No. 8123G.
FROM
F. W. STRONG, ESQ., I.C.S.,
OFFG. DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
EASTERN BENGAL AND ASSAM,
TO
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF EA8TERN
BENGAL AND ASSAM, REVENUE AND GENERAL
DEPARTMENT.
Dated Shillong, the 8th/9th July 1910.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward the Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary
Department, Eastern Bengal and Assam, for the year ending the 31st March 1910.
I have little to add to the full and comprehensive report submitted by Mr. Harris.
2. The arrangement made in 1907 for the conduct of Veterinary work in the
Surma Valley by a special staff working under Mr. McCaldron and subject to the
general control of the Surma Valley Branch of the Tea Association continued till
the death of Mr. McCaldron in November 1909. The Secretary of the Association
then took over the management of the Veterinary staff but made it over to the
Chairmen of the Local Boards concerned in December 1909 who held it till the
close of the year under report.
A report on the work done in the Surma Valley and a statement of account
as furnished by the Secretary of the Surma Valley Branch of the Tea Association
are submitted herewith.
It is now proposed that the annual contribution hitherto paid by Government
towards the maintenance of the special staff should be discontinued and the districts
of Sylhet and Cachar be brought under the direct control of the Civil Veterinary
Department in common with the rest of the province. Government Veterinary
Assistants have already been posted there under the Local Boards, and an Inspector
and a staff assistant have also been deputed to work there.
3. The report shows that contagious diseases were considerably less prevalent
than in the preceding year. It is true that no great accuracy can be claimed for
the figures, but the decrease of over 15,000 as compared with 1908-1909 in the
reported deaths from rinderpest proves that this disease has diminished greatly in
virulence. The natural result is a proportionate fall in the number of anti-rinderpest
inoculations performed by the Veterinary Assistants. This decrease in inoculations
is also partly due to the inadequate supply of serum available and to fewer animals
having been inoculated by the special staff employed in the Surma Valley.
4. It is gratifying to observe that the number of cases treated by Veterinary
Assistants on tour rose from 64,012 to 73,629. During the past year there has been
some improvement in the condition of Tonga ponies on the Shillong-Gauhati
road.
The revision of the rate of fixed travelling allowance of the itinerating Veterinary
Assistants referred to in paragraph 61 of the Report was sanctioned by Government
at the close of the year.
5. The number of cases treated at Hospitals and Dispensaries rose from 15,390
in 1908-1909 to 16,341 in the year under report. This is satisfactory as indicating
the growing popularity of these institutions.
6. Owing to lack of funds no progress has hitherto been made in the erection
of the Government Dispensaries and Hospitals, which it is proposed to build at
several stations. Also nothing has yet been done in the matter of providing suitable
accommodation for the Veterinary Department in Dacca. It is proposed to take up
during the current year the construction of Dispensary buildings in Dacca and
Silchar.