13
13. Bengal Vaccine Depot.—Out of
a total of 3,078 calves vaccinated during
the year, including 58 buffalo calves,
pulp was collected from 2,674, 329 being
discharged as unfit for collection, 16
died and 59 carried over at the close of
the year. The total output of lymph
was 4,600,152 grains against 3,340,098
grains in the previous year and the
average yield of pulp per calf was 282.48
grains against 250.76 in 1927-28. The
collection from each buffalo calf was
however 761.3 grains on an average.
Out of a total stock of 4,848,263 grains
made up of 4,600,152 grains manufac-
tured during the year, 170,911 grains
representing the previous year's balance
and 77,200 grains in 15,440 capillary
tubes
purchased
from
Germany,
4,563,154 grains were issued against
3,574,274 grains in the previous year,
leaving a closing balance of 284,809
grains. 123 stocks of lymph all chloro-
formed, were bottled, sampled and
analysed bacteriologically at the Bengal
Public Health Laboratory. Every grain
of lymph issued from the depot was thus
not only examined bacteriologically but
tested for its potency on calves and
human arms. Regeneration of lymph
was done through rabbits, buffaloes and
ideal calves. The supply being made to
individual vaccinators, more than 200
packets had to be despatched daily
throughout the season, and the services
of 2 depot assistants besides the 2 clerks
had to be utilised for this purpose.
The total sale of lymph during the year
amounted to Rs. 8,551-6-0 against
Rs. 7,876-3-0 in the previous year.
The
total
expenditure
was
Rs.
42,051-14-0 against Rs. 42,491-7-0 in the
previous year. In addition to the
manufacture of lymph, the services of
the Superintendent and of the depot
assistant S.. N. Mazumdar were on many
occasions requisitioned for human vacci-
nation both at the Writers' Buildings as
well as in other places. More than 250
cases were also vaccinated by them at
the Calcutta Health Exhibition. Regu-
lar courses of lectures and demonstra-
tions were given by the Superintendent
at the two sessions of the Sanitary
Inspectors' training class and to the
senior students of the Calcutta Medical
College. Special demonstrations and
lectures were also given for about a week
at the Calcutta Health Exhibition.
From the table below, it will be seen
how the quantity of lymph manufactured
at the depot has increased and the
average yield of pulp per calf improved
since 1902-03—the year of the appoint-
ment of the present Superintendent in
charge of the Vaccine Depot. The quan-
tity has in fact increased 46-fold during
the last 26 years, and the average yield of
pulp per calf about five times, the aver-
age output of lymph during the present
triennium being 3,540,238 grains against
2,046,856 grains in the previous one.
This is indeed very satisfactory, but on
the other hand, much difficulty is
experienced in procuring the required
number of calves, although the supply
has certainly improved with
the
enhanced hire according to the new
contract. The markets on this side have
been quite exhausted and unless some
other source of supply hitherto undis-
covered is tapped, it will be next to
impossible to cope with the ever-increas-
ing demand for lymph in connection
with the intensive campaigns of vaccina-
tion organised by every local body to
meet the approaching
apprehended
pandemic.
Years.
1902-03 .. ..
1923-24 .. ..
1924-25 .. ..
1925-26 .. ..
1926-27 .. ..
1927-28 .. ..
1928-29 .. ..
Quantities
manu-
factured.
Grains.
103,470
1,694,180
1,975,780
2,470,607
2,680,464
3,340,098
4,600,152
Average
yield
of pulp
per calf.
Grains.
59.81
168.06
182.14
204.29
201.09
250.76
282.48
14. General
remarks.—With
the
near approach of the apprehended pan-
demic forecasted six years back by Dr.
Bentley, nearly every district board
acting on the wise precept "forewarned
is forearmed" has been very busy
throughout the year organising its staff
and preparing its defences against
smallpox by starting intensive cam-
paigns of vaccination and revaccination
wherever an epidemic has shown its
face. It is, therefore, confidently ex-
pected that, whenever the pandemic
comes, if it ever comes at all, it will not
find the province unprepared. With
the noble example of Malda before it,
where helped by the District Magistrate
and his subordinate officers, the District
Health Officer managed to vaccinate