( ix )

30. In some places, however, it appears at times to be impossible to keep
up a supply of matter so as to be always ready for use ; but this need not
excite any feeling of surprise, inasmuch as the same complaint is occasion-
ally made in different parts of Europe. In illustration of my remark, I
may mention that for a considerable time, last year, lymph could not be main-
tained at Aden, and vaccination was in consequence suspended. Unhappily
too, and for some reason unknown, as recently reported by the Civil Surgeon,
the supply annually sent to that station direct from the National Vaccine
Institution, failed to be received. At the Presidency itself it is sometimes
exceedingly difficult to keep up a sufficient supply, and the difficulty is the
greater in consequence of the strong dislike on the part of native parents to
have the vesicles of their vaccinated children interfered with.

31.     In the report for 1862 I mentioned that, for the purpose of guarding
against the inconvenience resulting from this cause, Dr. Peet had entered
into an arrangement with the National Vaccine Establishment, London, and
the Royal Dispensary, Edinburgh, with the view of ensuring the receipt of
periodical supplies. For a time the plan succeeded, but the requirements at
home appear to have become so great that both these sources failed, and
Dr. Husband, the Superintendent of the latter depôt, reported that the demand
in Scotland exceeded his capability of meeting it.

32.     Dr. Plumptre, of the Southern Circle, alludes to the subject in his
recent report, and urges the importance of obtaining lymph from Europe.
He points out that thus " there would be a continuous supply of fresh matter
coming into the country, and the fear which has been expressed that the
prophylactic in the course of years in a hot climate wears itself out, and ceases
to possess its special properties, would be removed."

33.    Without entering on the disputed question whether unrenewed lymph
would or would not lose its properties in this country in the course of time,
there can be no doubt that it is an object of importance to guard against its
possible degeneration by obtaining occasional supplies from fresh sources.
For this, as well as for other reasons, it seems most desirable that some
arrangement should be made, if possible, to carry out more effectually than
hitherto the proposal originally made by Dr. Peet, and now renewed by
Dr. Plumptre.

34.     Dr. Plumptre seems to think that an arrangement might be made for
securing a quarterly supply. Bearing in mind, however, that the result of the
general experience of India proves that lymph, obtained from Europe, more
frequently fails than succeeds, and believing, as I do, that this loss of its
properties is attributable to the injurious effects of heat during its passage

            2 vac