REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
9
doses issued in 1921-22 (statements 11 and 12). The increase in the total quantity
issued is due to the larger demand for prophylactic cholera and T.A.B. vaccines.
This increase amounted to over 9,000 doses in the case of the former and 6,000
doses in the case of the latter vaccine. This evidence of the growing popularity
of prophylactic inoculation as a preventive measure against these two epidemic
diseases is a very promising feature of the public health administration and should
be given every encouragement. The further subsidence of the influenza epidemic
was responsible for a diminution in the demands for anti-influenza vaccine.
Anti-meningococcus vaccine was prepared and issued. for the first time during
the year under report in response to a demand from the Jail department. 7,450
doses of this particular vaccine were issued. The small number of cases of cere
-brospinal meningitis which occurred after its administration, however, prevented
any conclusions as to its efficacy being drawn although careful preparations for
such a test had been made.
1,742 doses of autogenous vaccine (for 260 cases) were issued during the year
under report. The different types of these vaccines prepared will be found in
statement 12.
Results of treatment were reported in 78 cases or 30 per cent of the total
number treated. There has thus been a considerable increase in the number of
reports received over last year’s figures (11 per cent). There is still, however,
much room for improvement.
Of these 78 cases :—
23 were reported as "cured,"
27
do.
" improved by vaccine treatment,"
22
do.
"no effect,"
and 6
do.
" not used."
(b) Examinations of Specimens.—
This statement (No. 13) shows the number
of specimens examined during the year and is divided into two parts. The
first series of columns give the details of the specimens examined in the King
Institute itself, and the second series, the list of the various examinations carried
out by the investigation units in various parts of the Presidency. The number of
specimens examined in the Institute was 5,708 and the number examined by the
various units was 17,487 making a total of 23,195. If both these series be taken
together then the amount of work of this nature carried out by members of the
Institute staff is over four times greater than that done during the previous year.
The number of specimens examined in the Institute itself has increased by 638.
There is thus no falling off in the demands made upon the Institute for assistance
of this kind.
There has again been a steady increase in the number of Widal and Wasser-
man reactions carried out. The number of specimens sent for the former test
reached 923 or 110 more than was received in 1921-22.
A test. to the B. paratyphosus C has now been added as a routine to the usual
tests performed with B. typhosus, B. paratyphosus A, B. paratyphosus B
and Micrococcus militensis. Four hundred and fifty-six sera were returned as
positive to one or other of typhoid group of organisms. The details of these
cases are of some interest as giving an index of the relative frequency of infections
with these organisms in Madras :—
258 cases were positive to B. typhosus alone,
9
do.
to B. paratyphosus A alone,
1
do.
to B. paratyphosus B alone,
and 5
do.
to B. paratyphosus C alone.
One hundred and eighty-three gave group reactions of varying intensities.
B. paratyphosus C. has thus been proved responsible for a certain percentage of
infections and it is more than probable that a proportion of the cases returned as
negative in previous years has been due to infection with this organism.
Twenty-three specimens of fæces were sent for the isolation of typhoid
bacilli. No specific organisms were found in any of these. This failure is due to
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