7
of the year and scarcity of water, and the long distance from which it has to
be carried, great difficulty is experienced in refilling the tank. It is, therefore,
not improbable that the necessary quantity of water will not be forthcoming
until the monsoon season in June.
29. An estimate was submitted by the Engineer in March 1897, for some
ten items, of which the most important were (i) a small house for sterilizing
purposes, (ii) the incinerator, (iii) water to be laid on to the healthy cow
sheds at Ritani, (iv) wood-shed. In June of the same year a second estimate
was furnished for the same works, and at a later date the several works were
taken in hand.
30. (i) Sterilizing House.—It was commenced in December 1897 and is
now nearing completion.
(ii) Incinerator.—Incinerator for the disposal of the carcasses of diseased
animals by fire. This was provided for in the first estimate in 1893-94.
It was, however, commenced in November 1897 and is still under construction;
will probably be ready for use during the next four weeks.
(iii) The Ritani Cattle-shed.—The cattle enclosure has been paved with
stones, and a channel dug from the nearest water-supply to allow of its being
conducted to the cattle trough in the yard.
(iv) Wood-shed.—The house for the storage of fuel was commenced in
November 1897 and completed at beginning of March 1898.
31. Grain and Implement Store.—This building is one of those included
in the estimate sanctioned by the Government of India in April 1897, and was
commenced during the last week of December 1897. This building will be
ready for occupation during the coming May.
32. Sheds for Experimental Animals.—In a letter submitted to Govern-
ment in August 1897, it was pointed out that, owing to the inclemency of the
weather during the rainy and cold seasons, several of our animals under Experi-
ment had succumbed to ' Enteritis ' brought on by exposure to the elements,
and, therefore, sheds were required for housing them. In addition, several
sheds were necessary in order to secure the isolation of animals submitted to
Rinderpest Experiments. Of the buildings sanctioned for these purposes,
one is now in course of construction, and arrangements have been entered into
by the Public Works Department for the erection of the remaining ones.
33. Quarters for Head Laboratory Assistant.—Telegraphic orders were
received from the Government of India on January 14th, 1898, that plans
should be submitted, without delay, for quarters for a Laboratory Assistant. A
site was chosen for this Bungalow and the foundations were laid on April 16th,
so that, being built during the hot season, the house should be ready for occu-
pation before the rainy season commences.
34. East Store Room, Library and Studio.—In consequence of the soft,
immatured stone which was used for building the east wall of the Laboratory
during the heavy rains of the past year, the east walls of the exposed rooms
have been streaming with water and unoccupied. This condition was brought
to the notice of the Engineer in a letter (No. 97), dated 20th July 1897, and a
reply received on 26th asking the District Surveyor to report and submit an
estimate for pointing the exposed surface of the wall with a mixture of one part
of Portland cement, four of lime putty and eight of Bajri, if it is found, as
Executive Engineer suspects that the rain soaked in through the mortar.
On September 26th, 1897, 18 inches of rain fell in 14 hours, and
again on February 9th, 1898, storms of hail were experienced, and these were
followed by falls of snow, and subsequently heavy rain accompanied by gusts
of wind of hurricane force (124 miles an hour). Consequently the rooms
were, on two occasions, rendered uninhabitable owing to the porosity of its
walls.
On the 23rd March 1898, this end of the Laboratory received a coating of
Szerelmey's stone liquid. The result of this painting remains to be proved
during the coming monsoon.