3
From the figures noted below, it would
appear that the condition of vaccina-
tion in those municipalities is very un-
satisfactory :—
Panihati ... ...
Barrackpur ... ...
Khardah ... ...
Baranagar ... ...
Kamarhati ... ...
Barasat ... ...
North Dam Dum ...
South Dum Dum ...
Number
of births
during
1922.
192
142
84
652
362
78
248
67
Vaccina-
tion
under
one year.
4
13
10
46
79
9
135
11
The registration of births is also defec-
tive. The municipal Chairmen's atten-
tion was drawn to this fact.
7. Recess Vaccination.—The total
number of operations performed during
the recess or non-working season of
1923-24 was 188,065 against 213,794
during the preceding year. The decrease
is due to the less prevalence of smallpox.
8. Six-puncture Vaccination.—During
1923-24, 142,422 and 4,092 successful pri-
mary and re-vaccination operations res-
pectively were performed in six points
against 172,833 and 6,254 during the
previous year. The largest number of
such operations (22,935) was reported
from Midnapur. The gradual reduc-
tion in the number of operations in
six points is due to the apathy and in-
difference of the people.
9. Factory and tea garden vaccina-
tion.—Nine thousand, nine hundred and
eighty-two primary and 4,112 re-vaccina-
tion operations were performed in fac-
tories and tea gardens of this Presidency
during the year under report against
5,479 and 2,264 respectively during the
preceding year. Although there was a
marked increase in the number of opera-
tions performed in the factories and tea
gardens, still it is a deplorable fact that
Jalpaiguri with its numerous tea gardens
reported only 645 cases during the year.
Had returns from all the tea gardens
been received, the number would cer-
tainly have risen substantially. The
attention of the Chairman of the Duars
Planters' Association was drawn to it
but with very little effect so far.
Vaccination within the limits of Rail-
ways and the Port of Calcutta have made
very satisfactory progress—the figures
being 24,108 and 11,274 respectively
against 5,469 and 12,997 during 1922-23.
10. Cost and contribution towards
Vaccination.—During 1923-24 the total
cost of vaccination amounted to Rs.
4,27,734-9-1 against Rs. 4,08,269-0-11
during the previous year. The average
cost of each successful case of vaccination
during the year under report was the
same as in the preceding year, viz.,
three annas and nine pies only. The
District Boards and Cantonments con-
tributed Rs. 1,57,521-10-7 and Rs. 331,
respectively against Rs. 1,43,398-3-1
and Rs. 339 in 1922-23. The local
Government as usual contributed a sum
of Rs. 25,000 to the District Boards
for the promotion of free vaccination.
11. Diagram illustrating death rates
from smallpox and the degree of protec-
tion afforded during the years 1914-15 to
1923-24.—The death rates from small-
pox in each district and the proportion of
population protected against the disease
by vaccination during the past ten years
are shown side by side in the diagram
facing this page.
12.
Deaths from smallpox.—From
smallpox 3,906 deaths were recorded in
this Presidency during 1923-24 against
7,468 and 6,380 during the two preceding
years, the ratios per mil1e of population
being .08 against 16 and .14. The.
largest number of deaths was recorded
in the districts of Chittagong (775),
Dacca (699), Mymensingh (522), Jal-
paiguri (479), 24-Parganas (299), Mid-
napur (244), Burdwan (133), Rajshahi
(111), Tippera (69), Hooghly (67),
Howrah
(59), Calcutta
(56) and
Murshidabad (54), while the other
districts recorded 4 to 50 deaths.
From the statement No. VI appended
to this report it would appear that
the ratio of death from smallpox per
mille of population is the lowest on record
during the last ten years. Whether this
is due to free vaccination or is a lull
before the storm cannot be said at pre-
sent until the next season is over.
13.
Bengal Vaccine Depôt.—The
total number of calves vaccinated in the
Bengal Vaccine Depot during the year
was 2,272 against 2,726 and 2,456 during
the two previous years and the quantity
of lymph manufactured was 1,694,180
grains against 1,706, 089 and 1,490,222,
grains. This together with a balance of
145,028 grains from 1922-23 gave us a
total of 1,839,208 grains of which
1,764,339 grains were actually issued to
the districts against 1,563,861 and