ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE WAR 43 
tion to the cities, the number of abandoned children coming under 
the care of the zemstvos increased considerably and the problem of 
providing for them was becoming more and more serious and being 
discussed very earnestly at the zemstvo assemblies. A series of re 
forms was outlined and the larger cities, which were the greatest 
sinners in respect of the abandonment of children, and where the 
greatest number of orphans were found, were made to share in the 
financial support of these institutions. 
Veterinary Service. 
Some idea may be gained of the importance of the zemstvo organi: 
zation in the veterinary field from the following figures: 
Number of Veterinary Surgeons and Junior Officers in 1907. 
In the service of: 
Government 
civil 
military 
Zemstvos 
Municipalities 
[ndependent practitioners 
Total 
Number of veteri- Number of 
nary surgeons Junior officers 
564 
273 
[,045 
716 
“v9 
267 
1,952 
2928 
2.248 
2.447 
When we consider the fact that in 1870 there were only twenty- 
two veterinary surgeons in the thirty-four zemstvo provinces, it is 
fair to say that veterinary service in the rural districts owed its de- 
velopment exclusively to the zemstvos. During the few years before 
the War each district in the zemstvo provinces was divided into sev- 
eral veterinary surgeon or junior officer areas; the veterinary offi- 
cers attended to stricken animals and engaged mainly in vaccinating 
cattle and horses against plagues and epidemics. Twenty-three pro- 
vincial zemstvos had their own veterinary laboratories producing 
vaccines against glanders, Siberian plague, and other contagious 
diseases. On the zemstvo veterinary staffs rested most of the respon- 
sibility for taking measures of a sanitary and police character 
against the spreading of animal plagues by herds moving from 
place to place. Seven provincial zemstvos had organizations for the 
insurance of live stock against epidemics.