6

REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY

        Certain departments of the Institute, notably that connected with the public
health, are still very much in embryo and call urgently for further development.

        A scheme of reorganization providing for extension in various directions is
at present before Government. This scheme, if accepted, should add considerably
to the future efficiency of the Institute.

        The work carried on in an Institute of this type is of interest from various
points of view. In the first place, being partly a manufacturing concern, it is
important to see how far the results of the year's working have met with
success from the financial point of view. Scientific questions on the other hand
appeal more to the investigator into medical problems.

        The present report has therefore been divided into the following sections each
of which describes the activities of the Institute from a different point of view:—

I.—GENERAL.

        Major J. Cunningham, I.M.S., was in charge of the Institute throughout the
year under report. The post of Assistant Director was held in turn by the
following officers:—

                From April 1st to April. 19th—Civil Surgeon M.R.Ry, Rao Bahadur
M. Kesava Pai Avargal, on which date he went on leave.

                From April 20th to July 20th—Assistant Surgeon M.R.Ry. T. Sitapati
Ayyar Avargal.

                From July 21st to the end of the year— Major J. A. Cruickshank, M.C.,
I.M.S.

        The staff of the Microbiological section remained unchanged throughout the
year.

        Several changes among the Deputy Inspectors of Vaccination occurred. These
were rendered necessary by leave or transfer. In a previous report I drew
attention to the importance of permanency amongst the expert part of the Vaccine
section staff. In the reorganization scheme, already mentioned, suggestions have
been made whereby this part of the staff will in future become a part of the
permanent establishment of the Institute and will thus cease to belong to the
Vaccination Department. In this way experts in the process of vaccine lymph
manufacture will be trained, and, once trained, their services will be retained
entirely for this type of work.

        1,830,000 cases of vaccine lymph were issued during the year (vide statement
No. 1). Out of this number, returns for only 1,084,352 primary vaccinations
were received back by the Institute. Returns for revaccinations were also
received in a certain number of cases but have not been investigated. The
results for 40.7 per cent of the lymph issued is thus unknown. Only a small
proportion of this percentage is due to the revaccinations, returns for which have
been received by the Institute. The remainder is due to wastage of lymph in
the districts and failure on the part of the military, private bodies and others to
make any returns. It is difficult to suggest a complete remedy for this defect for
certain of these bodies are under no obligation to submit returns of the operations
performed by them.

        It is most important, however, that as many returns as possible should be
received, for it is only by such means that the behaviour of the lymph can be
gauged under all conditions. Where there is reason to believe that the standard
forms are not available, the Institute now issues these with the lymph and it is
hoped that this measure will result in a larger number of returns being made
available for analysis.

        The total number of cases issued during the year shows a decrease over those
of the preceding four years and is 224,075 cases less than last year's issues
(vide statement No. 1). This decrease requires investigation.