No. 6743G.
FROM
S. G. HART, ESQ., I.C.S.,
DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
EASTERN BENGAL AND ASSAM,
To
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF EASTERN BENGAL
AND ASSAM, REVENUE AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Dacca, the 1st July 1911.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward the report of the Veterinary Department for
the year 1910-11.
The strength of the Department increased during the year from 2 Veterinary
Inspectors and 44 Assistants to 4 Inspectors and 51 Assistants.
2. The amount of work done shows a corresponding increase. Itinerant Assistants
visited nearly 10,000 villages and treated 90,101 animals, as compared with 73,629
animals in the preceding year. Dispensary Assistants treated 16,452 new cases during
the year; this number excludes cases in which advice only was given or in which the
Assistant had to prescribe without seeing the affected animals and though the number
of cases returned for 1909-10 was nearly as large, the figures for 1910-11 represent a
greater amount of work because the returns have been more carefully compiled.
There are definite indications that the Department is acquiring greater control
over the diseases of animals in this Province; for the increase in the number of cases
treated has been accompanied by a further decline in the prevalence of contagious
diseases, as is shown by the returns of deaths from disease and of the cases of
contagious disease brought for treatment.
Very little approximation to accuracy can be claimed for the returns of mortality
which are merely compiled by police officers from the reports of village chaukidars.
If the returns were compiled quarterly instead of annually and checked by Veterinary
Assistants, their accuracy could certainly be incrcased; but the Assistants are probably
better employed in cheeking disease than in scrutinising statistics.
3. A very serious situation has arisen in regard to the supply of serum. The
Bacteriological Laboratory at Muktesar is no longer able to meet all the requirements
of this Province and the Superintendent has found great difficulty in obtaining the
serum necessary for dealing with some outbreaks of rinderpest, anthrax, and hæmor-
rhagic septicæmia. Similar difficulties are occurring in other Provinces, and I venture
to submit that it is time that the situation should be faced and a strong representation
addressed to the Government of India respectfully urging the immediate establishment
of another laboratory, in addition to Muktesar, for the supply of sera.
In order to check wastage, the Government of India has decided to charge the
Local Governments for all the sera supplied to each Province, leaving the Local
Government to exercise its discretion as to recovery of the cost from private persons
or local bodies.
The Government of this Province has decided that no fee should be
levied from ordinary cattle owners for inoculating their animals, and that for the
present local bodies will also not be called on to bear this expense.
4. By increasing the number of Inspectors the Superintendent has undoubtedly
gained a more effective control over the Assistants of his Department. These young
men in the early days of their service are greatly in need of advice and direction from
more experienced officers, and though most of our Assistants have quickly developed
into active and useful men, there are some who, in spite of good records at College,
prove unsuited for district work. For the sake of the Department and of the public
such men should be weeded out as quickly as possible.