( 7 )

Medicines, of which there is a sufficient stock, were distributed free.
Six new instruments were purchased during the year.
The dispensary is in good order and progressing well.

8. Musaffarpur.—Veterinary Assistant Hemanta Kumar Roy was in
charge of the dispensary throughout the year. The Chairman of the District
Board reports that the total number of cases treated by him at the dispensary
in 1900-1901 was 100, or a decrease of 334. Of these, 82 were treated as out-
patients and 18 as in-patients against 396 and 38, respectively, in 1899-1900
[Table L (a)]. No contagious disease was treated at the hospital during the
year. The Veterinary Assistant visited only one village, where he treated 25
animals, of which 13 were cured and 12 died (Table N).

The receipts of the dispensary were only Rs. 230-2 against an expenditure
of Rs. 1,231-5-9, the excess of Rs. 1,001-3-9 being met from the District Board
funds (Table O).

The Chairman remarks that the hospital was a failure in the year under
report, practically only municipal bullocks being treated there. The failure is
considered to be due principally to the transfer of Babu Surendra Krishna
Mitter, the late Veterinary Assistant, and partly also to the successful working
of a private veterinary hospital in the town.

The dispensary was inspected by me and by the Assistant Superintendent.
New forms should be introduced in keeping the registers. A considerable
falling off of patients was noticed. The Veterinary Assistant tells me he has
to compete against a veterinary firm in which the planters' medical man,
Dr. Hindmarsh, has an interest. He had also for a time to compete against the
firm of Messrs. Ross & Co., Chemists, who employed a Salutri.

9. Cuttack.—During the year, 215 out-patients were treated by the
Veterinary Assistant, Bepin Behari Dutt, at the dispensary against 351 in the
preceding year, of which the results are detailed in Table L (a). The decrease
is mainly due to the fact that the cattle of the public within the municipal area
were not received at the dispensary for treatment, as the municipal authorities
and the inhabitants refused to pay any contribution towards the up-keep of
the institution. Fifty-five operations were performed and 11 post-mortem
examinations were held. The Veterinary Assistant had to conduct the examina-
tions for cruelty to animals, but no part of the fine realised on that account was
paid into the District Board, which bears the entire cost of maintenance of the
dispensary. There being only one Veterinary Assistant, outdoor patients
coming to the dispensary during his absence on tour in the mufassal for sup-
pression of cattle epidemics were not attended to. There seems to be room for
another Veterinary Assistant.

The Veterinary Assistant visited 71 villages, where he treated 1,005
cases, of which 432 were cured, 351 were relieved, and 222 died (Table N),
and instructed the villagers as to the preventive measures to be taken in an
epidemic.

The total receipts of the dispensary were Rs. 897, and the expenditure
was the same (Table O). The subscriptions paid by the local gentlemen
have fallen off to an enormous extent. Only Rs. 86 were subscribed in 1900-
1901 against Rs. 497 in the previous year.

The Chairman remarks that the present position of the dispensary is not
satisfactory, and adds that, as the District Board is in financial crisis at present,
it is doubtful whether it will consent to spend money in future, unless the
Veterinary Assistant shows his abilit to cope with cattle epidemics and gains
the confidence of the villagers.

1 inspected this dispensary. The new Veterinary Assistant, John Jesse
Dass, is fully competent to treat all cases, and will succeed, if he receives that
active support from the District Board, which so greatly helps a newcomer.

10. Dumka.—The dispensary is under the management of a local
Committee, with the Subdivisional Officer as President, and is maintained
entirely by subscriptions. The Subdivisional Officer reports that the majority
of the subscribers, native gentlemen and shop-keepers of the town and mufassal,
have given up paying their subscriptions during the year. The present
subscribers are only the European gentlemen of the station and a few native
officers. The total subscriptions collected in a month do not exceed Rs. 20,
whereas the expenditure excluding prices of medicines, instruments, etc.