NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
14
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
curative agent could be found. The following compounds
were tested :—
Tincture of Iodine B. P.
Ammonium Iodide.
Sodium Iodide.
Arsenic Iodide.
Hydriodic Acid.
Iodine Trichloride.
Tinct. Iodi and Glucose.
Potassium Iodide and Glucose.
Potassium Iodide and Chlorine water.
Cinnamon Oil.
Clove Oil.
Peppermint Oil.
Lemon Grass Oil.
Iodipin.
Certain of the Iodine compounds exercised a decided
effect on the disease, but in no case were the results suffici-
ently conclusive to warrant their employment being recom-
mended.
31. Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia.—A similar series of
tests were made in the drug treatment of Hæmorrhagic
Septicæmia to those carried out in the case of Anthrax. Here
again Iodine compounds had a marked effect, but with no
agent could better results be obtained than those previously
recorded by Holmes. Attempts to confer immunity against
this disease by drenching with living cultures of the causal
organism were successful in a good proportion of cases, but
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
15
the experiments demonstrated that when the cattle were
in poor condition the risk of giving them a fatal attack
of the disease by this means was considerable, so that the
practical application of this method in India cannot be
suggested.
32. Surra.—Observations on the treatment of Surra
were continued and good results obtained by means of
Arsenic and its compounds. The toxins of certain fungi
were also tested, but while the effect on the parasites in vitro
in some cases was marked, the results in treatment were not
encouraging.
33. Kumri.—The study of the pathology of this disease
has been taken up by Dr. Macalister, but it will be necessary
for an investigation to be made in the districts where out-
breaks occur; arrangements will be made for this to be
carried out.
34. Strangles.—A series of experiments were in progress
regarding the employment of serum and vaccines for the
protection and curative treatment of young equines against
Strangles at Mona Remount Depôt, when Col. Holmes'
sudden death and my return to assume charge of his office,
necessitated their interruption. Encouraging results were,
however, obtained and it is hoped to complete the observa-
tions next season.
35. The following article was published during the year
in the Veterinary series of Memoirs of the Department of
Agriculture in India.
" Some experiments on the Immunising effect of the
Simultaneous Injection of Anthrax attenuated virus and an
Anthrax Anti-Serum," by Lt. Colonel J. D. E. Holmes.
36. General Remarks.—The total issue of sera, vaccines
and diagnostic agents from the Laboratory during the past
16
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
year exceeded by 387,115 doses, the highest figure for any
previous year, namely, 1,235,401 doses in 1912-13.
This result was only achieved by working all departments
at high pressure throughout the year, and, in view of the
several changes in the staff and many difficulties that have
been encountered, is evidence of the zeal and energy of all
responsible.
Reference has already been made to the centrifuge and
water difficulties ; in addition, the war caused a delay of
several months in the delivery of our annual supply of
glassware for carrying on the routine work of the Labo-
ratory, while the additional supply of bottles for the issue
of our products, ordered in August 1914, have not yet been
despatched from England. These delays have occasioned
great inconvenience as the rapid increase in the demand
for serum and Mallein caused a larger consumption of
glassware than had been anticipated.
During the greater part of the year Foot and Mouth
disease was exceedingly prevalent in the Kumaun Division,
so that most of the Hill bulls and buffaloes reaching
Muktesar were either suffering from this disease or
developed it soon after arrival. By strict isolation and
supervision the infection was confined to the segregation
areas and outkraals, and the disorganisation that would have
been caused by its spread to the serum-making animals was
fortunately prevented.
The greater part of my own time has been occupied by
the control of the increasing routine work of the Laboratory,
to which, since Col. Holmes' death, has been added the
duties of administration and responsibilities connected with
the drawing up of specifications and requirements for the
new Laboratory at Bareilly. The opportunities for research
work have therefore been limited ; several observations of
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH
1915.
17
practical value have, however, been made and these, it is
hoped, will be available for publication shortly.
I wish to record my thanks to all members of the staff
for their loyal service, which has been freely rendered,
frequently under trying conditions.
A. W. SHILSTON,
Assistant Bacteriologist, in charge of
the office of the Imperial Bacteriologist.
18
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
Table showing the doses of different products issued from the
Names of sera.
Rinderpest serum .
Anthrax serum . .
Hæmorrhagic Septi-
cæmia Serum.
Hæmorrhagic Septi-
cæmia Vaccine.
Charbon Symptoma¬
tique Vaccine.
Mallein .
. .
Tuberculin
Anti-Streptococcic
serum.
Bursati serum . .
TOTAL
Punjab.
45,000
...
11,200
...
700
534
...
...
...
57,434
North-West Frontier
Province.
9,000
...
13,500
4,350
4,000
112
...
...
...
30,962
South Punjab.
42,000
...
11,513
4,800
1,000
370
...
...
...
59,683
QUANTITY ISSUED
United Provinces.
362,250
...
5,600
3,100
...
50
...
...
...
371,000
Bengal.
82,250
2,000
5,000
...
...
550
100
...
...
89,900
Assam.
43,000
8,000
3,600
...
...
...
...
...
...
54,600
Bihar and Orissa.
172,000
1,333
5,667
88,440
...
...
...
...
...
267,440
Central Provinces.
125,000
2,000
10,000
...
...
...
...
...
...
137,000
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
19
Muktesar Laboratory during the year 1914-15.
IN DOSES.
Bombay.
88,300
...
...
...
...
60
...
...
...
88,360
Madras.
210,000
2,500
6,833
...
...
400
10
...
...
219,743
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
...
...
2,666
...
100
65
2
...
...
2,833
Burma.
31,000
...
...
...
...
100
...
...
...
31,100
Coorg.
1,000
400
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1,400
Military Department.
77,950
233
746
...
...
23,764
28
3,613
...
106,334
Native States.
39,850
3,783
...
...
500
2,995
...
350
...
47,478
Foreign Countries.
48,300
...
...
...
...
1,000
...
...
...
49,300
Imperial Bacteriolo¬
gical Laboratory.
5,150
634
1,003
...
33
1,104
...
25
490c.c.
7,949
+490 c.c.
TOTAL.
1,382,050
20,883
77,328
100,690
6,333
31,104
140
3,988
490c.c.
1,622,516
+490c.c.
20
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
Table showing main results of the working of the Imperial
QUANTITY IN DOSES OF SERA OR ANTI-TOXIN PREPARED
AND ISSUED.
1
Muktesar Laboratory
Bareilly Depôt.
Names of sera
or
anti-toxin.
2
Rinderpest Serum
Anthrax Serum
Hæmorrhagic Septi-
cæmia Serum.
Hæmorrhagic Septi-
cæmia Vaccine.
Charbon Symptoma¬
tique Vaccine.
Mullein .
. .
Tuberculin
Anti-streptococcic
Serum.
Bursati Serum
TOTAL
Ope ning balance.
3
63,250
2,400
...
...
24,590
2,603
870
1,560
490 c. c.
...
95,273
+490c. c.
Prepared during the year.
4
1,388,660
18,640
77,428
100,690
...
37,766
...
16,118
...
...
1,639,202
Re t
ur ne d serum.
5
...
...
...
...
...
150
...
...
...
...
150
Total.
6
1,451,810
21,040
77,428
100,690
24,590
40,519
870
17,678
490 c. c.
...
1,734,625
+490 c.c.
Issued duri ng the year.
7
1,382,050
20,883
77,328
100,690
6,333
31,104
140
3,988
490 c.c.
...
1,622,516
+490 c.c.
Stock in hand.
8
69,760
157
100
18,257
9,415
730
13,690
...
...
112,109
INSTRUCTIONS
IMPARTED.
Department
or
Province.
9
...
...
...
Military Dairy Farm
Managers.
C. V. D., Madras
C. V. D., Bengal
...
...
...
Military Dairy Farm
Manager.
Eur o pe a n Of f
i
cers attendin
10
...
...
8
...
...
...
...
...
1
9
Nu mb e
r passed.
11
...
...
8
...
1
9
Indian Vete
12
...
...
...
1
1
...
...
2
Number pa
13
...
...
...
1
1
...
...
2
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1915.
21
Bacteriological Laboratory during the year 1914-15.
Sale of sera.
14
}*1,19,517
1,19,517
2
2
0
0
Sal e of animals.
15
178
178
RECEIPTS
12
12
0
0
Sal e of garden products and
Reserve Forests.
16
771
771
10
10
0
0
FINANCIAL RESULTS.
Ot he r miscellaneous receipts.
17
355
355
6
6
0
0
Total.
18
1,20,822
1,20,822
14
14
0
0
Sal ari es and Travelling
allowances of officers and
establishment.
19
81,354
81,354
10
10
0
0
Feed and keep of animals
20
72,196
72,196
2
2
EXPENDITURE.
11
11
Cos t of chemicals and
apparatus.
21
7,494
7,494
6
6
2
2
Ot he r miscellaneous expendi-
t ure.
22
32,955
32,955
2
2
2
2
Purchase of animals.
23
14,483
14,483
9
9
6
6
TOTAL.
24
2,08,483
2,08,483
14
14
9
9
* Cost of serum supplied free to the Military Department amounts to Rs. 9,744.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
Muktesar Laboratories.
CALCUTTA
SUPERINTENDENT GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1916
Price annas 4 or 5d.
Annual Report of the Imperial
Bacteriologist
For the year ending the 31st March 1916.
I. ADMINISTRATION.
I held charge of the current duties of the Imperial
Bacteriologist throughout the year, in addition to my own
duties as Assistant Bacteriologist.
2. Dr. G. H. K. Macalister, M.A., M.D., D.P.H., held
the office of Pathologist throughout the year.
3. Dr. R. V. Norris, M.Sc., A.I.C., D.Sc., held the post
of Physiological Chemist up to the 6th October 1915, when
he left Muktesar to join temporarily the Indian Army Re-
serve of Officers.
4. Messrs. Keiller, Goffi and Mobbs, the Head, 2nd and
3rd European Laboratory Assistants respectively, were on
duty throughout the year.
5. The post of Farm Manager was held by Mr. E. J.
Hooper up to the 15th February 1916 from which date he
was granted one month's privilege leave. On the expiration
of this leave his services at the Laboratory terminated.
Mr. Goffi, the 2nd European Laboratory Assistant, has
been discharging the duties of Farm Manager, in addition
to his own, with effect from the 16th February 1916.
2
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
6. Mr. T. Morgan held the post of Electrician up to the
11th December 1915 ; he then joined the Motor Transport
Service.
Mr. N. N. Ghose, the Assistant Electrician, held charge
of the office of Electrician, in addition to his own duties,
from the 12th December 1915 to the 22nd February 1916,
on which date he was relieved by Mr. W. A. Noel.
Mr. Noel has since been relieved by Mr. S. E. Andrews,
whose appointment, as Engineer at this Laboratory has
been sanctioned by the Secretary of State.
7. Consequent on the death of Mr. D'Monte, Veterinary
Deputy Superintendent, on the 12th July 1915, Veterinary
Inspector Mr. J. D'Costa was appointed Veterinary Deputy
Superintendent, with effect from the 13th July 1915.
The post of a Veterinary Inspector rendered vacant by
Mr. D'Costa's promotion was not filled up until the 24th
November 1915, on which date Mr. J. R. Bhide, a graduate
from Bombay Veterinary College, was appointed.
The other three Veterinary Inspectors remained in their
respective appointments throughout the year.
The new post of Veterinary Deputy Superintendent for
the inoculation of cattle in the Military Dairies sanctioned
in Government of India, Army Department No. 23640-1-
(Q.M.G. 9), dated the 13th January 1916, has not yet been
filled, but arrangements are being made for the early ap-
pointment of a qualified officer to this post.
8. Fodder Supply. Some difficulty was experienced in
obtaining an adequate supply of hay during the winter
months owing to reliance having to be placed on local con-
tractors. Poor crops and shortage of labour appear to have
produced this position outside Muktesar, while the over-
growth of our own forest has led to a large decrease in the
production of grass within our boundary. Ultimately an
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
3
amount was delivered which with care will meet our require-
ments until next autumn, but the need has been demon-
strated of further supplementing our present sources of supply.
With this object steps have been taken to cultivate certain
areas within the estate and already a considerable amount of
ground has been reclaimed and ploughed ready for sowing
with English clovers and grasses ; by this means it is hoped
to provide a certain quantity of green fodder for our animals.
Satisfactory arrangements were made for the supply of
grain.
9. Forests. A large quantity of dry and fallen wood was
extracted from these areas in addition to the fuel obtained
from the coupe of the year. The contractor of the District
Forests also supplied the balance of ten thousand maunds of
fuel contracted for during the last official year.
As the result of an interview which I had with the
Inspector General of Forests, at Naini Tal in June 1915, the
Forest Department have decided to prepare a new Working
Plan for the Muktesar forest, under which they expect to
be able to provide at least 20,000 maunds of fuel annually
instead of 10,000 maunds as under the old working plan ;
this would obviate the necessity of obtaining fuel from the
District Forests in future.
10. Water Supply. With our present inadequate arrange-
ments the question of water supply becomes more difficult
each year. The shortage is greatest during the three months
preceding the break of the monsoon, and for the whole of
that time the work of the Laboratory is carried on under great
difficulties, as most of the water has to be carried by hand
and pack ponies from a considerable distance.
A new electrically driven pump was erected early in the
year, but the discharge from the spring proved quite in-
sufficient.
The Public Works Department now consider that the
hydram scheme is impracticable and propose substituting
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
electrical pumping from a point some 1,200 feet below the
level of the Laboratory.
11. Electric Centrifuges. Some of the old condemned
centrifuges have been kept running throughout the year by
constant attention and repair, but the risk has been consider-
able ; at the close of the year under report three only re-
mained in workable condition but none are likely to last very
long.
Three of the new centrifuges have been delivered and are
now awaiting erection.
12. Supply of Hill bulls and Plains animals. There was
no change in the arrangements for obtaining hill bulls and
plains animals, nor was any difficulty experienced in procur-
ing them.
13. Bareilly Branch Laboratory. As usual the Branch
Laboratory remained open for about five months during the
winter season.
In addition to the routine work of testing sera and
vaccines, examination of specimens, etc., investigations were
carried out in connection with Blackquarter, Anthrax,
Strangles, and Tuberculosis of cattle.
During September 1915, the Imperial Pathological En-
tomologist deputed one of his subordinates to collect biting
flies at Kathgodam and with his help up to the end of
December, a series of experiments were conducted on the
transmission of surra by certain of these flies.
Work on the construction of the new branch laboratory
at Izatnagar has been delayed owing to the total cost of
the project having been found to be excessive under the pre-
sent financial conditions. A revised scheme on more humble
lines has been suggested and the estimates for this are under
preparation by the Public Works Department.
14. Tours. In November 1915 and again in March
1916, I visited the Army Remount Depôts at Mona and
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
5
Sargodha, and with the assistance of the Veterinary Officers
of the Depôts carried out a number of experiments on the
immunization of the young stock against Strangles.
I attended the. Science Congress held at Lucknow on
January 13th to 15th, 1916, and presented a paper on
"Protective Inoculation of Stock in India."
From February 7th to 12th, I attended the meeting of
the Board of Agriculture held at the Agricultural Research
Institute, Pusa, Bihar.
During August 1915, Dr. Macalister toured with the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, in Bihar, in
connection with the investigation of the disease Kumri of
horses.
II. PREPARATION OF SERUMS AND
VACCINES.
15. Rinderpest Serum. During the year 1915-16,
1,186,550 doses of rinderpest serum were prepared and
969,460 doses issued against 1,388,560 doses prepared and
1,382,050 issued during the year 1914-15.
The decrease in the demand for this serum is mainly
accounted for by the reduced prevalence of the disease in
most provinces; this decline was greatest in the United
Provinces, Bihar and Orissa and the Central Provinces ; an
increased number of outbreaks occurred in the Bombay and
Madras Presidencies. Shortage of Veterinary Assistants,
owing to the number that have gone on Military Service,
also probably limited inoculation work in some cases.
Throughout the year a balance in hand of about two lacs
of doses was maintained.
16. The total amount of the bills for sale of anti-rinder-
pest serum issued during the year 1915-16 comes to
Rs. 1,09,566.*
*NOTE.—Bills amounting to Rs. 17,186 are still awaiting payment and have to be carried over to
next year's account.
6
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
By adding to this the cost of 92,422 doses supplied free
to the Military Department the total revenue from this
source would amount to Rs. 1,21,119.
17. The following table collated from the returns
received in this office will show the results of anti-rinder-
pest serum injections carried out in the field during the year
1915-16.
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
125
40
157
298
360
400
257
421
537
13
25
*
28
1
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINOCU¬
LATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2,663 ..
Bovines
2,183
839
1,141
3,407
9,164
4,372
2,743
6,555
12,682
111
269
*
167
25
43,058
Others
...
...
18
...
...
...
...
...
12
138
...
...
...
...
168
NUMBER
OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
25,480
10,020
14,198
38,962
34,881
47,447
35,237
79,706
89,812
569
6,814
9,989
3,181
127
396,293
Others
...
...
185
...
...
...
...
...
205
794
...
...
...
...
1,194
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
13
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
13
Bovines
18
4
56
361
633
484
164
448
552
15
29
...
5
1
2,765
Others
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
6
REMARKS
* Figures not supplied in the statement of the Superintendent.
NOTE.-No reports received from the officers of the Military Department.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
7
18. With reference to the above table it may be pointed
out that the figures in the column " Number of animals
which died after inoculation " include all those animals that
were infected at the time of inoculation, which serum cannot
be expected to save, and those which became infected after
the protective action of the serum had passed off, as well as
the more susceptible animals which the serum failed to
protect; the proportion of the latter class is therefore much
smaller than the figures indicate. In several instances in
which the number of deaths reported following inoculation
has been higher than usual, enquiry has shown that the doses
of serum employed were too small in view of the obvious
virulence of the outbreak. Thus the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Bihar and Orissa, in referring to
the number of deaths after inoculation in the District of Puri,
which amounted to 191 out of the total for the province of
484, states, " It was due to carelessness on the part of the
Veterinary Assistant in not making proper enquiries into
the deaths and increasing the dose (of serum) accordingly.
It was no fault of the serum."
19. Anthrax serum. 71,870 doses of this serum were
prepared and 48,337 issued during the year under report as
against 18,640 doses prepared and 20,883 issued during last
year.
The demand for this serum was very heavy during the
early part of the year and as its preparation occupies nearly
three months and the issued dose is large (15 cc.) some
difficulty was experienced in complying at once with the
orders.
At the close of the year a large stock remained in hand
to meet any similar emergency.
20. The results obtained in the field from inoculations
with anthrax serum have been very satisfactory as the
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGIST
figures in the following table show :—
Province
Bengal
Assam
Bihar and Orissa
Sind, Baluchistan
and Rajputana.
Mysore State
Madras
Central Provinces
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculation was under-
taken
14
73
22
4
*
1
4
118
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINOCU¬
LATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
4
28
1
...
...
...
33
Bovines
11
572
220
...
*
1
57
861
Others
2
43
...
356
...
...
...
401
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS IN¬
OCULATED
Equines
72
692
5
...
...
...
...
769
Bovines
447
8,831
2,888
...
60
61
254
12,541
Others
14
163
...
381
...
...
...
558
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULATION
Equines
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Bovines
...
24
3
...
...
...
...
27
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
REMARKS
* Figures not supplied in the statement of the Superintendent.
21. Hæmorrhagic Septicœmia Serum and Vaccine.
During the year under report 127,365 doses of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia serum were prepared and 79,965 issued against
77,428 doses prepared and 77,328 issued in the preceding
year.
The number of doses of hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine
prepared and issued during the year 1915-16 amounted
to 124,150 against 100,690 prepared and issued in the year
1914-15.
The demand for hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum, as for
anthrax serum, was particularly heavy during the early half
of the year, and for similar reasons could not be met imme-
diately ; the stocks in hand were also small. Steps were at
once taken to greatly increase the number of serum-making
FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH 1916.
9
animals, several temporary sheds being erected for their
accommodation and in a short time the orders were all
complied with.
A large stock of hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum is now
held to meet any similar demand.
As hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine can be prepared at
short notice it is unnecessary to keep a large supply in hand.
The following table shows the quantities prepared and
issued during the past five years :—
HÆMORRHAGIC
Year
1911-12
1912-13
1913-14
1914-15
1915-16
SEPTICÆMIA SERUM
.
.
.
.
.
Number of doses
Prepared
30,845
40,901
57,829
77,428
127,365
Issued
28,970
43,218
63,980
77,328
79,965
Dose
per
animal
10 cc.
15 cc.
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HÆMORRHAGIC SEPTICÆMIA VACCINE
Year
1911-12
1912-13
1913-14
1914-15
1915-16
Number of doses
Prepared
33,700
25,750
242,320
100,690
124,150
Issued
33,700
25,750
242,320
100,690
124,150
Dose
per
animal
5 cc.
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