REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
43
The following table shows at a glance the laboratory work performed at Coimbatore
Jail :—
Details of specimens.
Number
examined.
Number
positive.
Stools of cholera cases ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12
6
Stools of cooks, convalescents or for cholera carriers ...
...
...
...
343
1
Blood culture for enteric
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
11
8
Widal reaction ...
...
...
...
...
...
..
...
...
50
6
Stool cultures for enteric
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
24
...
Dysentery amœbic
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
61
3
Dysentery bacillary ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
61
6
Blood for malarial parasites ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
32
...
Other examinations
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
8
...
Total
. . .
602
...
Assistant Surgeon Ramakrishnan having completed these investigations, returned to the
King Institute on July 23rd.
Summary
I. An epidemic of true cholera in which there were 76 cases and 43 deaths occurred in
the Coimbatore Jail between the 14th May and 28th June, the height of the epidemic was
from 20th to 28th June.
II. Contamination of the water-supply was the probable source of the infection. The
water is now being efficiently purified.
III. The finding of a carrier in the kitchen is very interesting and important. After
considering the evidence, I doubt whether he had much influence in this epidemic, but he
undoubtedly would have been a possible source of infection, if he had been allowed to continue
to work as a cook.
Such a case can only be discovered by laboratory methods.
In conclusion I would like to acknowledge the assistance which we received from the
Superintendent and the Medical Officer who gave us every facility in conducting our investi
-gations.
J. A. CRUICKSHANK, MAJOR, I.M.S.,
Assistant Director.
SAMPLES FROM COIMBATORE CENTRAL JAIL.
RESULTS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION.
1. Date of collection ...
...
...
30-6-22
...
...
...
...
2. Date of receipt
...
...
1-7-22
...
...
...
...
3. Source as per label ...
... Aeromotor
well.
Aeromotor
well
Chlorinat-
ed water.
Garden well
No. 1.
Factory
well.
Jail annexe
water
supply.
Jail annexe
chlori-
nated
water.
4. Total colonies per c.c. on
agar at 37° C.
1,900
410
3,100
3,900
1,100
980
5. Lactose fermenters present
in how many c.c. ?
1 c.c. and
up wards.
None
in
60 c.c.
0. 1 c.c. and
upwards.
0.01 c.c. and
upwards.
5 c.c. and
upwards.
10 c.c. and
upwards.
6. Result of vibrios test
... Present
in 100 c.c.
None
in
100 c.c.
Present in
100 c.c.
Present in
100 c.c.
Nil.
Nil.
7. Nature of lactose fermenters
isolated and number of species.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Results of Chemical exmination.
Physical appearances—
Colour and transparency ... Colourless
and clear.
Colourless
and clear.
Colourless
and clear.
Slightly
yellowish
but clear.
Slightly
yellowish
but clear.
Slightly
yellowish
and hazy.
Smell ...
...
...
...
None.
None.
None.
None.
None.
None.
Quantitative—
In parts per 100,000 ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total solids
...
...
...
233.000
235.000
213.000
187.000
81.000
79.000
Temporary hardness ...
...
50.000
40.000
50.000
40.000
43.000
38.500
Permanent do.
...
...
65.000
65.000
50.000
50.000
7.000
6.500
Total
do.
...
...
115.000
105.000
100.000
90.000
50.000
45.000
Chlorine
do.
...
...
53.250
53.250
46.150
49.700
15.620
15.620
Ammoniacal nitrogen ...
...
0.002
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.002
Trace.
Albuminoid
do. ...
...
0.003
0.002
0.004
0.005
0.004
0.003
Oxygen absorbed (Tidy's) ...
0.019
0.010
0.029
0.067
0.029
0.038
Nitric nitrogen ...
...
...
1.750
2.500
2.250
0.400
0.600
0.500
Qualitative—
Nitrites ...
...
...
...
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Present.
Nil.
Nil.
Sulphates
...
...
... Present.
Present.
Present.
Do.
Present.
Present.
Phosphates
...
...
...
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Iron, poisonous metals ...
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Nil
Nil.
Microscopic examination of
suspended matter.
...
...
...
...
...
...