3

8.  From the statistics it will appear that marked improvement
has taken place in the general work of this Range during the
period under report; district boards have sanctioned more veteri-
nary assistants ; inspection of slaughter houses has been accepted,
and a wider field altogether has been opened to the activities of
the department. It is satisfactory to note that the work of the
staff is becoming more and more appreciated as the number of
inoculations and the patients treated will testify. With the
establishment of a properly equipped laboratory, and an increase
of staff, it is hoped that veterinary relief in this neglected part
of the province will develop considerably from now onwards.

                    VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.

9.  The question of establishing a veterinary college at Patna
was again brought up for discussion, and it has now been decided
that fresh proposals should be put forward for the approval of
the Development Board. A research station as well as the dairy
farm will also form a part of this scheme. I advocate the
establishment of the college on these lines, and on this scale,
because practical demonstration of the methods of breeding,
rearing and feeding cattle is of the first importance for the train-
ing of the assistants. Similarly, the research station is necessary.
This scheme is under preparation.

10.  Attention is again directed to the contribution payable by
this Government towards the upkeep of the Bengal Veterinary
College. For the year 1925-26, it will amount to about Rs. 82,000.
Under the existing arrangement of a per capita charge,
it would appear that expenditure will go up indefinitely with the
decrease in the number of students admitted to the college from
Bengal, and provinces other than Bihar and Orissa, and this fact
should be borne in mind by Government. The standard of
instruction is certainly not better than it was and in my opinion
unless the staff can be considerably strengthened, the time has
come to build a new college at Patna. I prefer the latter course
because of the possibility of attaching a dairy farm to it.

11.  I wish again to bring to notice the way in which the intro-
duction of scientific treatment of live-stock is handicapped through
the want of facilities for post-graduate and refresher courses, and
for the teaching of bacteriology and pathology in general. These
subjects are of the first importance in the prevention and
treatment of disease. The courses mentioned are absolutely
essential for all officers, and until they can be put through them