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to time and the Institute has been the centre for research on a variety of
medical and public health problems. Bacteriology and immunology have
always been the main subjects of study. Malaria on which much work was
done in the earlier years was later taken over by the Malaria Survey of
India (now called the Malaria Institute of India) accommodated in the same
buildings but designated as a separate organization. Work on medical
entomology has been done on a large scale but conduct of research in this
line has varied with the inclination and experience of successive members
of the staff of the Institute.

    3. The manufacture of sera and vaccine has constituted an ever growing
part of the routine work of the Institute and during the War years the
Institute was almost entirely devoted to the preparation of T. A. B. and
cholera vaccines and later on influenza vaccine for the use of the Army.
Production on an unprecedented scale was necessary for the prophylactic
inoculation of troops in India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, East Africa and else-
where. The research activities of the Institute were largely in abeyance
until 1920 but when resumed much valuable work was done on malaria,
entomology, dysentery, cholera, relapsing fever and other subjects.

    4. The Institute conducts research work on its own resources on pro-
blems associated with the vaccine and other products issued and in addition
houses inquiries financed by the Indian Research Fund Association which
are carried out by its own staff or by attached workers. During the last
five years an extensive basic investigation has been in progress in relation
to cholera problems and a fruitful Inquiry ha recently been completed on
the venoms of the principal Indian snakes. This latter work has been
partly in relation to the properties of the antivenene prepared against the
venoms of the Indian Cobra and Russell's viper, for which the Institute is
the sole source of manufacture and supply in India.

    5. The Institute fulfils also the functions of a Bacteriological Laboratory
for the Central Government and carries out such routine work as may be
required including the testing of disinfectants for the Stores Department
and other procedures. It also acts as a bureau of information and advice
on medical and public health problems and its extensive specialised library
is made available for the use of accredited persons.

    6. The Institute houses the Library and Stores of the Indian Research
Fund Association. The Director is ex-officio Editor of the Indian Journal
of Medical Research and the Indian Medical Research Memoirs which he
conducts on behalf of the Indian Research Fund Association.

    7. The Central Research Institute is administered by the Director-
General, Indian Medical Service, for the Department of Education, Health
and Lands of the Central Government. The Director of the Institute is
usually the senior member of the Medical Research Department and the
permanent staff includes three other officers of the same Department. Sir
David Semple, the first Director, was followed in succession by Lt.-Col.
W. F. Harvey and Colonel Sir Richard Christophers. The present Director
is Colonel J. Taylor, I.M.S.

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