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maintained, but in addition to the servants required for the purpose, Dr. Lingard
showed the necessity for the appointment of a Head Laboratory Assistant, and
strongly urged that he should be an European. This appointment having been
sanctioned, Mr. Max Kriebel arrived from Germany and was appointed on 19th March
1898. Another appointment which received the sanction of the Government of
India was that of a Farm Jemadar on Rs. 30 per mensem, and if this man is
properly selected from the class of agriculturists who understand hill farming, I
feel that his appointment will amply repay Government.
509. At my inspection, I found large plots of land on the estate on which
jooar and other fodder crops could be grown. Especially is this the case at
Ritani, 2½ miles from the Laboratory at which place, cattle sheds, to accommodate
40 head of cattle from which those required for experimental purposes are drawn,
exist. We therefore have at Ritani a large amount of valuable manure as well as
a good supply of water. On this ground as well as on other plots, given a good
monsoon, there is no reason why sufficient fodder for the year should not be grown.
Veterinary-Lieutenant Walker is quite alive to the fact, and with the assistance of
a good Farm Jemadar, I trust that all difficulties which have hitherto existed with
reference to fodder, will have been removed.
510. From the above it will be seen that everything has been done to place
this establishment on a satisfactory footing, and I trust that the Imperial Bacterio-
logist will commence his researches, as affecting Rinderpest, at a very early date.
Experimental
Station in the
Plains.
511. It having been felt that it was of the greatest importance that a station
should exist in the plains at which the results obtained from experiments carried
out in the hills could be confirmed, it was suggested that Dr. Lingard should
be allowed to work at the Laboratory at Agra during the winter months; but
on the question being referred to the Military authorities, objections were raised
on the grounds that the use of the Laboratory (which is situated within
Cantonments) for experiments connected with Rinderpest, would be likely to
endanger the health of the troops by the infection of milch cattle. Owing to
this decision, the question of an Experimental Station in the plains was very carefully
considered during Dr. Lingard's visit to Simla, and I was firmly of conviction
that the value of experiments conducted in the hills would be of little value to
India unless they were confirmed by similar experiments in the plains. I felt it
my duty to recommend the establishment of a small Experimental Station,
keeping the requirements as low as possible in order not to increase the expenses
connected with the Laboratory more than was absolutely necessary, for I feel
that they have increased greatly.
512. I would not have made the abovementioned recommendation had I not
felt that the Laboratory at Muktesar would be unworkable, except it were backed
up by such an Experimental Station in the plains, which must be situated as close
as possible to the Railway terminus, Kathgodam. The grounds on which I based
this opinion were, that on three occasions:—
(i)—June 4th 1897 from Tanda, Professor Koch,
(ii)—August 18th 1897 from Fyzabad District, Vety.-Captn. Gunn,
(iii)—October 29th 1897 from Ghazipur District, Dr. Lingard,
Rinderpest blood transported from the scene of an outbreak to Muktesar for
experimental purposes, has either failed to kill after the first inoculation or, as
in cases (ii) and (iii) abovementioned, has produced only slight disease or no
symptoms at all. This was due to the length of time which intervened between
the time of its collection and the time it arrived at Muktesar, although the
greatest possible despatch was made. It will therefore be seen that if we cannot
reproduce the disease at the Laboratory, work must be at a standstill which I
regret to say is at present the case. An Experimental Station in the neighbourhood
of Bareilly would obviate these difficulties, and I trust that soon all matters
connected with the selection of the site, will be settled and that the small
amount required for this establishment will receive the sanction of Government