FOR THE YEAR 1878-79.
17
deaths in January 1879 swelled to 2,001 cases with 391 deaths in March. Altogether
there were 3,190 cases with 536 deaths reported by the police during the year under
review in the Rungpore district, which represents much unnecessary suffering and loss of
life. These numbers, 1 am satisfied, are less than should have been returned, one Native
Superintendent finding many cases where the police reported only 18. In all districts of
the circle 604 deaths were reported, of which 14 occurred in Dinagepore. There were no
cases in Bogra or Rajshaye ; those reported in the former district turning out to be chicken-
pox. Out of the protected area of the Darjeeling Circle, consisting of Bogra, Rajshahye,
and Dinagepore, no case occurred in the first two, and only the above-mentioned insignificant
number in the last, and only in consequence of a village having been imperfectly protected
when there was a change of Native Superintendents. The population of this area was given
in 1872 as upwards of three millions and a half.
" I think the results above indicated are a complete vindication of the concentrated
system of working vaccination.
" Supplies of Lymph were distributed to stations in Northern Bengal as required by
Civil Surgeons.
" I would, in conclusion, desire to state that I have made this report as short as possi-
ble, merely touching in the different paragraphs on a few points on which it appeared
desirable to record information and not entering into particulars similar to those of former
years.
" Vaccination has made a distinct advance during the season, and through the area
covered may look small in the map of Bengal, yet the amount of opposition overcome
has been enormous and a part of the country fairly protected which was before a great
centre of small-pox infection."
Dr. Lidderdale reports as to vaccination performed by licensed vaccinators in the
Darjeeling Circle as follows: " The establishment was increased during the year by the
extension of the system of appointing license vaccinators to the whole district of Dinage-
pore, giving an additional strength of twenty-one men. Assistant Surgeon, Narandra
Nath Goopta, was appointed as Deputy Superintendent in Bengal Government's letter
No. 3218 of 14th September 1878. The establishment now stands as under, viz. 1 Deputy
Superintendent, 3 Inspectors, and 90 licensed vaccinators. There was some fluctuation
in strength during the working season on account of sickness, and some of the new men
appointed in Dinagepore found the country so well protected the year before by the
Government establishment that they failed comfortably to make a livelihood and retired.
The population of the district being scanty, the necessary supply of vaccinfers was
obtained with difficulty from the people not allowing newborn infants to be taken from
village to village. The Deputy Superintendent had only a few months' experience in this
department before and was not thoroughly acquainted with his duties. He is not a suffi-
ciently active man for the work, and has not that interest in its success necessary to influence
his subordinates to much exertion. The Inspector in Rajshahye is not trustworthy; but
the general conduct of the other two Inspectors and of most of the men was satisfactory.
As it is proposed to extend the system to the greater part of Rungpore next season, the
services of another Inspector will be required.
4. Number of operations, their success, &c.—The number of persons vaccinated was
88,871, an excess of 25,446 over the year before, giving an increase in all districts
even where there was no additional establishment. The percentage of success in pri-
mary vaccination was 99.59 according to the return, and 98.99 by the Deputy Super-
intendent's inspection return of 4,266 cases, too small a number, however, as a fair test
of accuracy. In 84 cases of secondary vaccination the percentage of success was 91.25.
Each vaccinator operated on 987.45 persons, which is below what is necessary for the
complete protection of the annual increment of the population of the area taken up under
the system. Each inspector in Rajshahye only protected 877.36 persons, which in a
populous district is much below what might be looked for. Each successful case cost the
Government for supervision five pie.
Male ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Female ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Under one year ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Above
ditto ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Christian ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Hindu
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mahomedan ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Other castes
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
52.39
47.60
19.87
80.12
.006
22.92
73.05
4.01
4. Area in which licensed vaccinators have been introduced.—The area in the Darjeeling
Circle into which licensed vaccinators have been introduced is made up of the districts of
Bogra, Rajshahye, Dinagepore and three thanas of Rungpore, with a population of between
three and a half and four millions and a birth-rate of 46,000. The number of persons vaccin-
ated was therefore about 27,000 less than it should be to insure complete protection, calcu-
lating the birth-rate at 30 per mille. This theoretical measure of protection can hardly,
however, be looked for. It will be enough to expect under a voluntary system that epi-
demics of small-pox cannot occur and that the outbreaks which arise can be speedily
stamped out.
5. Small-pox and inoculation.