FOR THE YEAR 1875-76.
5
to accept it. Though the work fell short as compared with 1874-75, still, as Dr. Charles
shows, the numbers were higher than those of any of the previous five years:—
STATEMENT No. XI.
Years.
1875-76... ...
1873-74... ...
1872-73... ...
1871-72... ...
1870-71... ...
1869-70... ...
Town.
7,022
6,817
6,688
4,876
5,390
5,463
..
...
...
.
...
...
...
.
.
.
Suburbs.
11,562
8,360
9,807
6,899
7,024
7,440
Percentage of
success.
The character of the vaccination remained as high as ever, the ratio of successful cases
being 99.87 per cent.—a result which Dr. Charles vouches for from personal inspection and
verification, and which demonstrates how admirably he has trained his men, and how
zealously they carry out the practical lessons which he, by precept and example alike, has
pressed home upon them. Under heading of " Progress of Vaccination," Dr. Charles gives
several instances of vaccination having been introduced for the first time into many houses of
the town. So many as 546 houses were for the first time brought under the protection of
vaccination.
Small-pox in
Calcutta.
Deductions from
the prevalence
of small-pox
throughout the
town.
14. Small-pox prevailed in Calcutta, but not epidemically, as during the preceding
year. The number of deaths from that disease during the different months were as follows:—
April (1875) 172, May 85, June 46, July 23, August 12, September 8, October 2,
November 2; January (1876) 1, February 7, and in March 20. The disease was not
confined to any particular locality, but cases were met with in almost every part of the
town, notably in Taltollah, Jaun Bazar, Collingah, Bow Bazar, Sankaritollah, Puddopooker,
Nebootollah, Beparitollah, Zig-Zag Lane, Elliot Road, Gorastan Lane, Camac Street, Wood
Street, &c., &c., in the South division ; and in Machooa Bazar, Rajarbagan, Simla, Manick-
tollah Street, Cornwallis Street, Shampookur Lane, Hogulcoorea, Bulloram Day's Street,
Jorabagan, Goabagan, Pathooriaghatta, Aheeritollah, Gurrunhuttah, Hatkhollah, Prossono
Coomar Tagore's Street, Coomertollee, Jhamapookur, Colootollah, &c., &c., in the North
division. The suburbs, both north and south, also furnished cases, as Entally, Ooltadangah,
Manicktollah, Balliaghatta in the north suburbs, and Garden Reach, Subjee Bagan, Alipore,
Watgunge, Sonie, Moocheekholla, Doogdoogee in the south of Calcutta. Dr. Charles
deduces two lessons from the prevalence of small-pox throughout the town—(1) that
despite all efforts and exertions of vaccinators hundreds of adults come to Calcutta, and
reside for a longer or shorter period in an unprotected state, and these are the persons who
are very apt to catch the disease when it goes about; and (2) that in a great metropolis
like Calcutta, in spite of small-pox being imported again and again, it has been kept down
within such narrow limits as not to assume- epidemic dimensions, showing thereby that the
population is so well protected that it can be exposed to such a severe risk with but feeble
risk of suffering.
Vaccine lymph.
Reagents for the
preservation of
lymph.
15. Dr. Charles continues to supply vaccine lymph in tubes to those that ask for it,
and he passes every supply himself. The lymph, when put in tubes, is said by Dr. Charles
to be most perfect; but the delay in transmission to distant places is apt to decompose it,
and by the time it arrives at its destination it has often entirely lost its potency. Salicylic
and boracic acids are now being tried by him as reagents for preserving the vaccine lymph
during its transit, and the advantage or otherwise from their use will hereafter be fully
detailed.
Officers
commended.
16. Dr. Charles reports very highly of the services rendered to the cause of vaccin-
ation by his old superintendents Baboo Kalidas Bose and Kassi Chundra Dutt. The latter,
he says, has got his reward in his promotion to the Dacca School of Medicine, and the
former he recommends for an appointment in the Metropolitan circles. I need hardly say
how gladly I shall recommend his protegé when an opportunity occurs. Regarding the two
new superintendents, Dr. Charles says that up to the present time he is perfectly satisfied
with them. Dr. Charles's unremitting zeal, earnestness, and energy, are so well known to
Government, that it is almost supererogatory to remark that he continues to apply himself
with his usual devotion to this great and important work. He must almost be fully
rewarded by the splendid success which he and his establishment have achieved.
METROPOLITAN
CIRCLES
17. The Metropolitan Circles.—Surgeon K. P. Gupta, M.B., who held the super-
intendence of the circles throughout the year, has submitted a detailed and interesting report.
The establishment remained as before.
Extension of area.
18. The extent of the circles was augmented by the addition of the southern half of
the Jessore district, so that the circles now include six districts,—24-Pergunnahs, Nuddea,
Jessore, Burdwan, Hooghly, and Howrah,—comprising an area of about 15,000 square miles,
and containing a population of nearly 10,000,000.