ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
19
quarters on payment of a fee of four annas for each vaccination. Rs. 350-8 were thus
realized up to March, which correspond with the 1,402 vaccinations that were performed.
Thus the station vaccinations constitute 13 per cent. of the total vaccinations of the year,
the house vaccinations 23 per cent., and the bustee vaccinations 64 per cent.
Sex of the vaccinated.
11. The table below furnishes particulars bearing reference
to the sex of the vaccinated—
In 1880-81... ... ... ...
In 1879-80... ... ... ...
POPULATION.
Males.
282,506
Females.
147,029
Total number va-
cinated during
the year.
6,085
*12,397
SEX OF THE
VACCINATED.
Number of
males.
3,271
4,668
Number of
females.
2,814
4,224
PROPORTION PER
CENT. TO TOTAL
VACCINATED.
Male.
53.75
37.65
Female.
46.24
34.07
PROPORTION PER CENT.
TO POPULATION
Male.
1.15
1.65
Female.
1.91
2.87
* Exclusive of 3,505 re-vaccinations the sexes of which were not recorded.
It will be seen that although numerically a larger number of males were vaccinated,
relatively, with reference to population, the female population was better protected in both
years.
Age of the vaccinated.—Proportion of
infants vaccinated to number born.
12. The subjoined table gives the ages of the successfully
vaccinated, and indicates the proportion of infant vaccinations
to number born during the year :—
In 1880-81...
...
...
...
Total number primarily vac-
cinated.
5,093
AGES OF THE SUCCESS-
----- VACCINATED.
Under one year.
One year and under
six.
2,233
2,227
Over six years.
543
5,003
PROPORTION PER CENT.
TO TOTAL PRIMARY
VACCINATIONS.
Under one year.
43.84
One year and under
six.
43.72
Over six years.
10.66
Number of births.
7,791
Proportion per cent. of in-
fants vaccinated to number
born.
28.66
It is clear that the great bulk of the work of the year was confined to infants and children,
the proportion being 87.56 per cent. of infants and children vaccinated to total vaccination,
as against 10.66 per cent. of adults. A ratio of 28.66 per cent. of infants vaccinated to
number born simply indicates that a very large number of the infants born during the
year were left unprotected.
Religion of the vaccinated.
13. The next table shows the religion of the vaccinated
and the proportionate numbers vaccinated under each class :—
RELIGION.
Hindus...
...
...
...
Mahomedans...
...
...
...
Other
races...
...
...
...
...
Population.
20,608
278,224
123,556
7,147
Total number
vaccinated.
1,020
3,526
1,524
15
Proportion per
cent. to total
vaccinated.
16.76
57.94.
25.04
.24
Proportion per
cent. to popu-
lation.
4.94
1.26
1.23
.20
The figures indicate that vaccination was most resorted to by the Christians and least by
those of other religions, the Hindus and Mahomedans exhibiting equal disinclination to the
measure. On this subject Dr. McLeod remarks:—" It must be borne in mind, however,
that the birth rate among Eurasians greatly exceeds that of all other classes, and that
therefore there are more Christian children in the town, relatively to population, than of other
-religions. The large proportion of the stranger element will always constitute an obstacle
to the exhaustive vaccination of Calcutta. However much the permanent residents may
accept or encourage vaccination, a very considerable section of the population consists of
persons who come from other places, with or without their families, and who are either
prejudiced or do not consider it worth while to be vaccinated. It has been found as a result
of the census of 1876 that only 28 per cent. of the inhabitants of Calcutta had been born in
the town."
Inspections.
14. The Superintendent saw during the recess some cases of each transmission, and
during the working season he made periodical inspections in
the bustees and frequently saw cases of vaccination in the town.
The Deputy Superintendent saw all the recess cases, and almost daily inspected cases in the
bustees and vaccine stations as well as in private houses. The quality of the lymph was
invariably found to be excellent. Virus was kept up throughout the year by arm to arm
vaccination.