26
REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
not identical in their specific properties. These authors have shown that strains of
glanders from Muktesar and Java are quite different serologically from strains received
by them of British and Egyptian origin, and that the Muktesar strain was serologically
identical with their whitmori strains, although it was identical with the glanders strains
in cultural and pathogenic characters (Journal of Hygiene, 1925, April, Vol. 23, No. 4,
pp. 347-63).
In all, 88,830 doses of mallein were issued and 48,242 doses prepared during the year ;
in 1923-24, 29,162 doses were issued and 52,812 doses prepared.
These issues comprised 25,765 doses of " ordinary " mallein (dose=1 c.c.), and 62,070
doses of " I.D.P." mallein (dose=0.1 c.c.). In addition, a small quantity (995 doses)
of concentrated mallein (dose=0.2 c.c.) was issued for the ophthalmic test. The quantities
manufactured were " ordinary " mallein, 24,462 doses ; " I.D.P." mallein, 23,270 doses ;
" concentrated " mallein, 510 doses.
(f) Tuberculin. 960 doses of tuberculin were issued during the year, and 1,140 doses
were prepared, as against 2,724 doses issued and 14,004 prepared in the preceding year.
The issues comprised : " ordinary " tuberculin (dose, 3 c.c.), for the subcutaneous test
for tuberculosis, 704 doses ; concentrated tuberculin (dose, 0.25 c.c.) for the intracuta-
neous test for tuberculosis 220 doses ; avian tuberculin (dose=8 c.c.) for the subcutane-
ous test for Johne's disease, 20 doses ; concentrated avian tuberculin (dose=0.25 c.c.) for
the intracutaneous test for Johne's disease, 16 doses. The minute quantities of tuber-
culin required in the country are related to the very low incidence of bovine tuberculosis.
The evidence forthcoming from investigations carried out by the laboratory would appear
to indicate that Johne's disease is a serious affection of certain important herds in
Southern India, and work was planned at the close of the year to prosecute systematic
tests with avian tuberculin on some of these herds, to determine more accurately the
incidence of infection and also to obtain further information upon the value of the
avian tuberculin test in the diagnosis of the disease.
(g) Strangles serum and vaccine. 777 doses (dose= 15 c.c.) of an anti-streptococcic
serum for the preventive treatment of strangles were issued, and 3,300 doses prepared.
501 series of doses of ordinary anti-streptococcic vaccine, composed of several strains of
streptococci killed by heat, and 207 series of doses of " extracted " anti-streptococcic
vaccine (extracted by Dreyer's method) were issued. In addition, for the 1924-25
strangles at the Army Remount Depôts, 886 doses of a special vaccine, in the form of a
so-called aggressin, were issued for experimental trials ; this subject is dealt with later
under a separate heading in discussing research work on strangles.
(h) Contagious abortion vaccines. (I) 154 doses (each dose in two separate quantities
of 5 and 10 c.c., to be administered at an interval of 9 or 10 days) of vaccine against the
common form of contagious bovine abortion, due to Bacillus abortus Bang, were issued ;
the vaccine was applied to a limited number of cattle only, on an experimental basis,
and hence the small output. (II) 80 doses (dose=10 c. c.) of vaccine for the preventive
treatment of the common form of contagious equine abortion, due to Bacillus abortivo¬
equinus, were issued, also on an experimental basis These subjects are dealt with later
in discussing research projects.
(i) Autogenous and specially prepared vaccines. 68 doses (at 5 c.c. per dose) were
issued, as against 37 series of doses in the preceding year.
V. Research.
(a) Rinderpest. The various problems connected with the most important contagious
bovine affection in India again constituted the prime research subject. The scope of the
work undertaken upon its etiology has been outlined in the preceding Report, which
was written up late during the year dealt with in the present Report, after active work
upon this particular aspect of the disease was brought temporarily into abeyance. How¬
evre, there remain other aspects to be reported in brief that have been studied since then