4
REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
62,521 doses of bacterial vaccines were issued from the Bacteriological
section during the year. The number of specimens examined by the section was
7,546. This does not include the number of examinations carried out by the
various investigation units while in the field, which amounted to 9,888. The
Public Health section examined 1,346 specimens. The work of both these
sections will be reviewed in greater detail later.
III.—FINANCIAL.
A financial statement, showing the receipts and expenditure is again presented
this year (statement No. 3). The financial effect of the increase in the Institute
staff sanctioned by Government in their G.O. Mis. No. 1542-P.H., dated 10th
November 1922, is evident for the first time in a rise in the expenditure under the
heading "salaries and establishment." Slight increases are also noticed under
"purchase of stores," "other contingencies" and "contract contingencies" owing
to the purchase of the necessary apparatus for the manufacture of glycerine lymph
on a large scale, the ever-growing demand for antitoxic sera, the purchase of a
new motor car, and the more frequent issue of the vaccine lymph.
On the receipt side there is a fall in the total value of the bacteriological
examinations made in spite of the fact that a larger number of actual tests were
performed. The increases in the quantity of vaccine lymph and vaccines issued
to a certain extent compensate for this loss.
The total earning capacity of the Institute for the year under report is esti
- m a t e d a t R s . 3 , 9 9 , 0 8 8 a n d t h e t o t a l e x p e n d i t u r e a t R s . 2 , 3 5 , 4 1 2 , t h u s l e a v i n g a n
estimated net profit on the year's working of Rs. 1,63,676. This figure, although
somewhat less than that of the previous year, is still a large one and shows thát
the Institute has not only paid its way but has earned a handsome profit for
Government as the result of the year's working. In this estimate of profits no
credit has been given for the very large number of examinations carried out by the
various investigation units in various parts of the Presidency ; neither does the
statement contain any valuation of the savings which have been rendered possible
in other departments by the work of these units nor for the indirect value of any
research work which has been done during the year. If any monetary value
could be accorded to this type of work, the King Institute could undoubtedly
claim a very much higher profit on the year's working than the figures actually
show. As the result of the publication of the financial statement for the last few
years, Government have recognized the economic value of the Institute and in
their memorandum No. 22624 A-1, dated 24th October 1922, ordered an investiga
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tion into the possibility of placing the Institute accounts on a pro forma basis.
Messrs. Fraser & Ross, Chartered Accountants, carried out this investigation in
October 1923 and submitted a report. Government, in their G.O. Mis. No. 1144-
P.H., dated 13th August 1924, decided that no alterations need be made in the
accounts. As laid down in this Government Order the financial statement will be
supplemented by the inclusion of the indirect charges from next year onwards.
During the present year, a Special Officer from the Accountant-General's
office was deputed under G.O. No. 932, dated 24th October 1923, to carry out a
test check of the contingent expenditure. His report is also being considered by
Government.
IV.—SCIENTIFIC.
(i) VACCINE SECTION.
(a) Seed lymph.—The seed lymph used throughout the year was carried
over from last year's stock and has now been maintained in the Institute for the
last three years without a break. Potency has been retained by Nejland's method
of alternate passage between rabbit, buffalo and calf. Sufficient experience has
now been gained of the method to say that the vitality of the virus can be
maintained indefinitely by this means and there is no reason why the King Institute
should ever again be dependent on other depots for the supply of its seed lymph.