5
10. Supply of Vaccine.— Vaccine for the province was supplied from the
Vaccine Depôt at Namkum, Ranchi, during the three years under report as
shown in the detailed statement below :—
Year.
1
1920-21 ... ...
1921-22 ... ...
1922-23 ... ...
Number
of
calves
purchased
or hired.
2
362
957
246
Number of
doses
manufactured.
3
1,869,908
5,589,930
1,426,146
Arerage
number of
doses
yielded
per calf.
4
5165.49
5841.09
5390.83
Number
of
doses issued.
5
2,628,548
2,679,298
2,576,743
Number of
doses in
reserve.
6
1,493,759
4,100,366
2,949,769
Total
gross cost.
7
Rs.
24,923
28,879
33,206
Total
revenue.
8
Rs.
19,554
20,186
14,564
The large increase in manufacture during 1921-22 was required to create
a reserve stock and the large decrease in manufacture during 1922-23 was due
to outbreaks of epidemic disease and the shortage in the supply of calves. In
fact, if it had not been the large reserve stock accumulated in the previous year,
the Vaccine Depôt would have been left a very small stock in hand at the end
of March 1923.
The total gross cost has increased during the last two years partly owing to
the large quantity manufactured in 1921-22 and partly owing to the heavy
expenditure required to provide replacements and spare parts for the cold
storage and pumping engines which had become worn out with many years
constant running. The revenue has fallen off during the last year owing to
the diminution of demands in Orissa Feudatory States.
11. Vaccine Depot and Cold Storage.—During the period under report the
Vaccine Depôt was repeatedly closed during the working season on account of
outbreaks of epidemic disease—chiefly foot and mouth disease—amongst the
calves. Inspite of these interruptions, however, the supply of vaccine has been
maintained and there is a sufficient stock in reserve. The risk of the supply
failing has however been so great that it has been found necessary to fence the
premises and put up segregation sheds and the work is now in hand. The
cold storage room has been rebuilt and the engines and machineries have been
overhauled during the last two years and a large stock of necessary spare parts
has been provided.
Cholera and Influenza Vaccines are now stocked at the Depôt and issued
throughout the Province as required.
12. Experimental Work.—During the last three years, a considerable
amount of experimental work has been carried out at the Vaccine Depôt with a
view to improving the quality and quantity of vaccine and thus reducing the
cost of production.
Variations in the technique of operation were carried out with a view to
increasing the output per calf and the production of crude pulp per calf has
now been raised from 12.38 grammes in 1914 to 59.09 grammes. This is prob-
ably as near the maximum as we can go with advantage and may be taken as an
approximately final figures on which to base our estimates of manufacture.
A series of experiments was also conducted with various oils and also
with a preparation containing 5 per cent. starch and 2 per cent. Boric Acid
in 93 per cent. water (after boiling to form a jelly) with a view to discover-
ing a better vehicle than glycerine for the preparation of the vaccine but
so far nothing more suitable has been found. Improvements have been made
in the preparation of the seed vaccine for vaccinating calves from children
and in the packing of vaccine in capillary tubes by sealing them with melted
sealing wax.