M 132
# E. PREPARATION OF VACCINES AND SERA.
(1) Anti-meningococcus serum.-The quantity of serum issued this year is still heavy, although not approaching last year's figures, which were influenced by the presence of a small epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis.
The amount of serum issued was 15,990 c.c., this amount is only slightly over half of that issued in 1932, but about three times the average issued in previous years. At the present moment the amount which we are able to prepare is a good deal less than this, and we will be faced with a shortage unless the number of cases of the disease diminishes, or we are able to add another pony to our stock. Two ponies are at present used for serum production, and this number is really as many as our stable accommodation will take care of.
(2) Gonococcus vaccine.-The amount issued is 4,650 c.c. This is slightly in excess of that issued last year.
Efforts to improve the yield have at last achieved a fair measure of success. The medium used hitherto was testicular extract agar. This is also now used but with the addition of 5% whole sheep's blood. The resulting yield is much higher than we have hitherto been able to obtain by any of the methods tried. This medium with the addition of blood is simple to prepare and affords a luxuriant growth of the organisms.
(3) Anti-rabic vaccine.-The method of preparation of anti-rabic prophylactic was again varied this year to conform with the findings of Indian workers (Cunningham, Malone and Craighead, Indian Medical Research Memoirs, Nos. 15 and 26). The amount of brain substance was increased from 1% to 2%, the dose remaining the same and the preparation otherwise being unchanged.
Several cases of persons bitten by a proved rabid dog were treated and followed up for a period of approximately four months; in no instance did infection occur.
The total number of cases treated was 226, and the total number of doses issued 2,166, both considerably in excess of last year's totals.
In the table appended, many of the cases shown under the heading, "treatment not completed" consist of cases released under the advice of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon that the suspected dog was not rabid after a period of observation.
M 132
E. PREPARATION OF VACCINES AND SERA.
(1) Anti-meningococcus serum.-The quantity of serum issued this year is still heavy, although not approaching last year's figures, which were influenced by the presence of a small epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis.
The amount of serum issued was 15,990 c.c., this amount is only slightly over half of that issued in 1932, but about three times the average issued in previous years. At the present moment the amount which we are able to prepare is a
good deal less than this, and we will be faced with a shortage unless the number of cases of the disease diminishes, or we are able to add another pony to our stock. Two ponies are at present used for serum production, and this number is really as many as our stable accommodation will take care of.
(2) Gonococcus vaccine.-The amount issued is 4,650 c.c. This is slightly in excess of that issued last year.
Efforts to improve the yield have at last achieved a fair measure of success. The medium used hitherto was testicular extract agar.
This is also now used but with the addition of 5% whole sheep's blood. The resulting yield is much higher than we have hitherto been able to obtain by any of the methods tried. This medium with the addition of blood is simple to pre- pare and affords a luxuriant growth of the organisms.
(3) Anti-rabic vaccine.-The method of preparation of anti- rabic prophylactic was again varied this year to conform with the findings of Indian workers (Cunningham, Malone and Craighead, Indian Medical Research Memoirs, Nos. 15 and 26). The amount of brain substance was increased from 1% to 2%, the dose remaining the same and the preparation otherwise being unchanged.
Several cases of persons bitten by a proved rabid dog were treated and followed up for a period of approximately four months; in no instance did infection occur.
The total number of cases treated was 226, and the total nuinber of doses issued 2,166, both considerably in excess of last year's totals.
In the table appended, many of the cases shown under the heading, "treatment not completed" consist of cases released under the advice of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon that the suspected dog was not rabid
rabid after a period of observation.
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