7
directed by the Government of India letter (Home Department—Sanitary) No. 345, dated
the 6th November 1890, from the Secretary to the Government of India to the Chief Com-
missioner of Assam, and as had been found useful in Madras by Surgeon-Major W. G. King.
Experiments with lanoline as
a preservative of calf lymph, and
as compared with glycerine as a
preservative of the same.
32. Lanoline lymph of strengths of 1 (of lymph) to 4½ (of lanoline) of 1 to 6½ and 1
to 10 were prepared and distributed exactly according to Dr.
King's directions; but all proved almost complete failures
in every instance and in every district. This was all the
more remarkable, as up to the end of February 1891, all the
lymph (preserved by glycerine—about 1 ½ parts of glycerine to 1 part of solid lymph as
taken from vesicle) had been remarkably successful as above stated, so much so as to have
been at least quite equal to the success of arm-to-arm vaccination, as has been declared by
most of the observers amongst the Civil Surgeons of this Province. I may remark here
that the solid lymph mixed with glycerine was found more successful than when mixed
with serum only, or with serum and glycerine. But I must add that, after the end
of February 1891, even when preserved by glycerine, the lymph was by no means so
successful as it had been in all the previous months of the season, as Dr. Campbell's
second experiments (see paragraph 2 of Appendix B, attached) with glycerine-and-
lanoline preserved lymph have proved.
Decline in the success of the
calf lymph distributed in March
1891, with the cause of this failure.
33. It seems, from Dr. Campbell's remarks in Appendix B to this report, (page 11,
paragraph 7), that the lymph which was taken from the calves
in March 1891 was by no means as good, whether preserved
with glycerine or with lanoline, as it had been during the
period from 1st October 1890 to the end of February 1891 ; and I fully agree with
Dr. Campbell. The explanation of this difference in the quality of the lymph, as taken
from the calves in the two periods as above noted, is simply that there was very severe and
unusual cold with high winds in March, the latter being generally met with in that
month, which produced much pneumonia, &c., and febrile conditions amongst the calves
generally ; and, although calves known to be affected with pneumonia or bronchitis, or in
any way diseased, were not used for inoculation, still such calves as were operated on
were, I think, at least below par and not in as good health as the calves were which were
used in the earlier portions of the season. On my return here from my first tour in
March 1891,I was much disappointed to find that my orders had not been satisfactorily
carried out as regards protecting the calves from cold and the cold winds, and I think
that, with a good masonry building as we are now preparing, well warmed and sufficiently
ventilated, and yet protected from the cold winds, such a death-rate and loss amongst the
calves will not occur in future, and that the lymph will not be in consequence thus
deteriorated. I must mention here that in my opinion the mortality amongst the
calves would not have happened had Dr. Campbell been in charge at the time,
and I believe that, with his return to Shillong as Civil Surgeon (which has now fortunately
happened), we may look forward to even greater success in the season of 1891-92. It
would not, after the above remarks, be possible to offer any opinion as to the success of
lanoline as a calf-lymph preservative just now or of lanoline in comparison with
glycerine, but I shall submit a special report on these points with my next Vaccination
Report. I think Dr. Campbell deserves the thanks of the Chief Commissioner for the skill
shown by him and the energy displayed in the establishment and success of this depôt.
Annual report of the Shillong
calf lymph depôt, and a special
report by Dr. Campbell on calf
lymph preserved by glycerine and
lanoline respectively.
34. I attach as Appendix A a copy of the annual report of this depôt for the past
year written by Surgeon J. T. Daly, who held charge from
23rd December, 1890, when Surgeon-Major R. N. Campbell
left Shillong for the Kámrúp district, up to the end of the
season, as also a copy of a special report by Surgeon-Major
R. N. Campbell, Civil Surgeon of the Kámrúp district, on his trials of calf lymph, mixed
with glycerine and mixed with lanoline respectively, as made by himself personally.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES P. COSTELLO,
Deputy Surgeon General, Administrative Medical Officer
and Sanitary Commissioner, Assam.