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commencement of the ensuing official year, April 1897. I regret to say that
Dr. Stephens did not, however, avail himself of the opportunity offered.
On my return to Bombay, 30th January 1897, your office letter No. 97C.,
dated 28th January 1897, was handed to me, whereupon I left for the Labor-
atory, Muktesar, and arrived on the evening of 5th February. Here your
telegram, dated 1st February, awaited my arrival, informing me of an outbreak
of disease among the Army Siege Train and Army Transport Bullocks at
Quetta, further I was requested to place myself in communication with Veteri-
nary Captain H. M. Maxwell, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
Baluchistan. In consequence of the information received from this officer
I left the Laboratory on Sunday, 6th February, and proceeded to Quetta,
arriving on the evening of 11th February. There I learned that thirty-one
bullocks had succumbed during December 1896, and January 1897, and that
eight had recovered, while three had died and six recovered amongst a
draft of animals sent to Sibi from Quetta. Unfortunately, during a
sojourn of eight days at the former station, only one animal succumbed,
but I was fortunate in being able to examine the organs of several
animals which had been preserved for inspection. The conclusion I arrived at
as to the cause of the mortality was that the animals whose power of resis-
tance to disease had been previously weakened by nutritive changes, etc.,
partially owing to the presence of large numbers of hydatid cysts in their
organs, had fallen ready victims to pneumonia and pleurisy during the
prolonged period of severe weather. A report embodying recommendations
for future guidance was submitted to the Government of India for the infor-
mation of the Military Department.
On the return journey to Muktesar in accordance with Government of
India instructions, No. 97C., paragraph 3, dated 28th January 1897,I proceeded
to Agra to inspect the Laboratory and grounds of the Chemical Analyst and
Bacteriologist to the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, with a view to
determine whether rinderpest investigations could be satisfactorily carried on
there during the winter months of each year. A report embodying my views,
No. 264, dated 12th March 1897, was submitted to Government on my return
to head-quarters.
During the past seven months, 21 tubes of Mallein have been distributed
to the officers of the Civil Veterinary Department and Army Veterinary School,
Poona—
Lahore 7, Bengal 6, Central Provinces 6, and Poona 2 tubes.
Mr. M. K. Bamber, Clinical Assistant to the Imperial Bacteriologist,
proceeded on privilege leave on 29th April 1896. At the beginning of August
he resigned his appointment, but, at the request of the Government of India,
continued his duties until 25th March 1897, during which interval he assumed
charge of the office of the Imperial Bacteriologist, during my absence on
leave in Europe, from 17th October 1896 to 30th January 1897. It was
with regret that I heard of his intention to return to England, and my best
thanks are due to him for the good work he has accomplished, especially
chemical, during the four years he has been connected with the Laboratory,
whilst at Poona and since its transference to Muktesar.
Herewith are enclosed three appendices—
(i) Journal of journeys undertaken during 1896-97.
(ii) Précis of the recorded outbreaks of Surra during 1896-97.
I wish to draw attention to the reports on Surra in Burmah, forwarded
to me by Veterinary Captain G. H. Evans, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Rangoon. This officer has spent a considerable portion of his
spare time in obtaining information with regard to the chief pathological
changes found in equines, the subjects of Surra in his province, and in
the microscopical examination of the body fluids of flies, with a view to
determine whether the Trypanosoma Evansi could be discovered in Diptera
caught in the jungle.
(iii)—(A) Containing a short statement of the results of physiological
and pathological observations with regard to bovines and buffaloes, etc., during
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