REPORT ON VACCINATION IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY
FOR THE YEAR 1913-14.
From Major W. A. JUSTICE, M.B., C.M., D.P.H., I.M.S., Sanitary Commissioner
for Madras, to the Secretary to Government, Local and Municipal Depart-
ment, dated the 27th August 1914, No. 321/V.
I have the honour to submit herewith my annual report on the working of
the Vaccination Department in the Madras Presidency during the official year
1913-14. Under G.O. No. 1455, Public, dated 12th July 1886, annual statistical
tables, with the briefest possible notes, for two years and a full report in the third
year relating to vaccination, should be submitted to Government. Year after
year, however, the report of the Inspector of Vaccination contained complete
particulars, both in statistical tables and in notes, about the operations of the
department in that particular year; and I propose therefore to confine my
remarks in the present report mainly to the working of the department in
1913-14.
2. Vaccine section of the King Institute, Guindy.—The report of the
Director, King Institute, Guindy, on the working of the vaccine section of the
institute during 1913-14 is enclosed. The work of the section has been satis-
factorily performed by all and reflects great credit on the officers immediately in
charge.
A. General.—The Assistant Director continued to be in direct charge of
the section during the year under report. Captain W. S. Patton, I.M.S., the
present Assistant Director, contributes an interesting article on " Some observa-
tions on the production of cow-pox vaccine at the King Institute as shown by the
statistics during the last decade." It is attached to the Director's report as an
annexure. Any remarks made on the technical points referred to in this article
will be out of place in an administration report and I do not therefore propose to
say anything about them here.
The total quantity of vaccine supplied by the institute during 1913-14
amounted to 1,972,165 cases against 1,887,639 cases in the previous year and was
the highest on record since the institute was opened. Compared with 1912-13,
the supplies to the Military Department during the year showed a large increase—
27,587 cases against 12,333 cases. The number of cases despatched to the
Agency tracts and to private bodies showed, however, a slight decrease. As in
previous years the bulk of the vaccine supplied was in the form of lanoline paste.
Madras City and Colombo continued to take glycerinated vaccine.
The required number of calves was obtained at the institute, the con-
tractors having undertaken to meet all demands. There was therefore no necessity
to have a reserve supply of calves. The opening of "reserve calf" and "done
calf" depôts ordered by Government in G.O. No. 1120, Revenue, dated 17th April
1912, has since been abandoned as the present method of obtaining calves and of
disposing of them through private contractors is working satisfactorily.
The system of despatching vaccine three issues in a month instead of two
to mufassal stations was followed in three of the districts where the " Trial
scheme" was in force. The results reported having been satisfactory, proposals
for its extension to the remaining " Trial scheme " district (Madura) are under
consideration.