12
REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
is 855 hours longer than in the preceding year, and the engineering staff was thus en-
gaged for abnormally long daily working hours. The efficient working life of the storage
battery is now spent, but, nevertheless, the number of charging units held by it
amounted to 14,050,—67.8 per cent. in excess of the previous year's figure.
The total quantity of water pumped from No. 1 spring, and No. 3 collecting dam,
below Ritani, for distribution, was 2,846,776 gallons, an increase of 16.5 per cent. over
the quantity in 1923-24. As the extra water had all to be pumped from No. 3 dam, the
amount of electricity consumed (14,050 units) by the pump motors exceeded by 36.2
per cent the amount used in 1923-24. Hence, the cost per 1,000 gallons rose from Rs.
4-15-6 in 1923-24 to Rs. 5-10-6 in 1924-25. There is no risk of shortage of water as the
supply available from No. 3 dam is more than sufficient to meet any likely demands.
The electric centrifuges dealt with 10,946 litres of blood,- a decrease of 8.5 per cent on
the figure of 1923-24 and the electricity consumed amounted to 7,448 units,—an increase
of 7.8 per cent. Hæmorrhagic septicæmia blood was centrifuged in largest amount
(6,136 litres), as in the state of knowledge available earlier in the year it was thought
economic to produce this serum from large hill bulls at Muktesar rather than from buffa-
loes. The great bulk of the rinderpest blood (2,669 litres) was derived from an experi-
ment laid down on a large scale at Muktesar to test the practicability of producing potent
serum after a single, defined immunization of the serum producers. It will not be neces-
sary to use the centrifuges for these purposes in future years. 1,211 litres of blood from
anti-anthrax serum producers, and 387 litres from anti-blackquarter serum producers
were centrifuged.
The total gas production was 559,560 cubic feet, a decrease of 3.49 per cent. on the
figure of the preceding year. It was hoped that with the installation of the new steam
boilers and sterilizing plant, which were brought into continuous operation from the
12th May 1924, the gas consumption would have shown a more distinct decrease, but
increased activities in the out-laboratories and additional incubators would appear to
account largely for the sustained demand. It has been computed that the production
of gas in excess of 1,400 cubic feet daily is beyond the economic productive capacity of
the presentplant. The new steam sterilizers have been worked all three daily according
to a set time-table, and have proved a great boon to the laboratory.
The vacuum drying plant for serum was operated several times, for experimental
purposes, during the year.
The new e ectrically-heated incubator room constructed in the Mallein Laboratory
during the previous year was brought into use in May 1924. The maintenance of other
laboratory incubators was undertaken by the engineering staff in a satisfactory manner.
The installation of the new kerosene oil storage tanks was completed, and they were
handed over to the Store for use.
Four spare 500-gallon tanks were fitted up for the storage of stocks of serum manu-
factured at Izatnagar and despatched to Muktesar for necessary tests and preservation
prior to issue, and a special building was constructed for the accommodation of the tanks.
The Engineer investigated the possibilities of constructing a smokeless type of inci-
nerator for the disposal of carcases on the Experimental Side, and appears to have been
successful in his efforts.
A considerable amount of repair and constructive work for the laboratory was done
in the engineering workshop, and a large sum of money that would have otherwise been
spent if these works had been executed elsewhere was thereby saved.
A course of lectures was given by the Engineer on the construction and use of labora-
tory appliances (microscopes, incubators, sterilizers) to visiting officers at Muktesar
under training.
One of the most pressing problems now at Muktesar is the provision of a standby
power set, and a scheme was drafted by the Engineer in consultation with the Electrical
Inspector to Government, United Provinces, for the purchase of a steam power set at
relatively cheap cost.