REPORT OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY.
15
were inoculated; 16 specimens of suspected rabid material, in connection with
which 5 post mortems on dogs were undertaken, and 16 rabbits inoculated; 47
specimens for the Widal reaction; 53 specimens of tumours or other tissues for
sectioning. In this case a specimen stained and mounted was always furnished to
the officer concerned for information. 102 specimens of mosquitoes, mosquito
larvæ, and flies. A smaller number of specimens of a miscellaneous nature, such
as urine, vomit, fæces, specimens of parasitic worms, tetanus, leprosy, etc. During
the progress of the work, a new protozoan parasite of considerable scientific
interest was discovered in a species of field rat, a new species of bilhartzia ovum
noted, and the presence of human ticks in India ascertained for the first time.
8. As it is impossible, owing to the high degree of specialism at present existing
in the different branches of research, for a limited staff to give an adequate
opinion on all matters relating to tropical medicine, measures have been taken to
keep in touch with similar institutions elsewhere. In this respect the Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine have been particularly helpful, from the thoroughness
with which they have gone into any matter referred to them.
9. Whilst the department was intended primarily for the examination of
specimens sent in, it has, as far as lay in its power, given every facility possi-
ble to those officers who wished to do this work themselves. Stains, especially
Romanowskis stain, but also others have been sent to those asking for them, at
the cost price of the materials used. Such apparatus as entomological pins,
collecting tubes and slides have been supplied on the same basis.
With the exception of Kasauli, it is not known that any similar department
exists in the tropics.
In addition to such work as the above, which has special reference to medical
officers, much has been done in the examination of material for public health
purposes.
The examination of water has so far formed the most prominent feature of this
section. In addition to a number of samples, systematic investigation has been
made upon the conditions of the Madras water-supply, the results of which have
been embodied in No. 4 of the " Selected Papers of the King Institute of Preventive
Medicine."
10. A few samples of sewage have been received and also milk suspected of
containing typhoid bacilli. At present the adequate treatment of such matters can
scarcely be carried out, though it is hoped much more may be done, when the
recently appointed Assistants are well acquainted with bacteriological methods.
11. A few samples sent by private persons have been reported upon, when they
appeared to relate to the public health, or were of general scientific interest. In no
case either here, or in the examination of material sent by medical men, has a fee
been charged.
12. During the year a good deal of work of an investigatory nature has been
carried on. The chief results have been published in the following " Selected
Papers of the King Institute of Preventive Medicine" :—
(1) No. 3.—Note on some Experiments with Copper Sulphate in relation to
Disinfection of Water.
(2) No. 4.—On an Incrustation in the Pipes and certain other objectionable
features connected with the Madras Water.
(3) On the point of publication as No. 5. On the use of a Powerful Flame
as a practical means of Disinfection.
13. Other work connected with the Madras water-supply and Danyz virus has
not yet been published. As regards pure research, the following results may be
noted : Rogers' discovery of the flagellate stage of the Leishman-Donovan Bodies
was confirmed for the first time, and a note giving the main features described was
published in the Report of the Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of
India for 1903, whilst a fuller description was given in No. 15 of the Scientific
Memoirs of the Officers of the Sanitary and Medical Departments. This was
followed by the discovery for the first time of an undoubted hæmogregarine in a