10

               NUMBER OF ANIMALS TREATED.

49.  Opening of new dispensaries.—The total number of
veterinary assistant surgeons employed on touring duty during
the year was 96 against 98 in 1929-30.

50. The financial position of the district boards remaining
uuchanged no new post of touring veterinary surgeon could be
created except one by the district board, Puri, for the sadr
subdivision of the district. This post could not be filled during
the year as the selected candidate failed to join. The veteri-
nary dispensary, Katras (Manbhum), which was closed for want
of funds, was reopened during the year after readjustment of
the district board veterinary budget. Government have, under
consideration, a proposal for opening a temporary veterinary
dispensary for the Kolhan areas in the Singhbhum district out
of the Kolhan fund. As the financial position of the district
board, Hazaribagh, did not improve, Government was pleased
to make a grant, equivalent to the proportionate cost, towards
the pay and allowances of the veterinary assistant surgeons in the
district and also met the cost of serum spent in it for another year.

51.  Construction of dispensaries.—No fresh proposal for
the construction of dispensary buildings or improvement to
the existing ones was received during the year. The dispensary
at Simdega was, however, shifted from the Public Works
Department godown to a rented house. The proposal for taking
over the Tol house for the veterinary dispensary at Banki did
not materialise, while the building project for Khurda veteri-
nary dispensary was not received during the year. The district
board, Purnea, which was unable to construct a new veterinary
dispensary building at Araria according to the plan, converted
the old technical school building into a dispensary there, as
in the case of Kishanganj veterinary dispensary. The question
of constructing a building for the veterinary dispensary at
Khagavia is still under the consideration of the district board,
Monghyr, while the district board, Bhagalpur, contemplates
constructing a new dispensary building at Bihpur.

52.  Work of touring veterinary assistant surgeons.-
264,864 fresh cases including 67,694 castrations, were treated
by veterinary assistant surgeons on tour and at headquarters
during the year, against 177,537 cases treated in 1929-30. Ex-
cluding castrations, the number of cases increased by 24,007.
This is partly due to more attention paid by the touring staff to
treatment in the mufassal when they were unable to take up
inoculation during outbreaks, partly to a larger number of
foot and mouth disease cases treated in the Central Range and