NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
the Forest Engineer at Naini Tal regarding a ropeway
scheme, and the Executive and District Engineers regarding
the new pumping plant and the buildings at Muktesar.
Between the 17th October and 1st November, 1918,I
visited (1) Bareilly to supervise serum making at the Branch
Laboratory, and (2) Sitapur to supervise inoculation of
military dairy cattle. On this tour I was accompanied by
the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Madras,
who wished to see the technique of serum preparation and
the method of carrying out simultaneous inoculations
against Cattle Plague. Between the 20th and 29th March,
1919, I visited Lahore to attend the sectional meeting of
veterinary officers.
Mr. Shilston visited Patwadangar between the 26th and
28th May, 1918, to enquire and advise regarding deaths
among experimental rabbits at the Government Bovine
Lymph Depôt. Between the 9th and 16th October he
visited Bareilly to start serum preparation work at the
Branch Laboratory. On the 4th November Mr. Shilston
left Muktesar for Pusa for the inoculation of the herd there
against Cattle Plague by simultaneous method, and on his
return journey to Muktesar, between the 3rd and 18th
December, he met the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Bihar and Orissa, at Patna to advise him about
laboratory fittings, and also supervised serum preparation
work at the Branch Laboratory, Bareilly.
On the 4th March, 1919, Mr. Shilston left Muktesar to
meet the Chief Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Punjab, in connection with the dourine investigations, and
returned to Muktesar on the 10th March. On the 20th March
he accompanied me to Lahore to attend the sectional meeting
of veterinary officers, and returned to Muktesar on the
31st March after making a halt at the Kurgaina Branch
Laboratory in connection with the serum preparation work.
Training. During the past year, Captains J.
Cunningham and A. M. McFarlane, A. V. C., while spending
a period of their leave at Muktesar, received a short course
of training.
Mr. J. B. Bloemendal, Government Veterinary Surgeon,
Sumatra, with the permission of Government, visited this
laboratory and acquainted himself with the subject of serum
therapy. On his departure he took some animals infected
with Indian surra for further investigations in Java.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1919
3
After seeing the simultaneous inoculation at Sitapur,
Mr. Ware, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Madras, spent a few days at Muktesar in November, 1918,
to acquaint himself with the technique of serum prepara-
tion at this laboratory.
Mr. H. C. Ganguly, a veterinary graduate and Labora-
tory Assistant of the Bengal Veterinary College, received
training for 6 weeks during May and June, 1918, in all
departments of laboratory technique and serum therapy.
Babu Panda, Veterinary Assistant, Bihar and Orissa,
underwent a course of six months at this laboratory, and
learnt laboratory technique including preparation of culture
media, preparation of staining reagents and staining
specimens, section cutting, etc., and also examined a very
large number of specimens, mainly blood films, for diagnostic
purposes.
Fodder and grain supply. The arrangements for
obtaining grain were, as in previous years, found satisfactory,
but difficulty was not infrequently experienced in obtaining
transport. Owing to the failure of the monsoon, hay was
not available in large quantities, and subsidiary arrangements
had to be made to feed the animals on oak leaves, etc.
Contractors would not undertake to deliver more than
26,000 maunds of hay, but the amount actually delivered
was only 18,748 maunds against a demand for 30,000
maunds.
Forests. During the past year the new working plan
was in force and the supply of fuel available was in excess
of our requirements, but, on account of paucity of labour,
great difficulty was experienced in extracting and transport-
ing the produce to the laboratory. The administration of
forests was, however, carried on satisfactorily.
Water supply. Owing to unusual delay in the receipt
of new pumps and pipes, etc., the project to supplement the
water supply at Muktesar is still in the course of construction,
but will, it is hoped, be completed shortly. The question of
water supply became serious during the winter months,
partly owing to the failure of the monsoon and partly owing
to a further decrease in the spring feeding the well. This
spring is now yielding about one-third the amount of water
given during 1916-17. In spite of heavy falls of snow
during February and March the water steadily decreased, and
by March the very strictest economy had to be exercised. For
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
some weeks before the end of the year under report, the
consumption of water had to be reduced to less than one half
the normal amount.
A considerable amount of labour had to be employed, as
in previous years, to obtain and distribute water, and this had
to be maintained for a much longer period than formerly.
Electric centrifuges. During the past year one
centrifuge was out of order and the remaining two machines
were run continuously. As a result of this, other methods
of separation had to be adopted with a corresponding increase
of work for the staff and some reduction in output.
The spare centrifuge parts received from Europe do not
fit the existing machines, and it is not yet known whether
they will fit the new machines which are on order but which
have not yet arrived.
Supply of hill bulls and plains animals. The cost
of these animals had again to be increased. During the
winter months considerable numbers of hill bulls were
brought to the laboratory for sale, but owing to the extreme
shortage of hay and of labour (see general remarks) many of
these could not be accepted. This may have accounted for
some of the difficulty experienced in obtaining bulls subse-
quently.
Branch Laboratory. The Branch Laboratory at
Kurgaina (Bareilly) was opened for the winter months in
the second week of October, 1918, for the preparation of anti-
rinderpest serum and to maintain the rinderpest virus for
use in the inoculation of animals at the various military
dairies.
Towards the end of December, 1918, a number of serum-
making animals were transferred from Muktesar to Bareilly
on account of labour difficulty experienced at Muktesar.
As during the previous year, a number of temporary grass
chuppers (sheds) were erected for the accommodation of
animals, but at the best these are very unsatisfactory make-
shifts and are invariably a source of trouble.
The transference of animals from Muktesar accentuated
the inadequacy of the place and its equipment.
The total amount of anti-rinderpest serum prepared at
Bareilly during the year under report was 1,071,422 doses,
of which a brew consisting of 225,170 doses prepared in
March, 1919, was found contaminated and had to be
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1919
5
discarded. This contamination was due to want of proper
laboratory equipment and cool storage accommodation.
This was a serious loss especially as the demand for serum
was very great.
The necessity of getting the new laboratory buildings at
Izatnagar, Bareilly, completed as early as possible, is an
urgent one, otherwise it will be impossible to meet all
demands from India for anti-rinderpest serum.
Financial aspect. The total receipts from sale of the
laboratory products, as per statement at the end of this
report, amounted to Rs. 3,42,402-11-0* as against an expendi-
ture of Rs. 4,37,712-13-4.†
By adding Rs. 1,38,330-2-9, the value of the products
supplied to the Military Department free of charge, the total
revenue would amount to Rs. 4,80,732-13-9.
It is not out of place to note that whereas the cost of
production of sera, etc., has increased by nearly 50 per cent.
owing to enhanced prices for all laboratory apparatus, glass-
ware, transport, animals, grain and labour, the prices of all
the laboratory products have remained stationary.
General remarks. As usual, outbreaks of foot and-
mouth disease occurred during winter months among the
animals in the outkraals, but these were kept under control.
During the year under report there were two outbreaks
of influenza. The first occurred in August, 1918, and was of
a very mild type. The second, which occurred in December,
was of a very serious nature By strict quarantine measures
the disease was excluded from Muktesar for a month or
more after it had made its appearance in neighbouring places.
It would appear that the disease was actually introduced
by some infected person attending the sports, etc., which
were held to celebrate the signing of the armistice.
In this outbreak more than fifty cases were under
treatment at one time, and the problem of finding isolation
accommodation for all these was only solved with very great
difficulty. Concurrently with the second outbreak of
influenza there were outbreaks of relapsing fever and
mumps. After the first big outbreak the latter disease
persisted sporadically up to the end of the year under report.
* This amount includes the arrears of the previous year. Bills amounting to
Rs. 67,890-1-3 are still awaiting payment and have to be carried over to next year's
account.
† Includes an expenditure of Rs. 12,216-5-6 incurred in connection with the
inoculation in military dairies.
6 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
As a result of the occurrence of these diseases, panic spread
among the coolie and gwala (cattleman) staffs. Prior to the
outbreaks these totalled about 420, but within a week the
number had fallen to 175 owing to the men absconding.
Scarcity of labour remained a constant source of anxiety
during the remaining part of the year. The position became
so acute at one time that practically all serum-making work
had to be stopped and all available labour had to be utilized
in feeding the animals alone. Labour assistance was applied
for from the Kumaun Labour Corps, but none was obtained.
With great difficulty a number of low caste coolies were in-
duced to come up from Bareilly on considerably enhanced
wages but most of them absconded within a short time. The
shortage of labour is still a source of great anxiety.
The question of revising the salary of the menial staff of
this laboratory on account of enhanced cost of living in
Muktesar has been taken up.
During the year under report the Government Bania
resigned because he was caught profiteering, and since then
the management of the shop has been taken over by the
laboratory. By purchasing staple articles in the markets
and arranging for transport it has been found possible to
give the menial staff some relief, and it has only been by
meeting them in this way that they have been prevailed
upon to remain at their work.
Arrangements for transport of the laboratory products
were continued through the contractors as during last year,
and a part of farm work also is being carried on by the local
labour. Prices are steadily advancing and at times transport
is quite unobtainable.
It is hoped that there will be no delay in constructing
the ropeway from Kathgodam for which the survey has been
carried out. The completion of this will very greatly reduce
the difficulties connected with supplies of all kinds.
During the year under report the output of this labora-
tory was increased by 1,051,685 doses as compared with the
year 1917-18, and it was nearly 2.4 times that of the year
1916-17.
The demands for anti-rinderpest serum from the Ministry
of Agriculture, Cairo, and from the Veterinary Department,
Soudan, were complied with as far as possible after the
Indian demand had been met. The demand for mallein
from the Military Department was maintained and, as
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1919
7
during last year, all indents were complied with. That the
whole staff has worked well and consistently is shown by
the enhanced output of the laboratory. Their energy and
willingness are all the more praiseworthy as conditions
during the year have at times been very trying. The thanks
of the whole staff are due to Mr. Keiller, First Laboratory
Assistant, Upper grade, for the unselfish way in which he
has placed his time at my disposal and for the amount of
work he has done in assisting me to maintain the food
supplies of the population since the shop became vacant.
II. PREPARATION OF SERUMS AND VACCINES.
Rinderpest serum During the year under report,
3,213,043 doses of this serum were manufactured as against
2,146,421 doses prepared during the year 1917-18, and
3,259,616 doses issued as against 2,069,961 doses issued during
the preceding year. Out of the amount shown above as
issued, 450,700 doses were supplied to the Military Depart-
ment as against 271,420 doses supplied during the previous
year.
The results of inoculations in the field with anti-rinder-
pest serum have been detailed in the following table :—
Province
Punjab .
.
.
.
North-West
Frontier
Province and North
Punjab
United Provinces .
Bengal .
.
.
.
Assam .
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa
Central Provinces .
Bombay
Madras
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
Burma .
Bengal
Veterinary
College.
Mysore State
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculations were
undertaken
682
71
348
379
125
640
647
249
834
7
529
173
110
4,794
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
9,305
913
7,195
8,050
1,283
5,822
7,506
3,830
22,942
298
6,558
314
965
74,981
Others
...
...
205
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
205
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
. . .
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
110,822
17,007
38,893
59,833
10,704
65,251
74,838
25,974
126,052
1,943
64,824
4,984
20,375
618,500
Others
...
...
596
...
103
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
699
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER
INOCU-
LATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
202
29
70
300
16
168
177
149
573
3
838
101
15
2,641
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated bovines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
0.42
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
Anthrax serum. During the year 1918-19, 46,368
doses of anthrax serum were prepared and 36,552 issued as
against 14,175 doses prepared and 19,727 issued during the
year 1917-18.
The results obtained in the field from inoculations with
this serum are shown in the subjoined table:—
Province
Bengal
.
Assam .
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa .
Central Provinces
Bombay
.
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculations were
undertaken
26
55
8
2
2
1
94
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
12
...
...
...
12
Bovines
1,230
387
29
13
16
...
1,675
Others
...
16
...
...
...
4
20
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
26
262
...
...
1
289
Bovines
4,858
7,153
845
35
402
19
13,312
Others
...
81
...
...
...
2
83
NUMBER
OF ANIMALS
WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULA-
TION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
3
8
1
1
...
...
13
Others
...
1
...
...
...
...
1
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated bovines
...
...
...
...
...
...
0.09
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia serum and vaccine.
During the year under report, 155,135 doses of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia serum and 125,355 doses of hæmorrhagic septi-
cæmia vaccine were manufactured, and 132,046 doses of
serum and 125,355 doses of vaccine were issued as against
216,457 doses of serum and 117,124 doses of vaccine prepared
and 189,428 doses of serum and 117,124 doses of vaccine
issued during the preceding year.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1919
9
The following table shows the results of inoculations in
the field with hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum :—
Province
Punjab
North-West
Frontier
Province and North
Punjab.
United Provinces .
Bengal .
.
.
.
Assam .
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa .
Central Provinces
Bombay
,
Madras
.
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
TOTAL..
Number of outbreaks in
which
inoculations were
undertaken
56
14
54
20
20
140
13
12
29
20
378
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
...
2
Bovines
634
68
361
132
199
853
86
93
447
377
3,250
Others
...
...
...
...
14
...
...
...
...
...
14
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
6
...
...
...
...
6
Bovines
16,387
3,169
5,664
2,141
1,820
17,375
1,969
1,146
4,968
1,433
56,072
Others
...
...
64
...
248
...
...
...
...
...
312
NUMBER
OF ANIMALS
WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULA-
TION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
2
1
2
7
8
28
...
1
4
11
64
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
0.11
The results of inoculations in the field with hæmorr-
hagic septicæmia vaccine have been shown in the table
below:—
Province
Punjab
North-West
Frontier
Province and North
Punjab.
Bihar and Orissa .
Bombay
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which
inoculations were
undertaken
185
16
8
7
...
216
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
...
...
41
...
...
41
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
53,319
5,425
678
1,035
113
60,570
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER IN-
OCULATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
...
19
...
...
...
19
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated
bovines
....
...
...
...
...
0.03
10 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
Black Quarter vaccine. During the year 1918-19,
45,000 doses of black quarter vaccine were prepared, and
19,176 doses were issued as against 17,324 issued in the
preceding year.
The results of inoculations in the field with black quarter
vaccine have been detailed in the adjoining table —
Province
Punjab
United Provinces .
Assam .
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa .
Bombay
.
.
.
Madras
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana.
Mysore State
TOTAL
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculations were
undertaken
164
3
1
12
1
1
2
6
190
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
...
10
2
27
...
2
131
6
178
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
14,151
300
7
1,374
90
16
200
302
16,440
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER IN-
OCULATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
11
1
1
1
...
...
1
15
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated
bovines
..
...
...
...
...
...
0.09
Mallein. In all 143,356 doses of mallein were prepared
and 160,101 issued during the year under report as against
191,747 doses prepared and 193,147 doses issued during the
year 1917-18. The quantity issued was nearly all supplied to
the Military Department, i.e., 154,311 doses.
Tuberculin. During the year under report, 632 doses of
tuberculin were prepared and 1,420 issued as against 1,180
doses prepared and 381 issued during the preceding year.
Strangles serum and vaccine. During the year
under report, 13,395 doses of strangles serum were manufac-
tured and 11,039 doses issued as against 8,252 doses pre-
pared and 10,085 issued during the previous year.
In addition to the above, 7,527 doses of mixed anti-
streptococcic and staphylococcic vaccine, and 135 doses of
anti-streptococcic vaccine were prepared and issued.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1919
11
With the exception of a few hundred doses the quantity
was supplied to the Military Department.
Miscellaneous vaccines. From the material received
450 doses of autogenous vaccines were prepared and issued
to the Remount Depôt, Sargodha.
The amounts of the various products of the laboratory
prepared and issued during the year under report have been
compared with the average amounts of the preceding 5 years
in the following table.
Name of product
Rinderpest serum
.
.
Anthrax serum
....
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia serum .
Hæmorrhagica Septicæmi vaccine .
Black Quarter vaccine .
Mallein
.
.
.
.
.
DOSES PREPARED
1918-19
3,213,043
46,368
155,135
125,355
45,000
143,346
Average of
previous 5
years
1,337,214
23,927
120,399
146,165
10,000
60,235
DOSES
1918-19
3,259,616
36,552
132,046
125,355
19,176
160,091
ISSUED
Average of
previous 5
years
1,315,832
27,622
113,553
146,165
18,005
59,429
III. EXAMINATION OF SPECIMENS AND INOCULATION
WORK.
Specimens examined. During the year 1918-19, 289
specimens were received for examination and report as
against 513 in the year 1917-18.
12 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
The nature of the specimens received is shown in the
table below:—
Epizootic
Lymphangitis
....
Piroplasmosis
......
Glanders
........
Black Quarter
......
Tuberculosis
......
Anthrax
....
Dourine
Abortion
.
.....
Surra
........
Necrosis
Johne's Disease
......
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
....
Mange
Miscellaneous
......
TOTAL
NUMBER OF SPECIMENS
Positive
1
1
4
...
3
14
...
3
5
2
1
5
29
68
Negative
6
5
3
...
2
4
126
...
3
...
...
2
20
20
191
Doubtful
...
...
4
2
...
1
12
2
...
...
...
1
...
8
30
Serum tests for the diagnosis of surra and
dourine. The routine testing of samples of sera from
suspected cases of dourine has been continued by the Second
Bacteriologist, and reports have been furnished to civil and
military veterinary officers on 152 specimens as follows:—
Positive
14
Doubtful
12
Negative
126
A considerable number of specimens reached the labora-
tory in a condition unsuitable for testing.
Experimental tests in connection with both surra and
dourine were continued, but it was frequently found diffi-
cult to obtain the time necessary for concluding a series of
tests owing to the demands of daily routine duties.
Inoculations by the serum simultaneous method.
The inoculations at the military dairy farms were com-
menced towards the end of October, 1918, by Mr. Phadke at
Sitapur and Mr. Vacha at Allahabad.
At both these farms the reactions obtained were more
severe than usual, owing probably to the exceptional viru-
lence of the virus employed; the percentage of reactors was
also high, being 91 per cent. for all classes of stock at
Sitapur, and 93.7 per cent. at Allahabad. Four cross-bred