4
and 2,454 during the two preceding years, the quantity of lymph manufactured
therefrom being 765,201, 783,632 and 772,587 grains, respectively. The
average of the triennial period was 2,281 calves and 773,807 grains of lymph
against 2,146 and 662,465 during the previous triennial poriod
13. Different methods of vaccination.—During the past year 3,433
primary operations were performed with lymph direct from calves 1,303,762
with lanoline lymph and 21,165 with glycerinated lymph against 6,987, 1,227,413
and 17,918, respectively, during 1915-16, and 10,630, 1,097,546 and 28,836 dur¬
ing; 1914-15. The ratio per cent. of success under each of these methods of
vaccination was 93.03, 93.33 and 96.64, respectively, against 97.47, 96.94 and
95.38 during 1915-16 and 96.81, 96.58 and 97.79, during 1914-15.
The number of revaccinations performed under each of the above pro-
cesses was 2,918, 280,056 and 7,943 with a success of 54.18, 57.63, and 29 81
per cent. respectively, against 12,048, 317,932 and 11,217 with a success of 63.17
63.99 and 35.02 during 1915-16 and 20,577, 354,036 and 86,136 with a success
of 70.40, 63.13 and 33.99 during 1914-15.
Although arm-to-arm vaccination was entirely abolished long ago, it is
reported that 38,100 operations were performed under this system in the
24-Parganas during 1915-16, and 133 cases in Darjeeling during 1916-17.
It is reported that this was resorted to on account of emergencies—an enquiry
is being made into the matter.
14. Inspections.—During 1916-17, Dr. M. E. Sufi, Deputy Sanitary
Commissioner, Dacca Circle, inspected 28,843 cases, Dr. B. B. Brahmachari
of the Presidency Circle 30,633 cases, and Dr. S. N. Sur of the Burdwan
Circle 17,041 cases, while Dr. S. P. Gupta of the Rajshahi Circle examined
6,961 children including many unprotected ones. The Civil Surgeons saw
altogether 75,588 cases or 4.75 per cent. of the total operations performed in
the Presidency. One of them, viz., the Civil Surgeon of Dinajpur, saw over
10,000 operations, one from 5,000 to 10,000, 13 from 2,000 to 5,000, 5 from
1,000 to 2,000, and 8 below 1,000 cases.
The Vaccination Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors inspected 9,38,522 cases
or 59.01 per cent. of the total operations performed in the Presidency.
Generally each Inspector inspected the work of all the vaccinators under
him once during the season and each Sub-Inspector twice.
15. General remarks.—Free vaccination at the cost of District Boards
was continued during 1916-17, in the Sadar Sub-Division of Bakarganj and in
the 24-Parganas district and it worked satisfactorily. It was also introduced
in the Bhanga thana of the Faridpur district as an experimental measure.
The Civil Surgeon writes that the system has worked better as the people who
were reluctant to get vaccinated on payment of fees welcomed the opportunity
of free vaccination, and thus many villages where vaccination was strongly
objected to in previous years were vaccinated this year. Unfortunately the
vaccine paste prepared during 1916-17 was not as satisfactory as usual.
This was found to be due to the inferior quality of the lanoline available. In
consequence of the present European war the depôt had to use unbleached
lanoline which on analysis was found to contain a large percentage of mineral
substance and free fatty acids. This affected the quality of the lymph ; as a
result whereof there were large failures of cases as well as in points, the
number of repetition cases being consequently large.
A new method of inspection was introduced in 1916. Inspectors and
Sub-Inspectors of Vaccination, as well as Civil Surgeons and Deputy Sanitary
Commissioners being asked to report the proportion of children protected and
unprotected by vaccination, respectively, in every village inspected by them.
Already this new method of inspection has brought to light the fact that in
many districts from 1/3 to ½ the children under. 5 years of age escape
vaccination.
It is hoped as a result of the knowledge thus gained to speedily put
matters upon a proper footing by reorganizing the methods of work of the
department throughout the province.
The prescribed statements are appended to this report.
C. A. BENTLEY, M.B., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H.,
Sanitary Commissioner for Bengal.
CALCUTTA :
The 12th June 1917.