18
REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
Madras Presidency in 1922 of a small charge, amounting to eight annas
for each head of cattle, upon animal owners for all cattle protected with
serum in the scene of an outbreak of rinderpest. It was undoubtedly
believed that this policy would recoup the cost of the serum purchased
by the Local Government. The effect, however, was to cause such a
diminution in the application of the system of protection that the
demand for serum became almost negligible.
Retrenchment in expenditure. A lengthy memorandum was drawn
up at the request of Government for presentation to the Indian Retrench-
ment Committee that sat at Delhi during the winter season of 1922-23.
Great pains were taken to explain the functions of the laboratory, as a
premier institution for investigating methods of controlling the great
contagious diseases of animals in India, the work already accomplished
in mitigating the ravages of disease and which could not be represented
in direct monetary returns, the position of the laboratory as a centre for
advanced training upon animal disease, and the efforts that were being
made to make income balance expenditure. The Inchcape Committee in
their Report, however, stated: "
We are informed
by the Revenue and Agriculture Department that Muktesar could be
made to fully pay its way and while we recognize the importance of
extending the protection against disease which is afforded by the use of
vaccines and sera, we do not think there is any justification for selling
these products at an un-economic price. We recommend therefore that
steps should be taken to place the Institute on a self-supporting basis
for 1923-24." As has been stated earlier, the anticipations of the Revenue
and Agriculture Department that this institution could be made to pay
its way fully would have been completely borne out if there had been
an undiminished demand for serum and purchasers had continued to
have unlimited means to pay for their needs. Further, it is probable
that to the purely commercial mind, with closest interest in the products
sold in the open market for profit to the vendor, there ought to be no
justification for diminished returns with growing experience in exploita-
tion. However, even if this institution is to be regarded merely as a
serum manufactory then it is clear to the student of national interests
that its function would bear most resemblance to that of an arsenal, to
manufacture and retain stocks of defensive material estimated to be
capable of warding off the gravest calamity. Hence, in spite of the
fact that the demand for serum may fluctuate greatly from year to year,
and a great diminution in demand must be regarded as a salutary pheno-
menon from the national standpoint, yet the laboratory must always
be ready to cope with demands equivalent to the highest known in past
experience. During the fortunate years when the country suffers least
from disease the laboratory must therefore maintain its equipment ready
to meet the maximum demand and retain stocks of perishable material
manufactured at considerable cost so as to comply with any likely emer-
gencies. Although the most strenuous endeavours will certainly be made
to place the institute on a sound financial basis, it is believed necessary
to explain its peculiarities as a revenue-producing concern.