MUKTESAR, FOR THE TWO YEARS ENDING THE 31st MARCH, 1924
19
Again, as will be noted later in the sections dealing with research and
education, an increase in the activities of the laboratory out of all pro-
portion to those which existed in previous years took place during the
years under report. These pursuits, of the greatest national importance,
were undertaken entirely out of savings in what had previously been
almost entirely a budget for the manufacture of saleable products, and
heavy expenses, notably under " Purchase of Chemicals and Apparatus
were met by reappropriation from other heads. The difference between
income and expenditure may therefore be regarded fairly as the cost to
the country of maintaining a first class institution for research into the
diseases of its animals and for higher veterinary education.
In 1923-24, the accounts of the laboratory were officially audited,
for the first time since it was opened 29 years ago, by the Auditors of Local
Funds Accounts of the United Provinces. Many complexities had crept
into the systems of accountancy introduced and developed from time to
time during this long period, and it is hoped that much assistance will be
derived from the report of trained outside authorities upon the methods
in use at the laboratory.
III. PREPARATION AND ISSUE OF SERA AND VACCINES.
(A summary of the results reported to have been obtained after the
use of these products in the field is given in Appendix I-A. and I-B.).
(a) Anti-rinderpest serum. During the year 1922-23, 2,000,661 doses
(dose=5 c. c.) of this serum were prepared and 1,937,552 issued as against
3,631,940 prepared and 2,930,601 issued in 1921-22. In 1923-24,
3,309,027 doses were prepared and 1,986,399 doses were issued. The
reasons why such an apparent excess over anticipated needs was produced
during the latter year were, first, because steps were taken for the first
time to manufacture as large a quantity as possible at Izatnagar during
the cold weather to relieve Muktesar to the utmost during the following
year, and secondly, there had accumulated at Muktesar a large stock
of serum of not very satisfactory potency and arrangements were laid
down for the preparation of an excess of highly potent serum at Izatnagar
to be returned to Muktesar and mixed with the stocks there to an extent
compatible with the attainment of the guaranteed potency, as indicated
by careful tests. There was available at the commencement of the
following financial year a stock of 1,922,896 doses of serum fit for issue
for preventive purposes, 154,099 doses of specially prepared serum of
very high potency for use in the serum simultaneous method of inocula-
tion, and 236,802 doses not tested and passed for issue. The condition
as regards a reserve of serum to comply with urgent indents was there-
fore placed upon a more satisfactory footing than at any time in the past,
and provision was made for immediate compliance with all orders. Until
the end of the period under report, purchasers were asked to take as
much of their anticipated needs in serum as they could direct from
Bareilly before the close of the season, so as to relieve the laboratory of
the necessity of returning surplus stocks, manufactured there at relatively