(3)
sanctioned by Government, and the work has commenced quite recently on
some of them. Some further improvements are very badly needed, of which
a list has been submitted.
13. The Bengal Veterinary Bacteriological Laboratory.—The laboratory has
been recognised as the official establishment for the investigation and diagnosis
of the diseases of animals in this Province. We have also been charged by the
Chairman of the Corporation of Calcutta, and the Commissioner of Police,
Calcutta, with the diagnosis of rabies. This is a wise step; for, apart from the
desirability that a person bitten by a suspected dog should have his mind put
at rest as soon as possible, it is obvious that to deal with rabid or suspected
animals whether dead or alive is a very dangerous business, not only to the
person who does the work, but to others who assist, and to the public, if an
animal be allowed to break loose. Therefore these investigations should never
be carried out by any one, except an expert, in a suitable place.
Although the laboratory has been much handicapped by want of gas and
apparatus until quite recently, we have done some work in connection with
general diagnosis. Investigations have been carried out with regard to
suspected tuberculosis in various places. I am glad to say that we failed to
discover this disease in several suspected cases in jails, but the disease has
been found in cows several times in the College Hospital. The number of
cases of this description admitted yearly at Belgachia is sufficient to indicate
that tuberculosis prevails in Calcutta; and as the British Tuberculosis Commis-
sion has just confirmed the opinion held by most people that tubercle is
communicable to human beings by means of cow's milk, it is desirable that
public attention should be directed to the subject, though the disease is not
nearly so prevalent amongst animals in Calcutta as in England We shall
always be glad to report free of charge upon any sample of milk or butter
suspected to contain tubercle germs that is sent to our laboratory.
Surra or Trypanosomiasis, which is a disease caused by a blood parasite,
has given rise to serious losses to horse owners. The parasite is harboured
throughout the year by cattle, which apparently suffer, as a rule, so little from
it that they show no external symptoms of its presence in their blood; never-
theless, the. disease is carried from them to horses by biting insects, during the
rains, and perhaps also during the hot weather. The death of a horse so
bitten is only a matter of a few weeks. The disease is extremely difficult to
diagnose in the early stages, unless the practitioner has considerable experience.
This is very unfortunate, owing to the fact that the infection can be trans-
ferred from one animal to another from the beginning of infection. The
Imperial Entomologist was good enough to depute, at my request, a fieldman
to work in and round Calcutta during the rains, with the result that a collec-
tion of biting flies has been made, which include specimens of Tabanus,
Stomoxys, Lyperosia, and Hippobosca. This important work is to be continued
during the approaching monsoon. Steps are also being taken to train some
of the most promising Veterinary graduates in collecting and preserving
flies, etc., and collecting boxes will be distributed as soon as they reach me,
We are devoting attention to various other diseases.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was pleased to grant a sum of
Rs. 4,000 for apparatus on the occasion of his recent visit to the College.