10
75. In addition to the ordinary liquid serum, 3,538 doses of serum in powder
were prepared and issued to Bengal and Burma for trial in the field. The
experiments were not very conclusive as to its efficacy compared with the
ordinary serum, but, in any case, unfortunately, it is not so well suited to our
purposes as the latter, on account of the fact that no Carbolic or other
antiseptic can be added to it and the powder must be used 24 hours after it
has been made up into solution. It is considered inadvisable to trust Veteri-
nary Assistants in this particular work in the field as it requires considerable
care. Notwithstanding, therefore, the bulk and trouble in carriage, it is only
in exceptional cases, such as those in which qualified Veterinary Officers are
employed, that this dry serum can replace the ordinary liquid form as at present
prepared in the Laboratory.
76. Anthrax.—Protective serum against Anthrax was prepared during the
year. 137,355 c c. against 40,018 c.c. or 27,471 doses against 8,003 during
last year. It will be observed that 14,326 more doses were indented for by the
Superintendents during the year. The results of its use appear to be very good
indeed. The returns show the following :—
Province.
Madras
...
...
...
...
...
United Provinces
...
...
...
...
Punjab and North-West Frontier Province
... ...
Assam
...
...
...
...
TOTAL ...
Outbreaks.
103
70
12
2
187
No. of cattle
inoculated.
12,437
4,602
2,124
124
19,287
No. died after
inoculation.
„
„
„
„
„
Thus, it will be seen that in 187 outbreaks, 19,287 animals were inoccu-
lated against Anthrax without a single death.
77. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—A serum has been prepared during the year
and 3,133 doses have been issued for trial in the field.
78. Mallein.—This material has been prepared for the first time in the
Laboratory and 1,514 doses made up and tested and 675 doses issued. In
addition, 563 doses of English and 170 of French, were issued.
79. It has been found that the virulence of Rinderpest decreases when
passed from animal to animal through a long series of hill cattle, showing the great
care necessary in ascertaining that blood used for testing is as virulent as
possible. The virus of disease varies in its behaviour, some becoming more
virulent when passed through a succession of susceptible animals, others losing
virulence when so treated. Rinderpest, apparently, belongs to the latter and
the necessity for obtaining fresh virulent material in order to ensure the poten-
cy of the serum prepared is very great. As Dr. Lingard remarks, the dis-
covery is of importance and great care will be exercised in the selection of the
material used in future.
80. Experiments in regard to the susceptibility of Camels to Rinderpest were
also undertaken. It has been proved some years ago that the disease was in¬
oculable to Camels in Russia and the experiments conducted at the Laboratory,
with Indian Camels are valuable. They show that the inoculated disease does
not, as a rule, produce very serious results in this animal.
81. Experiments regarding the possibility of conferring immunity against
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia were undertaken and Dr. Lingard has succeeded
in producing a serum from hyperimmunized bovines and buffaloes which has,