19

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE CIVIL VETERI-
        NARY DEPARTMENT, BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE
        YEAR 1914-15.

Major G. K. Walker took over from Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Maxwell
on the 12th April and held charge for the remainder of year. He was on tour
for 170 days and travelled 12,282 miles by rail, 1,036 miles by road and 40
miles by sea. He visited 16 districts of the Presidency proper and the Káthiá-
wár and Pálanpur Agencies for investigation and inspection. He interviewed
district officers and others in regard to the work of the department as far as
possible. He attended several outbreaks of epidemic disease and instituted or
criticised repressive measures.

He inspected 35 veterinary dispensaries and 11 stallion stands once or
more. He visited the Vaccine Depôt at Belgaum, the military dairies at
Belgaum and Kirkee, and the civil dairy at Poona. He inspected a number of
pinjrapoles in the course of his tours and the cattle famine camp at Sholápur.
He attended the cattle shows at Talod and Bijápur and the horse show at
Ahmedabad. He acted as President of the Board of Examiners at the Bombay
Veterinary College in April and November 1914. He spent 23 days at the
Northcote Cattle Farm, Chhárodi.

2.  Mr. J. D. Buxy held the post of Deputy Superintendent throughout
the year. He was 63 days on tour and travelled 3,108 miles by rail, 598 miles
by road, and 328 miles by sea. He visited 11 districts and inspected 19
dispensaries and 5 stallion stands. He attended several outbreaks of epidemic
disease and organised inoculation work. He acted as Personal Assistant to the
Superintendent at head-quarters.

3.  The number of Veterinary Inspectors was increased to four on the 1st
July. A new division with head-quarters at Násik was created and the districtd
redistributed. The Inspectors were each provided with a clerk. The work has
much increased of late and the increased establishment has been beneficial.

                        I.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.

4.  The Bombay Veterinary College report is submitted by the Principal
and there are no other Colleges or Schools in the Presidency.

5.  It had been arranged to depute several men to the post graduate
course at the Bombay Veterinary College but the class was not held.

6.   No men were sent to the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory for
training in inoculation work as arrangements have now been made to give the
necessary training in the field.

                              II.—TREATMENT OF DISEASE.

See Table II.

7. During the year contagious disease was reported from all the districts
in the Presidency and the City of Bombay. 9,378
deaths were recorded against 4,074 in the previous
The increase in the mortality was due mainly to the greater
prevalence of rinderpest. The figures are prepared from the returns of
Mámlatdárs and Mahálkaris and from the Health Officer to the City of
Bombay. Outbreaks, regarding which intimation has not been received
officially, are sometimes reported by private persons. This is a pleasing sign of
confidence, but it demonstrates the fact that outbreaks of disease do not always
come to notice through the prescribed channels. In course of time a more
perfect system of reporting and tabulating may be devised. It may await the
necessary expansion of the veterinary staff in order that reports may be
promptly attended to. During the year under report 1,131 outbreaks were
attended by Veterinary Assistants and 69 by Veterinary Inspectors, a notable-
increase over the previous year.