13

and actually paid Rs. 25,868-6-0 towards meeting the cost in
deserving cases, apart from the sum of Rs. 39,635-6-0 which they
paid for sera and vaccines spent on Government estates. It is
hoped that those boards which have not yet cleared up their
arrears will do so as early as possible.

                NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED.

59.   Opening of new dispensaries.—98 veterinary assistant
surgeons were employed on touring duty during the year against
100 in 1928-29.

60.  The financial position of the district boards did not
improve with the result that none of them came forward with
a proposal for the appointment of a touring veterinary assistant
surgeon ; on the contrary, the tendency to curtail the existing staff
of this most important agency was more marked. In addition
to the two posts at Aurangabad and Tikari in Gaya district, three
more posts viz., the 3rd touring veterinary assistant surgeon,
Purulia and 2nd touring veterinary assistant surgeons, Bhadrak
and Balasore, were abolished. As the condition of the district
board, Bazaribagh, was far from satisfactory, no recovery on
account of pay and allowances of the entire veterinary establish-
ment was made from the board which was also exempted from
payment of the cost of serum.

61. Construction of dispensaries.—The proposal for the cons-
truction of a veterinary dispensary at Simdega at Government
expense did not materialise. This dispensary is still being held in
a godown of the Public, "Works Department. A dispensary at
Banki is also an urgent necessity and a proposal for taking over
the Public Works Department Toll house on certain conditions is
under consideration. The Subdivisional Officer, Khurda, is very
keen about constructing a set of buildings for the Government
veterinary dispensary at Khurda. His proposal is now being
awaited. The quarters for the 2nd touring veterinary assistant
surgeon, Angul, were completed, while two old sheds attached to
the Angul veterinary dispensary were converted into an operation
shed and servants' quarters after necessary repairs. The cattle
shed at Jamshedpur dispensary was also reconstructed.

In north Bihar Range a combined veterinary dispensary at
Gopalganj under the Saran district board was completed during
the year, while the district board, Purnea, constructed a new
dispensary at Kishanganj as part of a general scheme. Proposals
for construction of suitable dispensary buildings at Purnea,
Laheriasarai and Khagaria are taking a definite shape though
the progress has been slow.