5
REPORT OF THE KING - INSTITUTE, GUIND
Y
The monthly vaccination rates are given in Table IV. As usual there is a
slight drop in the case success rate in May, viz., 93.8. The rates for other months
are very satisfactory.
The district rates are given in Table V. The districts are arranged accord-
ing to their case success rates. In the following districts a success rate of over
99 per cent was obtained :—
PER CENT.
The Nilgiris
...
...
...
...
...
...
99.5
Malabar ...
...
...
99.5
Chittoor ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
99.4
South Kanara ...
...
...
...
99.4
Madras Corporation
...
...
...
...
...
...
99.4
Municipalities
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
99.1
Success rates below 95 per cent were recorded by only two districts—Kurnool
94.6 and Vizagapatam 93.2.
11. Revaccination.—Details are given in the Table VI. In all 430,922 re-
vaccinations were done this year as against 389,307 last year. There is thus a
slight increase in the number of revaccinations. The case and insertion success
rates were 30.8 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively, which are probably the
same as last year, viz., 30.1 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively.
12. Researches in different methods of lymph manufacture, etc .—These are
discussed in detail in Section G.
(B) BACTERIAL VACCINES AND SERA.
1. Charge of work.—Military Assistant Surgeon F. G. Martin and later
Civil Assistant Surgeon S. R. Pandit were in charge of this section.
2. Cholera vaccine.— (a ) Technique.—Reference—Annual Report, 1927-28,
page 7, paragraph 5. The modified Douglas Agar medium continues to give satisfac-
tory growths. The suitability of other media was investigated this year, viz., the
Casein medium and "balanced salts" medium. Results with the latter were not
very encouraging. Casein medium gives good growth of the organism and the
advisability of its general use is being considered. For purity and sterility tests
ordinary nutrient broth was being used hitherto. This was substituted by
Douglas broth which is cheaper and is as efficient.
(b)
Output.—Owing to a widespread epidemic of cholera, demand for
cholera vaccine was steadily on the increase. In all, 1,064,490 doses of vaccine
were issued this year. There was thus a considerable increase over last year's
supply which was 727,000 doses. The increased manufacture required the
retention of the extra staff sanctioned last year. The
a c c o m p a n y i n g c h a r t s h o w s t h e m o n t h l y i s s u e o f v a c c i n e d u r i n g t h e l a s t t h r e e y e a r s . I t w i l l b e s e e n t h a t
the largest supplies were made during the three months July to September of
each year. Table VII gives the details of supplies to various districts. The Madras
Corporation had the largest supply; while East and West G ōdā vari, Kurnool,
Tanjore, Guntū r, Cuddapah and Vizagapatam districts took over 50,000 doses
each. The supplies to Bellary, Rā mnā d, Malabar and the Nilgiris were very
small.
The manufacture of cholera vaccine is now put on a satisfactory basis and in
order to be able to meet unexpected demands readily, a reserve of 500,000 doses
is always maintained.
(c) Efficacy .—Cholera vaccine has been repeatedly shown to be of great value
in preventing the onset and spread of cholera epidemics. Statistical evidence on
this point is gradually accumulating (Refer Report to the League of Nations by
Lt.-Col. A. J. H. Russell, Geneva C.H. 662 of 1927). The Director of Public
Health, at our request, has again investigated the matter this year. His findings
are given in the following table which is based on all available returns from
certain districts in the Presidency, particularly Chingleput, Chittoor, West
Gōdāvari and Guntū r. Returns here analysed refer to the period between May
and September 1928, both months inclusive, i.e., the main cholera season of the
year. It is to be noted that column I "population exposed to infection" refers
to the population of villages which were actually infected.