12

REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY

   The Government Fisheries Department applied for the help of the Institute
to investigate the cause of the development of a pink discoloration which had
been occurring in samples of dried fish. The investigation showed that this dis-
coloration called 'Pink eye' was due to the growth of an organism called the
"Rhodococcus" and was the same as a condition which had just been reported as
occurring in England due to the same cause.

   The Institute has as usual undertaken the cold storage and distribution of
various perishable veterinary supply such as sera, for the Veterinary department.
The whole cost of packing and distribution is borne by the Institute.

VI.—EDUCATIONAL

   1. The usual vaccinator's class commencing on 5th February 1924 and ending
on 16th February 1924, was held during the year. Fifty-four students attended
and received qualifying marks at the end of the course.

   2. Eleven students of the second-class Health Officers attended a course of
instruction in the process of vaccine lymph manufacture. The course lasted for
one week from 12th to 18th December 1923. The prescribed examination was
held at the end of the course at which all the candidates passed.

   3. Eleven students of the same class also attended a month's course in
the diagnosis and prevention of malaria which was held at the Institute between
1st February and 1st March 1924. All passed the examination held at the end
of the course.

   4. The plague inoculation class which originated in 1918 under G.O.
No. 285, Medical, dated 18th June 1918, was held for the first two months in the
year only. Thirteen medical officers attended these classes. The training was
then discontinued under orders from the Surgeon-General.

   5. The following medical men worked in the Institute and received training
in bacteriological methods and technique:—

      (1) Civil Assistant Surgeon M. K. Ramasami Ayyar and Temporary Civil
Assistant Surgeon K.P. Menon both on reserve duty from 1st October 1923 to
March 1924 for training in malaria work.

      (2) Sub-Assistant Surgeons—

   On reserve duty for about a
fortnight for training in the
diagnosis and treatment of
relapsing fever.

      (3) Dr. E. K. Raman Pillai, a private medical practitioner for one month
for training in bacteriology.

      (4) K. Rajappan Pillai, Apothecary, Trivandrum, from 4th March to
3rd June 1924 for training in bacteriology.

      (5) Kuruvilla, Assistant Surgeon, Trivandrum, for three months from 1st
May 1923 for training in bacteriology.

      (6) One water-works Supervisor from Berhampur for three months at the
experimental installation who was also instructed in the necessary tests for the
estimation of dosage of alum and chlorine.

HEALTH PROPAGANDA.

   In addition to the instruction given above, the Institute staff took a very
active part in health propaganda work. The whole of the propaganda material
issued by the Madras Health Council for the Health and Baby week held in
January 1924 was prepared at the King Institute. This material comprised a series
of six lantern slide demonstrations of 20 slides each for each of the 23 districts in
the Presidency. To go with each demonstration, a specimen lecture and a series
of illustrated leaflets translated into the various vernaculars was prepared. In
addition illustrated posters on public health subjects were designed and translated
into the different vernaculars. Members of the staff also took an active part in
the week by delivering lectures on public health subjects at various centres.