10
IV.—SUBORDINATE ESTABLISHMENT.
Numbers, supervision and work performed.
55. A reference to Table VIII will show that the strength of the subor-
dinate establishment has been increased
by 9 Veterinary Inspectors and 66 Vete-
rinary Assistants. The numbers being 74 and 754, respectively, at the close
of the year under report.
The work performed by Veterinary Inspectors and Veterinary Assist-
ants has been reported on as generally satisfactory in Bombay, Eastern
Bengal and Assam, Bengal, Central Provinces, North-West Frontier Pro-
vince, the United Provinces and Burma. The names of several Inspectors
and Veterinary Assistants have been specially mentioned for good work.
Punjab reports that the work of the subordinate staff can only be classed as
fair, and that the Veterinary Inspectors are wanting in energy and initia-
tive.
PART B.—IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION.
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
56. Major F. S. H. Baldrey officiated as Imperial Bacteriologist until
the 4th November 1910 on which date Major J. D. E. Holmes assumed charge.
Mr. H. E. Cross and Dr. P. Hartley held their respective charges of Assist-
ant Bacteriologist and Physiological Chemist. The three European Labora-
tory Assistants held their respective appointments during the year.
Preparation of Sera.
57. Rinderpest anti-serum.—The number of doses of anti-rinderpest
serum prepared during the year as shown in Table XII amounted to 577,969
as against 409,078 manufactured last year, roughly an increase of 169,000
doses. The issue of serum amounted to 533,799 as compared with 446,981
during the year 1909-1910.
Foot and mouth disease was not so prevalent as in 1908-1909; 190 affected
animals were received during the winter months. In addition to the bulls
supplied by contractors, a large number were purchased by the Veterinary
Inspectors which gave facility for the preparation of a large amount of
serum.
58. The results of the anti-serum injections carried out in the field and
collated from the respective returns received in this office, may be seen by a
reference to Table III.
The demand for serum increases each year and is far greater than the
output. Many indents could not be complied with at all, or only in part.
It is interesting to find that the use of serum is being so much appreciated
in Native States. In Mysore some 27,000 animals have been injected during
the past three years and so great is the popularity of the method that at times
it has been impossible to meet the demands.
59. The total number of hill bulls received was 2,540; of these 1,930
were in suitable condition. Of the remaining animals some were unfit being
affected with foot and mouth disease, while others were aged, too young, or
debilitated.
The past official year has been a particularly busy one and the manufac-
ture of serum has been carried out under extreme pressure both as regards
the staff and the supply of bulls.
60. During the winter months, experiments were conducted at Bareilly
with a view of working out a method of preparing a sufficiently potent serum
from plains cattle and buffaloes with encouraging results. Experiments
were also undertaken to test the susceptibility of cattle from several districts.
A report on the results of these investigations is now in the hands of the Gov-
ernment of India.
The difficulty in meeting the demand for this serum has raised the
question of providing another laboratory for serum preparation.