3
of this Presidency, confirm this view and proves that a very large
proportion of the child-population is entirely unprotected. This state of
things constitutes a grave danger to the Province as small-pox is a
disease which specially attacks children under five years of age ; and
epidemics of small-pox are bound in these circumstances to occur from
time to time in district after district. Having regard to these facts and
in view of the prevalence of small-pox since the close of the year in more or
less severe form in parts of Burdwan, Hooghly, Midnapore, Jalpaiguri,
Dinajpur, Pabna, Faridpur and Noakhali. I have addressed the District
Boards concerned suggesting that they should take early steps to organise
free vaccination throughout their respective districts. So far Jalpaiguri alone
has responded in the affirmative and it would seem that District Boards
generally do not realize that vaccination is an important branch of sanitation,
for which they should accept responsibility. It should be mentioned here
that in Bakarganj. 24-Parganas and Faridpur, the District Boards have
already taken steps to organize free vaccination. And the sooner other
District Boards follow their example and adopt measures for the thorough
protection of the people against small-pox, the better it will be for the
populations concerned.
6. Recess Work.—142,207 vaccinations were performed during the
recess or non-working season of 1916-17. in connection with small-pox
epidemics, against 215.752 and 118.585 during the two preceding years.
The average operations of the triennial period under review was 1,58,848
against 123,251 during the previous epoch. In this connexion it must be
pointed out that if vaccination were properly performed there should be little
or no necessity for this sort of work in the off-season.
7. Six-puncture vaccination.—In spite of strong opposition from
parents or guardians to have their infants vaccinated on more than 4 points
the total number of successful primary and re-vaccination operations in six
points in this Presidency during 1916-17 was 221,226 and 5,622 against
259,157, 10,212, 240,527 and 24,558, respectively. during the two previous
years. The average of the triennial period was 240.303 primary, and 13,464
re-vaccination cases against 434,371 and 19,588, respectively, during the past
triennium.
8. Factory and Tea Gardens Vaccination.—The total number of pri-
mary and re-vaccinations performed in factories and tea gardens in this
Presidency during 1916-17 was 7,930 and 4,408 against 6,796 and 4,083, respec-
tively, during 1915-16 and 2,839 and 2,620 during 1914-15. The average of
the triennial period in primary and re-vaccination was 5,855 and 3,704 against
2,926 and 1,209. Thus it appear, that greater attention is being paid to vaccina-
tion both in factories and tea gardens.
9. Cost of and contribution towards vaccination.—The total average
cost of vaccination in Bengal for the triennial period under review was
Rs. 1,98,549-2-9 against Rs. 1,79,380-10-7 during 1911-12 to 1913-14, the
cost of each successful vaccination being annas two and pies three against
one anna and seven pies. Out of the average cost of vaccination as shown
above Rs. 10,818-3-6 was contributed by District Boards and Rs. 96-8-10 by
Cantonments against Rs. 2,448-8-9 and Rs. 84-2-8, respectively, during the
previous triennial period.
10. Diagram illustrating death-rates from small-pox and degree of
protection afforded.—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.
11. Deaths from small-pox.—During the past year the total number of
deaths from small-pox in this Presidency was 10,519 against 24,074 and
20,734, respectively, during 1915-16, and 1914-15 the ratio per 1,000 of popula-
tion being 23 against .52 and .45. The largest number of deaths were recorded
in the districts of Mymensingh (1,653), Bankura (1,221) Burdwan (1,206)
24-Parganas (1,161) Midnapore (1,006), Bogra (510), Jalpaiguri (494), Pabna
(324). Rangpore (322), Nadia (262), Hughli (250), Dinajpur (241), Mur¬
shidabad (239), Birbhum (236), Chittagong (219) and Khulna (185), while
the districts of Noakhali, Darjeeling, Calcutta, Faridpur. Malda and Bakarganj
show only 33, 35, 36, 49, 62 and 71 deaths, respectively.
12. Animal Vaccine Depot.—The total number of calves vaccinated in
the Animal Vaccine Depôt, Calcutta, during 1916-17 was 2,123 against 2,266