22

Order—No. 2747, Revenue, dated 13th September 1913.

Miscellaneous.

Recorded.

2. The Government note with pleasure
the continued improvement in the intellec-
tual qualifications of the candidates seeking admission into the Veterinary. College.
In 1911 of 14 students, 8 were unpassed: in 1912 one only out of 23 was unpassed :
while in 1913 no unpassed students were admitted and two of the students were
graduates.

The result of this improvement is evident in the increasingly satisfactory results
of the examinations held in the college.

3.   During the year under report only one new Veterinary hospital was opened,
viz., that at Pariākimedi; and the slow progress in this direction is discouraging.
Administrative approval has been accorded to the construction of nine hospitals at
Amalāpuram, Calicut, Erode, Cuddalore, Nellore, Nandyal, Madanapalle, Mangalore
and Salem. For the first four hospitals plans and estimates have been sanctioned and
the Public Works Department have been requested to expedite construction. The
Board of Revenue will be requested to submit plans and estimates for the other
hospitals as soon as possible. In G.O. No. 1174, dated 2nd December 1905, the
Government contemplated the eventual opening of the Veterinary dispensaries in 82
towns: but the construction of masonry hospitals is necessarily slow, while the cost
of construction is high. The number of hospitals now open is 21: and it is evident
that it will be many years before all the 82 contemplated are opened. In order,
therefore, to expedite the carrying out of the above programme, it has been proposed
that temporary dispensaries on a less ambitious scale should be started.

The Government recognise the need for more speedy development of Veterinary
institutions than is to be expected under the present system and will consider most
carefully the proposals outlined above.

The number of cases treated at the existing hospitals shows a slight increase
from 20,252 to 21,205. The Government regret that the popularity of these insti-
tutions has not increased more rapidly.

4.   On the 31st March 1913, the subordinate staff of the department consisted
of 65 Veterinary Assistants and 7 Veterinary Inspectors, 6 Assistants and 4 Inspectors
being added during the year.

The number of cases treated by Veterinary Assistants on tour shows a steady
increase—

but the number of cases treated by each assistant is still small and the Government
hope to see further improvement in this respect. The large increase in the number
of castrations performed by Veterinary Assistants from 17 in 1910-11, 243 in 1911-12
to 1,268 is most satisfactory: for without castration of all but the best bulls, any
great improvement in the breeds of cattle cannot be expected.

5.   One of the features of the year was the organisation of a mobile force
composed of six Veterinary Assistants and one Inspector for inoculation against
rinderpest. In Kistna alone this force performed 21,884 inoculations, and, had it
not been for its presence, there is every reason to fear that the mortality in that
district would have been very severe.

In all 38,352 animals were inoculated against rinderpest in the year under
report as against 50,487 in 1908-09 ; 48,101 in 1909-10; 21,195 in 1910-11; and
13,588 in 1911-12.

6.  Table XV in the Superintendent's report shows the cattle mortality in the
last five years.