4
(ix) To investigate serious outbreak of disease at Army Remount Depôts, Karnal and Hapur :—
February
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March
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24 to 26 .
27 to 2 Mar.
3 .
3 to 5 .
6 .
6 to 14 .
15 .
16 to 24 .
25 to 29 .
Muktesar to Karnal.
Halt at Karnal.
Karnal to Babugarh.
Halt at Babugarh.
Babugarh to Karnal.
Halt at Karnal.
Karnal to Babugarh.
Halt at Babugarh.
Babugarh to Muktesar.
During the official year 1899-1900, the journeys to the end of December were
performed by Captain Rogers, and since by the Imperial Bacteriologist.
4. Journeys performed by the Assistant Bacteriologist in connection with
serum inoculation against rinderpest.—This officer visited the village of Soonai,
Bulandshahr district, in company with Mr. Wintle of Mallikpur, who had
pursuaded some of the villagers to have their cattle inoculated. Thirty-nine (39)
were inoculated by the " Simultaneous method," the dose of serum used being
25 c. c. per 600 lbs. Of the 39 animals injected, it is probable that 34 re-acted,
leaving a balance of 5 animals which may have been naturally immune. No
deaths occurred up to 3rd January 1900, among the inoculated, but 7 uninocu¬
lated cattle had succumbed to rinderpest up to that date. The Veterinary
assistant reported at a later date that a few of the villagers recognised the benefits
of inoculation, but were not willing to have any more submitted to the treat-
ment, as they could not spare their working cattle from work even for a couple
of days.
On the initiative of Lieutenant-Colonel Sykes, I.M.S., Civil Surgeon of
Bareilly, the Assistant Bacteriologist submitted the Dairy cattle at the Lunatic
Asylum, then suffering from what purported to be rinderpest, to protective
inoculation. The numbers were then: total attacked 40, deaths 30, recoveries 9,
recovering 1. On the 23rd and 24th December, therefore, 31 milch cattle and 28
milch buffaloes at the asylum were inoculated with serum only, in sufficient
quantity to ensure their immunity from the disease for at least a month, when
it was hoped fear of infection would be over. The inoculations had no apparent
effect on the animals nor did the supply of milk appreciatively suffer in con-
sequence.
At the Bareilly Jail on 24th and 25th December 1899, 32 dry cows, 19
young stock and 17 dry buffaloes, including one bull, were submitted to the
simultaneous method of inoculation. Out of a total of 68, 19 re-acted, the 49
being submitted to re-inoculation, only one re-acted. Most of the cows and
buffaloes were heavy in calf, and during the inoculations two of the former
and two of the latter produced calves at full term and quite healthy.
Further 2 bulls and a bullock were, on the 26th December, inoculated with
15 c.c. of Glycerinated bile, as serum was not available. On January 5th, these
were tested with virulent blood and all appear to have re-acted more or less.
(ii) In accordance with a telegram from the Government of India,
Veterinary Lieutenant G. K. Walker visited the Simla district between the
6th and 20th February 1900, and found that rinderpest existed in the Native
States in the neighbourhood of Simla. It was deemed inadvisable to obtain
the necessary bile in the Native States for inoculation purposes, as not only
would slaughtering be opposed but also inoculation of any kind. Further,
owing to the very efficient segregation and preventive methods instituted by
the Deputy Commissioner, the disease was dying out in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Simla and surrounding States, at the time of this officer's visit. If
the disease should again recur, he suggested it would be advisable to submit all
the oxen on the cart road to the protective serum inoculation against rinderpest,
as the majority are plains animals and in them its efficacy has been proved.
5. The Laboratory Buildings.—The following works have been undertaken
by the Public Works Department during the financial year 1899-1900.
(i) The Cold Room excavated in the rock for the purpose of storing
serum and virulent blood, started in the previous year, but com-
pleted in April 1899.