21

73. Of the total number of 354,831 fresh patients, 31,906
were treated for contagious disease, 225,583 for non-contagious
disease, and 97,342 as castrations; according to ranges, 115,239
patients were treated in the North Bihar, 139,444 in the
Central and 100,148 in the Orissa Range.

74. The touring veterinary assistant surgeons visited
56,970 villages during the year against 53,604 visited by the
same number of assistants in 1933-34, which shows an increase
of 3,366 villages contributed mainly by the North Bihar and
Central Ranges. Details of the work under all heads are
shown in Table IV.

75.  Field Veterinary Dispensaries.—During the year 31
rural veterinary dispensaries were opened and 26 were closed
leaving 139 working at the end of the year against 134 in
1933-34. Of these, 57 worked in the North Bihar, 50 in the
Central and 32 in the Orissa Range. This is only the third
year of their existence but their popularity was so great that
as many as 123,075 animals were treated at these dispensaries,
compared with 100,730 treated in the previous year which
shows an increase of 22,345 patients. The strain on the present
staff necessarily increased. Attention of local bodies is again
drawn to the absolute need of an increase in the touring staff
with a view to maintain efficiency through these useful
institutions.

                            Veterinary Hospitals.

76. The same 33 veterinary hospitals as in the previous
year, continued to work throughout the year under report.
The number includes 1 hospital maintained by the Bettiah Raj,
while Jamui and Dinapore hospitals were still in charge of
the touring veterinary assistant surgeons.

77.  Construction and repair.—None of the District
Boards have been able to undertake the construction of any
new hospital. The District Boards in the North Bihar Range
with the exception of Motihari hospital which was repaired
during the year, are now considering the question of perma-
nent repair or reconstruction of the buildings damaged by the
earthquake. It is however gratifying to note that the local
authorities in the Central Range have already completed this
work.

78.  Number of patients treated.—During the year, 93,587
in and out patients were treated at the 33 veterinary
hospitals, as compared with 91,527 treated in the year 1933-34,
which shows an increase of 2,060 patients treated. In
addition, 19,330 castrations were performed, and 13,324