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PART II.-PROVINCIAL REPORT.
III.—CATTLE DISEASE.—INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION.
Rinderpest
experiments.
578. These experiments have been conducted at the Laboratory at Muk-
tesar and also by Veterinary-Major Raymond in Bengal. A review of the
former series of experiments will be found under the heading of " Bacteriolo-
gical Laboratory," page 84.
579. In continuation of a valuable series of experiments conducted by
Veterinary-Major Raymond, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Bengal, during the year 1897-98, it has been thought advisable to insert an
account of some further experiments which he has carried out in order to test
the value of bile inoculation as a prophylactic against Rinderpest. The results
of these inoculations seem to be highly satisfactory. Veterinary-Major Raymond
states:—
"In a former report I stated that a hypodermic injection of virulent Rinderpest blood had been observed
to cause a rise of temperature in animals that had recovered from an attack of the disease. It appeared desir-
able to ascertain if the injection of fairly large quantities of other than virulent material would cause a reaction.
Eight animals were selected, four received each subcutaneously 100 c.c.m. of sterilized water and four received
each 100 c.c.m. of normal (undefibrinated) blood. From the charts it will be seen that the sterilized water
caused a very slight reaction on the fourth or fifth or sixth day. The normal blood caused a very trifling reac-
tion in two cases—in one on the fifth day, in the other on the seventh. The reactions were so slight that they
may not have been due, possibly, to the injections.
"Since then, I have ascertained that, if large injection of virulent Rinderpest blood be made after an animal
has recovered from Rinderpest, the temperature reacts, and if still larger doses be subsequently injected, a fresh
reaction takes place, with the result, in all probability, that each reaction is followed by a higher degree of
immunity. This experience has a direct bearing upon the question of the preparation of superimmunised
serum.
"When I visited Muzaffarpur district in connection with an outbreak of malignant sorethroat, Mr. Toomey,
of Kanti, made an interesting report to me about an experiment he had carried out, which showed that the
cattle inoculated in September 1897 were still immune in June 1898 (Appendix J). Mr, Toomey was also good
enough to give me a number of cattle which had been immunised in September 1897 for the purpose of further
testing. The bullocks were so selected that the test included animals of various ages that had been inoculated
with the bile of different buffaloes. They were brought to Belgatchia, but their numbers were reduced by acci-
dents from 20 to 16 (one bolted on the way to the railway station, one broke a leg in the train, two broke a leg
each at Belgatchia). I must also mention that some buffaloes were purchased in Kanti for experimental pur-
poses, because they were cheap and because Mr. Toomey was able to procure animals for me from villages that
had not had Rinderpest.
"An attempt I made to obtain virulent Rinderpest material from Burdwan District was not satisfactory.
As the material which reached me did not appear to be sufficiently virulent for testing purposes, I hoped by
inoculating another buffalo to produce a severe typical attack, but this animal did not take the disease, and has
since proved to be immune. The herd, however, having been daily sent to graze in my own garden at Dum-
Dum 3½ miles away, soon became infected with Rinderpest by cattle they mot on the Jessore road.
"The disease broke out amongst the buffaloes ; the sick were promptly isolated in a shed surrounded by a
fenced enclosure, but all the bile-immunised bullocks from Kanti were shut up with them I may mention that
during the subsequent outbreak these Kanti bullocks came in contact with over 30 cases of Rinderpest during
the eight weeks the outbreak lasted.
"On the 4th October at 7 A.M. buffalo 0. 1 died of virulent Rinderpest.
POST-MORTEM.
Mouth, tongue and pharynx—Eroded with the usual cheesy deposit.
Lungs—Congested and Emphysematous.
Heart—Congested in patches with a little gelatinous exudation at base.
Liver—Friable, gall-bladder full of dark coloured bile.
Spleen— Somewhat congested, but normal in size.
Rumen—Slightly congested with some excoriations.
Reticulum and Omasum—Normal.
Abomasum—Inflamed.
Intestines—Patches of congestion. Peyer's patches inflamed and denuded
of Epithelium.
Buffalo 0. 2 died on the 5th October at 2-30 P.M.
R 2