16
10. I think, therefore, the plan already indicated of vaccinating children at a large village
and then inspecting the results of vaccination at another village not far distant on the eighth
day, and so on in a defined circle round each Registration Circle, superior to any other. The
vaccinator is thus able to vaccinate at least a hundred children every week, as well as to see
the results of the previous week's operations, no necessity ever arising of using crusts or
points. The work of inspection is also rendered easier, both to the inspector and inspected ;
while the parents are put to little or no inconvenience, and are only required to attend
for a few hours on the first and eighth day of the operation.
11. If this plan be adopted in future years, I am confident that it will be found practi-
cable to greatly reduce the staff of vaccinators. It only requires for its success the hearty co-
operation of the district authorities, for by such help I was enabled in less than six weeks to
personally superintend the vaccination and inspection of more than 900 children " arm to arm."
12. As a rule each child had three punctures on each arm. This number might be
considered too many, as producing an unnecessary amount of constitutional disturbance and
suffering; but when the habits of the people are considered, and their extreme indifference to
their children playing in mud and dust, I think that if the number of punctures were reduced,
many of the cases would prove unsuccessful or give doubtful results. I have not myself
observed any injurious consequences, nor were the constitutional symptoms more severe in
those who had six vesicles than in those who had less.
13. Vaccine operations were brought to a close on the 30th April, but they could well
have been continued up to the end of May in those circles above the ghats, for up to date
of writing this report (28th May) I have vaccinated 28 children at the Charitable Dispensary
and have not yet observed any loss of vigour in the virus, and every case vaccinated has
hitherto proved successful.
14. Owing to the close of operations, as above stated, the work in five circles where vacci-
nators were posted remains still to completed, and will have to be resumed next season.
15. It will be seen from Return No. 1 or the General Statement, that 17,224 children
have been vaccinated, giving an average of 1,722 2/5 operations to each vaccinator. Of the total
number vaccinated the results are as follows:—
15,543 successful, or 90.24 per cent.
798 unsuccessful, or 4.63
„
577 doubtful, or 334 „
306 unknown, or 1.79
„
Of the 798 unsuccessful cases, 406 were re-vaccinated with successful results in 385 cases,
or 94.82 per cent.
16. The percentage of unsuccessful cases is rather large and is accounted for by the
vaccinators having in many instances vaccinated children who had been vaccinated in former
years, and in many of whom there were good cicatrices—thus at Khamárpání, of 112 children
inspected by me, there were -
35 successful,
37 unsuccessful,
16 doubtful,
24 rising well.
Thirty-four of the unsuccessful cases bore good marks, and many of the doubtful cases
had also good marks.
Again at Bichwá, of 95 children inspected, there were—
48 successful,
24 unsuccessful,
23 doubtful.
Thirteen of the unsuccessful and six of the doubtful cases had good marks of previous
vaccination.
17. The percentage of doubtful cases is also somewhat high. I believe, however,
that a good number of the so-called doubtful cases were really successful, but the vesi-
cles having been torn and bruised by rough handling, presented a doubtful appearance on
the day of inspection and were so noted.