Government
of Madras
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT (PUBLIC HEALTH) DEPARTMENT
G.O. No. 116-P.H., 15th January 1925
King Institute—Administration Report, 1923-24—Reviewed.
Order—No. 116-P.H., dated 15th January 1925.
Recorded.
2. The most distinguishing feature of the year was the introduction of
important changes in the methods of vaccination in the Presidency. For the first
time in the history of the Institute, glycerine lymph was the only type of lymph
issued for routine vaccination throughout the Presidency. The results show a
marked advance over last year's figures. The success rate of vaccination
operations in the Presidency was the highest on record during the past ten years.
Compared with the combined rates for lanoline and glycerine lymphs the success
rate shows an improvement of 10.7 per cent and the insertion success rate
21.6 per cent. The success rates of primary vaccination in Vizagapatam,
Kurnool, Gōdā vari and Salem can however be increased considerably if the
District Health Officers concerned take more interest in the matter.
3. In spite of the uniform cessation of routine vaccination for four months
during the summer the number of cases of vaccine lymph issued rose from
2,079,915 to 2,184,590, the largest issue on record since the Institute was founded.
Concurrent with this increase in issue, there was a decrease of nearly 25 per cent
in the amount of lymph unaccounted for. The arrangements made for the
distribution of lymph to vaccinators four times in a month instead of three and the
changes introduced in the system of packing, etc., have ensured the use of fresh
lymph and effected considerable saving in cost of packing.
4. On the basis of investigations made and experience gained by the staff of
the Institute detailed revised directions for the use of vaccine lymph have now
been issued for the guidance of vaccinators. The appointment of a trained
District Health Officer and Health Inspectors to each district, one of whose duties
is to supervise and verify the work of vaccinators, has provided an efficient
machinery for effective check on wastage of lymph supplied, carelessness of work
and inaccurate returns. The Government desire to emphasize the fact that success
in combating the principal factors which combine to keep the standard of successful
vaccination on a low level will hereafter mainly depend upon the earnestness and
vigilance of the District Health staff.
5. The field of scientific research was not neglected during the year. The
demonstration by means of a series of experiments of the success of glycerine
lymph has definitely solved the vaccine lymph problem of the Presidency, and the
experience gained of Dr. Nejland's method of retaining the potency of
seed-lymph has made the Institute self-supporting in respect of its supply of seed
- l y m p h . T h e s p e c i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n u n i t s h a v e c o n d u c t e d o r i g i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n
the field and thrown "new light on many medical problems." " Interesting and
important results" are reported to have been achieved by research into various
aspects of relapsing fever.
6. The gradual expansion of the activities of the Institute and the consequent
reorganization of its staff in 1922 brought into prominence the question of
improvements and additions to the buildings of the Institute. The Committee