12
REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY.
the correct dose has been calculated for all the seasonal variations which are bound
to occur in the raw water. The attention of those responsible for these two
installations should be drawn to this most elementary principle of mechanical
filtration.
The Kodaikānal water-supply was not examined during the year under report
owing to want of adequate facilities for the transport of the sample-taker to the-
water-supply. This was reported to Government in my letter R.C. No. 2761-4 B,
dated the 16th September 1922, and they (in their G.O. Mis. No. 1547, dated 11th
November 1922) have cut down the number of examinations of this supply from
two to one and have ordered these examinations to be carried out at a time when
transport facilities are available. The water-supply to Ootacamund was in excellent
order except for a slight increase in the organic matter in the Dodabetta upper
and Marlimund Reservoirs presumably due to an excess of decaying vegetable
matter.
The water-supply to Coonoor was not satisfactory at the first examination but
showed a definite improvement when examined for the second time.
The water supply to Tuticorin continued to yield very poor results. This
supply is drawn from an irrigation tank and is supplied by means of an unsatis
- f a c t o r y s y s t e m o f o p e n r e s e r v o i r s . T h e n e c e s s i t y f o r i n t r o d u c i n g a f u l l y p r o t e c t e d
system was again reiterated in each of the Institute reports.
At the present time the Institute is not aware of the steps taken to rectify any
of the errors pointed out in its periodic reports on the water-supplies in the Madras
Presidency. The Sanitary Engineer and the Director of Public Health, both of
whom receive copies of the Institute reports, are the officers who actually inspect
the installations. It would be of great value if these officers could supply the
Institute with information as to the steps taken by the Municipalities to rectify
the errors in their supplies which have been brought to their notice.
Jails.
All the jail supplies continued to yield unsatisfactory results. As a result of
the recommendation made by the Institute the supply to Berhampur Jail was
obtained from the Municipal main during the year under report. The jails at
Salem, Tanjore and Vellore would do well to follow the lead of Berhampur. An
outbreak of cholera in the Coimbatore Jail was traced to the water-supply, vibrios
being obtained from the water derived from two of the wells. Prompt measures
to ensure the safety of the supply were taken by Major Cruickshank, I.M.S., who
was investigating the cause of the epidemic in the jail at the time.
Railway stations.
Generally speaking, the railway station water-supplies which are periodically
examined at the Institute were found to be satisfactory. Suggestions for improve
-ment which were for the most part adopted were made in certain cases. The -
water-supply to Naupada Junction continues to be unsatisfactory and the necessity
for an altogether new source of supply is definitely indicated.
A summary of the results of individual water-supplies will be found in Appen
- d i x I .
(iv) INVESTIGATION UNITS.
The formation of a special unit for the investigation of disease in the field was
sanctioned by Government in their G.O. No. 961-A, P.H., dated 10th July 1922.
As this is the first attempt which has been made to place special scientific units
created for this purpose on a permanent basis, it may perhaps be of interest to
reiterate the principles underlying their formation.
To be of real value such units must possess extreme mobility and must be
ready to repair to the scene of action in the shortest possible time. These two
essentials to success have been ensured in the present case by treating the units
as offshoots of the parent Institute. All media, stains, etc., have been prepared at
the King Institute and were supplied in relays as required. Laboratory apparatus