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were (a) that injections of virulent blood and immune serum produced irregular
results and were not recommendable for Bengal; (b), that injections of superim-
munised serum as a treatment for rinderpest brought about more cures than
ordinary medical treatment. I was also led to report that stronger serum
than mine could be prepared, and that by taking the cases earlier, the percentage
of cures could be increased.
45. Bile.—In continuation of the experiments carried out for the purpose
of testing Professor Koch's system of immunising animals against rinderpest
by injecting bile, I found that the animals I selected from the Kanti herd
through the kindness of Mr. Toomey were still immune against rinderpest
12 months after the buffalo bile injection. The details of the experiments were
reported in my letter No. 2305 V.D., dated the 7th December 1898.
46. Hides.—Experiments with rinderpest hides were also carried on
with a view to ascertaining the amount of risk run by foreign countries, which
import them from Calcutta, the results of which were communicated to the
Director of Land Records in this office No. 2286V.D., dated the 4th Decem-
ber 1898, and No. 654V.D., dated the 1st April 1899, and to the Inspector-
General in this office No. 131V.D., dated the 19th January 1899, and
No. 653V.D., dated the 1st April 1899. I reported that in my opinion there
was no risk to other countries from the exportation of rinderpest hides.
Besides the experiments with rinderpest hides, other similar ones were
carried out with hides of animals which had died of malignant sore-throat,
and in my report No. 2286V.D., dated the 5th December 1898, I gave an
opinion that the hides soon become innocuous; in other words, foreign countries
ran, in my opinion, no risk by importing them.
47. The total amount expended in carrying out these experiments was
Rs. 3,809-14-4, which includes the price of animals, their feed, the wages of
attendants, and other consequent charges. Of this amount, Rs. 473-8 were
recovered by the sale of animals under experiment, and credited to Government.
CATTLE FAIRS, SHOWS, &c.,
48. Of the several fairs held in Bengal, I have been able to attend only
two, viz., Sonepur and Barrahpore, owing to the clashing of two fairs in one
instance, and to the pressure of other work. Mr. George T. D'Silva, one of
the lecturers, was deputed to visit the Sitamarhi fair, and the Suri fair was
visited by another lecturer, Mr. E. H. Brand. The reports of these four fairs
were submitted to the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Bengal, in
this office letters Nos. 2317V.D., dated the 8th December 1898; 870V.D., dated
the 25th April 1899; 714V.D., dated the 27th April 1899; and 565V.D., dated
20th March 1899, respectively, and copies of which were forwarded to the
Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department.
The Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling furnished me with a report of
the Kalimpong fair, of which a copy of each was forwarded to the Director of
Land Records and to the Inspector-General in this office, Nos. 618V.D., and
619V.D., respectively dated the 28th March 1899.
Hopes which I had entertained that provision could have been made in
1899-1900 for regular visits to all the 30 odd important fairs which figure so
largely as disseminators of rinderpest, &c., have not yet been fulfilled.
HORSE AND PONY-BREEDING IN BENGAL.
49. It was reported last year that I was collecting information from
various parts of Bengal in order to formulate definite proposals for improving
the breed of horses and ponies in Bengal, as was desired by his Honour the
Lieutenant-Governor. With this object, the District Officers, the Managers of
Government and Wards' estates, and various noblemen and gentlemen have been
consulted, and their general opinion has been recorded in my letter No. 661V.D.,
dated the 4th April 1899, to the Director of Land Records, with my own views
and the Inspector-General's review thereon. In my opinion, something may
be done to improve the breed of ponies in Bihar, Darjeeling, and Sikkim.
MTLE-BREEDING IN BENGAL.
50. The Government of India having requested the Inspector-General,
Civil Veterinary Department, to deal with the important question of mule-
breeding, I was directed to submit a report on the subject showing what
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