3
were performed within the last two months of the season, and this was solely
due to the District Board's paying a fee of half-anna for each operation.
This shows that a large amount of work can be done if the paid system is
introduced and vaccination made free. The Civil Surgeons of Midnapore,
24-Parganas, Murshidabad, Khulna, Dinajpur, Dacca, Barisal, Noakhali and
Tippera advocate the introduction of the free vaccination system in their
respective districts.
The ratio of success in primary operations in (1) rural areas, and (2) muni-
cipalities were 97.66 and 97.74 against 98.78 and 98.30 during the preceding
year, while those in the case of revaccination were 65.22 and 55.40 against
66.00 and 47.49, respectively.
5. Vaccination in Municipalities.—In Calcutta 110,033 operations were
performed during the year against 69,184 during 1913-14, while in mufassal
municipalities and dispensaries the number of cases amounted to 120,497
against 90,985 in the previous year. The increase was due chiefly to the
increase in the number of revaccination cases owing to the widespread
prevalence of smallpox. The average number of persons vaccinated by a
vaccinator in mufassal municipalities was 840 against 701, while that done by
licensed and paid vaccinators was 1,040 and 1.955 against 1,281 and 1,125,
respectively, in the previous year.
6. Protection afforded to infants.—During the year under report,
out of 1,243,862 available infants for vaccination, 360,017 or 299.43 per
mille were successfully vaccinated. In 5 districts only the protection was
over 500 per mille ; while in others the rate ranged between 449.33 and
57.68.
The lowest rate is recorded by Bakarganj where opposition to
infant vaccination is said to be very severe. The Eastern Bengal districts
in general are backward in this respect. Some improvement in this direction
is expected from the employment of the Special Inspector of Vaccination
already referred to.
The protection afforded to infants in municipalities is shown in Appendix
VII attached to the report. It will be seen that 848.91 per mille of the sur-
viving infant population was protected during the past year.
7. Recess Work.—During the recess 118,585 operations were performed
in connection with smallpox outbreaks.
8. Six-puncture vaccination.—The total number of successful opera-
tions primary and revaccination, in six points in the Presidency was 240,527
and 24,558 respectively, against 695,807 and 47,899. The decrease is no
doubt due to some extent to the general decrease in the reported number of
operations. The number returned during the previous year was probably
largely swollen by fictitious entries.
9. Factory and Tea-garden Vaccination.—During 1914-15 the total num-
ber of primary and revaccination operations performed in factories and
tea-gardens in Bengal amounted to 2,839 and 2,620 respectively, against 2,640
and 1,672 in the previous year.
10. Cost Of and contribution towards vaccination.—The cost of vacci-
nation during the year was Rs. 1,95,210-10-8 against Rs. 1,98,162-8-2 in the
previous year. The average cost of each successful case of vaccination was
two annas and three pies against one anna and 10 pies.
The District Boards and Cantonments contributed Rs. 5,556-5-4 and 96,
against Rs. 4,623-7-6 and Rs. 100-10-6 respectively, in the previous
year.
Diagram illustrating death-rates
from smallpox and degree of pro-
tection afforded.
11. The diagram facing this page illustrates the death-rates from small-
pox in each district, the proportion of population
protected against the disease by vaccination during
the past seven years being shown side by side.
Deaths from smallpox
12. During 1914-15 the total number of deaths from smallpox in this
Presidency was 20,734 shewing a ratio .45 per
mille of the population as compared with 8,134
with a ratio of .17 in 1913-14. In almost all the districts the ratio was higher
than in the preceding year. The following districts record the largest
number of deaths—24-Parganas (3,906), Midnapore (3,436), Calcutta (2,743),
Chittagong (2,388). Howrah (1,896), and Hooghly (1,054), the lowest number
being recorded by Darjeeling (18).