ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
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Respecting the reduced numbers performed in the suburbs, it is said that the falling
off took place in the South Division. In the North Division, instead of a falling off, a small
increase had to be noted.
In his explanation submitted to Dr. Charles, it is said the Superintendent of the South
Division urged as a reason the increased activity of the vaccination in previous years owing
to the presence of small-pox, and the fact that many persons had been protected. He also
enumerated several large and populous villages which had been removed from the suburbs,
and the inhabitants of which had emigrated beyond municipal limits. Regarding this
explanation Dr. Charles admits the reasons given as valid in some degree, but adds:—
" I am not willing to accept his explanation as entirely covering all the facts of the case. I
have, however, written to him to the effect that even if I were wrong in expecting that he
should have vaccinated more persons up to the end of February, I feel very sure that I am
not wrong in believing that the facts he urges would not cover the falling off in March.
The average of vaccination in March for five years amounts to 1,716. This year 501 persons
were vaccinated, and I cannot help feeling that if determined pressure were brought upon
the people upwards of 1,200 persons would be found who might by one means or another
be vaccinated."
Success in primary operations.—The character of the lymph, says Dr. Charles, was
excellent, the virus had been kept up to the highest attainable standard of perfection, and the
results have been uniformly satisfactory.
Of the 6,614 primary vaccinations performed in the town by the permanent establish-
ment, 6,440 were successful, or 99.30 per cent; of the 2,278 by the extra establishment,
2,270 were successful, or 99.60 per cent. Seven thousand and twenty-six cases were
successful among the primary operations performed in the suburbs, giving a percentage
of 99.54.
Re-vaccinations and their success.—The total number of re-vaccinations performed during
the past year was 3,505 in town and 3,660 in the suburbs. In the previous year the
numbers were respectively 4,814 and 4,720.
In town 1,959 was the number done by the permanent establishment, of which only
176 showed perfectly successful results and 478 a success modified by previous protection, and
by the extra establishment 1,546, of which 387 were followed by a successful result.
Among those in the suburbs, only in 766 cases the persons proved capable of receiving
an entirely successful vaccination, while in 1,373 they were as successfully vaccinated as
their partial state of protection admitted of.
Prevalence of small-pox.—In the North Division of the town it is said the disease pre-
vailed everywhere during the month of April, and even in May almost every thana was
more or less affected. As the weather became warm it began to decline in June, and seemed
to die out before the end of August. September, October, and November were clear months.
In the week ending 27th December one death was reported, which failed to be traced.
In the South Division of the town 84 cases were brought to notice in Bow Bazar,
Fenwick Bazar, Cullinga, and Taltollah thanas. Subsequently 15 more were reported. In
March the Health Officer brought to notice that small-pox was reported in Short Bazar. On
enquiry seven cases were found. In this month eight more cases cropped up at different
points, but the disease did not make any head.
During September, October, and November one case only was reported, while the
division was free from small-pox in December and February, though in January a few
cases had to be dealt with.
In the North Division of the suburbs small-pox was in like manner prevalent during
the months of April and May. In June the disease lessened, and in July and August
few cases were seen. September, October, November, and December were clear months.
A pilgrim-ship arrived from Mecca with small-pox on board. Three of the passengers
got the disease after landing. They lived in the Baliaghatta thana and communicated
small-pox to two others in the neighbourhood. Six other cases were noted in this thana
in persons who came from the Midnapore district. In Manicktollah thana a man from
Jessore was attacked, and some up-country people also developed the disease while living
in Belgachia thana. Cases were also met with in the Cossipore, Chitpore, and Entally
thanas, but at no point did the disease succeed in establishing a hold. Other examples
are given of the appearance of the disease in the town as a consequence of importation.
In regard to the prevalence of this disease and the measures adopted to stamp it out,
Dr. Charles writes:—"The fact of small-pox having again and again outstripped our
vigilance, and having caused in the last two years such extensive loss of life, led to a
critical investigation being made into the system under which such epidemic visitation remained
possible. One great cause for apprehension is to be found in the fact that small-pox
cases lie undiscovered for so long a time and disseminate the contagion of the
disease to considerable lengths before protective measures are had recourse to. In my
report on the stamping out small-pox in Calcutta, special stress is laid on the crying
want of early information, and a proposal is made to have it rendered compulsory
to report all cases of small-pox to the police, just as births and deaths are now reported.
I still press for such compulsory report, and the progress made of late years at home in
having all infectious diseases notified to the health authorities in many districts makes
me more sanguine than I should otherwise feel that this essential precaution will before
long be taken in Calcutta with regard to small-pox
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