15
REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
former serving as a rough pre-filter while the latter would function as the
purifying agent. It is hoped that by using this method, a much higher
rate than 4 inches vertical per hour can be achieved without impairing
the efficiency of the filtrate.
A waiting programme includes several other lines of experimentation
to be taken up in order of utility and expediency.
The scheme of a travelling railway laboratory for examining railway
water-supplies recommended by the Committee, has been ordered by
Government to be dropped for the present.
Orders of Government are awaited for :
—
(1) The sanction of a travelling Inspectorate for the more efficient
and rapid control of Municipal water-supplies in the Presidency :
(2) The sanction of the staff and money for carrying out experi-
ments on sewage purification at the Engineering College, Guindy.
The Committee considered the question of taking over the entire
administrative control of the Experimental Filter Installations and have
addressed Government requesting them to vest the control in the
Committee with the Secretary as its Executive Officer.
(v) INVESTIGATION UNITS.
There are now two Investigation Units permanently attached to this
Institute ; they were utilized on the following occasions :—
(1) To collect blood-sera from Relapsing fever cases at Ootaca
-
mund.
(2) To make a malarial survey of the Sappal Hill at Olavakkot.
(3) To investigate the presence of Kala-azar at Kayalpatnam.
(4) To make a malarial survey at Mount Stuart and Top Slip.
(5) An enquiry into the prevalence of kala-azar in Tinnevelly and
Rāmnā d districts, and an entomological survey of infected areas.
(6) To make a malarial survey at Ennore.
(1) Collection of Blood-sera from Relapsing fever cases .—During
the year previous, an investigation was carried out at Ootacamund
by Dr. Krishnan in connexion with an epidemic of relapsing fever.
Dr. Krishnan was again deputed to Ootacamund on 6th May 1924 and
worked there until the 24th May for the purpose of collecting blood-sera
from cases of relapsing fever. He examined the peripheral blood of 208
cases out of which 129 turned out to be relapsing fever. These sera were
required in connexion with certain serological experiments going on
in the Institute.
(2) The Malarial Survey at Sappal Hill.—This Unit was sanctioned,
temporarily in the first instance, by the Development Department in order
to carry out a malarial survey at the Forest Quarters at Olavakkot ;
investigations were carried out by Dr. Ramaswami Ayyar from 25th arch
to 13th August 1924. The recommendations of the Unit may be summed
up as follows :
—
(1) The abandonment of Sappal Hill as a residential quarter and
provision of new quarters at a suitable site in a less malarial vicinity near
O l a v a k k o t . T h e s t a f f s h o u l d b e t a k e n t o t h e a r e a , a n d s h o u l d r e t u r n
from the area at night.
(2) The appointment of a properly-trained Medical Officer, to
look after the present staff, and carry out anti-malarial measures.
(3) Immediate intensive treatment of the staff so as to produce a
cure from the disease in as many cases as possible.
(4) Quinine prophylaxis whenever necessary.
This report has been forwarded to the Personal Assistant to the
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras under this office
No. 1323, dated 10th/22nd September 1924.