REPORT
OF THE
CIVIL VETERINARY DEPAETMENT,
EASTERN BENGAL AND ASSAM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31st MARCH 1907.
PREFACE—GENERAL ADMINISTRATION.
A scheme for the reorganization of the Veterinary Department for the Province
of Eastern Bengal and Assam was submitted to the Government of India in July
1906 and sanction of that scheme is now being awaited.
2. During the year under report the post of Veterinary Superintendent remained
vacant. I took over charge of the Department at Shillong on the 31st May 1907.
3. A grant of Rs. 5,000 was made to the Surma Valley Branch of the Indian Tea
Association to assist them, in obtaining the services of a Veterinary Surgeon, and in
dealing with the cattle diseases which were causing a heavy mortality in that district.
Inoculation work was started on the 24th February 1907, and has since been carried
on regularly, with the result that the mortality has been reduced in. some of the worst
centres. A further grant of Rs. 10,000 has been promised to the Association for the
present financial year.
I.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.
4. The arrangement made for training the subordinate staff of this Department
at the Bengal. Veterinary College, Belgachia, has proved a most satisfactory one.
The men have received a thoroughly practical training which well equips them for
the needs of this province.
5. The Local Government has arranged with the Government of Bengal to
contribute annually the sum. of Rs. 27,665 towards the up-keep of the College, for
which sum the. Local Government is entitled to fill one-third of the vacancies for
students. It is. further stipulated that if any extra vacancies occur, which are not
required by the Bengal Government, this province will be given the opportunity to
nominate extra candidates.
6. During the year ten students from Assam held Government scholarships at
the Belgachia. College ; of these, one passed the final examination held in March last,
three have been promoted to the third year class and five to the second year class; the
remaining student, who is in the second year class, failed to pass the examination. He
has been permitted to continue his stipend, subject to good behaviour and satisfactory
progress, for another year.
7. Twelve District Board stipendiaries were sent from Eastern Bengal. Of these,
five passed the final examination in March and have since been posted to districts
in the province, five passed into the third year class and two passed into the second
year class.
II.—TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
8. The number of deaths from contagious diseases during the year under report
is not available from all districts. The subordinate staff of the Department is at
present far below requirements and the methods adopted for the collection of statistics
are insufficient, with the result that only a rough estimate can be arrived at.
EQUINE.
9. It is evident that many more deaths must have occurred amongst equines from
contagious disease than has been reported to this Department.
10. Glanders.—Four
outbreaks were reported during the year, two of these
occurred at Rajshahi, one at Mymensingh and one at Chittagong.
11. Surra.—Several
cases are reported to have occurred amongst the tonga ponies
on the Gauhati-Shillong road. The diagnosis in these cases was not confirmed, no
microscopical examination having been made.
12. Other contagious diseases have not attracted any special notice.
BOVINE.
13. Rinderpest.—This
disease was prevalent more or less throughout the entire
province. It was reported from 16 districts and caused 20,873 deaths. This