NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2 REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
scholars who had recently returned to India after completing the
prescribed R. C. V. S. course of training in the United Kingdom.
Mr. P. G. Malkani, B.Sc. (London), M.R.C.V.S., was accordingly
appointed by the Government of India, and he took up the duties of the
post on the 15th July 1927.
7. Officer deputed by the Indian Research Fund Association on special
duty for the Bovine Tuberculosis Enquiry. Dr. M. B. Soparkar, M.D.,
continued his investigations. He left Muktesar for Kasauli on the
29th March 1928 in accordance with the decision of the Advisory Com-
mittee of the Association to close the enquiries at Muktesar and to divert
his attention entirely from that date to the human side of the problem
under enquiry.
8. First Laboratory Assistant (Upper Grade). Mr. D. Keiller, the
permanent incumbent of the post, who had been granted leave out of
India for one year with effect from the 18th March 1927, returned to
duty on the 17th March 1928. Mr. Torabaz Khan, G.P.V.C., continued
to officiate during his absence.
9. Second Laboratory Assistant (Upper Grade). Mr. G. P. Goffi.
He was transferred to the Branch Institute, Izatnagar, on the 15th
October 1927, to strengthen the technical staff there.
10. Third Laboratory Assistant (Upper Grade). Mr. W. Mobbs.
11. First Assistant Veterinary Research Officer. Mr. M. B. Menon
G.B.V.C.
12. Second Assistant Veterinary Research Officer. Vacant.
13. Assistant Research Officer (Protozoologist). Mr. S. K. Sen, B.A.,
B.Sc., F.E.S., the permanent incumbent, was on leave from the 13th
February to the 18th March 1928. Mr. V. R. Rajagopalam officiated
for him during this period. Mr. Sen was on deputation to Pusa from
the 13th December 1927 to the 12th February 1928.
14. Assistant Research Officer (Helminthologist). Vacant.
15. Veterinary Deputy Superintendent. Mr. J. D'Costa, G.B.V.C.
16. Engineer. Mr. A. Littlejohn.
17. Farm Manager. Captain A. J. Hearsey, V.D.
18. Medical Officer. Dr. S. L. Mittal, M.B., B.S.
Tours undertaken by Staff.
Director. Left headquarters on 22nd October to visit the Branch
Institute, Izatnagar, to check manufacturing processes and returned
on the 24th October 1927. Then toured from the 28th November to
the 20th December 1927, for the following purposes:—(i) Delhi, from
the 28th November to the 2nd December, to give evidence before the
Royal Commission on Agriculture in India; (ii) Calcutta, from the
3rd to the 9th December to attend the 7th Congress of the Far Eastern
Association of Tropical Medicine, at the instance of the Government of
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1928
3
India; (iii) Patna, halted from the 10th to the 12th December to obtain
information from the Director, Civil Veterinary Department, Bihar and
Orissa, on suitable construction of cattle sheds; (iv.) Delhi, from the
13th to the 16th December, to assist the Public Services Commission
in the examination of candidates for the posts of Second Assistant Veteri-
nary Research Officer and Helminthologist; (v) Izatnagar, from the
17th to the 19th December, to inspect the Branch Institute.
Pathologist. Mr. Hugh Cooper, prior to proceeding on leave was on
tour from the 1st to 15th April 1927 :—(i) Shillong, from the 1st to the
12th April to undertake serum-simultaneous anti-rinderpest inoculations
with the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Assam; (ii)
Calcutta, from the 13th to the 15th April to make enquiries regarding
anti-rabies inoculations and library administration.
Major Stirling, Officiating Pathologist, accompanied by Mr. S. K. Sen,
Protozoologist, and Mr. T. B. Khan, Officiating 1st Laboratory Assistant,
Upper Grade, attended the Fifth Annual Conference of the Central
Provinces Veterinary Association, from the 2nd to the 11th November
1927, to demonstrate certain new procedures in the curative treatment
of surra.
First Assistant Veterinary Research Officer. Mr. Menon was on tour
for the greater part of the year, namely, from 1st April to 31st December
1927, carrying out certain investigations in the field and applying
measures of protective inoculation.
Protozoologist. Mr. S. K. Sen was deputed to Pusa, from 13th Decem-
ber 1927 to 12th February 1928, to assist the Imperial Entomologist
in drafting a treatise on veterinary entomology.
II. INTERNAL ECONOMY.
(a) Fodder and grain. At Muktesar, the total quantity of grain
supplied by contract amounted to 9,079 maunds at a total cost of
Rs. 44,575; the quantity of hay received by contract was 12,099 maunds,
at a cost of Rs. 9,663-13-0. In addition, certain fodder was obtained
from the estate to supplement the shortage in fodder, which is usually
acute from July to October [see (g) Farm Cultivation].
At Izatnagar, the total quantity of grain purchased by contract for
the animals amounted to 8,425 maunds and 20 seers, at a cost of
Rs. 33,039-1-0; and of hay, 9,926 maunds, at a cost of Rs. 9,977-4-3.
A considerable amount of fodder and grazing was also obtained from the
estate [see also..(g)].
(b) Animal supplies. The number of animals purchased for the
technical work at Muktesar was 1,821 hill bulls, 157 sheep, and 608
goats. In addition, 362 " discontinued " buffaloes were received from
Izatnagar, chiefly for blackquarter " aggressin" manufacture. There
were 371 deaths in all among bulls in the outkraals prior to admission
into the inner sheds for use; this is a slightly higher mortality than that
4 REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
of preceding year. The causes of this mortality have been under
investigation and have been dealt with briefly in previous Annual Re-
ports. In addition, during the year under report, rinderpest broke out
on five occasions in the outkraals, with a mortality from the disease and
its after effects amounting to 128 bulls. The outbreaks were quickly
suppressed each time by the use of anti-rinderpest serum, and the inocu-
lated bulls then used for the manufacture of blackquarter aggressin, as
they could not be employed with confidence for the rinderpest virus
propagation and serum testing. The cause of the appearance of this
disease was the continuance of outbreaks of the natural rinderpest in the
districts through which animals passed on their way to the laboratory.
Foot and mouth disease also appeared among the animals on three occa-
sions, but the actual mortality from it was negligible. Great care was
taken during the year to reduce mortality attributable to inanition by
adequate supervision and feeding of the animals. It is noteworthy
that a considerable number of goats were purchased for the work, mainly
in connection with the propagation of the rinderpest virus in these animals
and in new researches upon rinderpest. Fifty-four sheep and 89 goats
died before they were used for experiment, mainly from an enzootic
respiratory condition. A small number of bulls (50) were sold after
they had been discontinued from use, at a price of Rs. 245.
Small laboratory animals (484 rabbits, 315 guinea pigs) were also
purchased for the work at Muktesar.
At the Branch Institute at Izatnagar 1,763 buffaloes (average price
Rs. 34-15-9) were purchased for the production of anti-sera (rinderpest
and hæmorrhagic septicæmia); towards the end of the year a consi-
derable number, amounting to 327, were employed for the manufacture
of crude blackquarter aggressin. In addition, 178 small buffaloes
(average price Rs. 7 per head) were obtained for the work from the
Government Lymph Depot, Patwa Dangar. It was hoped that a superior
grade of serum could be prepared from these animals, but it was found
on test of the serum that it was no better than that derived from the
large buffaloes. Again, 395 buffaloes, 3 bulls, and 21 horses, ponies
and foals were purchased for immediate despatch to Muktesar, and
504 small animals (20 rabbits, 300 guinea pigs) and 184 fowls were reared
for the purposes of the Muktesar laboratory; 362 discontinued buffaloes
were sent to Muktesar. The number of buffaloes sold after they had
been discontinued from work at Izatnagar was 876, at an average price
of Rs. 17-8-0 per head.
It was clearly shown that the present system of purchase was
decidedly advantageous to Government. Except for one mild out-
break of foot and mouth disease, there was no intercurrent out-
break of disease among the animals at Izatnagar. The mortality among
buffaloes before they were used amounted to only .05 per cent.; the
mortality in the course of anti-rinderpest serum production was 16
per cent., and in the course of subsequent anti-hæmorrhagic septicæmia
production 6.3 per cent.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1928
5
No difficulty was experienced in obtaining suitable animals, with the
system of direct purchase by trained staffs.
(c) Forest supplies. The Reserved Forest at Muktesar yielded
21,081 maunds of fuel wood, 2,168 maunds of charcoal, 3,000 maunds
of grass, 704 maunds of green leaves, 67 loads of ringals, and 1,050 maunds
of pine needles (for bedding). The system was adopted of obtaining
the supplies of fuel wood by firm contract, after consultation with the
Forest authorities, so that wood was purchased only immediately prior
to use, after it had been stored by the contractor in special depots within
the station for a period of at least three months to avoid shrinkage and
loss due to evaporation.
The rate of working of the forest resources had exceeded in recent
years the schedules laid down in the Working Plan drawn up in 1918,
and hence steps were taken to obtain the services of the Forest authorities
to draw up a revised plan during the year, and further all means were
explored of economizing the consumption of our resources as it was
apprehended that they were becoming gradually used at a rate which
would bring about exhaustion before proper regeneration had taken
place. Hence, it was decided to obtain charcoal supplies in future from
sources outside our Reserved Forest. Further, during the year, the
oak forest suffered serious depredations from the attacks of defoliating
caterpillars prior to the onset of the monsoon and from the grazing of
sambhar in the regeneration compartments.
The fuel supplies at Izatnagar were obtained from the grain con-
tractor ; 1,888 maunds of fuel wood were consumed, as compared with
870 maunds in the preceding year.
(d) Labour. At Muktesar, the daily average number of coolies
employed under the Farm Manager and in miscellaneous duties was
137.7. The daily average number of cattle attendants employed under
the Veterinary Deputy Superintendent was 223.8. The daily average
number of men employed on the Latoli cultivation estate was 72.9.
The average cost of labour, including daily labour supervisors, was
Rs. 6,483-11-2 per mensem. There was no serious outbreak of conta-
gious disease among the men and no labour trouble.
The average number of men employed at Izatnagar daily was 261,
including 130 on estate cultivation work. The average cost of the
labour, including daily labour supervisors, was Rs. 11-11-2 a head per
mensem. The health of the staff remained good.
(e) Transport. Arrangements were made with a contractor for the
despatch from Muktesar to railhead (Kathgodam, Rohilkhand and
Kumaon Railway) during the year of 6,286 standard rail cases, as com-
pared with 8,125 cases in the preceding year, and these cases were des-
patched promptly as stated in the preceding Report to comply with
demands from customers. In addition, 1,659 cases of crude serum
were transported from Izatnagar to Muktesar for further treatment
prior to issue. The quantities of other goods despatched to and from
railhead amounted to 11,580 maunds.
6 REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
(f) Laboratory appliances and technical equipment. The budget
allotment for the year under the head "Purchase of Chemicals and
Apparatus " was Rs. 40,000 of which Rs. 34,955-2-3 was actually spent;
the amount expended was less than anticipated, partly through the
shortage of higher technical staff during the year and the amount of
returned material from customers. Of this expenditure, Rs. 24,527
was incurred on bottles and other material for the despatch of sera and
vaccines. The sum of Rs. 3,140-8-7 was recovered from customers
during the year for packing material, and credit to the extent of approxi-
mately Rs. 23,554 was given to them for material returned in serviceable
condition, by deduction of this amount from the annual bills sent to
them.
(g) Farm cultivation and Dairy. The area of land under cultivation
at Muktesar, excluding the Latoli estate, but including Ritani garden,
remained at 74 acres, and it yielded produce valued at Rs. 10,754-10-6,
at an expenditure of Rs. 7,619-10-3 (excluding supervision). The area
of land at Latoli under cultivation also remained at 143½ acres: it
yielded 5,969 maunds of produce, namely, 5,204 maunds of green fodder,
671 maunds of dry roughage and 93 maunds of grain; this yield is
considerably less than in the preceding year and the decrease is largely
attributable to destruction of crops by locusts and late sowing owing to
unavoidable circumstances and to a partial extent to depredations by
sambhar. Towards the end of the financial year, a revised programme
of cultivation was drawn up, so as to economize costs of working of the
estate, while at the same time to yield for Muktesar essential fodder
crops at the seasons when experience has taught us we are always likely
to suffer from shortage.
On the Izatnagar estate 262 acres were planted with kharif crop and
253 acres with rabi crop, as compared with 261 and 256 acres, respec-
tively, in the preceding year. The year proved a bad one for the crops,
particularly in view of the present poverty of the soil and lack of irriga-
tion. The estate must be regarded as still under reclamation, and the
question of improving it is under investigation. It yielded 116 maunds
of grains and 25,648 maunds of hay and grass, the estimated value of
the products amounting to Rs. 20,849-8-0. The expenditure was,
however, estimated to amount to Rs. 31,356-1-5.
The financial condition of the Dairy at Muktesar for the period from
1st July 1927 to 31st March 1928 has been worked out carefully by the
Auditors: the expenditure was Rs. 3,231-3-11, and the income,
Rs. 4,287-11-0, leaving a profit of Rs. 1,056-7-1. The total quantity
of milk sold to the inhabitants during the period in question was 12,555
seers. The present satisfactory condition of the dairy is due mainly
to the maturation of a policy initiated in 1922, to breed cross bred heifers
locally for milk by crossing indigenous cows with an imported Holstein
bull.
There is an experimental dairy herd also at Muktesar, consisting of
dry cows and calves, which has yielded recently results of immense
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1928
7
value in ascertaining certain facts upon the duration of immunity of
cattle in India towards rinderpest.
(h) Laboratory Engineering Department. At Muktesar, the quantity
of water pumped by the Power House Staff was 2,786,208 gallons. A
Patterson Patent Pulser type chloronome was installed in No. I Pump
Shed for the chlorination of the whole water supply.
The number of units of electricity generated was 28,972. Work
was commenced on the erection of the new 25 kilo watt generating set
in the Power House, but the work was not completed at the end of the
year.
For incubator heating and other laboratory operations 409,250
cubic feet of gas were generated.
The quantity of water evaporated in the steam boilers, during 2,276
working hours, was 30,105 gallons; this was used mainly for steriliza-
tion purposes in the large autoclaves and also partly for condensation
for the needs of the laboratory in distilled water.
The new sterilizing house was completed and the large steam auto-
claves were installed in it. A small steam-heated autoclave was instal-
led in the mallein laboratory, to replace an old gas-heated one.
(i) Building construction and repairs. This work was undertaken,
as in the preceding year, by the Public Works Department, Delhi Pro-
vince. The immediate supervision was transferred, during the course
of the year, from the Executive Engineer, Imperial Works Division,
Dehra Dun, to the Executive Engineer, 9th Project Division, New
Delhi. On the departure of the Public Works Department sub-
ordinate stationed at Muktesar, on 23rd October 1927, Mr. A. Littlejohn
(the Laboratory Engineer) took over charge of works in addition to his
own duties. It was considered that it would be advantageous to place
the charge of all engineering works, both mechanical and civil, under one
individual, and hitherto this arrangement has worked very satisfactorily.
The chief items of construction during the year were (A) "Major Works,
nil; (B) "Minor Works," (1) Constructing quarters for two additional
clerks (estimated cost Rs. 10,044) and (2) Certain Improvements to the
Veterinary Graduates' Quarters (estimated cost Rs. 4,072).
The comprehensive scheme for the provision of suitable permanent
buildings for the Izatnagar Branch Laboratory still awaits the adminis-
trative sanction of Government.
(j) Medical and sanitary arrangements. The number of patients
treated at the Muktesar dispensary were:—outdoor, 4,056 ; indoor, 68.
The number of operations performed was 129, including four major
operations. Only one death was recorded among the staff. Two cases
of leprosy were detected. There was no outbreak of serious epidemic
disease. A new operating room is under construction. The sanitation
of the Muktesar area was carefully investigated by a committee of the
staff, with a view to making further improvements. It was proposed to
apply for the declaration of inhabited tracts adjoining the estate as a
Notified Area.
B
8 REPORT OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY RESEARCH,
Arrangements were made with the Inspector-General of Prisons.
United Provinces, for the deputation of the Provincial Subordinate
Medical Service Officer attached to the Bareilly Juvenile Jail for the
medical supervision of the staff at the Izatnagar Branch.
(k) Library. In addition to the periodicals received annually, 34
reports and 54 pamphlets were received during the year. The number
of text books added to the Library was 149. The number of free issues
of laboratory publications has been considerably curtailed, with the
commercialization of the Central Publication Branch.
(l) Finance. The general financial results of the working of the
Institute are displayed in Appendix VI. The actual expenditure within
the budget grant for the year was Rs. 6 92,316. This sum does not
include capital expenditure, depreciation, and ordinary repairs, but it
contains an item of Rs. 26,325 for the new oil engine and dynamo, which,
if regarded as capital expenditure, leaves a recurring expenditure of
Rs. 6,59,991. The income of the laboratory, derived mainly from the
sale of sera and vaccines, with some miscellaneous items of revenue,
amounted to Rs. 12,25,550. This would leave a gross profit on the
working o the year amounting to Rs. 5,33,234. In the event of the
scheme of commercialization, mooted in consultation with the auditors
during the year, being adopted, it will be interesting to ascertain the
net profit. The expenditure represented above covers all costs of
research, which, however, are mainly directed to a quasi-commercial or
economic end, and instruction.
The accounts of the Institute are now audited by the Director of
Commercial Audit. The Assistant Director of Commercial Audit (Rao
Sahib A. Rangaswami Iyer, B.A.) and his staff inspected the accounts
at Muktesar and Izatnagar from 17th April to 31st May 1928, and we
are much indebted to him for his guidance.
A trained accountant was appointed to the staff of the Institute
for the first time on 25th June 1927, to the post of Head Accountant,
and a separate Accounts Section has now been formed in the staff. This
organization has afforded the administration a considerable degree of
relief.
The financial state of the Institute since its inception, as regards
recurring income and expenditure, is displayed on Chart I. It will be
observed that the income has considerably exceeded expenditure for the
past three years. It was anticipated, however, that there would be a
noteworthy diminution in the income after the three years of inflated
receipts, brought about by the natural periodic decline in the most
prevalent diseases against which the Institute manufactures products.
No certain indication of such decline is yet evident. This may be
attributable in part to persisting high prevalence of disease, as indeed
appears to be happening in certain Provinces, but another weighty
factor seems to be the growing confidence of the field veterinary services
in the uniformity of the products supplied to them and the promp-
titude with which they are despatched to them on request.
MUKTESAR, FOR THE YEAR ENDING THE 31ST MARCH, 1928
9
III. MANUFACTURE AND ISSUE OF SERA AND VACCINES.
(A summary of the results reported to have been obtained in the
field from the use of these products is given in Appendix I.)
(1) Rinderpest serum. Issued 4,860,758 (5 c.c.) doses, as against
5,380,187 in the preceding year. Of the quantity issued, 390,297 doses
were for the serum-simultaneous inoculation. The quantity manufac-
tured was 3,875,978 doses, as against 5,657,201 doses in 1926-27. The
whole of this quantity in the crude form was prepared at Izatnagar.
The total stock (crude, and tested and passed for issue) in hand at the
commencement of the year (at Muktesar and Izatnagar) was 4,220,147
doses, and at the close, 3,271,165 doses.
(2) Hæmorrhagic septicæmia serum. Issued 467,072 (15 c.c.) doses,
as compared with 363,709 doses in 1926-27. The quantity manufac-
tured (at Izatnagar) was 266,440 doses, as compared with 385,231 doses
in the preceding year. The stock in hand (at Muktesar and Izatnagar)
at the commencement of the year was 401,463 doses, and at the close
200,911 doses. The reason why large stocks of this product are accumu-
lated towards the close of the financial year is that large demands are
made for it with the outbreak of the monsoon.
(3) Hæmorrhagic septicæmia vaccine. Issued 448,153 (5 c.c.) doses,
as compared with 288,350 doses in 1926-27. Manufactured 556,900
doses, as compared with 313,400 doses in the previous year. Stock
in hand at the commencement of the year, 52,750 doses; at close,
161,697 doses.
(4) Anthrax serum. Issued 48,155 (15 c.c.) doses, as compared with
29,047 doses in 1926-27. Manufactured, nil, as compared with 83,434
doses in the preceding year. Stock in hand at the commencement of
the year, 70,316 doses; at close, 22,321 doses.
(5) Blackquarter serum. Issued 38,669 (15 c.c.) doses, as compared
with 28,928 doses in 1926-27. Manufactured 69,506 doses, as against
18,216 in the previous year. Stock in hand at the commencement of
the year, 872 doses; at close, 31,989 doses.
(6) Blackquarter vaccines. (a) The old "pillule" form of vaccine
has now become completely supplanted by "aggressin." (b) Issued
133,401 (5 c.c.) doses of the " aggressin," as compared with 79,600
doses in 1926-27. Manufactured 139,600 doses, as against 60,510 doses
in the previous year. Stock in hand at the commencement of the year,
1,650 doses; at close, 8,249 doses.
(7) Mallein. (a) Issued 38,469 (1 c.c.) doses of mallein for the
ordinary, or subcutaneous, test for glanders, as compared with 16,663
doses in 1926-27. (b) Issued 51,660 (0.1 c.c.) doses for the intrapal-
pebral (I. D. P.) test, as compared with 23,415 doses in 1926-27. There
were in stock 17,382 doses of ordinary and 57,635 of I. D. P. mallein
at the commencement of the year, and 1,417 doses of ordinary and
40,055 doses of I. D. P. mallein at the close. Manufactured 24,500 doses
for the ordinary and 33,310 doses for the I. D. P. test, as against 22,781
and nil, respectively, in the previous year.