2
average, primary vaccinations showing a falling off of 475,206 which was to
some extent counterbalanced by an increase of 169.995 in re-vaccination cases.
The decrease in the total number of operations reported is chiefly due to the
stricter supervision exercised now-a-days by Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors
of Vaccination over the work of the vaccinators, and by Deputy Sanitary
Commissioners over the work of both, the effect being to check the temptation
to submit false figures. The growing difficulty experienced by licensed
vaccinators in realising their prescribed fee has also got something to do with
the decrease of vaccinations. Many vaccinators complain that they cannot
obtain payment of their dues and unfortunately Magistrates and Panchayets
are almost powerless to assist them in the absence of any enactment
legalising these fees.
The rate of success under the two different heads—Primary and
Revaccination, was slightly lower in the case of the former and somewhat
higher in that of the latter, viz., 96'71 and 64.29 against 97.99 and 60.78
than in former years.
The number of operations performed by a vaccinator was on an average
1,045 against 1,245 of the previous triennial period. the average work of a
licensed and a paid vaccinator being 1,028 and 1,117 against 1.340 and 768,
respectively.
As compared with the preceding year (1915-16) there was an increase
of operations in 13 and a decrease in 15 districts. including Calcutta.
The increase was marked in Jalpaiguri (24,616). Rangpur (14,804), Mymen¬
singh (11,562), and Faridpur (4,716), while the principal decrease occurred
in 8 districts, viz., Midnapore (13,255), Backerganj (12,327), 24-Parganas
(9,762), Tippera (9,945), Nadia (8,752), Khulna (7,553), Noakhali (4,980), and
Chittagong (4,567). The Civil Surgeon of Jalpaiguri offers no explanation
of the increase, but it is evidently due to a severe outbreak of small-pox
in the Patgram, Alipur Duar, Dhup Guri, Dam-Dim and Jalpaiguri thanas
and certain Tea Gardens. In Rangpur and Mymensingh it is attributed to
the general healthiness of the year and the consequent smaller prevalence of
malaria and cholera, and also to the activity of the staff, while in Faridpur
it is reported to be due to the introduction of free vaccination in Bhanga
thana, where six paid vaccinators were entertained at the cost of the District
Board. In Midnapore there was an increase of 15,198 in primary vaccina-
tion, but a decrease of 28,557 in re-vaccination which led to the net decrease
of 13,225. The Civil Surgeon reports that this was due to the fact that the
staff was instructed by him to pay greater attention to primary vaccination.
Regarding the decrease in Backerganj the Civil Surgeon says that both the
licensed and the paid agency system (the latter being free) are being worked
here side by side and this led the people of three thanas to refuse vaccination
under the licensed system, for which they have to pay. Moreover, the
licensed vaccinators could not realize the major portion of their fees for last
year and so they were unwilling to perform vaccinations for which
payment was uncertain. A large number of re-vaccinations were performed
during the preceding year owing to greater prevalence of small-pox, and this
also partly accounts for the net decrease. In Tipperah, Khulna and Noakhali
the Civil Surgeons ascribe the decrease to absence of small-pox in epidemic
form during the year under review, while in Nadia and Chittagong this is
said to be partly due to the fact that three vaccination circles remained
vacant in each of these districts for want of vaccinators. Besides this in
the latter district. seven vaccinators worked for two to three months only
during the season.
5. Protection afforded to infants.—During 1916-17, out of 1,210,260,
the estimated number of available infants for vaccination, 370,659 or 306.26
per mille were successfully vaccinated as compared with 318.01 during the
preceding year. In only five districts the protection afforded to infants was over
500 per mille while in the rest it was below this standard. The districts in
the Dacca and Chittagong Divisions with the exception of the Chittagong
Hill Tracts were the worst in this respect.
The supposed protection afforded to infants in municipalities is shown in
Appendix VII attached to this report. It will be seen from this that 641.74
per mille of the surviving infant population was reported to be protected
during the past year against 712.71 in the year before. But my own
observations throw grave doubt upon the correctness of these figures ;
and recent inspections by Deputy Sanitary Commissioners in different parts