17

64.   Rural Field Veterinary Dispensaries.—With a view to meet the
growing demand of livestock owners in mofassil a third Field Veterinary
dispensary was opened as an experimental measure in the jurisdiction of
some of the Touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons. These dispensaries
had to be closed down as it was not possible for the staff to visit them
regularly without detriment to their routine normal duties. As stated in
last year's report further expansion in this direction will be in direct ratio
to the increase in staff. There were 190 Rural Field dispensaries at work
at the end of the year as against 199 in the previous year. Altogether
214,947 fresh cases (including 62,098 castrations) were treated at these
centres as compared with 205,096 cases of 1939-40. In addition 3,787
old cases were supplied with medicines. It is gratifying to note that these
centres continue to attract more cases.

65.   Number of patients treated at hospitals.— During the year under
report altogether 119,958 in and out-patients wore treated at the 29 District
Veterinary hospitals including those at Dinapore, Jamui, Daltonganj and
Lohardaga and the Bihar Veterinary College hospital, Patna, as compared
with 117,319 patients treated in 1939-40. In addition 26,937 castrations
were performed and 21,715 patients not brought to hospitals were supplied
with medicines as compared with 24,340 castrations performed and 16,834
patients supplied with medicines during 1939-40. For the sustained
increase in work the staff deserves every credit.

66.   Number of patients treated at dispensaries.—The number of
cases treated by touring Veterinary Assistant Surgeons both at head-
quarters and in mufassal was 458,061 as against 429,847 of the previous
year. Of the total number 16,558 cases were treated for contagious and
337,954 non-contagious diseases while 103,549 represent castrations.
The itinerant staff visited 60,267 villages during the year as against last
year's 58,719. In addition 15,257 old cases were treated.

Details of work done by the Touring staff are shown in Table IV.

67.   Construction and repair of Veterinary Institutions.—Although
an extension of the Muzaffarpur Veterinary Hospital buildings is urgently
needed as stated in last year's report, the District Board could not provide
necessary funds for same on financial grounds. The proposal for the
construction of a shed for cruelty cases in this hospital with some aid from
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is under consideration.
During the year steps have been taken by the District Boards concerned
to repair the buildings of the Islampur and Behera dispensaries. For want
of suitable premises at Dhanaha or its vicinity, the question of shifting
the newly opened dispensary to a more central place at Chakia is receiving
attention. The proposal for transferring the vacant excise buildings at
Daudnagar to the District Board, Gaya, for housing the Veterinary
dispensary is under consideration. For want of funds work on the con-
struction of new buildings for the Government Veterinary dispensary,
Simdega, could not be taken up during the year.