(13)

or no further progress can be expected. With our present inadequate
staff, it is impossible to quickly suppress contagious diseases or keep
them controlled within certain areas; also Government granting insuffi-
cient funds for sera, we are confronted with a period each year when
our grant runs out and have to approach Government for additional
funds. During this period no inoculation can be carried out for want
of sera and in outbreaks visited by the veterinary assistant surgeons
nothing can be done excepting explaining to villagers the benefit of
isolation which, in the great majority of cases, is not carried out by them
with the result that the disease spreads. Another factor for the spread-
ing of diseases is the journeying through these provinces of cattle dealers
from the Punjab. I do not say that they are totally responsible for
bringing the disease, but by journeying from village to village they
spread it. During last June I made a circular tour through the dis-
tricts of Cawnpore, Etah, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut and Saharan-
pur and it was easily seen that the route taken by the cattle dealers
from the Punjab was marked by outbreaks of contagious diseases.
Nothing can prevent this except legislation and co-operation of province
with province. I agree that it might not be possible to put it into force
for some years, but having once passed a set of rules on the lines of the
Contagious Diseases Animals Act of England, it would always be at
hand to enforce.

66. The District Remount Officer, Babugarh, in his annual report
of the working of the provincial stallions in the selected districts has
remarked that, in his opinion, our present method of destruction against
the stamping of surra cannot possibly effect any check, as it only
touches the fringe, and that Government should start a treatment centre
either free or on payment of fees where animals affected should be
treated by the latest methods. I quite agree with his remarks that
we at the present time touch only the fringe of the disease, but I should
like to point out, as quoted above, that due to want of funds and inade-
quate staff we only touch the fringe of any of the contagious diseases
which occur amongst the domesticated animals. One centre would be
of little use, it would mean a centre in each of the yearly infected dis-
tricts and a large staff of highly trained technical men. Also treat-
ment would, in the cases of country tats, cost more than the value of
the animal, and nothing definite has as yet been proved that it is an
actual cure in the field. But I am given to understand that in Java
it has been used as a prophylactic in army animals.

67. I regret to again have to bring to the notice of Government
the general apathy shown by the district boards in answering corres-
pondence, etc., with this department. This has been brought to my
notice by both my circle officers and I have personally experienced it