REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY

7

        These figures compare very favourably with the vaccination results obtained
in any other country and show what success can be achieved when care–
ful vaccination and inspection is assured. The Presidency results are still far
behind this standard. It is to be hoped, however, that with further experience
with the new type of lymph the Presidency vaccinators will achieve a similar
success. There is already ample evidence to show that this improvement will not
be long delayed.

         (2) Experiments in lymph purification.—The results of certain experiments on
the purification of lymph were detailed in last year’s report. Various other
methods have since been tested. As a detailed description of these would take
up too much space in the present report, a separate report has been compiled
dealing with this subject alone. This report will be forwarded to Government
shortly. The effect of chloroform, ether, clove oil, and brilliant green have
all been tested and their purifying action has been contrasted with that of
glycerine alone. The experiments show that all these reagents are capable of
freeing the lymph from extraneous organisms but that they also destroy the
vaccine virus in varying degrees during the process. Further it has been shown
that in a climate like that of Madras glycerine lymph which has received no
special treatment is in the great majority of cases practically sterile by the time
it reaches the vaccinators. The need for special purifying processes does not
therefore arise.

         (3) Tests with experimental lymphs prepared in other ways.—Experiments
in the manufacture of dried lymph, rabbit testicular vaccine and rabbit neuro–
vaccine have also been carried out during the year and are still in progress. The
results of these experiments will be reported when complete.

      (f) Yield of pulp. —Statement 8 gives the average yield of pulp per calf
for the year under report. There has again been a very satisfactory increase in
this direction. The average weight per calf this year is 23.5 grammes as opposed
to 20.4 grammes last year. This in itself is strong evidence of the continued
vitality of the seed lymph used. Perhaps no better evidence of the improvement
in conditions which has taken place during the past five years can be obtained
than a study of the increase in the yield of pulp that has taken place.

      The number of calves actually used in the section is slightly greater this year
than last in spite of the increased yield. This is due to a larger number of calves
being used for strictly experimental purposes than was the case last year.

       The highly satisfactory results of the year’s working may be regarded as the
reward of the last five years’ strenuous labour. For the first time for ten years
the success rate for vaccination operations in the Madras Presidency has been
over 90 per cent. Further there is definite evidence of a still further improve–
ment in the immediate future, for the Presidency success rates this year up to the
time of writing (5th August 1924) (a period which includes the hot weather
months) have reached the very satisfactory figures of 95.9 per cent. A still further
improvement during the cooler months can therefore be confidently anticipated.

       Now that a definite opinion upon the purification of the lymph has been
reached, Government can, from the evidence before them, safely conclude that
the vaccine lymph problem in the Madras Presidency which has been a constant
source of anxiety to them for so many years has at last been definitely solved.