( 4 )
It is explained that in Behar and Orissa the Superintendents personally
inspected the cases. This, however, is not a sufficient excuse. The total number
of vaccinations recorded in the Behar Circle was only 11,061, and the Superin-
tendent should be called upon to explain why he only inspected 6,235 of these.
It can hardly be expected that vaccination will make progress among a people
who regard it with suspicion and aversion, if the superior staff do not exhibit
more interest in their work than appears to be the case in this circle. In the
Ranchi Circle, too, the number of cases inspected by the Superintendent was
quite insufficient, and an explanation should be required. In explanation of
the small outturn of inspection work performed in the Eastern Bengal Circle,
it is stated that the Deputy Superintendent was ineffective from illness during
half the season ; if this was the case, he should have applied to be relieved.
Of the Calcutta Circle no details are given. Of vaccinations performed by
licensed agency, 69.1 per cent were inspected. The officers of the Metro-
politan Circle inspected 94.7 per cent; those of the Darjeeling and Ranchi
Circles 31.3 respectively. In the Sonthal Pergunnahs and Eastern Bengal
Circles only 53.7 and 16 per cent respectively were inspected and verified.
The Lieutenant-Governor must insist on closer attention being paid to this
important work. Little reliance can be placed on vaccination if the inspection
is not searching and constant.
12. The work of the Vaccination Department is steadily increasing
year by year. The following table shows at a glance the total number of
persons vaccinated, and the number on whom the operation was successfully
performed during each of the years 1870-71 to 1879-80 inclusive:—
1870-71 ... ... ...
1871-72 ... ... ...
1872-73 ... ... ...
1873-74 ... ... ...
1874-75 ... ... ...
1875-76 ... ... ...
1876-77 ... ... ...
1877-78 ... ... ...
1878-79 ... ... ...
1879-80 ... ... ...
Total number
vaccinated.
317,895
343,239
649,125
742,664
945,971
1,068,800
1,485,956
1,240,800
1,276,800
1,717,433
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
297,767
308,219
585,078
692,469
880,308
999,693
1,447,537
1,185,496
1,239,435
1,681,996
13. The supervision and control of the Department has, since the close
of the year, passed from the Surgeon-General to the Sanitary Commissioner.
The office of Superintendent General of Vaccination having been abolished,
the work of the town has been made over to the Health Officer of the
Municipality, the charge of vaccination in the Suburbs being undertaken by the
Superintendent of the Metropolitan Circle. In communicating these orders to
the Surgeon-General, the Lieutenant-Governor desired that the thanks of the
Bengal Government might be tendered to Dr. Charles for the long and valuable
services rendered by him as Superintendent General of Vaccination. Vaccina-
tion has now attained a most satisfactory development in Calcutta, and Gov-
ernment has been enabled to pass a compulsory law with the approval of the
native inhabitants, who have been taught the value of vaccination by the ex-
perience of the last fifteen years. The credit for this is entirely due to
Dr. Charles, whose assiduity and devotion to the work have been crowned with
complete success.
ORDER.—Ordered that a copy of the above Resolution be forwarded to the
Surgeon-General, Bengal, to the Sanitary Commissioner for Bengal, and to all
Commissioners of Divisions for information.
Ordered also that a copy of the above Resolution, together with a copy of
the report for 1879-80, be submitted to the Government of India, in the Home,
Revenue and Agricultural Department, for information.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
COLMAN MACAULAY,
Offg. Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.