by the Mysore
State. Two students who had failed in their examination
in the first year remained in this class, thus making up the
39 students shown above.
The Principal is averse to filling up the college with
students while the ultimate prospect of employment is
small, as he thinks this will only cause disappointment and
future lack of applications for admission. As there are still
some 69 men who have gone through the old three years' ver-
nacular course of this college, known to be out of employment,
I agree that caution in this direction should be exercised. A
rigid selection of candidates for admission also appears
necessary, as eleven students who were admitted to the four
years' English Course last year left college because they
could not keep abreast with the work. It is obviously a
waste of time and public money to admit students whose
5
standard of education is below that which will enable them
to deal successfully with the subjects included in the course.
The results of the examinations of the 1st and 2nd
year classes of the L. V. P. Course held in June
1923 were as follows:—
(a) from 1st year class thirteen students appeared in
the examination and seven passed,
(b) from 2nd year class twelve students appeared in the
examination and ten passed. In this connection
it should be remembered that the 39 students
shown above in the 1st year class only entered
the college in June 1923 and will be examined
in June 1924, consequently that the results of
their examination will come into next year's re-
port, and that these examination results quoted
from the Principal's report are for the previous
year's class. Consequently also the students
shown in the 3rd year class fall to be examined
in June 1924.
Fifteen Military Farriers were trained for Government
and Indian States. The course is of nine months' duration.
As regards hospital work, there were 1,454 in-patients,
and 2,167 out-patients treated in the General Ward; these
figures being increases of 370 and 186 respectively over those
of last year. In the Dog Ward 461 in-patients and 500 out-
patients were treated, and are a decrease of 51 and an in-
crease of 55 respectively over last year's figures. In the Con-
tagious Ward, the number of cases treated was 335 and was
268 over last year's number: 38 dogs underwent anti-rabic
treatment. The average daily attendance in the various
wards of the hospital was about 120 patients. Hospital work
must, therefore, have taken up a considerable portion of the
time of the staff.
No research work was done during the year under report.
In the previous year Messrs. Sewell and W. Taylor carried
out some very promising research work on deficiency of diets
of horses, pigeons, etc., and on anti-rabic treatment of dogs
and canine surra; but as already stated Mr. Sewell has retir-
ed and has not been replaced, and Mr. Taylor extended his
lectures to fill the gap in the teaching time-table. Mr. Taylor
has also had to carry on Khwaja Karam Ellahi's work on
6
Parasitology as well as his own. Further, the total amount
of teaching work in the College has increased since last year
owing to the fact that the 3rd year class of the L. V. P.
Course was opened, and the staff had to prepare the
lectures, teaching material, etc., for these classes as they
developed. I look forward to the time when some more
research work will be done as there is undoubtedly great
scope to benefit the province by research work and I regard
it as a very valuable function of the institution.
Alterations and additions have been made to the anato-
mical block of the college building, and have resulted in an
excellent Laboratory for Biological and Physiological work
which fills a long-felt want in the college. Improvements
are badly needed in the accommodation for teaching Chemis-
try, Physics and Pharmacy. Administrative approval has
been obtained for certain improvements in this connection
and it is hoped that money for the work will be forthcom-
ing soon.
The income for the year from hospital and students'
fees amounted to Rs. 16,618 and is an increase of Rs. 315
over that of the previous year. The expenditure on estab-
lishment, contingencies, etc., was Rs. 1,60,352 during the
year under report and was less than that of the previous
year by Rs. 1,726. Setting the total income of the in-
stitution against the total expenditure (excluding buildings)
its net cost for the year was Rs. 1,43,734, this being
Rs. 2,041 less than last year.
The Principal refers in his report to comments which
have been made on the high cost of the college to Govern-
ment per student. The obvious cause of this is the small
number of students at present in the college and the
reasons for this are given by the Principal on page 29.
As factors in the case he mentions—
(a) the cutting down of the number of entrants to
the college by half during the past three years
owing to the Military authorities having ceased
to send students for training;
(b) the replacing of the 3 years' Vernacular Course
by a 4 years' English Course and the raising of
the standard of admission to that of the Matri-
culation of the Punjab University;
7
(c) the former starting pay of Rs. 60 for Veterinary
Assistants which was too low to attract men of
the Matriculation standard to take the 4 years'
course.
The withdrawal of the Military students was a severe
blow as it not only reduced the number of entrants by half,
but it also withdrew the provision of posts for these men
when they were trained. The retrenchments in the Army
which caused the withdrawal cannot continue indefinitely
and we hope that we will soon again have some men to
train for the army. Advances in the use of mechanical
transport will, however, tend to reduce the number required
for the army.
As stated in my last year's report, I regard the sub-
stitution of the 3 years' Vernacular Course by the 4 years'
English Course as a definite step in advance. The men who
enter the English Course have a much higher general
education when they are taken into the college, and the
course is far more thorough than the one it replaces. Con-
sequently this must lead to a higher class of work from
the men when they leave college. Veterinary Assistants
have to act a good deal on their own responsibility and
nothing will gain the confidence of the farming community
more quickly than a correct diagnosis and treatment of
of cases of illness among their livestock, or, to put it the
other way, nothing will hinder development of the Veteri-
nary Department and of private veterinary practice more
than the letting loose of badly trained Veterinary Surgeons
among farmers.
Since Government made the announcement in May
1923 that L. V. P. of the Punjab Veterinary College will
be eligible for posts of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons in the
Veterinary Department on salaries of Rs. 100—10—300, there
has been no want of Matriculate applications for admis-
sions to the college. Our main trouble now is that there is
not yet a reasonable chance of a livelihood for a large num-
ber of these men when they are trained.
But cattle are the mainstay of agriculture, India's
greatest industry ; and it is to the economic interest of India
to absorb a large number of well qualified surgeons to look
after the health and well-being of her vast herds of cattle.
In the Punjab alone there are approximately 3¾ lakhs
8
equines and 150 lakhs bovines, and over 80 lakhs sheep and
goats and the number of cases of reported deaths from con-
tagious diseases (admittedly much below actuals) is this year
over 39,000 animals. These casualties valued at the low
figure of Rs. 50 per animal, works out to a loss to the Pro-
vince of about 19½ lakhs of rupees for the year.
With the headway that the Veterinary Department is
making, and the rapid spread of agricultural education
which is taking place among rural people of every province
in India, through the medium of schools, farms, agricultural
colleges, etc., I feel that there must rapidly arise a great
awakening to the need for properly trained Veterinary Sur-
geons to be stationed throughout the land. Again there is a
call for Indianisation of the Veterinary, as well as of other
Services, and as every Indian Matriculate who may wish to
join the service has not got money enough to enable him to
go to England or elsewhere for a Veterinary training it is
of importance to develop a suitable course in India to enable
Indians to get into the higher posts. There are three other
Veterinary Colleges in India (e.g., at Calcutta, Madras and
Bombay), but the Punjab Veterinary College is the only
one with a course of 4 years' instruction and conse-
quently it has an excellent foundation for the education re-
quired. I therefore feel that the present is only a tem-
porary check in the development of the Punjab Veterinary
College.
The Principal reports that the health and behaviour of
the students have been good. He also records his apprecia-
tion of the work of the staff, and in recommending this to
the notice of Government I wish that his work may also be
acknowledged- From practical experience I know that when
courses are being developed for which there is no local
precedent, a good deal of time, originality of thought, and
ability are required, and as he is a Professor of an important
subject as well as Principal, I have no doubt he had his full
share of the work to do.
DISTRICT WORK.
A most interesting report on district work written by
Mr. Branford who is now officiating as Chief Superinten-
dent will be found on page 31.
The division of the province into circles remains the
same as last year, there being 6 districts in the Northern
9
Circle plus the North-West Frontier Province; fourteen dis-
tricts in the Southern Circle and nine districts in the Central
Circle. As previously the Northern and Southern Circles
have each an Imperial Officer — a Superintendent — in
immediate charge of them, and these two officers are under
a Chief Superintendent who is also in immediate charge of
the Central Circle. Mr. Brandford points out that the rapid
expansion of the Department necessitates the appointment
of a separate whole-time Superintendent for the North-
West Frontier Province so that the number of districts at
present in charge of the Chief Superintendent and Superin-
tendent, South Punjab, may be reduced. The subject was
discussed at a departmental conference in April last and I
hope that something in this direction will be done soon.
The post of Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, was held by Mr. Quirke and that of Superin-
tendent, South Punjab, by Major Sykes throughout the
year under report. Mr. Garewal remained in charge of the
Northern Circle, Punjab, till 31st January 1924, when he
went on eight months' leave out of India and was relieved
by Mr. Brett who joined the Department in November
1923, as Officer-under-training.
Rai Sahib Lala Kotu Ram, Deputy Superintendent,
retired from service on 11th February 1924, and was reliev-
ed by Pandit Janki Nath, Deputy Superintendent, Central
Circle. I wish to join Mr. Branford in his appreciation of
Rai Sahib Lala Kotu Ram's work for the Department. The
Rai Sahib had a long and exceptionally useful service and
his retirement involves a loss to the Department difficult to
replace.
Proposals to fill the post vacated by Rai Sahib Lala
Kotu Ram have been submitted to Government and orders
on the case are awaited. I hope the appointment will be
made soon. M. Talib Khan continued as Deputy Superin-
tendent in the Northern Circle, Punjab, throughout the
year under report.
Consequent upon the departure on leave of Mr. Cross,
Camel Specialist, the control of the Sohawa Laboratory was
transferred to the Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department. The report of the work done there is submit-
ted separately as usual.
10
At the end of the year under review the complete sanc-
tioned cadre of the Department for district work was as
follows:—
Circle.
Northern ...
Central ...
Southern ...
Total ...
IMPERIAL STAFF.
Chief Sup-
erinten-
dent.
...
1
...
1
Superin-
tendent.
1
...
1
2
PROVINCIAL
STAFF.
Deputy Sup-
erintendent.
1
1
1
3
SUBORDINATE STAFF.
Veterinary
Inspectors.
6
8
13
27
Veterinary
Assistants.
41
68
101
210*
* NOTE.—In addition two Veterinary Assistants are employed at the Government
Cattle Farm, Hissar, and one as Lecturer in Veterinary Science at the Punjab Agricul-
tural College, Lyallpur.
Since then the cadre has been strengthened by the ad-
dition of seven more Veterinary Assistants. Three more
veterinary hospitals were added during the year, making a
total of 176. Nine more are proposed as shown in the Chief
Superintendent's report, but these will have to wait till we
get more staff sanctioned.
During the year under report Veterinary Assistants
visited 14,213 villages; treated 82,635 animals and perform-
ed 58,534 castrations; as compared with 20,217 villages,
130,551 cases treated, and 52,527 castrations performed in
the previous year: i.e., the staff visited 6,004 (29 per cent.
approximately) fewer villages; treated 47,886 (36 per cent.
approximately) fewer cases but castrated 6,007 (11 per cent.
approximately) more animals while on tour than the pre-
vious year. The falling off in the number of villages
visited and of the animals treated is due to reduction in the
travelling allowance allotment.
It is very gratifying to note that inspite of heavy re-
ductions in travelling allowance there is a marked increase
in the number of castrations performed as compared with
the previous year. This is mostly due to the introduction
(in the first instance by Mr. Cross, Camel Specialist, Sohawa),
11
of the Italian Burdizzo's castrator. The operation takes
only 30 seconds approximately to perform and, as it is
bloodless, it is becoming very popular even amongst the
most orthodox of Hindus.
This is a most valuable achievement as it is obviously
well nigh impossible to effect marked improvement in the
quality of the cattle of the province, while large numbers
of undesirable males are allowed to run at large among the
better bred females, The increase in the number of castra-
tions seems to me also to indicate that awakening of the
farming community to the great importance of breeding
from better class animals only, which I have already
referred to.
The total number of animals treated in veterinary hospi-
tals during the year under report was 496,072 against 430,942
in the previous year; and the number supplied with medi-
cine but not actually brought to the hospital, was 80,289
against 103,832 in the same periods, i.e., the staff treated
65,130 cases (15 per cent. approximately) more and suppli-
ed medicine to 23,543 (22 per cent. approximately) cases
less than in the previous year.
The marked rise in the number of cases treated may be
due in part to the growing popularity of the Civil Veteri-
nary Department, but it is, I think, also partly due to the
reduced travelling allowance keeping the staff at their hos-
pitals. The dispensing of medicine to cases not brought to
hospital is not encouraged, and the more constant presence
of the Veterinary Assistants at their hospitals also, I think,
accounts in great part for the decrease in the number of
such cases—
The number of castrations performed in hospitals in
the year under report were 39,225 against 27,484 in the pre-
vious year, i.e., they increased by 11,741 (42 per cent. appro-
ximately) in the year under review. This great increase
in the number of castrations at hospitals must, of course,
be due in part to less touring by the Veterinary Assistants,
but the fact that the number castrated by the staff while
on tour has also increased points to the explanation, given
above, being the more important factor.
It is also a pleasure to note that when the increase of
65,130 eases of animals treated in hospitals is set against the
decrease of 47,866 treated by the staff on tour, the total
12
number of animals treated by the staff exceeds that of the
previous year by 17,264 (i.e., 3 per cent. approximately)
inspite of the serious reduction in Travelling Allowance.
Comparing the years ending 31st March 1922 and 31st March
1923, however, in the same way the increase in the total
number of cases treated was 89,345 (i.e., 19 per cent. approxi-
mately) and taking into consideration the 5 per cent. increase
in the number of Veterinary Assistants that year and other
factors which might effect the case, the crippling effect
of the reduction in Travelling Allowance in the year under
report appears to have been considerable.
Inspite of the facts that fees are only charged from
people who are liable to pay income-tax, and that under
recent orders of Government no fees are charged for treatment
in small rural hospitals nor in such urban hospitals as are
situated in towns with a population of less than 50,000 pro-
vided the local body in control desires their abolition, the
income from hospital fees rose from Rs. 18,919 in the last
year to Rs. 21,301 in the year under report.
Many hospitals are still accommodated in hired and
temporary buildings, but it is hoped that as the finances of
the Distirct Boards concerned improve, suitable buildings
belonging to the District Boards will bo provided. In order to
relieve District Boards of the heavy expenses of building
veterinary hospitals at out-lying places on the former
standard plan, steps are being taken to prepare a plan for
buildings on cheaper lines.
The receipts from the Simla Veterinary Hospital during
the year under report were Rs. 11,138 and the expenditure
was Rs. 7,880 against Rs. 10,728 and Rs. 8,443 respectively
during the previous year. The surplus income to be credited
to Government by the Municipal Committee was, therefore,
Rs.3,258 against Rs. 2,258 last year. The minimum amount
that is required to be paid to . Government annually under
the terms of transfer of the institution on account of the
pay, etc., of the Veterinary Assistant and the interest on initial
cost of buildings is Rs. 3,459 per annum. The net loss to
Government was therefore only Rs. 201 against Rs. 1,174
last year. Certain economics in expenditure were introduced
during the year which it is hoped, will quite wipe out this
insignificant loss in future. It may be pointed out also that
if we take into account the income and expenditure over the
whole 17 years in which the institution has been under the