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PART I—IMPERIAL REPORT.
B.—REVENUE SECTION.
V.—BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
490. This laboratory is situated at Muktesar in the Naini Tal District,
and is distant from Almora about 10 miles. The site was selected as the
climate was suitable for vaccine culture, and, owing to the isolated situation,
all danger of the experiments, which are necessary in a laboratory, com-
municating disease to the cattle of the neighbourhood, is avoided.
491. The building of the laboratory commenced in October 1893, and in
May 1895, Dr. Lingard removed from Poona to Muktesar; on his arrival
however, he found that the building was in so unfinished a condition, that
he would be unable for some time to enter in earnest upon the prosecu-
tion of his investigations of Rinderpest, which, more especially, is to call for his
attention in order, if possible, to discover a protective vaccine. Having
received so many complaints from this Officer, referring to the delay in the
completion of the building, I visited Muktesar in April 1896, and having made
a careful inspection of the building, I had an interview with His Honor the
Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, at Naini Tal,
when I laid before him the necessity for immediate action, in order to rectify
the defects which prevented the commencement of Bacteriological work. A
Committee, composed as under:—
Colonel Pulford, R.E., Superintending Engineer,
Mr. Wildeblood, Acting Executive Engineer, Kumaon Division,
Mr. Polwhele, District Engineer, Naini Tal, visited Muktesar and
inspected the laboratory building on 11th May 1896, and on 15th
August 1896, a second Committee was deputed to report on its
condition. This Committee was composed as follows:—
Mr. Sheridan, Officiating Superintending Engineer.
Mr. Joseph, Executive Engineer, Kumaon Division.
Mr. Polwhele, District Engineer, Naini Tal.
Whilst again His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor visited the laboratory
on 7th October 1896, when he recorded his opinion as follows:—
(1) Private Laboratory.—" The doors of teak do not fit the frames, and are too heavy for the jambs of
sal wood, which they are pulling down by their weight, but this need not be pressed at present.
(2) Micro-photographic Room.—There are big cracks between the planks of the floor which requires
entire relaying. The boards should be relayed.
(3) Dark Room.—The cement flooring, which is laid on corrugated iron, is completely pulverized and
the whole floor shakes. Stone flags or tiles should be substituted for the cement and corrugated
iron.
(4) Upper Verandah.—The outside walls of the rooms facing on to the verandah are rough; they
should be plastered over with lime plaster. The walls are very unfinished.
(5) Microscope Room.—There are big cracks between the planks of the floor, which is very uneven.
It should be relaid.
(6) Chemical Laboratory.—The cement flooring laid over corrugated iron is breaking up. Stone flags
should be substituted.
(7) Upper Verandah.—The flooring outside the sill of the door leading from the verandah on to the
bedroom landing, is uneven and sunk, but this is a small matter.
(8) Cow Hospital.—The plaster round the windows is almost pure mud, and with little lime or sand. If
Public Works Department have paid for lime mortar they have been swindled.
(9) Post-mortem House.—The plaster and mortar are both soft and crumbling, and seem to contain
little lime. The plaster is almost pure surki and is falling off.
(10) Verandah of private bedroom, north side.—This verandah was open and unprotected until closed in
at Dr. Lingard's private expense. I think Dr. Lingard should be recouped the reasonable cost of
this verandah. The bedroom would not be reasonably habitable without a verandah.
(11) Private bedroom.—Flooring uneven and with large cracks between the planks. Should be relaid.
(12) Stables for private horses.—These are not yet built.
(13) Firewood shed required.
(14) Houses for Laboratory Assistant and Artist.—None provided by Public Works Department.
Dr. Lingard has built two houses for this purpose at his own expense. "