2
The absence of any decisive prophylactic effect on the incidence of the disease
may possibly have been due to the inadequacy of the dose of the B.Influenzæ in the
vaccine. Under instructions from the Director-General, Indian Medical Service,
Simla, the composition of the vaccine was changed from 60 millions of B. Influenzæ
and 200 million Pneumococcus to 400 million B. Influenzæ and 200 million
Pneumococcus in 1 c.c. of the vaccine.
Under G.O. No. 147 L., Mis., dated 19th February 1920, a little over half the
number of the temporary staff employed for six months for the manufacture of
prophylactic influenza vaccine since August 1919 has been continued for a further
period of twelve months ending 15th February 1921. Considering the useful work
turned out by this section of the staff and the necessity of continuing the prepara
-
tion of prophylactic influenza and cholera vaccines during the coming year to meet
the needs of the presidency in view of the probable recrudescence of influenza in
1921 and a threatening of cholera in epidemic form in the spring of the coming
year, Government have been moved for the sanction of the continuance of part of
the present temporary staff for a further period of twelve months commencing
from the 16th February 1921.
Of the other stock vaccines, Gonococcus and Staphylococcus continued to be
popular as in previous years and were favourably reported upon by the different
medical offcers, who indented for them. The number and doses of bacterial
vaccines issued during the year is given in Table III.
TABLE III.
Vaccines supplied in 1920.
N u m b e r .
Nature of vaccine.
Number of doses
of autogenous
v a c c i n e .
Number of doses
of stock vaccine.
Total.
1 Staphylococcus . . .
629
1,159
1 , 7 8 8
2 Streptococcus . . .
635
762
1,397
3 Acne bacillus . . .
. . .
77
77
4 Pemphigus Streptococcus . . .
36
139
175
5 Gonococcus . . .
3 4
4,946
4,980
6 Pneumococcus . . .
345
64
409
7 Bacillus Influenza (curative) . . .
24
123
147
8 Influenza (prophylactic) . . .
. . .
44,280
44,280
9 Compound catarrhal . . .
272
74
346
10 Tuberculin . . .
. . .
430
430
11 Bacillus Coli . . .
156
118
274
12 B. Dysenteric . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
13 Choleræ . . .
. . .
13,480
13,480
14 Typhosus . . .
. . .
72
72
15 T.A.B. vaccine . . .
. . .
1,015
1,015
16 Other vaccines
178
. . .
178
Total . . .
2,309
66,739
69,048
Autogenous Vaccines.
Autogenous vaccines were prepared for 280 cases, the largest number prepared
during any one year, ever since this branch of work was commenced at the Insti
-
tute in 1911. The majority of these vaccines were made, as in previous years, for
diseases of the skin including furunculosis, eczematous affections, abscesses,
carbuncles and cellulitis; respiratory diseases including catarrh of the nose,
throat, ear and bronchi ; and genito-urinary affections, including urethritis, cystitis
pyelitis and bacilluria. The large amount of time and labour involved in the
preparation of these autogenous vaccines was not, however, compensated by the
results obtained, for the results of the treatment could not be obtained in even
50 per cent of the cases for which the vaccines were prepared and issued. The
reason for this failure to receive reports of results in the majority of cases,
apparently lies in the fact that hospital patients for whom these vaccines were
mostly made did not persevere sufficiently long with the injections and obtained
their discharge, before the vaccines could possibly produce their decisive effect. In