( 4 )
the interior periodically or whenever outbreaks of disease require them to
do so. They visited 13,737 villages and treated 45,187 patients against
13,047 villages and 49,884 patients, respectively, of the previous year. This
is a very large decrease but is due to the fact that the work of some of the
assistants was so unsatisfactory that they had to be dismissed or were asked
to resign. The posts at Alipore, Baraset, Howrah, Sasaram and Bargarh
remained vacant for the greater part of the year and these alone account for a
considerable portion of the decrease. The falling off noted against Hoogbly,
Alipore, Nadia, Hajipur, Sitamarhi, Darjeeling, Angul, Sambalpur and Dhan-
baid is very noticeable and is reported to be due to the less prevalence of foot
and mouth and other contagious diseases or the inclusion of inoculations in the
previous year's figures.
31. I regret to have to record that the veterinary assistants at Dinapore,
Berhampore and Alipore had to be dismissed, the first for submitting false
diaries, the second for sending in false returns of inoculations performed by
him in the Sunderbunds, and the last for unsatisfactory work. In consequence
of frequent inspections and bad reports on their work the assistants of Sassa-
ram, Dumka and Nadia thought fit to resign.
32. The itinerant veterinary assistants of Purnea, Bhagalpur, Monghyr,
Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Gaya, Shahabad, Burdwan, Hooghly, Cuttack, Man-
bhum, Balasore and Hazaribagh must be recommended for their work. The
veterinary assistants of Puri, Khurda, Murshidabad and Nadia are not giving
satisfaction.
33. In submitting the returns of the assistants for the year errors have
as far as possible been eliminated and they represent accurately the assistants'
work in the mufassal, excluding those cases for which advice was given, and
inoculations. The medicine depôts which some District Boards have estab-
lished have been a success and in some the out-of-the-way thanas they have
proved very useful.
34. The graduates who have joined the cadre during the past year are
much superior in physique and intelligence to those of previous years Strong
active youths are required where livestock are dealt with, and these qualifica-
tions are especially necessary in the case of itinerant assistants who have to
undergo considerable hardships when on tour.
HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
35. Tables V and VI—Excluding the dispensaries at Sodepore and
Hazaribagh Pinjrapoles, and at Howrah and Cooch Behar which are outside
my jurisdiction, there were 22 dispensaries at the close of the year. They were
inspected either by me or by the circle Inspectors. The new dispensary
buildings at Begusarai have not yet been occupied. The Bettiah Raj is building
a hospital at Bettiah ; this will be ready shortly. Arrangements have already
been made for the employment of assistants.
36. Hospital accommodation is badly needed at Burdwan, Hooghly and
Serampore, but the District Boards and municipalities appear to be unable to
bear the cost of their erection.
37. The dispensaries at Balasore, Palamau and Suri will be closed as
they are treating very few cases.
38. The total number of out-patients treated during the year was 7,328
equines, 12,702 bovines and 5,014 others, against 7,322 equines, 15,673 bovines
and 4,291 others of the previous year. A short account of the work of each
dispensary is put up below.
39. Purulia.—The total number of cases treated at this dispensary was
1,239 against 1,292 of the previous year. The work of the assistant is not
satisfactory.
40. Chapra.—There is a considerable falling off in the number of
patients treated during the year as 849 only were treated against 1,337 of
1909-10. This decrease is said to be due to the fact that the native population
do not take any interest in the work of the assistant.
41. Dumraon.—The number of patients treated shows a large falling off
as 54 only were treated against 935 of the previous year. The decrease is
due to the change of assistants and also to the sale of old and decrepit Raj
horses which used formerly to spend most of their time in hospital.