28
REPORT OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUIN
DY
II.—General Instructions.
A vaccinator's equipment should consist of the following articles:
—
(a) A vaccine carrier,
(b) Two rotary lancets in a wooden box.
(c) Absorbent wool in sufficient quantity.
(d) One wooden holder for vaccine vials and instruments.
(e) A sterilizing set consisting of
—
( i ) A b r a s s s p i r i t l a mp .
(ii) Methylated spirit in sufficient quantity.
( i i i ) A t r i p o d s t a n d w i t h d e t a c h a b l e l e g s .
(iv) An aluminium pot.
(f) A box of matches.
(g) Six towels.
(h) A cake of soap.
(i) A canvas bag with shoulder strap to hold the above.
(j) A bench, stool or a sitting plank to arrange the articles on.
(k) A clean wide-mouthed metal or enamel vessel for holding clean water.
2. All apparatus should be kept in a good state of repair and should be inspected
frequently by the Health Inspectors. They should report any deficiencies to the District
Health Officer and get the necessary renewals. The rotary lancets should always be kept
clean and the teeth sharp. Repairs to lancets should be promptly attended to. Arrange
- m e n t s h a v e b e e n m a d e w i t h c o n t r a c t o r , M . R . R y . V . T h i r u v e n g a d a M u d a l i y a r , N o . 1 ,
Maniganda Mudali Street, Georgetown, Madras, for the supply and repair of lancets—vide
this office circular D. No. 19/V., dated 24th March 1925.
3. Vaccination should be performed in a clean and shady place, such as the village
chavadi, or under the shade of a thick tree.
4. The children to be vaccinated should be collected, whenever possible, before
Commencing the operations.
5. Each vaccine vial contains more than sufficient lymph for the number of cases noted
on the label. The vaccinator should first satisfy himself that the vial has not leaked during
transit and that it contains the full quantity of lymph. If he has any reason to suspect that
the tube has been damaged, he should return the vial unopened to the Director, King
Institute, Guindy.
Vaccine lymph deteriorates rapidly when exposed to heat and light. Care should the
r e - f o r e b e t a k e n t o p r o t e c t i t f r o m t h e d i r e c t r a y s o f t h e s u n , a n d a l s o t o k e e p i t i n a c o o l d a r k
place when not in use; it should invariably be kept in the vaccine carrier specially supplied
for the purpose. It should not be exposed to warmth of the body by keeping the tube in
coat pockets or by holding it in hand for any length of time, but should always be carried in
the carrier.
IV.—Preliminary Preparation.
After the children have been collected, the vaccinator should arrange his articles on a
bench, stool or a sitting plank, in a shady place.
2. He should set up the sterilizing set and with the aid of the spirit lamp heat some
clean water in the aluminium pot until it boils. It may be necessary to replenish the water
during the course of the day's operation. It should be seen that water is kept boiling all
the time.
3. He should then wash his hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a
clean towel.
4. He should next sterilize both the ends of the lancets by dipping them in the boiling
water for one minute, and leave them to dry and cool on the wooden holder, without bringing
the sterilized portions of the instruments in contact with the wood. The two lancets should
be used alternately one for each individual and should be re-sterilized and cooled before they
are used again.
5. After all the preliminary arrangements have been made, the vaccine vial should be
taken out of the carrier, and fixed in the socket made for the purpose in the wooden holder.
6. The vaccinator should then proceed to wash the arms of children with soap and
water and dry them with a clean towel. The whole secret of successful and painless