16
REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
The whole of the analytical work connected with the Committee's experiments
on water purification is carried out in the Public Health Section of the Institute
and the cost of these falls on the Institute budget. The extraordinary increase in
the volume of work done by the Institute staff on behalf of the Committee has
already been noted. If this work continues to increase, special provision will have
to be made in the budget to cover the cost of these experiments.
The energies of the Committee have been chiefly directed during the present
year towards the solution of problems connected with the Madras water-supply.
A full report on this subject was forwarded to Government with letter R.C.
No. 577-467/B, dated the 29th April 1923. In addition to this work the experi
-ments on the use of sand filters for rapid and semi-rapid filtration as a preliminary
to chemical treatment were brought to a conclusion. As no report on these
experiments has yet been forwarded to Government, this report is included in the
present annual report as Appendix VII.
Other minor experiments on the value of intermittent as opposed to continuous
filtration with sand filters and the value of a preliminary matting of filters with
alum, carried out with the experimental filter installation at the Institute, are also
described.
A definite programme of experimentation which is being followed has been
drawn up by the Committee. This programme shows a long list of experiments
still to be undertaken.
During the year the Committee has formulated a scheme for a travelling
inspectorate to pay periodical visits to the various water works in the Presidency.
This inspectorate will consist of both Engineering and analytical units, the
former working under the Sanitary Engineer and the latter being based on the
Public Health section of the King Institute. It is intended that the Inspectorate
should work much in the same way as the Institute investigation units already
described. It will be mobile and will travel light, all supplies of media and
chemicals will be prepared and forwarded from the King Institute. In this way
the travelling staff and apparatus will be cut down to a minimum. This scheme
with a full estimate of costs was forwarded in letter R.C. No. 577-237/B., dated
10th March 1922.
Estimates for experiments on sewage suggested by Government in G.O.
No. 15152-1, P.H., dated 8th August 1922 have also been prepared and forwarded
in letter R.C. No. 577-315, dated 8th November 1922.
V.—ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
1. The work of the Investigation units at Bellary and Cannanore on behalf of
the Jail department has already been noted. The water-supplies of the various
jails have also been reported upon during the year.
At the instance of the Inspector-General of Prisons, a complete scheme with
estimates of cost for small clinical laboratories for the jail hospitals was supplied.
Assistant Surgeon Theodore was deputed on 20th March 1923 to visit the
Central Jail, Bellary, to investigate an outbreak of fever reported to be cerebro
- spinal meningitis and to report as to the necessity for an investigation unit being
dispatched to the jail. His report is given in Appendix VIII.
2. The assistance rendered to the Madras Corporation in connexion with its
water-supply has already been referred to. The members of the Institute staff
frequently attended at the water works and undertook and supervised analyses and
tests on the spot. In addition to the very large number of analyses of the water
made, assistance and advice was given with regard to the furnishing and equip
-ment of the water analysis laboratory which was completed during the year. The
Corporation Analyst was also permitted to continue to work in the King Institute
and had the benefit of the experience of the Institute staff whose advice was
constantly placed at his disposal. The Institute also undertook the training of the
laboratory staff free of all charge.
Samples of water from French India and from the Native States of Puduk
-kottah were examined during the year.