xix
APPENDIX C.
Annual Report of the Punjab Vaccine Institute for the year 1924-25, by Khan Bahadur
Dr. Abdur Rahman, D. P. H., Director, Punjab Vaccine Institute.
Building.
IN Lahore, beyond the annual repairs, nothing has been done except the filling in of a
waterlogged and most insanitary depression in the south-west corner of the Institute. In
Murree necessary repairs have been done to some of the followers' quarters which were very
old, in a most dilapidated condition and practically falling down. These quarters are now in
a serviceable condition and with ordinary annual repairs will last for years. The stables for
calves under operation which were also in a dilapidated state have been thoroughly repaired,
the roof has been raised and the building made fly proof. A portion of a small verandah has
been enclosed to act as a calf operation room temporarily, but as this room is very small it is
proposed to obtain sanction for funds to erect a suitable operation room next year.
The snow pit has not proved of much use so far, in that the snow with which it is
filled during the winter, melts by the end of August or beginning of September, thus neces-
sitating the purchase of ice from Rawalpindi or snow locally when available. Last year the
snow pit was thoroughly cement pointed throughout, the earth was rammed hard circumferen¬
tially, a wooden roof was put on, which is covered with thick felt over which a layer of malthoid
has been placed. It is hoped that the snow pit will now act satisfactorily and meet the
requirements of the Institute to the end of October.
A retaining wall has also been built behind the clerks' quarters to prevent the hill side
slipping during the rains and winter.
New Works in
1926-27.
The Veterinary Department at Lahore insist on the maintenance of a sufficient
number of stables for keeping calves under observation before they are admitted to the
pre-operation stables from which calves are taken for vaccination. I agree with the
Veterinary Department that such stables are necessary and it is, therefore, proposed to
include the cost (in the Schedule of New Expenditure on Major Works this year) of 4
stables, 2 godowns and 4 quarters for menials for whom there is inadequate accommodation
at present. These stables and quarters will be erected in the south-west corner of the
Institute. In Murree there are two buildings for followers which are in a very dilapidated
condition and it is a sheer waste of money to repair them annually. It is, therefore,
proposed to pull both of them down and crect two buildings one of which will
be for the menial staff and the other will contain a sufficiently large operation room for
calves, a sterilizing and wash room, two godowns and three quarters for the two Laboratory
Assistants and the 3rd vaccinator. Just now sterilizing and washing up of apparatus is done
in an outhouse and there are no quarters for the two Laboratory Assistants and the 2nd
assistant vaccinator and no godowns for storing grass, gram, packing boxes, etc. These
items are also being included in the Schedule of New Expenditure on works.
Purchase of calves.
As heretofore calves are obtained on hire at the rate of Rs. 5 a calf. This is the
most satisfactory way of getting calves and on the whole cheaper than purchasing them and
then selling them after the lymph has been taken and the vaccinated area healed, for the
following reasons :—
(a) There is a saving of the travelling allowance of one vaccinator and one menial.
(b) During the absence of these two men for about a week at a time on purchasing
duty, the Institute becomes understaffed and their work has to be done by
men who have already enough to do.
(c) There is the saving of feeding charges from the time of purchase of the calves
to the day they arrive in the Institute.
(d) There is the saving of feeding charges of post-operation calves from the day
the lymph is taken to the day the vaccinated area has healed which takes
about three weeks.
The cost of a batch of 20 calves if they were purchased would be roughly as
follows :—
Travelling allowance of two men
...
... ...
Cost of 20 calves at Rs. 2-4-0 each, at least ... ...
Cost of feeding up to day of arrival in the Institute ... ...
Cost of Railway truck ... ... ...
Cost of feeding 20 post-operation calves for 20 days at annas
four (per calf) each a day ... ... ...
Total ...
Recovered by sale of 20 calves at say Rs. 2 each ...
Rs.
18
45
5
45
100
213
40
A.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
P.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0