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REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
This step has been of the greatest service. It has placed within easy reach
an area in which the various types of lymph can be tested under perfect experi
¬ m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s , t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a t t h e s a m e t i m e c o n f o r m i n g t o t h o s e f o u n d
in the districts.
No less than 1,878 children were vaccinated during the year in this range
under the direct supervision of the Institute staff. All of these cases were
verified by the King Institute staff themselves and the majority by the Director
or the Assistant Director in person.
First hand knowledge of the behaviour of the different types of lymph under
different conditions has thus been available to an extent not previously obtainable,
and the satisfactory termination of the investigation already referred to was in
great measure due to the work done in this range.
It is to be hoped that this arrangement will continue permanently. It would
indeed be a great step forward if the Saidapet range were definitely established
as a model vaccination range where the effect of all measures taken to improve
vaccination could be tested before they were introduced into general use.
(2) The testing of the results obtained by mufassal vaccinators by a Deputy Inspector
of Vaccination sent from the King Institute.
This scheme was suggested in the annual report for 1920–21 and was
tested on one occasion during the present year. It was seen that the vaccination
returns from the Tiruppur range in the Coimbatore district had been unsatisfactory
for some time. The vaccinator was, therefore, warned and one of the Institute
Deputy Inspector of Vaccination was sent to meet him at Tiruppur.
Equal quantities of glycerine and lanoline lymph were sent out and 88
cases were vaccinated, half by each operator.
The cases were verified by the two officers together and the returns
brought back to the Institute by the Deputy Inspector of Vaccination. Analysis
showed that both operators have obtained the same results 31 . 1 per cent of
success with the lanoline lymph and 95.3 per cent with the glycerine. The
original success rate with lanoline lymph reported by the vaccinator had been
between 25 and 50 per cent. It was shown, therefore, that the vaccinator had
been doing his work properly and had sent in correct returns. The chief dis
¬ a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s m e t h o d o f i n s p e c t i o n i s t h e l e n g t h o f t i m e r e q u i r e d t o c a r r y o u t
the test. The Deputy Inspector of Vaccination was absent from the Institute for
14 days. A large number of inspections of this sort would not be possible with-
out a special staff being employed for the purpose.
This detailed method of inspection is of very great value, however, and it is
well worth consideration whether it could not be extended at any rate in part in
each district.
(3) A new method of retaining the potency of seed lymph.
This method was first introduced by Nejland in Java. We were given
the details of the process by Lieut.-Col. Harvey, I.M.S., on his return from Java as
a delegate to the Far Eastern Medical Congress.
The principle which underlies the process is that three vaccinifers are used
in turn the rabbit, cow calf and buffalo. The strain is passed from one to the
other in a circle and no vaccinifer is vaccinated with lymph derived from the same
species.
The method was introduced into the Institute in September and was used
for the remainder of the year. The results which have been obtained with the
method are very promising, but it is as yet too early to give a definite pronounce
¬ m e n t u p o n i t s v a l u e i n a c l i m a t e l i k e t h a t i n M a d r a s .
(4) Vaccination with glycerine lymph.
Throughout the year it has been the custom to issue 10 cases of glycerine
lymph to the Municipalities with each batch of lanoline lymph. In G.O. No. 1559-
P.H., M., dated 18th November 1921, permission was obtained for a general issue
of 10 per cent of glycerine lymph to the local fund areas.
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