3
16. Lymphangitis Epizootica is a disease which suddenly broke out as an
epidemic in 1899, and as reported last year, puzzled many Veterinary officers
and others, and caused much destruction of remount animals. It was
imported by mules from Italy and is often called " Neapolitan Farcy." I
submitted a preliminary report last April, in which general information and
instructions were given. I have since then continued my diagnosis of the
disease by investigating specimens of pus supplied to me from different parts of
India and have collected material for a second report on the etiology of the
disease, in which the results of my further investigations will be given.
17. Strangles causes loss to the Remount Department and was therefore
brought on to my list. The diagnosis of the disease itself requires little or no
study as its characteristics are well known, but the determination of the
organism causing the disease has not been satisfactorily effected.
III.—The investigation of and progress made in preventive and curative
remedies.
18. Rinderpest.—A protective serum has now been worked out and two
methods of preparation, one I call the " Slow " method occupying about 80
days, the other the " Rapid " about 14 to 20 days ; by the latter method a
serum can be produced in one-fourth of the time needed for the production of
the former, while only a little of the quantity is required to bring about the
necessary protection of the animal under experiment. The conclusion
previously arrived at that hill cattle require much more powerful doses of
protective serum than plains animals has been confirmed by experiment. For
the benefit of those who may wish to learn the details of the methods, I shall
submit a full report separately to the Director-General, Indian Medical Service.
I have also devoted a great part of the time at my disposal, to researches which
give every hope of working out preventives by means of methods which will
make their manufacture in large quantities cheap, their distribution easy and
their application simple.
19. Anthrax.—I have been developing a preventive serum which experi-
ments have already indicated to be effective. A detailed account of my experi-
ments and their results is under preparation and will be submitted in due
course.
20. Surra.—I have worked out a serum which has been found to possess
immunizing power, but difficulty has been experienced in preserving its des-
tructive power for any length of time. My experiments will of course be con-
tinued.
21. Lymphangitis Epizootica.—Experiments conducted at Muktesar have
shown that a cure can be effected by removing animals to a high level, 7,500ft.
elevation, a result which agrees with the fact that the disease in Europe dis-
appears above a given line of latitude. As the development of the disease
occupies several months, the measure can easily and usefully be adopted in the
case of valuable remount animals. I have also entered upon a series of in-
vestigations as to the life history of the organism with the view of working out
a protective serum. I have meanwhile kept myself in constant communication
on the subject with Remount and Veterinary Officers examining and reporting
on all specimens of diseased material sent for my observation.
22. Strangles.—I have made investigation with which I am still proceed-
ing with the object of discovering (i) the " materies morbi," (ii) a serum which
will be destructive to it.
23. To enable me to select diseases for future investigation it would seem
desirable that the valuable survey of diseases by the Veterinary Department
temporarily interrupted should be gradually completed.
IV.—The Central Institution and its functions.
24. The chief functions of this institution during the past 12 months have
been (i) to manufacture anti-rinderpest serum, (ii) to test such serum and issue
it to officers on demand and (iii) to train Veterinary Assistants deputed here
by the different District Boards (Punjab and N.-W. P.).
25. During the year 69,462 doses of anti-rinderpest serum were manu-
factured, and 24,232 doses distributed, as shown in Appendix I. The sanction