142
Dr. Simpson's
Microbe of
Rinderpest.
813. Veterinary Captain Raymond, the Superintendent Civil Veterinary
Department, Bengal, has made some interesting experiments with Dr. Simpson's
reputed Microbe of Rinderpest. On this subject he states:—
Just prior to Professor Koch's arrival it had been announced in the Pioneer and other papers that Dr. Simpson,
of Calcutta, had isolated and held in his possession the microbe of Rinderpest. I thought that if Dr. Simpson had
captured this germ, it would in all probability soon be easy to prepare vaccine against Rinderpest with it. At the
same time I was aware that Dr. Simpson's experiments might possibly have been influenced by the presence of
natural Rinderpest in the Gowkhana in which he worked.
I therefore wrote and asked Dr. Simpson if the experiments could be performed under conditions which I would
arrange, the result to be made public, and if the experiments failed to show Rinderpest, he would pay Rs. 50 towards
cost. To all this Dr. Simpson agreed at once.
The experiments with Dr. Simpson's germs referred below, were performed in his presence, but none of the
control experiments were.
The results of the experiments which were carried out in his presence disappointed Dr. Simpson, and he declared
himself willing to pay Rs. 50 toward the cost of the test.
The subsequent controls were for my own satisfaction, but I am sure Dr. Simpson would have been glad to
follow them had he remained in the country.
Five animals (B. 3, B. 5, B. 6, B. 7 and B. 8) were inoculated in the jugular vein with Dr. Simpson's germ
in large doses in his presence. All reacted, 4 died and 1 recovered. The general symptoms were diarrhœa and
enteritis, but they failed to show the peculiarities of Rinderpest.
Six more animals were selected and treated with extremely large doses of various material from B. 8 that had
died ; of these 2 died, (B. 4 and C. 6) and 4 recovered (B. 1, C. 4, C. 5, and C. 7.), B. 4's death was due to septicœmia:
he showed no signs of Rinderpest. The only sign of Rinderpest shown by C. 6 was diarrhœa with blood before death,
and he failed to show the usual post mortem symptoms of Rinderpest. Those that recovered had not shown the usual
symptoms of Rinderpest.
Fourteen days after recovery they were injected with bonâ fule Rinderpest blood, and all reacted:—B. 1, deve-
loped the usual symptoms of Rinderpest and died. C. 4 and C. 7 developed symptoms of a mild attack of Rinderpest.
C. 5's temperature rose to 104.2 on the fourth and fifth day, and a subsequent injection of 12 c. c. m. of virulent
blood on 6th November made his temperature go steadily up from the 2nd to the 8th day, when it reached 106 02F.
In the hands of Koch and others, it has been shown that guinea-pigs and rabbits do not re-act to Rinderpest.
I therefore suggested that some of these animals should be tested with Dr. Simpson's germs. This was done on
the 27th May by his Assistant in our presence; 3 guinea-pigs and 3 rabbits were injected with various doses.
Two guinea-pigs and one rabbit died on the 28th and one more guinea-pig died on the 29th. The symptoms were
not those of Rinderpest, and it appeared that the germs had conveyed some other disease.
As a control on the above experiment, 6 rabbits and 6 guinea-pigs were inoculated with extremely largo doses of
virulent Rinderpest blood. One guinea-pig died 34 days after inoculation of pneumonia. All the other animals
remained healthy.
The result of these experiments goes to show that Dr. Simpson's germs are fatal to guinea-pigs and rabbits, and
that extremely large doses of virulent Rinderpest blood are not.
As I was not convinced that Dr. Simpson's germs were those of Rinderpest I did not proceed in this direction.
In the month of May an outbreak of Rinderpest was reported from Munshiganj. I sent a Veterinary Assistant to
investigate and to collect material for experiments. Unfortunately it reached me in such a decomposed condition
that the experiments failed completely.
On the 25th June a bullock belonging to the Chitpore Municipality was admitted at Belgatehia, suffering from
cattle plague and died.
With the bile removed from this animal, four calves, four bulls and three bullocks were inoculated, according to
Koch's method, each receiving 10 c. c. m. subcutancously. The result went to prove that the operation was perfectly
harmless. The animals had a slight swelling at the seat of the inoculation, but showed no sign of disease and fed and
did their work as usual.
Exportation of
hides and
bones.
814. In addition to the losses incurred by the heavy mortality arising from
Rinderpest in this country, trade is further threatened; as owing to the reported
prevalence of the disease the Colonies are considering the advisability of prohibiting
the import of hides, bones, &c., from India. In fact, already the Government of
South Australia under a Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor, dated
10th November 1897, has done so. This Proclamation lays down that for the
purpose of preventing the introduction into South Australia of the disease known
as Rinderpest or cattle Plague, the importation or introduction into South Australia
from India of cattle, sheep, camels, goats or deer, the carcass of any stock, the
whole or any part of the wool, skin, hide, bones, hair, horns, hoofs or other
portion of the carcass of any stock, and hay, straw, litter, manure or fittings, is
prohibited for a period of two years.
815. It might, however, be noted that in prohibiting the introduction of hay,
straw, &c., the Government of South Australia has protected its horse trade by lay-
ing down that all returned fodder and fittings shipped in connection with horses
exported from Australia to India, may be admitted into South Australia on a per-
mit by the Chief Inspector of Stock after such treatment or disinfection as he may
direct.
816. The Premier, New Zealand, has also addressed the Government of India
in a letter in which he asks for full particulars as to the prevalence of Rinderpest in
this country, especially regarding the risk, if any, to which this Colony is exposed
through the introduction of bones and hides, stating that the Chief Inspector of
Stock for New Zealand is desirous of obtaining the information before doing anything
to disturb the considerable trade in these commodities.