25

favourable circumstances a maximum of more than 5 lacs doses cannot be ex-
ceeded at present. This amount represents the maximum output that the
staff and machinery can cope with, and it is further confirmed by the limi-
tation of fodder and water supply and also by the available supply of Hill Bulls.

163.  During the months of January, February and early part of March it
was found that Hill Bulls were lost owing to severe weather on the road, also
experience has proved that the serum prepared at this time is of very inferior
quantity. For these reasons, the serum preparation work will be reduced as
far as possible during this period. The question, therefore, of establishing
another laboratory for the manufacture of serum in Southern India is under
consideration,

164.  Anthrax Anti-Serum.—During the year 80,455 c. c. or 16,091 doses
of this serum were prepared as against 76,402 C. C. or 15,280 doses and 38,772
doses were issued against 11,814 doses, during the previous year.

165.  I have already made some remarks regarding the protection of
animals against anthrax by means of serum alone and the lines on which it
may be used in future. The method of serum alone is certainly not an ideal
one but our staff is not sufficiently trained to allow of other known methods
being adopted even if we had enough information regarding the prevalence and
importance of the disease to decide when and where it would be necessary to
have recourse to extensive inoculation.

166.  The following table shows the injections carried out in the field with
Anti-Anthrax serum :—

Provinces.

Number of
outbreaks in
which inocula-
tion was
undertaken.

Number of animals
which died uninoculated
in course of outbreak.

Number of animals
inoculated.

Remarks.

Equines.

Bovines.

Others.

Equines.

Bovines.

Others.

United Provinces of Agra
and Oudh.

37

...

247

...

6

6,027

...

Madras ... ...

45

...

482

...

...

8,461

9

Eastern Bengal and Assam

4

6

312

...

39

894

...

Total ...

86

6

1,041

...

45

15,382

9

167.  The demand for this serum increased this year somewhat but in the
new conditions is likely to decrease considerably. As the protection afforded
by the use of this serum is of short duration it was decided to endeavour to raise
the potency and for this purpose many experiments are being made. Most of
the serum made during the latter part of the year was of this nature and has
been used in the Laboratory for testing purposes. Experiments are also being
made by the simultaneous method.

168.  Hæmorrhagic Septicæmia Anti-Serum.—During the year under report
1,88,796 doses were prepared as against 88,875 doses and 1 12,713 doses issued
against 57,375 doses for the last year.