NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
16
REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
Table showing main results of the working of the Imperial
QUANTITY OF SERA OF ANTI-TOXIN DOSES PREPARED AND ISSUED.
1
Muktesar Laboratory{
Burieilly Depôt
Name of Sera
or
anti-toxin.
2
Rinderpest .
Anthrax
.
.
Hæmorrhagic Sep-
ticæmia Serum.
Hæmorrhagic Sep-
ticæmia Vaccine.
Charbon Sympto¬
matique Vaccine.
Mallein.
.
.
Tuberculin ,
,
Anti-Streptococcic
Sorum.
Bursati Serum
TOTAL
.
Opening balance.
3
A
84,150
B
18,577
6,151
...
47,350
1,472
482
175
490 c.c.
1,58,357
+490c.c.
Prepared during the year.
4
720,870
3,920
57,829
242,320
17,406
910
13,577
...
1,056,832
Returned serum re-issued.
5
6,700
...
...
...
...
6,700
Total.
6
811,720
22,497
63,980
242,320
47,350
18,878
1,392
13,752
490 c.c.
1,221,889
+490c.c.
Issued during
the year.
7
748,470
20,097
63,980
242,820
22,760
16,275
522
12,102
...
1,126,616
Stock in hand.
8
63,250
2,400
...
...
24,590
2,603
870
1,560
490 c. c.
95,273
+490c.c.
INSTRUCTIONS IMPARTED.
Department
or
Province.
9
}Native States.
Bombay Presi-
dency.
Veterinary Assistants or Inspec-
tors attending class.
10
2
7
9
Number passed.
11
2
7
9
Sale of animals.
12
973
87
1,060
A. The difference between the figures in column 8 of the last year's statement and those in column 3 of this statement
4 as well as in coloumn 5. The present figures in column 3 of this statement show the actual amount in hand after deducting
B. The differene between the figures in column 8 of the previous year's statement and those in column 3 of this statement
proved, on being tested during the year under report to be only 2,590 doses, i.e., 68 doses less.
* This includes amount received up to 31st March 1914 for serum issued during the year 1913-14.
FOR THE YEAR 1913-14
17
Bacteriological Laboratory during the year 1913-14.
Receipts.
Sale of Sera.
13
1,08,994
...
1,08,994
11
11
8
8
Sale of garden products and
Reserve Fores t .
14
900
107
1,007
9
0
9
0
0
0
Ot he r miscellaneous receipts.
15
1,746
...
1,746
0
0
0
0
Tot al .
16
1,11,641
107
1,11,748
4
0
4
3
0
3
FINANCIAL RESULTS.
Expenditure.
Salaries and Tr ave l
l
i
ng
allowances of officers and
establishment.
17
68,841
14,507
83,349
13
3
1
7
9
4
Feed and keep of animals.
18
62,809
5,189
67,998
0
4
4
1
4
5
Cos t of chemicals and.
apparatus.
19
7,476
7,476
7
7
9
9
Ot he r miscellaneous expendi-
t ure.
20
27,101
...
27,101
13
13
0
0
Purchase of animals.
21
13,979
3,300
17,279
8
0
8
0
0
0
Total.
22
1,80,208
22,996
2,03, 205
10
8
2
5
1
6
Is due to 8,600 doses of returned serum having erroneously been shown twice in the last year's statement, i.e., in column
that excess.
is due to an amount of untested serum approximating to 2,658 doses included in column 4 of the last year's statement having
Cost of serum supplied to the Military Department shown separately in the body of the report.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
Muktesar Laboratories.
CALCUTTA
SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1915
Price annas 3 or 4d.
ANNUAL REPORT
THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
Muktesar Laboratories.
CALCUTTA
SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1915
Price annas 3 or 4d.
Annual Report of the Imperial
Bacteriologist
For the year ending the 31st March 1915.
I.-ADMINISTRATION.
The late Lieutenant-Colonel J. D. E. Holmes held charge
of the Laboratory up to the end of February 1915, when he
died suddenly at Bareilly on the afternoon of the 28th of that
month.
By his untimely death this Laboratory suffered a great
loss. During the seven years of his appointment as Im-
perial Bacteriologist his research work was of the greatest
value to the country and he very largely enhanced the out-
put of sera and vaccines for the various diseases of equines
and bovines.
2. I held the office of Assistant Bacteriologist throughout
the year, but since 1st March 1915, in addition to my own
duties, I have also been holding charge of the current duties
of the office of the Imperial Bacteriologist.
3. Dr. G. H. K. Macalister, M.A., M.D., D.P.H., was ap-
pointed by the Secretary of State for India to the newly sanc-
tioned post of Pathologist and reported his arrival in India
on the 2nd October 1914.
2
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
The vacant post of Physiological Chemist was filled by
the appointment of Dr. R. V. Norris, M.Sc., A.I.C., D.Sc.,
who reported his arrival on the 27th November 1914.
4. The services of Mr. Kriebel, as Head Laboratory
Assistant, were terminated on 29th September 1914, the date
of his removal to Ahmednagar as a Prisoner of War.
Messrs. Keiller and Goffi were given the designations of Head
and 2nd Laboratory Assistants respectively.
Mr. Mobbs, the temporary European Laboratory Assistant,
was confirmed as 3rd Laboratory Assistant. Mr. Keiller
returned from leave and joined his duties on the 1st Septem-
ber 1914 ; Mr. Goffi and Mr. Mobbs were on duty throughout
the year.
5. On the reversion of Lieutenant W. J. N. Cheatle to
Military duty, the post of Farm Manager remained vacant
from 25th September to 16th December 1914, on the latter
date Mr. E. J. Hooper joined the appointment.
6. Mr. Berkley resigned his post on 1st September 1914
and Mr. T. Morgan, the present Electrician, was appointed in
his place on 26th September 1914.
7. Mr. D'Monte, Veterinary Deputy Superintendent, was
granted medical leave with effect from 16th October 1914
and has not yet been able to return to duty ; consequently
Khan Sahib Wazir Mohamed, Senior Veterinary Inspector,
was recalled from furlough and resumed duty on the 28th
October 1914.
The other three Veterinary Inspectors remained in their
respective appointments throughout the year.
8. Fodder supply.—A sufficient supply of hay and grain
was received by the same arrangements as in previous years.
The United Provinces Government has agreed to the pay-
ment of a royalty of Rs. 1,250 a year for hay annually
obtained by this Laboratory from the reserved forests
administered by that Government.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915
3
9. Forests.—The administration of the Muktesar reserved
forests was continued. As in the previous year, our require-
ment of fuel was greater than the yield from the Laboratory
area. The officer in charge of the District Forests, therefore.
arranged to supply, through a contractor, ten thousand
maunds of fuel from the surrounding areas under his charge.
10. Water supply.—The shortage of the water supply,
referred to in last year's report, continued to cause great
inconvenience throughout the present year. Not only has
the supply been insufficient but owing to the pump becom-
ing defective through wear, water has had to be carried long
distances by hand and pack mules, for the greater part of the
year, in order to keep the work of the Laboratory in progress.
The labour and difficulties thus entailed have been very
great. A new electrically driven pump is to be erected
shortly and will partly relieve our present embarrassment.
A scheme to provide a supply of water sufficient for our
requirements by means of a hydram has been approved and
the matter is now in the hands of the Public Works Depart-
ment.
11. Electric Centrifuges.—The new machines indented
for from England have not yet arrived. However, by con-
stant attention and repair of the coils, from four to seven of
the old centrifuges have been kept running throughout the
year; the insertion of India rubber buffers underneath the
bed plates has greatly lessened the vibration and damage due
thereto and several of the machines are now being kept in
workable condition.
12. Supply of Hill bulls and Plains animals.—No diffi-
culty was experienced in obtaining the necessary numbers of
Hill bulls. The arrangements for obtaining Plains animals
were the same as in previous years.
13. Bareilly Branch Laboratory.—As in previous years,
the Branch Laboratory remained open for a period of about
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
five months during the winter season. The usual work of
training Military Dairy Farm Managers and research on
Kumri and other diseases were carried out.
The late Imperial Bacteriologist conducted a series of
experiments on Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia as to the possibility
of immunising animals by drenching them with cultures of
the organism.
A number of mules belonging to the Mule Transport
Corps were treated successfully for Surra by means of
Arsenic compounds.
During the past year the work of constructing the resi-
dential quarters on the new site of the Branch Laboratory
progressed satisfactorily. The plans and estimates of the
sheds, outkraals and main Laboratory buildings have been
forwarded to Government. It is hoped that these construc-
tions and the remaining buildings will be completed during
the next year so that by the following winter the preparation
of rinderpest serum may be commenced at Bareilly and the
present pressure on the Muktesar Laboratory relieved.
II. PREPARATION OF SERUMS AND VACCINES.
14. Rinderpest Anti-Serum.—During the year under re-
port the amount of Anti- Rinderpest serum prepared and
issued considerably exceeded that of any previous year, the
figures being 1,388,560 doses prepared and 1,382,050 doses
issued. The following table shows the quantities for the
past five years.
Year.
1910-11
1911-12
1912-13
1913-14
1914-15
Quantity
prepared.
Doses.
577,969
1,052,500
805,500
720,870
1,388,560
Quantity
issued.
Doses.
533,779
698,100
1,128,500
748,470
1,382,050
Increase or decrease
over previous year in
quantity issued.
Doses.
+86,798
+164,321
+430,400
-380,030
+633,580
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
5
The large decrease in 1913-14 was entirely due to the
breakdown of the electric centrifuges, making it impossible to
comply in full with the orders received from India alone,
while orders from the Egyptian and Rhodesian Governments
could not be considered at all. The issue of 1912-13, viz.,
1,128,500 doses includes 198,730 doses supplied to the
Egpytian Government while during the past year, of the
1,382,050 doses issued only 48,300 were sent to foreign
countries. It will be seen, therefore, that the demand for
serum in India is increasing very rapidly and since the
present staff, accommodation and facilities at Muktesar are
already taxed to their fullest capacity, the need for further
expansion to meet the growing demands of the country is
very evident.
The Egyptian Government cancelled the balance of their
outstanding order for Anti-Rinderpest serum in July 1914
after having received 42,000 doses.
15. The net amount to be realized from the sale of Anti-
Rinderpest serum for the past year amounts to Rs. 1,54,883*
and by adding to this the cost of 77,950 doses supplied free
to the Military Department the total revenue from this
source alone would come to Rs. 1,64,627.
16. The results of Anti-Rinderpest serum injections
carried out in the field and as collated from the respective
* A number of the bills amounting to Rs. 43,850-10-0 are still awaiting payment and
have to be carried over to next year's account.
6
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
returns received in this office are noted below.
Province.
Punjab
N.W. F. P. and
N. Punjab.
United Provinces
Bengal
. .
Assam.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa .
Central Provinces
Bombay . .
Madras . .
Sind, Baluchistan
and Rajputana.
Burma . .
Mysore State .
Bengal Veterinary
College.
Baroda State
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculation was under¬
taken.
160
10
1,144
338
132
600
425
302
467
12
32
...
26
4
3,652
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINOCU¬
LATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
2,827
147
6,757
4,588
3,785
6,291
4,868
4,044
9,829
70
502
...
49
29
43,286
Others.
32
...
17
...
...
...
...
...
990
31
...
...
...
...
1,070
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS IN¬
OCULATED.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
30,585
2,165
70,615
37,659
13,782
68,172
47,052
54,213
93,233
1,076
10,317
1,959
1,198
247
432,273
Others.
476
...
3,425
...
...
...
...
...
506
196
...
...
...
...
4,603
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER IN¬
OCULATION.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
92
5
61
239
221
399
110
262
218
1
169
...
6
...
1,783
Others.
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
6
REMARKS.
NOTE.—NO reports received from the officers of the Military Department.
17. Anthrax Serum.—During the year under report 18,640
doses of this serum were prepared and 20,883 issued against
3,920 doses prepared and 20,097 issued during the previous
year.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
7
The demand for this serum is steadily increasing and
owing to lack of sufficient accommodation considerable diffi-
culty is being experienced in meeting orders immediately.
18. The results obtained in the field from inoculations
with Anthrax serum are as follows :—
Province.
Bengal.
.
.
Assam. . .
Bihar and Orissa
Mysore
.
.
Central Provinces
Total
Number
of outbreaks in
which
inoculation was under¬
taken.
2
40
9
...
3
54
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINOCU¬
LATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE.
Equines.
4
25
1
...
...
30
Bovines.
1
169
39
...
7
216
Others.
...
2
...
...
...
2
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED.
Equines.
52
452
1
...
...
505
Bovines.
59
4,896
1,335
48
210
6,548
Others.
...
450
...
...
...
450
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULATION.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
...
8
14
...
...
22
Others.
...
6
...
...
...
6
REMARKS.
Commenting on the efficacy of the Anthrax serum, the
Deputy Director, Land Records and Agriculture, Coorg,
states:—" Anthrax has appeared in many parts of the Prov-
ince and the owners of cattle are fully prepared to pay for
the serum, as they are encouraged from the excellent results
on previous occasions."
19. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia Serum and Vaccine.—77,428
doses of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia serum were prepared and
77,328 issued during 1914-15 against 57,829 prepared and
63,980 doses issued during 1913-14.
In addition to this, 100,690 doses of H. S. Vaccine were
prepared and issued during the year under report against
242,320 doses prepared and issued during the previous year.
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
It would be interesting to know what factors have in-
fluenced the relative demands for serum and vaccine in this
disease causing an increase in one case and a decrease
in the other, but unfortunately no information is at present
available on the point.
Serum possesses the advantage of giving an immediate im-
munity but of short duration while the dose is fairly large ;
on the other hand with vaccine some three or four days
elapse after injection before immunity is established, but
this lasts longer than is the case with serum and the dose
to be injected is small (5 to 10 c. c.).
20. The results of inoculations in the field with Hæmorr-
hagic Septicæmia serum and vaccine are given in the
subjoined table:—
Province.
Punjab
North-West Fron-
tier Province.
United Provinces
Bengal
.
.
Assam. . .
Bihar and Orissa
Central Provinces
Madras
Sind, Baluchistan
and Rajputana.
TOTAL
Number of
outbreaks in
which inoculation was under¬
taken.
130
34
25
20
12
116
30
22
22
411
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINOCU¬
LATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
1,466
92
224
141
292
550
165
226
254
3,413
Others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
35
1
36
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS IN¬
OCULATED.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
26,197
8,287
3,744
1,958
1,537
16,155
2,154
3,298
2,984
66,314
Others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
28
...
28
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULATION.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
13
1
2
3
9
16
1
...
5
50
Others.
4
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
5
REMARKS.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
9
21. Charbon Symptomatique Vaccine.—Out of the last
year's balance of 24,590 doses, 6,333 were issued during the
year under report as against 22,760 issued during the prece-
ding year.
22. The results of inocluations in the field with Charbon
Symptomatique Vaccine are as follows :—
Province.
Punjab.
.
. .
North West Frontier
Province.
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
Mysore State . .
United Provinces. .
Madras
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa . .
TOTAL .
Number of outbreaks in which
inoculation was undertaken.
13
23
1
...
1
...
1
39
NUMBER OF ANI¬
MALS WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
2
...
61
...
9
...
2
74
Others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER
OF
ANIMALS
INOCULA¬
TED.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
788
3,355
100
144
400
40
26
4,848
Others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER
OF
ANIMALS
WHICH
DIED
AFTER INO-
CULATION.
Equines.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines.
...
2
2
...
...
...
...
4
Others.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
REMARKS.
23. Strangles Serum.—16,118 doses of this serum were
manufactured during 1914-15 against 13,577 during 1913-14
and 3,988 issued against 12,192 during the previous year.
The demand for this serum is from the Remount Depôts only
and favourable reports of its value in the treatment of the
disease continue to be received.
24. Mallein.—During the year 37,766 doses of Mallein
were prepared and 31,104 issued against 17,406 prepared and
16,275 issued during 1913-14.
10
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
The great increase in the employment of this diagnostic
agent occurred on the outbreak of the war, owing to the
necessity for testing the large numbers of remounts and
mules leaving India for the front.
25. Tuberculin.—Out of the last year's stock of 870
doses, 140 were issued during the year under report against
522 issued during the previous year.
26. Specimens examined.—During the year under report
132 specimens were received for examination and report at
this Laboratory against 97 during the preceding year.
The details of these specimens are shown in the following
statement :—
NAME OF DISEASE.
Surra . . . .
Anthrax . . . .
Piroplasmosis . . . .
Tuberculosis . . . .
Strangles . . . .
Fowl Cholera . . . .
Rabies . . . .
Kumari . . . .
Lymphangitis Epizootica
Dourine . . . .
Tetanus . . . .
Filaria . . . .
Tumours . . . .
Miscellaneous Diseases
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TOTAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
RESULT.
Positive.
Nos.
62
1
4
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
11
90
Negative.
Nos.
21
4
6
0
0
1
3
1
1
3
2
0
0
0
42
TOTAL
Nos.
83
5
10
2
4
1
3
1
1
3
2
1
5
11
132
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH.
1915
11
27. Training.—TWO Veterinary Graduates and nine Dairy
Managers (8 at Muktesar and 1 at Bareilly) received train-
ing in the methods of inoculation with sera and vaccines
during the year 1914-15.
Captain W. Ludgate, A. V. C., underwent a course of
instruction for about 1½ months, viz., from 1st July 1914 to
13th August 1914, when he was recalled for active service.
Major W. A. Wood, A. V. C., reported his arrival at this
Laboratory on the 20th May 1914 for three months' experi-
mental study of rinderpest, but was recalled for active service
on the 11th of August 1914.
III. RESEARCH WORK.
28. The following was the programme of Research Work
for 1914-15.
(i) Rinderpest.—To continue an investigation on the
influence of drugs administered by mouth and
subcutaneously in the course of the disease, the
object being to discover a method of treat-
ment for Rinderpest. The Rinderpest-anti-
serum is a prophylactic agent and of very
little curative value. Consequently, there is no
known means of saving the lives of animals
when once infected with Rinderpest. The
discovery of an effective treatment for Rinder-
pest would be of great economic importance.
A very large number of drugs have been tested,
singly or in combination, but up to the
present none have been found to exert any
marked influence on the course of the disease.
(ii) Anthrax.—To continue the investigation on
methods of prophylaxis and treatment. A paper
on the practical value of Anthrax Anti-serum
and Vaccines (Preliminary report) has recently
been published.
12
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
During the past year further work on the value of the
combined use of anti-serum and virus and of anti-serum and
vaccines has been carried out.
(iii) Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—An investigation
of the drug treatment for this disease on the
same lines as is being carried out for Rinderpest.
(iv) Kumri.—An investigation into the etiology of
the disease. All work on this subject has up to
the present given negative results. The fur-
ther investigation must be carried out at the
seat of outbreak.
(v) Bursati.—To continue the investigation into the
etiology of Bursati ; certain results have been
arrived at, but require confirmation.
29. Rinderpest.—A very large number of drugs were
tested as to their effect on animals suffering from this
disease. In view of the good results obtained with Iodine
in the treatment of Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia in cattle,
this drug was given an exhaustive trial. Treatment was
commenced on the day that symptoms first developed
and the drug was administered by a number of channels
in various combinations ; these included intravenous, intra-
muscular and subcutaneous injections, as well as administra-
tion by the mouth and combined with Phenol, Ammonia
and other agents either in olive oil or watery solution.
Although a small number of the treated animals recovered
the results were not constant and no appreciable beneficial
effect could be claimed for any of the combinations of the
drugs. Other agents tested were, Phenol, Camphor, Naph-
theline, Pilocarpine, Benzoic Acid, Glucose, Arsenic and
Magnesium Sulphate (subcutaneously), but without any
good effect on the course of the disease being observed.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
13
(b) Experiments were made regarding the preservation,
of Rinderpest virus. This question being of importance in
connection with the immunisation of cattle by the simul-
taneous method, the observations are being continued and
a note will be submitted for publication shortly.
(c) The length of time that sera will retain their
protective values is a point of great importance and one on
which frequent enquiries are received. Lingard showed
that prolonged exposure of Anti-Rinderpest serum in the
Plains at shade temperatures ranging up to 126° F. caused
a loss of 40 to 66 per cent of its protective value. On
the other hand Holmes demonstrated that short exposure
to temperatures up to 140° F. did not lessen the value of the
serum. At temperatures below 90° F. Anti-Rinderpest
serum will remain potent for at least two years—so that
where arrangements can be made to keep it in a cool chamber
such as a cellar or ice box, there is no objection to storing
serum in the Plains that it may be available at short notice.
This course has been followed at the Military Dairy Farms
and some batches of serum that had been so stored for
varying periods have recently been retested.
Samples from three different brews of serum that had
been kept at Lucknow, Jubbulpore and Ootacamund for
periods of 12½, 17 and 19 months respectively, at tempera-
tures varying from 50 to 60° F. were tested, and it was
found that in every case the potency was fully maintained.
30. Anthrax.—A long series of experiments were made
on the effect of drugs in experimental Anthrax. Owing to
the fact that the natural disease is frequently less rapidly
fatal in Indian cattle than is usually the case with other
breeds, opportunities for treatment might arise if a reliable