NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
3
(6) Mr. K. J. S. Dowland, M.R.C.V.S., I.C.V.D., from
7th July to 29th September, 1920.
(7) Captain C. Davenport, M.R.C.V.S., O.B.E.,
R.A.V.C., from 5th August to 6th October, 1920.
(8) Captain A. B. Bowhay, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C.,from
30th September to 21st October, 1920.
(9) Captain J. O. Andrews, M.R.C.V.S., D.S.O.,
B.A.V.C., from 30th September to 21st October,
1920.
(10) Captain E. Hearne, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C., from 1st
October to 21st October, 1920.
(11) Captain P. Howard, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C., from
3rd October to 21st October, 1920.
(12) Major J. R. Hodgkins, F.R.C.V.S., D.S.O., R.A.V.C.,
from 23rd October to 14th November, 1920.
(13) Captain F. R. Roche-Kelley, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C.,
from 26th October to 12th November, 1920.
(14) Captain S. W. Marriott, M.R.C.V.S., O.B.E.,
R.A.V.C., from 26th October to 14th November,
1920.
(15) Major P. V. Beatty, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C., from
29th October to 15th November, 1920.
(16) Captain S. L. Slocock, F.R.C.V.S., M.C., R.A.V.C.,
from 16th November to 7th December, 1920.
(17) Captain F. J. Weir, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C., from
16th November to 10th December, 1920.
(18) Bt. Lt.-Col. T. E. Burridge, M.R.C.V.S., R.A.V.C.,
from 19th November to 10th December, 1920.
Fodder and grain. (a) Fodder. Contracts were made
for the supply of—
(1) 3,000 maunds of hay from within the laboratory
boundary.
(2) 30,000 maunds of hay from outside the laboratory
boundary.
(3) 15,000 maunds of mixed pine needles, leaves and
poor grasses for bedding.
This arrangement worked well as the institution of bed-
ding augmented the hay supply.
A 2
4
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
Thirty-five thousand maunds of hay can be taken as the
maximum that can conveniently be obtained within a few
miles of the laboratory in average years, and this is rather
less than the minimum requirements. If any excess is
required and must be brought from further afield, the cost
will be prohibitive.
Thus, this laboratory may now be considered to have
reached its maximum development with respect to the
number of animals that can be accommodated for use in the
preparation of serum and for research purposes.
(b) Grain. No difficulty was experienced in obtain-
ing grain, but the increase in the cost of transport to Mukte¬
sar was considerable.
More grain storage accommodation is required as with
the present facilities the laboratory lives practically from
hand to mouth in this respect.
Forests. The administration of the forests as in past
years was carried on satisfactorily.
Owing to the cost of labour it was found absolutely neces-
sary to raise the prices of firewood 50 per cent.
Compartments Nos. 5, 6 and 7 now under felling were
fenced with barbed wire.
Cultivation. A start was made at the end of the year
to bring more land under cultivation. This is a branch of
the farm duties to which more attention will have to be
devoted in the future.
The isolation of the laboratory from the sources of food
supply has resulted in a great increase in the recurrent
expenditure : an increase far in excess of that felt by
similar institutions which are free from heavy transport
expenses from railhead.
Every maund of grain and fodder produced locally
represents a reduction in expenditure, and though it is un-
likely that the laboratory can become self-supporting in
this respect, its aim should be to get as near to this goal as
possible.
Water supply. The additional staff for the upkeep
of the new pumps and electric centrifuges was sanctioned
and engaged during the year under report.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
5
On account of the armature of Pump No. 2 being burnt
out during April, 1920, some difficulty was experienced in
the water supply during April, May and June.
For the following reasons full advantage of the new
pumps and water supply cannot be taken :—
(1) Shortage of engine power.
(2) Inadequate arrangements for the distribution of
the water.
Electric centrifuges. The new centrifuges supplied
were erected. Six have been in continual use, while three
have been kept as spares for use while the others are being
overhauled, repaired and cleaned. No breakdowns have
occurred during the year and the replacements have only
been ordinary wear and tear.
It was necessary to limit the running of the centrifuges
owing to shortage of engine power. During the current
year an estimate has been sanctioned by Government to
supplement the existing engine power and provision of
funds has also been made.
Gas shed. The gas plant was overhauled during the
year under report and a new holder and a new producer
were fitted. One gas holder and 2 old producers were over-
hauled and one was remodelled. The result has been a better
production of gas with a reduction in the quantity of fire-
wood and kerosine oil used.
Supply of hill bulls and plains animals. No difficulty
was experienced in obtaining plains animals during the year
under report, but in the latter part of the year the supply of
hill bulls was insufficient. This may improve after the onset
of the rains.
An effort was made to find a suitable market for the dis-
continued animals. They are all immunized against rinder-
pest and to that extent are of an enhanced value since their
purchase, and in addition are always sent out in better con-
dition than they were on arrival. Unfortunately, however,
they are not a class of animal which finds a ready market
with cultivators as the hill bulls are the undesirables of their
race being sold to the laboratory at a cheap rate because
they are old, misshapen or undeveloped, and the male
buffaloes are only in limited demand. Four hundred and
thirty-six hill bulls and 333 male buffaloes were sold by
6
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
auction at Haldwani and Bareilly, as against a negligible
number in previous years.
Branch Laboratory. For the preparation of anti-rinder-
pest serum and to maintain the rinderpest virus for use in
the inoculations by the serum simultaneous method, the
Branch Laboratory at Kurgaina (Bareilly) was opened early
in October, 1920. As in previous years, a number of grass
chuppers (sheds) were erected for the accommodation of
animals.
The total output was 1,054,955 doses as against 1,124,816
doses during 1919-20. The decrease was due to the
closing down of serum production by the end of February
or three weeks earlier than in previous years. This was
necessary, because, in the absence of cold storage, serum
produced after the onset of the warm weather is apt to
become contaminated and useless, and this had occurred
during the last two years.
The question of utilizing the Izatnagar site at Bareilly
has again been reopened, as the Kurgaina site is very
unsuitable. Experience has shown that in the circumstances
in which the Muktesar laboratory works, it is essential to
have a branch laboratory at Bareilly to act as a feeder.
The branch laboratory can also conveniently augment
the supply of serum during the cold weather months. By
drawing on the parent laboratory for a nucleus trained staff
and by entertaining temporary men locally, about ten lakhs
of doses of rinderpest serum can be prepared at one-third of
the cost of production at Muktesar. Thus each laboratory
is complementary to the other.
Financial aspect, The receipts from the sale of the
laboratory products during the year 1920-21 amounted to
Rs. 369,666-9-7* against Rs. 384,396-4-11 realized during
the year 1919-20. These receipts together with a sum
of Rs. 83,147-2-0, the cost of the products supplied to the
Military Department, come to Rs. 452,813-11-7.
The total value of all products prepared during the year
under report is Rs. 568,830-6-0 against Rs. 495,228-6-0 for
products actually prepared in the previous year.
General remarks. No epidemic of a serious nature
occurred amongst the labour during the year under report.
A few cases of influenza were reported during the winter
but the outbreak was of a mild type and was soon brought
under control.
* This amount includes Rs. 12,466-10-0 realized out of the arrears of the previous year,
Bills amounting to Rs. 25,144-1-0 are still due.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
7
Owing to the isolation of the laboratory, transport
difficulties will last until the ropeway from Kathgodam is
constructed. The cost of transport has gone up 25 per cent.
over the previous year and 90 per cent. over the pre-war rate.
As all commodities are obtained from the plains, the
enhancement in cost all-round is thus doubly felt.
The paucity of quarters for the accommodation of the
subordinate staff was keenly felt and the makeshift arrange-
ments effected are far from satisfactory. In February,
1921, the Government of India sanctioned Rs. 10,000 to be
utilized in providing temporary quarters for certain members
of the staff. To a certain extent this will relieve the situa-
tion and discontentment
The reorganization of the serum-making department
mentioned in last year's annual report has more than justified
the means adopted. The additional expenditure involved
has been negligible, and in the first year an increase of 25
per cent. in the serum production at Muktesar has resulted.
This represents a substantial increase in revenue with a
negligible increase in expenditure. The full fruits have not
yet been derived, and it is hoped that an even greater im-
provement will be shown in the future.
All the dressers, except five, very inadvisedly struck
work on the 16th June, 1920. They however realized
that they had been foolish and returned to work on the 16th
July, 1920. This strike threw a great strain on the whole
staff of the laboratory and they responded loyally with the
result that full production was maintained throughout.
My thanks are due to the whole staff of the laboratory
for the whole-hearted way they worked throughout the year.
I wish especially to place on record the good services
rendered by—
(a) Munshi Abdul Ghani, Senior Veterinary Inspector,
who is a most capable and zealous officer.
(b) Rai Sahib Pandit Krishna Nand, Office Superin-
tendent, who has, as in the past, been a tower
of strength in meeting emergencies and whose
efficient work and sound local knowledge are a
great asset to the office.
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
II. PREPARATION OF SERA AND VACCINES.
Rinderpest serum. During the year 1920-21, 3,631,940
doses of anti-rinderpest serum were prepared as against
3,189,736 doses prepared during the preceding year, and
3,126,136 doses issued against 2,813,733 doses in the previous
year.
Out of the above amount, 408,810 doses were issued to
the Military Department against 633,550 doses supplied
during the year 1919-20.
The results of inoculations in the field with anti-rinder-
pest serum are shown 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
Hissar Cattle Farm .
Mysore State . .
TOTAL .
Nu mb e r of o u t b r e a k s in
which inoculation was
undertaken
512
48
466
537
481
682
1,389
448
533
342
659
98
1
291
6,487
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNIN¬
OCULATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
5,637
695
7,086
10,816
9,545
5,976
18,085
6,089
9,450
4,452
8,857
1
9
1,840
88,538
Others
...
...
...
...
7
...
...
...
50
20
...
...
...
...
77
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
108,823
9,919
50,266
100,490
43,491
74,467
130,799
56,715
65,080
32,593
69,785
2,799
2,304
36,745
784,276
Others
...
...
46
...
20
...
...
...
456
76
...
...
...
270
868
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED AFTER
INOCULATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
73
18
63
1,327
339
246
531
405
293
616
377
...
21
14
4,323
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated bovines
0.55
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
9
It is reported in the Annual Report of the Civil
Veterinary Department, Punjab, for the year 1919-20 :—
" The number of inoculations would have considerably
increased during the year under report if the supply of serum
had not been restricted by the laboratory on account of an
unusual demand for this product."
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Burma, in his Annual Report for the year 1919-20,
remarks :—
" Serum inoculation operations had to some extent been
restricted during the year as the Director and First Bacterio-
logist was on every occasion unable to supply the quantity
of serum as it was required. In addition, the calls for
inoculation were so numerous that it was not possible to
supply the inoculating staff in addition to the serum in every
case."
The following extract from the Annual Report of
the Civil Veterinary Department in the Mysore State, for
the year 1919-20, refers to the general opinion of the
ignorant ryots regarding the advantages of inoculation as
a preventive :—
" Steps were taken to combat contagious disease, especially
rinderpest, against which 23,698 head of cattle were
inoculated. Inoculation has become very popular and is
greatly appreciated in most parts of the province.
" It is begged for by the ryots in the Bangalore District
on the first appearance of the disease. Still in a few parts
there is the belief that disease is due to the ill- will of some
deity, consequently there is opposition to inoculation."
The improvements effected in the serum-making depart-
ment enabled us to meet all demands during the year under
report, and on the 31st March, 1920, a balance of 1,074,844
doses of anti-rinderpest serum was maintained in our stock.
In many cases it would appear that Provincial Veterinary
Departments would be better served if they could keep,
say, a normal 6 months' supply of serum in cold storage
using ice in the hot season, as one of the chief difficulties at
Muktesar is to get the serum to railhead. In times of urgent
demand the laboratory is often faced with many depart-
ments clamouring for large amounts of serum together and
is unable to comply quickly owing to lack of transport even
though the serum is in stock. If all departments could
10
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
maintain a good stock, the laboratory would be able to
distribute its work more evenly.
At the same time it is evident from the above extracts
from Annual Reports that a supply of 36 lakhs of doses
will not be sufficient for long, and the question of starting a
new laboratory in South India, in addition to the branch
laboratory at Bareilly, will have to be decided soon.
Anthrax serum. Twenty thousand six hundred and
twenty-one doses of this serum were prepared during the
year under report against 15,867 doses prepared during
1919-20 and 31,613 doses issued against 15,637 issued during
the previous year.
The subjoined table shows the results of inoculations in
the field with anti-anthrax serum :—
Province
United Provinces
Bengal
.
.
Assam
.
.
Bihar and Orissa
Central Provinces
Bombay
. .
Madras
. .
Mysore State .
Hissar Cattle
Farm
TOTAL .
N umber of outbreaks in
which
inoculation
was
undertaken
1
1
51
15
14
7
1
1
1
92
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS WHICH
DIED UNINO¬
CULATED IN
COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
19
...
...
...
...
...
...
19
Bovines
2
2
202
151
116
20
20
20
25
558
Others
...
...
3
...
...
...
...
...
2
5
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
2
183
...
...
...
...
...
...
185
Bovines
30
36
3,063
2,013
1,097
383
199
35
946
7,802
Others
...
...
8
...
...
...
...
...
...
8
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER
INOCULA-
TION
Equines
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
Bovines
...
1
3
2
1
...
...
...
7
14
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in in-
oculated animals
0.17
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
11
Haemorrhagic Septicaemia serum and vaccine.
During the year under report, 216,276 doses of hæmorrha-
gic septicæmia serum and 126,200 doses of hæmorrhagic
septicæmia vaccine were prepared and 106,528 doses of
serum and 126,200 of vaccine were issued as against
52,399 doses of hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum and 110,500
doses of vaccine prepared and 119,633 doses of serum and
110,500 doses of vaccine issued during the preceding
year.
The results of inoculations in the field with hæmorrha-
gic septicæmia serum are shown in the table below :—
Province
Punjab .
.
North-West Frontier
Province and North
Punjab
United Provinces
.
Bengal . . .
Bihar and Orissa
.
Central Provinces
.
Bombay . . .
Madras . . .
Sind, Baluchistan and
Rajputana
Assam
.
.
Mysore State .
TOTAL .
Nu mb e
r of outbreaks in
which inoculation was
undertaken
48
6
58
15
75
16
30
27
2
28
6
311
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
468
44
543
97
427
170
339
379
14
194
22
2,697
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
84
...
...
...
84
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
....
...
...
...
... .
...
...
...
4
...
4
Bovines
11,928
1,930
4,620
2,149
11,288
1,472
4,180
2,654
251
2,068
159
42,699
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
297
...
...
...
297
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER
INOCU¬
LATION
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
1
1
...
1
5
...
11
2
...
...
...
21
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
1
Pe r
c e nt a ge of d e a t h s in
inoculated bovines
0.04
12 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
The results obtained in the field from inoculations with
hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine are shown in the under-
noted table.
Province
Punjab . . .
Bombay . . .
Hissar Cattle Farm .
TOTAL .
Number of outbreaks in
which inoculation was
undertaken
211
4
...
215
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINCOLATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equines
...
...
...
...
Bovines
...
3
...
3
Others
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
Bovines
50,249
1,092
500
51,841
Others
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER
INOCU-
LATION
Eqnines
...
...
...
...
Bovines
...
...
...
...
Others
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated bovines
nil
Black Quarter vaccine. During the year 1920-21,
there was no necessity to prepare more black quarter vac-
cine as the demands were complied with from the stock in
hand. 30,900 doses of this vaccine were issued as against
20,136 doses issued during the previous year.
The following table furnishes the details of inoculations
in the field with black quarter vaccine together with the
results :—
Province
Punjab
Assam
.
.
.
.
Bihar and Orissa
Bombay .
Mysore State
.
.
Hissar Cattle Farm
TOTAL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Number
of outbreaks in
which inoculation was
undertaken
44
1
28
1
7
1
82
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
UNINOCULATED
IN COURSE OF
DISEASE
Equi nes
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovi ne s
30
1
109
...
40
10
190
Ot her s
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
INOCULATED
Equines
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
5,947
54
4,704
100
1,231
1,393
13,434
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF
ANIMALS
WHICH DIED
AFTER IN-
OCULATION
Equi nes
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bovines
10
...
6
...
4
22
42
Others
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Percentage of deaths in
inoculated bovines
0.31
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1921
13
Mallein. During the year under report, 87,533 doses
of mallein were prepared and 88,528 doses issued against
163,735 doses prepared and 164,120 doses issued during the
year 1919-20.
Of the amount issued, 82,245 doses were supplied to
the Military Department.
Tuberculin. Six hundred and fourteen doses of tuber-
culin were prepared and issued during the year 1920-21
against 1,120 doses prepared and issued during the preceding
year.
Strangles serum and vaccine. During the year under
report, 24,516 doses of anti-strangles serum and 536 doses of
strangles vaccine were prepared and 666 doses of serum and
536 doses of vaccine issued against 7,341 doses of strangles
serum and 1,136 doses of vaccine prepared and 4,447 doses
of serum and 1,136 doses of vaccine issued during the year
1919-20.
In addition to the above, 3,800 doses of mixed (anti-
streptococcic and staphylococcic) vaccine were prepared and
issued during the year against 4,432 doses prepared and
issued in the previous year.
The above quantity was all supplied to the Military
Department.
Miscellaneous vaccines. Nine hundred doses of auto-
genous vaccines were also prepared and issued during the year
1920-21 from material received at the laboratory against
550 doses prepared and issued in the preceding year.
The amounts of the various products of the laboratory
prepared and issued during the year under report are
compared with the average amounts of the previous 5 years
in the following table :—
Name of product
Rinderpest serum
.
.
Anthrax serum . . .
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia serum .
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia vaccine .
Black Quarter vaccine . .
Mallein . . . . .
DOSES PREPARED
1920-21
3,631,940
20,621
216,276
126,200
......
87,533
Average of
previous 5
years
2,195,884
31,862
134,854
124,734
23,300
110,615
DOSES ISSUED
1920-21
3,126,136
31,613
106,528
126,200
30,900
88,528
Average of
previous 5
years
2,104,398
29,864
135,627
124,734
20,048
114,795
14 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
III. EXAMINATION OF SPECIMENS AND INOCULATION WORK.
Specimens examined. During the year under report, 39
specimens were received for examination and report as
against 63 in the previous year.
In addition to these, 4 specimens were received from
which autogenous vaccines were prepared.
The nature of the specimens received and examined is
indicated in the following table :—
Name of specimens
Piroplasmosis . . . . .
Glanders . . . . . .
Black Quarter . . . . .
Tuberculosis . . . . .
Anthrax . . . . . . .
Johne's disease . . . . .
Malignant Oedema
. . .
.
Dourine
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Surra
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia
Epizootic Lymphangitis . . .
Tumours
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Flies
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Miscellaneous . . . . .
TOTAL .
NUMBER OF SPECIMENS
Positive
3
3
...
2
1
...
1
1
1
...
1
3
1
2
19
Negative
...
4
1
1
1
2
...
1
...
1
...
...
...
2
13
Doubtful
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
5
7
Inoculations by the serum simultaneous method in
the military dairies. In consequence of the transfer of
this work to the Military Department, inoculations by the
simultaneous method were carried on during November and
December, 1920, by one Veterinary Deputy Superintendent
(Mr. Vacha) in the dairy farms at Kirkee and Belgaum.