Anti-Rabic Treatment in Southern India

Abstract

THE Annual Report of the Director, Major Iyengar, of the Pasteur Institute of Southern India, Coonoor, states that during the year ended December 31, 1934, 414 persons underwent the complete, and 77 an incomplete, treatment at the Institute after bites by animals supposedly rabid. For the second time in the twenty-eight years of the Institute's existence, there were no deaths from hydrophobia among those treated. Paris fixed virus was in use in the form of Semple's carbolized five per cent sheep vaccine, and at the end of the year was in its 937 passage. The vaccine was also issued from several out-centres 12,316 courses for nearly 13,000 cases, with 26 deaths from hydrophobia. In addition, anti-rabic vaccine was issued for the prophylactic treatment of 259 animals. In spite of what the Institute is doing, 412 deaths from hydrophobia were recorded in the Madras Presidency during 1934.