ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
23
(4) that coincident with the above reduction, the average work of each vaccinator
had also fallen off;
(5) that the value of the work as represented by the percentage of primary success-
ful operations, is very satisfactory throughout.
The causes of the falling off will be gathered from the following brief history of the
operations performed during the season, taken from the Superintendent's report. Virus
was established in all the four circles either at the close of September or beginning of
October, but very little work could be done in the early part of the season in the 24 Pergunnahs,
Jessore, Nuddea, Beerbhoom, Burdwan, Midnapore, Hooghly, and Serampore, owing to the
severity, to a more or less extent, with which fever prevailed in these districts during the
months of October, November, and December of this conspicuously bad fever year. In Nuddea,
Jessore, Hooghly, and Serampore several inspectors and a good number of the vaccinators were
laid up with the disease. This fever also precluded the unprotected children at Beerbhoom,
of whom there is a large number, from being vaccinated. In the 24-Pergunnahs, Hooghly,
Howrah, Burdwan, and Jessore there are few unprotected children, owing to the ground
having been gone over several times, and consequently the vaccinators could hardly get a
sufficient number to remunerate them. The Doorga Pooja had also something to do with
the late commencement of the season's work.
Thus it will be seen that, as stated by the Superintendent, the falling off, on the whole,
of the work of the year is due to (1) the epidemic prevalence of fever in most of the 10
districts; (2) the laying up from the same cause of a large number of the establishment
attached to this circle; and (3) the paucity of unprotected children in districts which had
been gone over three or four times. Another drawback to progress was the difficulty
experienced in getting vaccinifers, principally in the first circle, and this was most felt in
cases where the children were of tender years, whose parents in consequence refused to
send them to any distance.
It should, however, be noted here that in Jessore, which suffered very badly from the
fever referred to, a fairly large increase of operations was, as before shown, performed ;
while Bankoora, 24-Pergunnahs, Midnapore, Hooghly, and Howrah, where there was
comparatively a far less amount of fever, exhibited decreases, Beerbhoom and Midnapore
showing conspicuously large—in fact the largest compared to all the districts under operation
except Burdwan—reductions. The following table, showing the mortality from fever during
the past working season in the districts referred to above, gives support to the remarks
I have made:—
Districts.
Nuddea... ... ... ... ...
Burdwan...
...
...
...
...
Moorshedabad... ... ... ... ...
Jessore... ... ... ... ...
Beerbhoom... ... ... ... ...
24-Pergunnahs... ... ... ... ...
Midnapore... ... ... ... ...
Bankoora... ... ... ... ...
Howrah... ... ... ... ...
Hooghly... ... ... ... ...
Deaths.
50,343
18,952
15,494
26,003
8,945
19,867
23,245
7,060
4,259
10,712
Ratio per mille
from October 1880
to March 1881.
55.46
25.54
25.40
25.06
20.94
18.60
18.26
14.56
14.28
9.25
The vaccinators at Hooghly performed comparatively the smallest number of operations
per man, vide the foregoing table. Giving due consideration to all the circumstances
that are stated to have impeded the progress of vaccination, which were nearly common
to all, it is clear that the men in this area could not have worked with the necessary activity
and energy. It also appears to me that there was an unlikely amount of sickness among
the men of the 1st Metropolitan Circle, represented by 4 inspectors and 40 vaccinators out
of 11 and 108 respectively, particularly after a long period of ease during the recess.
Referring to the decrease of the work of the year, the Superintendent remarks
further:—" A little reflection will show that the number of vaccinations must gradually
diminish year by year if the operations are confined to the same districts. It is when fresh
districts are undertaken, and where we get virgin soil and villages teeming with children, that
we can expect to show large returns. Hence it is not fair to judge of this and subsequent
years' operations by previous year's standard. A better standard, I believe, is the number of
villages visited and thanas undertaken which will indicate that attempts have been made to