4
REPORT OF VACCINATION IN BENGAL
scale. It is to be hoped that with the progress of vaccination the prejudices of the
people will disappear, and infant vaccination may become the rule, as in all civilised
countries.
Cost of vaccination.
Cost of each
successful case.
STATEMENT No. IX.
CIRCLES.
Calcutta and suburbs..
Metropolitan Circles...
Darjeeling Circle...
Ranchee do...
Sonthal Pergunnahs Circle..
Eastern Bengal Circle...
Orissa Circle...
Behar do. ...
Dispensary vaccination...
Average.
Average cost of each
successful case.
1875-76.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
A.
7
1
2
14
2
1
5
6
1
1
P.
2
3
3
6
1
10
10
3
1
10
1874-75.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
6
1
2
7
2
1
P.
11
6
6
5
5
8
0
0
0
1
1
10
9. Cost of vaccination.—The aggregate cost of vaccination, as shown in table A,
was Rs. 1,05,800-9-11, against Rs. 1,02,069-2-3 in
1874-75—an increase of Rs. 3,731-7-8, due to the
opening of the two new circles. The cost to Govern-
ment amounted to Rs. 96,629-5-8, or about 90
per cent., and the remaining 10 per cent. was
paid by municipalities and local sources. The circles
cost Rs. 95,726-6-2, as shown by table III, which
fell considerably within the sanctioned amount. Of
this sum Government paid all but Rs. 3,708, which
was contributed by the Calcutta City and Suburban
municipalities. The Metropolitan circles slightly,
and the Sonthal Pergunnahs considerably, exceeded
the sanctioned grant; and this was caused by the
active employment of part of the Metropolitan
establishment during the recess in stamping out
small-pox and for collecting the vaccine census, during which time they received full pay. In
the case of the Sonthal Pergunnahs, the excess was due to a misunderstanding of the
Government orders on the subject. The average cost of each successful vaccination remains
the same as in 1874-75. In some of the circles the average cost has risen, notably in that of
Ranchee, where the cost is double of what it was in the preceding year, without any satis-
factory explanation having been afforded. Of the two new circles, Orissa shows a very high
figure owing to its scanty work ; while the cost of the Behar circle is moderate, the circumstances
of a new establishment being fairly taken into consideration. In the Sonthal Pergunnahs
and Darjeeling circles, each exhibits a diminution in cost. The figure for the Metropolitan
circle is the lowest in the scale, and is evidence of constant supervision and creditable energy
on the part of the Superintendent.
10. As the reports of the various vaccine circles submitted by the superintendents are
not to be printed, I shall give a summary of them, with extracts from them here and there,
when this course appears desirable. And first of all I shall begin with the Presidency
Vaccine Department.
CALCUTTA AND
ITS SUBURBS.
11. Calcutta and its Suburbs.—Dr. T. Edmonston Charles, M.D., who had the general
superintendence of the Presidency circle during the year, has submitted a clear, full, interest-
ing, and instructive report.
Establishment
12. The establishment underwent some changes; the former Superintendents were
transferred to other posts, and their places were filled up by new men. Baboo Kassi
Chundra Dutt, the Superintendent of the South division of the town, was appointed in the
month of June to the Dacca School of Medicine, and Baboo Kalidas Bose, the Superintend-
ent of the North division, was transferred in the middle of December to Patna, to assume
the superintendence of the new Behar circle. Baboos Ram Chunder Mitter and Ashootosh
Goopto were appointed to the North and South divisions of the town respectively.
There were some changes also in the subordinate ranks. A head vaccinator, who had
served for a quarter of century, died during the year. One vaccinator was discharged for
negligence, and another was permitted to join the Behar circle as a head vaccinator.
The vacancies thus caused were filled up by promotions, while three men joined the
establishment.
Numbers
vaccinated
13 Numbers vaccinated.—The operations done during the year amounted to 40,173,
against 41,300 in 1874-75, showing a slight decrease of 1,127. The work, as distributed in
the different divisions and as contrasted with the previous year, is shown in the following
statement:—
STATEMENT No. X.
Town. ... ...
Suburbs... ...
Coolie Dopôts.. ..
1875-76.
7,022
11,562
21,589
1874-75.
9,889
11,998
19,414
Increase.
...
...
2,175
Decrease.
2,886
436
......
Comparison with
previous year.
From this table it appears that the numbers vaccinated in the town and suburbs during
the year fell short of those operated upon in 1874-75. But last year's figures were excep-
tionally large, and were run up under the pressure of an epidemic of small-pox, which
made the establishment more energetic in pressing vaccination, and the people more willing