REPORT OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
arrangements were made for a small regular supply of pasteurized milk from the
military dairy at Bangalore to the General Hospital. Twelve samples of this
milk were taken on arrival at the General Hospital and examined chemically and.
bacteriologically. Five samples of the bulked contractor's milk which is the
usual source of supply were also examined chemically—bacteriological examination
is useless as the milk is boiled immediately before distribution. Chemically there
was little to choose between the two supplies; both were of very satisfactory
quality. Bacteriological examination of the Bangalore samples gave very satis
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factory results showing that pasteurization had been efficient, and that there had
been little or no deterioration in the journey. Four samples of each milk were
examined for the presence of dirt. The Bangalore samples gave sediments
amounting to 1½, 5, 5 and 7½ parts per 100,000, while contractor's milk taken on
the same mornings gave 70, 15, 17 and 30 parts, the last four samples all showed
definite particles of cow dung when the sediments were examined microscopically.
These samples are referred to in the Public Analyst's report in which he
recommends the adoption of a definite limit for the amount of dirt which may be
present in milk.
6. Ghee and coconut oil. —A number of samples of ghee submitted by the
police in various districts have been examined and found to be adulterated. But as
the Food Adulteration Act was not in force, and as the Public Analyst was unable
to certify them as noxious, no action was possible. Two samples of coconut oil
submitted by the Police Magistrate of Hindupur were found to be adulterated.
with paraffin wax to the extent of 37 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively, and.
were certified as noxious and likely to be injurious to health.
(F) INVESTIGATION UNITS.
1. Units. —Two permanent units existed and a third was sanctioned at the
end of the year, 30th March. In addition to work in the Institute the following
malaria surveys were made—reports have been submitted to Government.
2. Survey of Metur labour camp. —A dam was to be built across the Cauvery
at Metur, so advice was sought by Government as to what would be the best site
for a labour camp as regards freedom from malaria. Assistant Surgeon K. P.
Menon with a unit visited Metur in April 1925 and again in August and
November. A discussion of sites and the decision reached are embodied in G.O.
No. 89 P.H. of 13th February 1926. A site immediately on the west bank of
the Cauvery below Metur was chosen, but at the same time it was decided that
an anti-malarial organization under a health officer would need to be stationed
there throughout the period of construction of the dam, for A. culicifacies was.
found to be breeding in pools along the river, in pools at the south of streams.
opening into the rivers, and in some rocky pools near the hills bounding the.
Metur area on the west.
3. Survey of Vizagapatam Harbour. —A unit under Assistant Surgeon K. V.
Krishnan went to Vizagapatam in October 1925, and made a malarial survey
round the new harbour with the particular object of finding the malarial condi
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tions present at the Malakapuram site proposed for housing the labourers required
for work on the extensive harbour extensions that were in hand. He found that
villages about the site were highly infected with malaria. The spleen rate was as
high as from 48 to 85 per cent and the adult spleen rate from 28 to 50 per cent.
The parasite rate (in children) was also very high from 73 to 93 per cent. The
parasites were mainly benign tertian and malignant tertian in about equal
proportions. The malaria-carrying anophelines found were culicifacies, fuliginosus,
stephensi, minimus, and barbirostris. Others found were rossi (vagus and sub-
pictus), hyrcanus and karwari. Culicifacies was the most common and abounded
in rivers. Malaria zygotes were found in one of the dissected culicifacies. It
was judged that culicifacies was the main carrier, the most important breeding
places were found to be not the margins of the extensive salt water swamp, but
the numerous geddas or channels flowing from the Dolphin hill behind the
villages through the land on which the villages lay into the swamp. Accordingly
recommendations were made that, if the proposed site was the only possible one,
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