13
cattle improvement. I would indicate a possible source of revenue,
which being derived from cattle might legitimately be applied to the
advancement of animal husbandry, viz., a poll tax on all cattle sold at
the melas and cattle fairs in Bengal. It is estimated that 2 lakhs of
cattle are sold annually at these fairs and at 8 annas per head the lakh
collected would provide 25 extra staff assistants needed to control conta-
gious disease, and leave half a lakh to provide more live-stock officers
and premium bulls. This sum would make little appreciable difference
to the deficit in provincial revenues, but would be sufficient to confer
enormous benefit to the cattle owners of Bengal.
64. Serum Simultaneous Inoculation.—The extension of serum
simultaneous anti-rinderpest inoculation has had to be stopped except in
cases where the district boards, or private individuals cannot find the
money to meet the serum costs. Pending further experiment with "Goat-
virus-alone," this is the only method which confers durable immunity
to rinderpest. During the year under report we have shown that the
tost can be reduced by nearly 50 per cent. from Re. 1-8 to Re. 1 or 12
annas per head but even so it is too costly for general application.
65. Goat-Virus-Alone Anti-Rinderpest
Inoculation.—Stimulated
by the notes on the use of goat virus by the late Director of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, we used goat virus in the application
of the serum simultaneous method of inoculation. In the course of the
work we found that the control calves, given virus alone, did not develop
the disease and frequently showed no reaction to the virus. This led
me to undertake experiments, limited for want of funds, in the injection
of goat virus alone to plains cattle. For the first experiment the
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research provided a sum of Rs. 200 for
the hire and purchase of cattle. Fifteen cattle were obtained and of
these 7 were given goat virus alone and the remainder a reduced dose of
serum. This was in January 1931. None of the former showed any
serious reaction to the virus and were purchased and kept for further
experiment. Four were tested for their immunity 12 months later and
proved fully protected against bull virus. The remainder will be tested
in the same way 2 years after inoculation. In January 1932, thirty
animals were obtained and similarly treated and all passed through the
inoculation successfully. A similar experiment has recently been carried
out in the Central Provinces on a larger scale, 350 animals, with similar
favourable results. On the appointment of the Disease Investigation
Officer I propose to continue these inoculations, one in each district of
the province, to ascertain (1) whether it is safe to apply this inoculation
generally in place of the serum alone and serum simultaneous methods,
and (2) whether there is any variation in the susceptibility of the cattle
in different districts of Bengal.
66. Hormone treatment for slowness in breeding in cattle.—As a
result of seeing the Zondeck Ascheim test carried out in the Calcutta
School of Tropical Medicine it occurred to me that the injection of this
hormone might be utilised to stimulate instead of to diagnose pregnancy
in cattle. With the assistance of the Director of the School experiments
were commenced in March 1931 and on my return from leave were
extended. During the last 5 months of the year 8 bulls were treated and
all of them responded and their efficiency in service renewed. Seventeen
cows were treated, and 12 came to service within a month of treatment,
and held to the Bull. This work has been carried out for the most part