8
The Bengal Veterinary Research Institute at Belgachia with its sub-
section at Kurseong manufactured all Groat Tissue Vaccine which was
consumed in West Bengal and sold to Assam and East Punjab Governments
in the period under report. Before partition of the province the Bengal
Veterinary Research Institute had four Sub-sections at Kurseong, Dacca,
Barisal and Chittagong. After partition the Sub-sections at Dacca,
Barisal and Chitagong fell to East Bengal. At the time of partiton the
Bengal Veterinary Research Institute suffered losses due to its big refrigera-
tor being sabotaged along with the seed virus. To revive the work of manu-
facture of Goat Tissue Vaccine after partition fresh virus had to be indented
from Mukteswar and thus manufacture of Goat Tissue Vaccine was stopped
for some time. In fact manufacture of Goat Tissue Vaccine in the Bengal
Veterinary Research Institute was at a standstill from 15th July 1947,
for unsettled conditions and non-availability of suitable type of goats and
for booking restrictions from outside the province. The difficulties were,
however, overcome and manufacture was started from middle of September
1947. In the meantime the Sub-section at Kurseong maintained the
required supply for West Bengal; but it also supplied Assam and East
Punjab Governments, though not to the full demand. Supply to East
Punjab was made by avian route.
During the period under report 4,820 ampoules (moist)
containing
773,100 doses and 1,758 ampoules (dessicated) containing 329,000 doses of
Goat Tissue Vaccine were manufactured in the Institute and the Sub-
section. Out of this 1,257 ampoules equivalent to 248,000 doses and 170
ampoules equivalent to 34,000 doses were sold to Assam and East Punjab
respectively. The rest, viz., 5,151 ampoules equivalent to 888,100 doses,
were consumed in the province.
The sale-proceeds from Goat Tissue Vaccine amounted to Rs. 2,224-4.
Total unclassified receipts from Mukteswar products amounted to Rs. 458-7.
Besides the manufacture of Goat Tissue Vaccine and distribution of other
biological products within the province, the Bengal Vaterinary Research
Institute received specimens numbering 41 for bacteriological, pathological
and parasitological examinations of which 21 proved positive.
Kachin Camp, Kurseong.—This was a military camp of the late Burma
Government in Kurseong, district Darjeeling, and was acquired on purchase
from that Government by the late Director of Veterinary Services, Bengal,
for accommodating there the Veterinary Vaccine Sub-section at Kurseong.
The location of the site is very excellent and the climate is ideal for
the manufacture of Sera and Vaccines; in fact, it is a site ultimate-
ly suitable for constructing a Sera and Vaccine Institute for West Bengal on
a line with the Sera and Vaccine Institute at "Mukteswar and Izatnagar.
POULTRY VACCINE.
Before partition this Department had a Poultry Research Institute for
researches in connection with field work for Poultry Diseases and for the
manufacture of Ranikhet Disease Vaccine which is the most fatal disease
for birds. After partition all instruments, appliances, records and whatnot
of this Institute were taken away to East Pakistan.
The house (No. 3,
Bright Street) was deserted and left open to nobody's care, so much so that
the telephone and all fixtures and fittings were stolen by thieves. The
Institute has been reopened in the Bengal Veterinary College compound, but
manufacture of Vaccine and examination of specimens have not been started
for want of instruments and appliances.
EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PERIOD UNDER
REVIEW.
The total expenditure for the period amounted to Rs. 3,46,024.