MEDICAL & MUNICIPAL DEPT.
MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 15TH NOVEMBER 1880.
RESOLUTION.
READ—.
The report by the Surgeon-General for Bengal on Vaccination during the year
1879-80.
The report on Vaccination, which was due on the 31st July last, reached
this office on the 30th September last. The delay is due to the fact that the
statistical tables appended to the report have for the first time been prepared
in the forms prescribed by the orders of the Government of India, dated the
9th May 1877.
2. The general results of the past year compare favourably with those of
the previous year. The total number of operations performed during 1879-80,
including re-vaccinations, was 1,742,995 against 1,315,884 in 1878-79, and
1,285,301 in 1877-78, showing a net increase of 427,111 cases as compared with
the results of the previous year. Of the above, 1,021,452 operations were per-
formed by licensed vaccinators, and 654,898 by the vaccine staff, exclusive of
dispensary vaccinators, against 625,439 and 567,623 respectively in 1878-79.
There was an increase of work in all the circles, except in the Calcutta and
Behar Circles, which showed a falling off of 25,937 cases. A decrease is
observable in dispensary vaccination to the extent of 56,177 cases, but
this is counterbalanced by the general increased outturn of work.
The
increase was greatest in the Metropolitan and Darjeeling Circles, which showed
an excess of 231,202 and 113,692 respectively over the operations of the
preceding year. Of the total number of operations performed, 25,562 were
re-vaccinations. Of these, 21,012 were performed in the Calcutta Circle alone,
and 2,273 in the remaining circles; while 2,277 were performed by vaccinators
attached to dispensaries.
3. The number of operations effected in the Calcutta Circle (37,792) was
less by 25,039 than that performed in the preceding year. It is urged, however,
that in 1877-78 and 1878-79 vaccination was abnormally stimulated by the
alarm arising from the epidemic which prevailed. Comparison can therefore
most fairly be made with 1876-77 and the two previous years. Dr. Charles
appeals to the following figures to show that in the town of Calcutta vaccina-
tion is making very satisfactory progress, though there has been a serious
falling off in the Suburbs:—
Average of 5 years ending
1874-75
...
...
1875-76 ... ...
1876-77 ... ...
1879-80 ... ...
1879-80 ... ...
Town.
8,295
6,266
5,882
8,505
8,892
Suburbs.
9,781
9,626
9,384
9,624
7,082
The decrease in the Suburbs is said to have taken place in the southern
division only. The Superintendent attributes this to the special activity of
previous years. Dr. Charles properly declines to accept this explanation as
sufficient, and points to the falling off in March from an average of 1,716 to 501
as indicating a want of energy and perseverance on the part of the staff. In
this view the Lieutenant-Governor concurs.
In the Behar Circle the returns show a decrease of 898 cases on the very small
total (11,959) of the previous year. The chief explanation offered, that the number
of unprotected children has been greatly reduced, cannot be accepted as in any
way satisfactory. The general aversion of the people is also referred to, and
this the Commissioner seems to consider the chief cause. It will not be possible
for Government to maintain the expensive establishment now at work for such