22

REPORT ON THE WORKING OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY

to render the water of the Narasapur canal safe for drinking purposes.
The Director of the King Institute gave it as his opinion that the safest
and most economical means of deciding the question would be to carry
out a systematic investigation of the scheme so as to cover all the
changing conditions of the canal water, extending over one full year.
Government accepting this suggestion directed in G.O. No. 848 P.H., dated
28th May 1923, that the Director, King Institute, should carry out experi-
ments on the best method of purifying the water of the Narasapur canal.
A sum of Rs. 500 was allotted by the municipality for conducting the
investigation. Samples were collected at different seasons of the year and
field tests carried out on the spot by Mr. N. S. Narayana Ayyangar one of
the Laboratory Assistants, who was deputed with special instructions.
Finally in November 1925, M.R.Ry. T. N. S. Raghavachari Avargal, Senior
Bacteriological Assistant, proceeded to Palacole to complete the investi-
gation by means of an extended series of tests with special reference to
the extent and nature of contamination of the source. The results of the
investigation together with his recommendations and approximate cost of
the best method of purifying the canal water, were embodied in a report
by the investigating officer, submitted to the Personal Assistant to the
Surgeon-General with the Government of Madras with this office letter
R.C. No. 577-751/B, dated 29th November 1924.

   10. The King Institute was represented by Dr. C. G. Pandit at the
twelfth meeting of the Indian Science Congress held at Benares in
January 1925, at which the following papers were presented by the
members of the staff at the section for Medical Research:—

      (1) A new endemic focus of kala-azar in Southern India by Lt.-Col.
J. Cunningham and Dr. S. R. Pandit.

      (2) Studies in vaccinial immunity in rabbits by Dr. D. A.. Turkhud
and Dr. C. G. Pandit.

   11. The following papers were published during the year:—

      (1) A new endemic centre of kala-azar in Southern India by
Lt.-Col. J. Cunningham and Dr. S. R. Pandit in the Indian Journal of
Medical Research for April 1925.

      (2) Typhus fever in the Agency Tracts, Madras Presidency, by
Lt.-Col. J. Cunningham and Dr. Theodore in the Indian Medical Gazette,
October 1924.

      (3) A general summary of the work done at the King Institute
during the year 1924 prepared by Dr. D. A. Turkhud and the staff, was
embodied in the "Indian Medical year 1924" a supplement to the Indian
Medical Gazette for February 1925.

   12. An All-India Conference of Medical Research workers was held in
the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, under the presi-
dency of the Director-General, Indian Medical Service, in October 1924.
This Presidency was represented by the Surgeon-General with the
Government of Madras and the Director of this Institute. A proposal
was laid before the meeting with a view to the securing of funds for
maintaining three research workers in this Institute, viz., an Entomologist,
a Protozoologist, and a Helminthologist. A grant of Rs. 50,000 is made
annually by the Research Fund Association to the Calcutta School of
Tropical Medicine to meet the cost of two professors, and an attempt was
therefore made to obtain a grant for this Institute also. The proposal
however did not meet with success.

VIII. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

      (1) Dr. Kingsbury from Kuala-lumpur, 7th May 1924.

      (2) His Excellency the Governor of Madras, 23rd August 1924.

      (3) Lt.-Col. S. R. Christophers., C.I.E., O.B.E., I.M.S., Director of the
                  Kala-Azar Commission, 12th September 1924.

      (4) Dr. Louis V. Stegman of Michigan, United States of America,
                  25th February 1925.