12
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BENGAL
Successful operations.—The following table indicates the number of successful vaccine
operations performed in the four circles during the year under report:—
CIRCLES.
1st Circle ...
2nd do. ...
3rd do. ...
4th do. ...
Grand Total...
PRIMARY VACCINATION.
Total.
108,524
60,632
133,999
90,902
394,107
Result.
Successful.
107,267
60,417
133,714
89,970
391,368
Unsuccessful, in-
cluding doubtful.
1,183
242
277
774
2,476
Unknown.
74
23
8
158
263
RE-VACCINATION.
Total.
49
...
30
...
79
Result.
Successful.
15
... 20
...
35
Unsuccessful, in-
cluding doubtful.
26
... 10
...
36
Unknown.
8
...
...
...
8
Grand Total.
108,573
60,682
134,029
90,902
394,186
Percentage of success,
excluding unknown.
Primary vaccina-
tion.
97.92
99.72
99.78
98.97
99.37
Secondary vaccina-
tion.
30.61
... 66.66
......
49.29
REMARKS.
It is also to be noted that several of the thanas and villages were gone over twice
and even three times.
Comparison.—The number as compared with those of previous years is not large as
will be seen from the next tabular statement, which indicates the number of vaccinations
done during the past five years, but it is very encouraging and satisfactory, considering that
it was the first experimental year: —
1
YEARS.
1873-74
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1874-75
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1875-76
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1876-77
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1877-78
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1878-79
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
Total number
vaccinated.
306,676
402,385
471,871
521,950
457,822
394,186
3
Number successful.
305,968
401,486
470,609
520,860
455,546
391,403
4
Ratio per cent.
successful, excluding
those unknown
from the total
99.80
99.8
99.78
99.82
99.55
99.36
To account for the falling off in numbers the following reasons are suggested :—
(1) Paucity of unprotected children in districts that had been gone over twice
or three times.
(2) Sickness, chiefly malarious fever, both among the people and the vaccinators.
(3) The interference of inoculators and other untrained men in several thanas.
(4) The fee system by which the vaccinators lost much time in collecting their
dues which would have otherwise been devoted to vaccinating.
Disadvantages of the System.—It was difficult to ensure payment for each case from
the people among whom, it is to be borne in mind, prejudices against vaccination still
linger.
The agricultural and labouring classes who were badly off during October and November
deferred payment till after harvest. A vaccinator had sometimes to call four, five, or six
times before he could get his two annas, which often was paid in instalments. In many
instances they entirely failed to realize their dues. To avoid payment the people of a
village in a sub-division of the Midnapore district even went so far as to bring a false charge
against the vaccinators which fortunately broke down; but the fact shows how the people
may successfully refuse and resist payment with impunity. It should be mentioned that
the poorest were altogether exempted from payment, and those removed from them by one
or more degrees were charged only half rates.
Fees.—The recent Government notification authorized two annas as a fee on every head,
male or female, to be charged.
The two annas rate having been once promulgated in these circles, no departure from it
should take place just now ; but after a few years when the number of unprotected children
shall be much fewer, it may be advisable to raise the fee, otherwise it would not pay vaccin-
ators.
Control.—Under the new license system the Superintendents and Deputy Superintend-
ents have lost much of their control over the vaccinators who, receiving no salary from
Government, naturally are not so obedient and submissive as before. The only check on
them is the license which, for misbehaviour and disobedience of orders, can be withheld or
withdrawn, but even then a vaccinator who has thus lost his license may retire to a quiet
corner and there carry on his work.