12
Unfortunately but two returns have been made by officers using the
serum by the Simultaneous method, and I would suggest the advisability of
Government issuing the necessary orders, so that the Imperial Bacteriologist
may be made acquainted with the results of the issued serum in actual
practice, as they are obtained. This would greatly facilitate the work at
Muktesar, as well as adding to our knowledge of the effect of the prepared
protective serum on different breeds of cattle far removed from the North-
-estern Provinces. The Superintendent of Civil Veterinary Department,
Madras, reported on the 8,000 c.c. serum despatched from Muktesar on
October 10th, 1899, as follows: "Out of 339 bullocks inoculated, 9 died, but these
deaths were attributable to old age and debilitated condition and to the fact
that the animals were suffering from rinderpest previous to inoculation." As
the serum inoculations have been giving most satisfactory results, arrange-
ments are being made to produce 50,000 doses or more, as Government may
decide. The necessary requisitions for producing such a large quantity have
been submitted to the Supreme Government.
(d) Effect of salt and saji on bovines as a prophylactic against rinder-
pest.— In August 1899, the Commissioner of the Kumaun Division forwarded
copies of correspondence which had passed between him and the officer in
charge of the Bhabar regarding a certain vaunted specific for rinderpest there-
in detailed, requesting the favour of information as to the value of such
specific. It was maintained that if a mixture of common salt and saji be
given in the proportion of 2 oz. of the former and ½ oz. of the latter per
animal, per diem, during a period of 6 to 8 days, bovines so treated if placed
among cattle infected with rinderpest will not contract the disease. On the
30th November, the following report as to the results of the experiments
with feeding bovines on salt and saji as a prophylactic against rinderpest,
was forwarded to the Commissioner, Kumaun Division, for information :—" Two
animals were treated in accordance with the above directions, one of which
was subsequently inoculated with a small dose of virulent blood, while the
other was only exposed to natural infection by being placed in a shed which
contained animals suffering from the disease. Both took the disease after
the usual incubation period, and both died of rinderpest. The treatment is
then quite useless, while as the discharges from the nose and mouth of animals
suffering from rinderpest are very infectious. It is evident that the proposal
to hang up " salt licks " in affected villages could not only be futile, but would
also be positively dangerous, and I can imagine no way which is likely to be as
efficient in spreading the disease through a village which was once attacked
by it, than such an arrangement as this. I am therefore of the opinion that
it should not be permitted."
(e) Locust Disease Fungus.—In a letter dated 28th June 1899, from the
Secretary to the Government of South Africa, to the Secretary to the Govern-
ment of India, Revenue and Agricultural Department, this officer states, " I am
however to add that there is no evidence to show that the fungus is efficacious
in the case of other species of locusts than those which have been dealt with in
this country, viz., Acridium puriferum and Zonocerus elegans. It was experi-
mented with in the Argentine Republic, but was found to be ineffectual against
the locust which infests that country : Schistocercanensis.
The fungus was propagated at the Laboratory and some 80 tubes sent out
to the following people :—
1899. Date.
12th August
.
13th September .
Ditto .
Ditto
Ditto
14th September .
27th
„ .
5th December
.
7th
„
1900—
9th January
.
22nd January
.
15th March
.
Name of person
No. of tubes.
. Dir. of Land Records and Agriculture, Lucknow.
. Collector, Pilibhit.
. Miss A. M. Budden, Pithoragarh (Kumaon).
. J. G. Stevenson, Esq., Berenag (Kumaon).
. Collector of Dehra Dun.
. Collector of Belgaum.
. Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Tullock (Retired), Loha-
ghat (Kumaon.)
. Political Resident, Aden.
. Lieutenant Colonel W. Lock, Officiating Resident,
Nepal.
. Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Assam.
. The Political Agent, E. States, Rajputana.
.
Ditto
ditto
ditto
20
2
4
4
2
6
4
20
20
6
10
2