11
REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
disease and a very close relationship was shown to exist between these cases and
cases of latent dysentery. It was discovered that cases of latent dysentery which
had been previously isolated had been returned to the general population and
that these latent cases were undoubtedly responsible for the periodic outbreaks of
gastro-enteritis which had occurred. The outbreak therefore was really an acute
exacerbation of the endemic dysentery present in jail. The re-establishment of
the search for latent dysentery cases by systematic microscopic examination of
the stools and the isolation of such cases when found, soon brought the epidemic
under control. (Vide Appendix III for report.)
4. The malarial survey at Sappal Hills.— This unit was sanctioned temporarily
for three months in the first instance by the Development department in order to
carry out a malarial survey at the forest quarters at Olavakot. The investigation
commenced on March 22nd. Although the unit has returned to headquarters,
its report has not yet been completed (25th August 1924).
It is not inappropriate to point out here that investigations of this nature
cannot be carried out by temporary units sanctioned for short periods of time.
Both officers and attendants require very special training for this work and they
cannot be obtained at any time and then dismissed at a moment's notice. In the
present instance staff had to be drawn from the permanent staff of the Institute
and had to go into the field under conditions with regard to pay, etc., which were
considerably worse than those of their confreres in the Institute units. If scienti-
fic assistance is required by Government departments it would be better if they
employed permanent Institute units already trained to undertake this type of
work. Sufficient investigation units must however be sanctioned to be able to
respond to all calls for assistance.
V.—ASSISTANCE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
The work of the Institute investigation units on behalf of the Jail and Forest
departments and the Ootacamund and Vāniyambādi Municipalities has already
been noted.
Seed vaccine lymph has been supplied to Ceylon and Coorg during the year,
and the usual supplies of lymph have been made to the French Settlements in
Southern India. An application was received from the Federated Malay States
for 100 doses of vaccine lymph for trial and a request was made for the condi-
tions under which the whole supply to the States would be guaranteed.
Government's permission for making the supply was granted in G.O. No. 480,
dated 27th March 1924. The matter is still under consideration.
Special supplies were made to the Collectors of Malabar and South Kanara for
use in the Laccadive and Amindivi Islands.
The continued assistance rendered by the Institute staff to the Madras
Corporation in connexion with the city water-supply has already been mentioned.
The efficacy of the new chlorinating plant erected by the Paterson Engi
-
neering Company in Fort St. George, was tested on behalf of the Military
authorities. It was found that the plant was too large for the volume of water
requiring sterilisation, with the result that the water was being consistently
over-chlorinated.
At the request of the Sanitary Engineer a sample taker was specially deputed
to proceed with the Superintendent of the Experimental filters to Ellore to
investigate and remedy the breakdown in the filtration plant and to undertake
the chlorination of the supply while this was being done.
In pursuance of G.O. No, 848-P. H., dated 28th May 1923, and Government
Memo. No. 19438-1-P.H., dated 27th August 1923, a systematic investigation
into the most suitable method of treating the water of the Kistna canal with a
view to using it as the water-supply for Palacole was undertaken. The inquiry
is still in progress.
Samples of water from French India and from the Native States of
Pudukkottai and Cochin were also examined during the course of the year.