Note on Veterinary Progress in the Punjab by the Director of Agriculture.
1. The Veterinary College remained understaffed as before, but despite
the extra work entailed Colonel Pease and his staff maintained the high standard
which is associated with the name of the College. Indeed judged by educa-
tional results the standard was still further advanced, and the percentage of
passes in every class is most satisfactory. It was, owing to the war, impossible
to hold the post-graduate class. Admissions were well maintained, the educa-
tional qualifications of the new students being practically identical with those
of the previous year. One student of the 4th year class, Kashmira Singh, was
allowed to go on recruiting work, and earned the reward of a quota of 150
recruits by receiving a Commission in the Army.
In hospital work the number of equines was practically identical with
that of the previous year, while bovine patients showed a slight increase. The
dog hospital continues very popular.
2. The question of the Aitchison Ganj branch hospital has not yet
been forwarded to Government but the municipal committee has expressed its
assent to the proposals made. The scheme for laying out the playgrounds has
not yet been returned by the Public Works Department.
3. The Civil Veterinary Department like the College has worked short-
handed and has necessarily had to devote less attention than could be desired to
some branches of the work, but the energy of neither Colonel Farmer nor his
officers has flagged. The incumbents of the three posts of Chief Superintend-
ent, and Superintendents have averaged 162 days in camp and travelled over
eight thousand miles by rail and fifteen hundred each by road, while the assist-
ance rendered to the Army Remount Department in the control of contagious
equine diseases and attendance at cattle fairs has added to their responsibilities.
A high rate of animal mortality has persisted which was no doubt largely due
to the abnormal autumn rains of 1917, and Colonel Farmer thinks, as he did
last year, that the recorded figures include by no means all the actual casualties
from surra. Conferences on this important question have been lately held at
Amritsar and Simla and the question of preventive measures, including the
compulsory notification of the disease among camels and the payment of com-
pensation for animals destroyed is now under consideration. In connection
with dourine, which is believed to be so widely spread that the Act has now been
applied to the whole province, Colonel Farmer suggests that the time has come
for the registration of all privately-owned stallions, but even if adequate steps
could be adopted for their control the effect of the measure would be far
from complete owing to the usual practice of leaving entire horses which
are not kept for stud purposes.
4. Lala Lachmi Narain of Beri is to be congratulated on his public
spirit in presenting a veterinary hospital to his town; the further increase of
8 per cent. in the number of animals treated in such hospitals during the year
is a sure sign of the steady growth of appreciation of the services of the depart-
ment. There was a further increase of 94 stud bulls in the districts during the
year. The Civil Veterinary Department has again deserved well of the province.
5. The Hissar Cattle Farm had a year of unprecedented sickness owing
to the heavy rains, while the material damage done to the barracks etc., by the
phenomenal falls in September and October, very much handicapped opera-
tions. Surra too made its first appearance in Hissar, imported probably
by the corps camels stationed there. Mr. Branford however, with the able
assistance of Captain Morris and the staff, surmounted those natural diffi-
culties and is able to show a successful year's working. The auditor's report
(the delay of which has postponed the submission of my review) shows a very
satisfactory result, as the profit of the year despite its calamities amounted to
Rs. 43,181 against a loss last year of Rs. 18,904. Separate action is being
taken in regard to the auditor's objections.
A substantial addition has been made to the fodder reserve. The
Brazilian Government bought 100 head of cattle for Rs. 30,000, as much as
Rs. 400 being paid for one cow. The Arab paddock now shows the first foal—a
filly—born on the farm, and others are expected.
I was struck when I visited the farm with the results achieved with so
small a staff, which testifies to the ability and devotion of the officers directing
the work, but it is doubtful if private enterprise would attempt to run a busi-
ness concern with so small an establishment. Mr. Branford has lately proceed-
ed on 6 months' leave and Captain Morris is acting for him. The quinquennial
valuation of stock and effects was made in February and the results have been
separately reported to Government.
The 17th August 1918.
E. JOSEPH,
Directer of Agriculture, Punjab.