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Rinderpest has been showing a gradual decline in recent years
but this year there has been a small increase in the number of
outbreaks reported and attended and consequent increased
mortality. The whole of the Province has suffered to some extent
with the exception of Sholapur District. We can expect a gradual
increase in the incidence of this disease in future years.

Foot and Mouth disease was not so prevalent as in the previous
year though it showed a tendency to spread more widely towards
the end of the year.

The increase in the number of animals protected is mainly under
Black Quarter though under Rinderpest an increase of a little over
1,000 protected is recorded. The District Local Board, Ahmednagar
resolved to pay fees for the protection of stock owned by ryots in
that district and a considerable increase in the number of animals
treated with Black Quarter Vaccine resulted. The fees from all
sources showed the phenomenal increase of nearly Rs. 6,000.

With the close of the year, the old curriculum of the Bombay
Veterinary College has been abandoned and a new curriculum will
be introduced during the current year. This has necessitated
a change in the standard of admission and instead of Matriculates
only holders of the Inter-Science (B. group) certificate will be
admitted to the College. The new curriculum introduces a great
advance in Veterinary education in this Province.

The work of the Department continues to expand and great
difficulty is experienced in meeting demands made on us from time
to time. There is, in particular, a lack of supervising staff and it
is essential that this be made good if progress is to be made.
Proposals in this direction have received the administrative
approval of Government but for financial reasons, it was not
possible to make any further appointments.

All members of the staff have worked well. Sanction was
accorded during the year to the appointment of one clerk and an
additional peon in each of the offices of the Veterinary Inspectors
and also of an additional clerk in the head office. The clerical
staff has also worked well and unselfishly.

My thanks are due to all those, officials and non-officials, who
have assisted the Department in carrying out its duties, particularly
to officers of the Revenue Department who have always shown
their willingness to assist.

                    PROGRAMME OF WORK.

68. The energies of the Department will be directed towards
investigation into the causation and application of preventive and
curative treatment of the diseases of livestock and the training of
men desirous of taking to the Veterinary Profession as a livelihood.

                                                        E. S. FARBROTHER,
                                              Director of Veterinary Services,
                                                                      Bombay Province.