Cattle plague and the introduction of veterinary education in colonial Bengal

Abstract

Historically, Bengal had played a pivotal role in the introduction of a regulated regime of veterinary practice and education in colonial India. The proposed study seeks to view this practice through the lens of cattle plague that gripped the province in the second half of nineteenth century. Contrary to what the extant literature makes us believe, it is argued that in the matter of livestock management, Bengal paid more attention to her bovine inmates primarily for agricultural purposes rather than horse breeding and supply in military and transportation sector.