No. 154-P.H., 29TH JANUARY 1923
3
12. The Government agree that the present system of utilizing the Institute
for the purchase of store and distribution of anti-toxic sera may continue,
provided that the receipts and charges therefor are shown separately from the
accounts of the Institute. It is an index to progress that in medical relief the
demand for such sera has more than doubled during the past two years.
13. The urgent need for the establishment of standards of purity for food
stuffs is fully recognized by the Government, and proposals are under considera-
tion for the appointment of a public analyst and the equipment of a laboratory
in order that the Food Adulteration Act may no longer remain a dead letter.
14. The vexed question of water purification is engaging the attention of a
special Filtration Committee. The subject has not till recently received the
attention it deserves. It is greatly complicated by variations in the types of water
found in different localities, each of which is itself subject to seasonal change.
The Government hope that steps are being taken to ensure a closer contact
between the Sanitary Engineer and the Bacteriological Experts. Much valuable
information has been gained, but it is unlikely that municipal water-supplies will
be satisfactory unless and until the municipalities can supply skilled supervision
of the working of their filters, aided perhaps by an inspectorate under the direct
control of the Director of the King Institute or the Sanitary Engineer. Such an
inspectorate would be invaluable in improving the quality of water-supply in
jails, which at present is extremely unsatisfactory, and also, subject to the
concurrence of the railway authorities, the water-supply of principal railway
stations.
15. The Government are glad to note the useful services rendered by the
Institute on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
and also to the Madras Corporation in connexion with the chlorination and rapid
filtration at Kilpauk Filters, to the Jail department on the outbreak of disease
in the Mappilla camps, to the Medical Stores and to the Veterinary department.
The supply of bleach solution for anti-cholera work at Kumbakōnam, Palamcottah
and Ahobilam is a new departure of great importance.
16. On the educational side, the Institute has been responsible for the training
of health officers in vaccination and malaria work, and it has also held the usual
plague inoculation classes. In research the Institute and its staff played an
important part in the proceedings of the Science Congress held at Madras at the
beginning of 1922, and the papers, inter alia, on standard vaccine lymph,
filariasis, kala azar testify to the scientific activities of the Institute in research.
Although in discussing the financial aspect of the Institute the Director has
referred to research work as work which cannot be valued in terms of rupees, it is
pleasing to observe that by improved methods the yield of pulp per calf has been
raised from 14.6 to 20.2 grammes, with the result that the number of calves used
was reduced from 1,360 to 997, a saving of Rs. 2,496, while by improving the
vitality of the lymph, the wastage involved in vaccinating over 42,000 persons
unsuccessfully has been avoided. Research is not without its economic value.
17. The Government congratulate Major Cunningham and his staff on the
excellence of their year's record.
(By order of the Government, Ministry of Local Self-Government)
F. J. RICHARDS,
Secretary to Government.
To the Surgeon-General.
„ the Director of Public Health.
„ the Sanitary Engineer.
„ all Chairmen of Municipal Councils.
„ the Assistant Quartermaster-General, 9th (Secunderabad) Division (with C.L.).
„ the Publicity Officer.
Editors' Table.