MARCH 1948] RAM NARAIN MOHAN AND SYED MAHMUD ALI 13
The first herd, Midnapore Central Jail dairy herd, was maintained in two separate groups, one
inside the jail compound (Group A) and the other outside (Group B). All the 29 cattle of Group B
(seven bullocks, two cows and 20 calves) were inoculated with serum within a week of the sudden
death of a calf in this herd (heart blood-films examined in Calcutta and found positive for B. anth-
racis) and, on 20 August, the 42 cattle of Group A (one bull, 21 cows—mostly pregnant, and 20 calves
of different ages) were injected subcutaneously each with 1 c.c. of the vaccine, Brew No. X/19-6-45.
These injections were not followed by any appreciable local swelling or general disturbance. There
has since been no report of any death due to anthrax in this herd. Previously, the disease broke out
at least twice in the herd, on 2 September 1937 (one death) and on 25 May 1941 (three deaths). On
both these occasions serum was used immediately and there were no further deaths.
In the second herd, a large commercial herd in Calcutta, a case of sudden death in a four-year old
Sahiwal-Jersey first calver was reported on 15 September 1945. This heifer was said to have been all
right till about 1 a.m. that morning when she was noticed to bellow a couple of times and, immediately
afterwards, to fall down and die almost instantaneously. While making blood films from the carcase,
which had already been opened, one of us (R.N.M.) noticed extensive subcutaneous haemorrhagic
patches of different sizes over the chest, engorgement of superficial vessels, numerous petechiae on
peritoneum and pleura, and sub-endocardial ecchymoses in the heart. The spleen was reported to
have been normal, but the intestines had shown a swollen and haemorrhagic mucosa throughout.
Examination of films made from the tar-like heart blood and also from the haemorrhagic subcutaneous
tissue revealed numerous typical B. anthracis. The carcase was properly disposed of, necessary
disinfection measures were immediately adopted, and the entire herd (strength shown below), down to
one-day old calves, was vaccinated the same evening. The vaccine was of the same brew as that used
at Midnapore.
Strength of the herd at the time of vaccination:
(a) Cattle :
Bulls . . . . . . .
Cows in milk . . . . . . .
Cows dry . . . . . . .
Calves . . . . . . .
Total .
(b) Buffaloes:
In milk . . . . . . .
Dry . . . . . . .
Bull . . . . . . .
Calves . . . . . . .
Total .
10
223 (many pregnant)
145 (almost all pregnant)
243 (many sucklings)
621
—
20 (many pregnant)
14 (almost all pregnant)
1
15 (mostly sucklings)
50
There was absolutely no post-vaccination disturbance in the general health of the animals, not
even a reduction in the total milk yield of the herd. In most animals, however, small diffuse swellings
developed over the seat of inoculation. These were neither distinctly hot nor painful and they dis-
appeared in the course of one to three days.
No authentic history of anthrax occurring previously on this farm could be obtained, but it is
possible such deaths might have occurred undetected.
On 9 February 1946, i.e., within five months after vaccination, cow No. 220 of this herd was
noticed to be suddenly sick and restless. It died in a few minutes. The carcase was opened by the
Farm Superintendent who found doubtful swelling of the spleen and some haemorrhagic patches
on the intestinal mucosa in the region of colon and rectum. Films from heart blood revealed
numerous B. anthracis. On 1 March 1946, the entire herd (650 head of cattle) was revaccinated
with fresh vaccine, Brew No. 6/21-2-46. There have since been at least two deaths due to anthrax in
this herd, the first on 24 August 1946, i.e., within six months after the March vaccination, and the