(2)
4. There were altogether 530 cases of deaths from glanders and farcy
in the Province during the year as against 430 in the previous year, excluding
the figures for the transferred districts. Of these, 473 occurred in Calcutta and
its neighbourhood as against 413 reported during the preceding year. Steps
having been taken to enforce the Glanders and Farcy Act in the metropolis and
its suburbs, it is probable that a larger number of patients suffering from the
disease will be brought to notice in future than at present.
5. The total number of deaths from cattle disease was 12,374 as against
12,276 during the preceding year, excluding the figures for the transferred
districts. Of these, by far the largest number of deaths (9,023) was caused by
rinderpest. The districts which suffered most from the disease were Burdwan,
Darjeeling, Shahabad, the Sonthal Parganas, Balasore, Ranchi, Palamau,
Manbhum and Sambalpur. The Superintendent complains of the defective
reports regarding cattle diseases supplied to his department by the Police
officers of the Province. The Inspector-General of Police will be requested to
take such steps as are possible to remedy this. The Lieutenant-Governor is
glad to notice that cattle inoculation is gradually gaining ground in the
Province, the number of inoculations performed during the year being 22,613
as against 13,276 during the previous year.
6. Veterinary Infirmary, Belgachia.—The total number of animals treated
during the year was 2,407, of which 1,483 were in-patients and 924 out-
patients. There would have been a further increase in the number but for the
outbreak in the infirmary of an infectious disease called surra, which for some
time prevented the admission of any animal. It is satisfactory to note that
during the latter half of the year, the horse practice in the infirmary increased
by 50 per cent. over that in the corresponding period of the previous year.
7. Breeding operations.—The Pusa and the Sripur Farms continued to be
the only two cattle-breeding farms in the Province, managed and supervised
by Government. Eight bulls of the Montgomery breed were purchased by
Captain Trydell from the Amritsar Fair during the year for experiments in
breeding, but, with the exception of two, they were found altogether wanting
in breeding power. The failure of the experiment is ascribed to fraud com-
mitted by the vendors, who were probably aware that the bulls were useless as
stud animals. Captain Trydell is of the opinion that one of the best means
of improving the breed of indigenous cattle would be to pay greater attention
to the feed and upkeep of the cows and heifers of the country, and to afford
greater facilities for grazing. His remarks on the subject ar6 commended to
the attention of members of District and Local Boards and other persons
interested. Thirteen locally-bred cows were purchased during the year for
breeding operations at the Pusa Farm. The miscellaneous collection of cattle
kept at the Sripur Farm was disposed of during the year, the breeding opera-
tions being confined to two classes of cattle, namely, those locally bred and
those bred from the Montgomery bulls.
8. Fairs and Shows.—Ten fairs and shows were held during the year in
the Province as against nine (excluding the Comilla Fair) in the preceding year,
the Bagdogra Show in the district of Darjesling having been started during the
year. Unfortunately it proved a failure, owing to the unexpected inclemency
of the weather at the time. Out of the Imperial grant of Rs. 1,500 for distri-
bution in prizes, only Rs. 693 were spent. The large falling off in the
expenditure was chiefly due to the policy recently adopted, under which prizes
are awarded only to bond fide cultivators, professional graziers, and breeders of
cattle. The Lieutenant-Governor approves of Captain Trydell's suggestion
that for the present prizes should be awarded only at the new small fairs with
the object of encouraging them and enabling them to become well established.
9. Veterinary Dispensaries and Assistants.—A comparison of Table V
annexed to the report under review with that annexed to the previous
year's report shows that, excluding the figures for the transferred districts
in each case, the total number of Veterinary hospitals and dispensaries
working during the year in the Province was 21 as against 17 during the
previous year. The statement in paragraph 6 of the present report, that
there were altogether 19 dispensaries at work during the previous year, is
apparently incorrect. The total number of Veterinary Assistants employed
under Government and local bodies during the year was 63, including