21

H.—3l

Autogenous Vaccines prepared,. Organisms. ~ Number of Organisms. „ Number u£ . Vaccines prepared. b Vaooines prepared. Abel's bacillus . . . . . . 4 B. paratyphosus A. .. .. 1 Acne bacillus .. .. ... 3 B. paratyphosus B .. .. 1 M. catarrhalis .. .. .. 36 B. typhosus .. .. .. 2 B. cleaca) .. .. .. 2 Pneumococcus .. .. 26 X - ooli .. .. .. ..13 B. Proteus .. .. .. 12 B. coryzte .. .. .. 4 B. pyocyaneus . . . . . . 1 B. diphtheria) . . .. .. I Staphylococcus albus .. . . 27 Diphtheroid bacilli . . ... 37 Staphylococcus aureus .. .. 92 B. enteritidis .. .. .. 5 Streptococcus .. .. 88 M. gonorrhoeae . . .. . . 4 Streptothrix . . . . .. 1 B. influenzae .. .. .. 7 B. xerosis .. .. .. 4 Koch Weeks bacillus . . . . I Diplococous intracellularis meningi- Total .. .. .. 410 tidis .. .. .. .. 8 Report on Work done at the Vaooinb-station. Lymph for vaccination against smallpox is prepared at the vaccine-station in Museum Street for the whole of the Dominion, and also for some of the Pacific islands. The lymph obtained from the inoculated calves is mixed with the necessary amount of glycerine and stored in 'bulk in an ice-chest for three months prior to issue. Bacteriological examinations of the lymph, immediately after collection, are carried out to ascertain the varieties and numbers of micro-organisms present. A second examination is made before the lymph is put up in tubes, and any lymph not reaching the required bacteriological standard is rejected. Only one batch of lymph (B. 1 of January, 1919) had to be rejected owing to the presence of a spore-bearing baccillus, which, however, was not pathologenic to guinea-pigs. With each consignment of lymph issued a report form was enclosed, but, unfortunately, very few of these forms have been returned. It is only by obtaining reports of the efficacy or otherwise of the lymph that its value as a prophylactic against smallpox can be ascertained, and it is to be regretted that more information on this important point is not available. The total amount of lymph prepared during the year, excluding that reserved for " seed," was 32,816 tubes, each containing sufficient for the vaccination of two individuals. The conditions prevailing during the year were abnormal in that, owing to the demands of the War Departments of Great Britain and the United States, the energies of manufacturers of biological products were devoted to supplying the wants of these Departments. As we rely on these countries for our supplies of serum it was extremely difficult to keep our stocks up to date. The position became acute towards the end of 1918, and it was necessary to use stocks slightly out of date. The expiry date of serum is the date beyond which full potency is not guaranteed, but as deterioration under suitable conditions is gradual it can be compensated for by the use of somewhatlarger doses. Under present conditions we must keep supplies sufficient to satisfy the reqirements of any hospital or private practitioner who desires sera or vaccines. But as some of the larger hospitals order their own supplies independently, and only draw on us when their stocks are exhausted, there is a possibility of a considerable waste of public money. Tin's would be obviated if all orders for sera passed through the same channel, the Department acting as buyer and distributor. If such an arrangement were made the percentage added to the net cost to prevent a loss resulting from dealing in these products could be considerably less than that added at present. T. R. Ritchie, M.8., Ch.B., Acting Government Bacteriologist.