MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1929
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(h) Kumri. Some preliminary work was started in connection with
an experimental method of treatment devised by Dr. Edwards. The
treatment is analogous to that recently adopted with success in the
curative treatment of human subjects affected with general paralysis of
the insane, by artificial infection with malaria. It consists of infecting
kumri-affected horses with surra trypanosomes, and their subsequent
treatment with the intrathecal-intravenous injections of "Bayer 205",
already referred to under paragraph V (b). The work is still in
progress.
(i) Glanders. A completely avirulent culture of the glanders
bac llus was obtained by repeated subinoculation, extending to consider-
ably over a thousand passages, upon plain agar slopes. Preliminary
experiments were then carried out with this organism in order to
ascertain (i) if mallein of equal potency to that prepared from a
virulent culture could be manufactured; and (ii) if an anti-serum
could be obtained against the disease. The results obtained are not yet
conclusive, but it appears that the mallein produced is only slightly
inferior to the stock product, and that the anti-serum has some slight
effect in delaying the course of the disease in guinea pigs.
(j) Equine contagious abortion. Vaccination consisting of repeated
injections of killed culture made from a number of strains of B. abortivo-
equinus has been applied in a Military breeding stud since early in
1927. Preliminary results, now becoming known, have not been
encouraging in that, in more than one case, the specific organism has
been isolated from aborted foetuses from vaccinated mares. Research
work in this connection is, however, still in progress, and it is still too
early for definite conclusions to be drawn.
(k) Pneumonia in animals. Work upon this subject started in
1923 in connection with a lung lesion occurring in a number of cattle
which died during the course of the disease rinderpest. Dr. Edward
first drew attention to the very striking resemblance of this lesion to
that found in the specific disease contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia,
Bacteriological examination of the lesion at this time showed what
appeared to be a causal relationship with Coryne bacteria.
In the year 1927, following upon the "fixation " of the rinderpest
virus in goats, it was noticed that a large number of these animals
also were dying during the course of the work, and not, apparently
directly from rinderpest, but from a pleuro-pneumonia having identical
naked-eye characters to the lesion observed in cattle. Bacteriological
examination of this lesion revealed the presence of a pasteurella
organism, often in pure culture, and it was concluded that the pleuro-
pneumonia was a secondary, complicating affection of rinderpest in the
goat probably due to this organism.
In the winter season of 1928 a large number of "healthy" goats
awaiting experiment, were attacked by a suddenly occurring outbreak
of pleuro-pneumonia apparently identical with that already observed in
connection with rinderpest in these animals, and bacteriological
examination was again taken up. In this outbreak also the responsible
organism appeared to be a pasteurella. A vaccine, analogous to that