MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 12TH JANUARY 1877.
RESOLUTION.
READ—
The Report by the Surgeon-General, Indian Medical Department, on Vaccination in the
Lower Provinces of Bengal during the year 1875-76.
Read again—
The Report for 1874-75, with the orders of Government passed thereon.
The steady advance which has been made in extending to the inhabitants
of these provinces the benefits of vaccination was noticed with satisfaction in the
review of the report on the administration of the department for the year
1874-75. Further progress has been again made during the past year, and the
results achieved continue to afford just grounds for encouragement in the future.
It is estimated by the Surgeon-General that, to equal the birth-rate in these
provinces, not less than 2,040,000 persons should be annually vaccinated. In
the past year the number actually so protected was somewhat less' than one-half
of this estimate. Though still far short of what is required, the general
outturn of work is not unsatisfactory.
2. The number of persons vaccinated by the staff of Government vacci-
nators in the various circles of superintendence, and by vaccinators working
under the supervision of the civil surgeons of districts, during the past four
years is shown in the following comparative table :—
Calcutta and Suburbs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Metropolitan ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Darjeeling Circle ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Ranchee
„
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Sonthal Pergunnahs
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Eastern Bengal Circle
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Orissa Circle
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Behar „
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dispensary vaccination
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
...
...
1875-76.
40,173
471,856
136,905
13,818
30,306
96,840
1,293
4,328
193,339
988,858
1874-75.
41,300
402,385
120,669
27,343
22,867
110,950
......
......
234,159
959,673
1873-74.
38,796
306,676
97,757
37,411
15,039
78,491
......
......
217,464
791,634
1872-73.
31,483
267,074
106,399
36,518
11,071
47,549
......
......
187,312
687,406
3. It appears that while, as in the previous year, the Metropolitan,
Darjeeling, and Sonthal Pergunnahs Circles continue to show a large
increase in the annual outturn of work, the Ranchee Circle, where in the
previous year a very marked falling off was observable, is again conspicuous for
a large decrease in the number of persons vaccinated. Though the work
performed in the Eastern Bengal Circle was less than in the previous year, it was
still considerably in excess of the recorded results of 1872-73 and the following
year. In the Calcutta Circle there was a similar temporary decrease observable.
As regards what is called " Dispensary vaccination," the figures given show
a very marked falling off, and the standard of 1872-73 has been little more
than maintained.
4. In the course of the past year two new circles of superintendence were
opened out—one in Behar, and the other in Orissa. The results obtained,
especially in the circle last named, have as yet been insignificant. This is
attributable to the fact that the season for vaccination had partly passed
away before the new establishments could be organized. In the circles
established in previous years no material change was made in the sanctioned
agency. It must be admitted that operations were carried on in the Sonthal