Government [NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of 74937140.tif] of madras

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT

(Public Health)

G.O. No. 1688, P.H., 24th September 1926

Administration Report—King Institute, Guindy—1925-26—Reviewed.

READ—the following paper:—

From the Surgeon-General, No. 1699, dated 3rd August 1926.

Order—No. 1688, P.H., dated 24th September1926.

        Recorded.

        2.As in the previous year, the only lymph issued for routine vaccinations
throughout the Presidency was glycerine lymph and both the manufacture of vaccine
lymph and routine vaccination were suspended during the four hot weather months.
During this period the passages of seed lymph were also discontinued. The question
whether such passages should be continued during the hot weather is reported to be
under investigation. The total number of cases issued during the year was
2,216,038 compared with 2,224,080 in the previous year. The slight decrease in
the total number is reported to be due to a decrease in the amount taken by the
municipalities.

        The percentage of lymph unaccounted for fell from 21.9 per cent to 16.7. A
shortage of over 30 per cent was observed only in the districts of Chingleput (36 per
cent) and Ramnad (44 per cent). The Director of Public Health is requested to take
steps to check the apparent wastage of lymph in these districts.

        The success rate of primary vaccination for the year was 96.4 compared with
96.7 in the previous year, and the insertion success rate was 88.8 against 90.1. The
Government are glad to note that the standard of the potency of the lymph has been
maintained.

        3. The number of doses of bacterial vaccines issued from the institute fell from
105,497 during the previous year to 85,569 in the year under review. The decrease
in the number is stated to be due to the fact that 20,000 less doses of cholera vaccine
were issued. There was also a small decrease in the number of doses of autogenous
vaccines issued. The total number of specimens examined in the Institute was
15,180 compared with 12,089 during the previous year.

        4. The Public Analyst continued to control the chemical side of the Public
Health Section work of the Institute during the year. As the Madras Prevention of
Adulteration Act, 1918, has not yet been brought into force, there was no regular
supply of foods to be tested for adulteration, but a number of samples were examined
in connexion with various investigations. Rules under the above Act have been
framed and published with G.O. No. 1329, P.H., dated 4th August 1926. Proposals
for the amendment of the Act for the purpose of remedying certain defects pointed out
by the Public Analyst were under examination during the year. The question of
extending the Act to certain areas in the Presidency is also under the consideration
of the Government.

        5. Two permanent investigation units were attached to the Institute and a third
was sanctioned at the end of the year under review. The Government observe that
valuable work in connexion with malaria surveys and other special investigations
was performed during the year by these units.