3
A nursery of Deodar plants has now been started at Ritani from seeds
obtained from the Jaunsar Forests in the Chakrata district.
11. Meteorological Observations.—The collection and record of these
observations have been continued regularly three times daily, and a copy of the
same supplied monthly to the Meteorological Department for record and
reference.
12. Buildings.—Most of the sanctioned buildings were completed during
the year. The transportation of engine from Roorki and its erection at
Muktesar was also effected. The water supply scheme was taken in hand
during the year under report and has fairly progressed.
13. Training of Veterinary Officers.—At the commencement of the official
year under report, a scheme for the training during summer months, each year,
of Army Veterinary Department and Civil Veterinary Department Officers,
in comparative pathology, bacteriology and microscopical work at this Labora-
tory, was approved by the Government. In two courses, each one lasting two
months, four officers, three of Army Veterinary Department and one of Civil
Veterinary Department, received instructions during June and September 1904,
in different diseases of animals met with in this country. They also received ins-
tructions in serum therapeutics and were taught bacteriological technique.
The officers who attended the class took every advantage of the opportunities
offered.
14. Training of Veterinary Assistants.—During the year under report,
32 Veterinary Assistants were trained at Muktesar and 35 at Bareilly, making
a total 67 subordinates as against 52, trained during the past official year.
15. Branch Laboratory at Bareilly.—As in previous years, the work was
commenced for the winter months at Bareilly by the middle of November
1904. In addition to observations of Dourine cases, Camel Surra, Equine
Surra, training of Veterinary Assistants, experiments were initiated in camels
to observe the course of Rinderpest in these animals. Also experiments as to
the destructive power of arsenic and trypan-rot on the Trypanosoma Evansi
were conducted.
16. Staff and Establishment.—During the past year one Engineman was
added to the establishment. The services of two Veterinary Inspectors and
one Store-keeper were entertained. Two native laboratory assistants were
kept on probation, but they did not prove themselves capable of holding these
appointments.
It gives me great pleasure to put on record the hearty co-operation I
received, as in previous years, from the laboratory staff and establishment.
SECTION II.
Research.
17. The rough programme of research work proposed to be carried out at
Muktesar and Bareilly during 1904-1905 was on the following diseases :—
(i) Rinderpest,
(ii) Piroplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, and Malignant œdema, occurring
as secondary diseases to rinderpest,
(iii) Anthrax,
(iv) Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia,
(v) Surra,
(vi) Charbon Symptomatique, and
(vii) Dourine.
RINDERPEST.
18. Decrease in virulence, when rinderpest is passed from animal to animal
through a long series of hill cattle.—I have frequently, since 1897, brought before
the notice of the Government, the extreme importance of pursuing investigations
with regard to rinderpest and other diseases, with material obtained from the
most virulent source. Sera prepared from moderately virulent material,
would probably result in the production of a protective agent only powerful
enough to protect animals from a very mild form of the disease, or require
B 2