GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL.

                                 Department of Agriculture and Industries.

                                                          Veterinary.

                           CALCUTTA, THE 23RD NOVEMBER 1932.

                                     RESOLUTION—No. 5145Vety.

   Minister-in-charge: The Hon'ble Nawab K. G. M. Faroqui, Khan Bahadur.

Read—

               Annual Reports of the Civil Veterinary Department, Bengal, and
                    of the Bengal Veterinary College for the year 1931-32.

I.     Civil Veterinary Department.—During the year under review
there was an increase in the mortality of animals from contagious
diseases as compared with that of the preceding year. Rinderpest which
was prevalent throughout the province took the heaviest toll, being
responsible for 71 per cent. deaths reported from bovine diseases; whilst
haemorrhagic septicaemia accounted for as many as 3,009 or about 20
per cent. of the deaths.

2.     Preventive inoculation by the "serum alone" method of dealing
with outbreaks was carried out extensively with success. Four hundred
and seventy-one animals were also protected against rinderpest by the
"serum simultaneous" method at Manipur in Dacca and at Kapilmuni
in Khulna. The Hon'ble Minister notices with pleasure that the cost of
inoculation in the latter place was borne equally by the district board
and Rai Sahib Binode Bihary Sadhu of the district. It is hoped that
other district boards and public-spirited gentlemen will emulate their
example. An interesting experiment of inoculating plains cattle
against rinderpest with "goat-virus-alone" has been undertaken by the
department in collaboration with the Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research at Muktesar. The result of this experiment has so far been
encouraging. Should the efficacy of the new "goat-virus-alone" method
be established, it is hoped that it will be possible to secure the immunity
of cattle from rinderpest at much less cost than at present.

3.     Veterinary aid in the ordinary care of animals in the mufassal
is still inadequate. No new hospital or dispensary was opened during
the year. Nevertheless it is gratifying to note that a number of district
boards have taken steps towards the construction or improvement of
hospitals and dispensaries.

4.     The necessity of tackling the important problem of animal
diseases in Bengal has been keenly felt for some time past. During
the year a scheme for the appointment of a Veterinary Investigation
Officer for a term of five years was worked out at the instance of the
Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, who offered financial
assistance towards it. This scheme involves investigation of haemor-
rhagic septicaemia, rinderpest and other common diseases of cattle, etc.,
under the direction of the Director, Civil Veterinary Department, and
Veterinary Adviser to this Government and in collaboration with the
Director, Imperial Research Institute of Veterinary Research at
Muktesar. This scheme was sanctioned after the close of the year, and
it is hoped to start the work as early as possible.