MEDICAL.
CALCUTTA, THE 11TH NOVEMBER 1875.
RESOLUTION.
READ—
The Report by the Officiating Surgeon-General on vaccination in the Lower Pro-
vinces of Bengal during the year 1874-75.
Read again—
The Report for 1873-74, with the orders of Government passed thereon.
THE principal features observable in the report now submitted on the
vaccine operations of the past year are an increase to the staff employed of one
native superintendent, one head vaccinator, 27 vaccinators, and 56 ex-inocu¬
lators ; a nett increase in the number of operations performed of 168,039 cases ;
a slight improvement in the ratio of successful cases ; an increase in the average
number of operations performed per man in the more important circles,
together with a very satisfactory decrease in the average cost to the State of
each successful case. On the whole, the Lieutenant-Governor considers that
these results are encouraging.
2. The total number of vaccinations effected during the year by circle
and dispensary vaccinators is stated to have been 957,673, against 791,634
in 1873, and 687,406 in 1872. The only circle which shows an absolute
decrease of work, as compared with the previous year, is the Ranchee circle,
where the total number vaccinated fell from 37,411 to 27,343. In the Darjeeling
circle, where in the previous year a decline in the number of operations was
observable, there was in the past year a very satisfactory increase of 22,912
operations. In the Metropolitan circles the results obtained exceed those in
all the other circles, the total number of operations performed during the year
having amounted to 402,385, against 306,676 in 1873. Much excellent work
has also been done in the Eastern Bengal circle, where an increase of 32,457 is
observable in the number of operations performed. Though an increase of
7,828 cases is recorded in the Sonthal Pergunnahs, the Lieutenant-Governor
is not satisfied that the outturn of work has been what it ought to have been.
The number of operations performed at dispensaries exceeded those of the
previous year by 16,695 cases ; the total results obtained by the agency at the
disposal of dispensaries are still, however, the Lieutenant-Governor thinks,
smaller than they should be, while the character of the work might be much
improved.
3. The general ratio of successful cases in primary vaccination was
96.53, against 96.18 in 1873-74 ; in secondary vaccination it was 23.41, against
22.79. Calcutta and its suburbs, the Metropolitan, and Eastern Bengal circles
continue to maintain a high standard of efficiency.
While dispensary
vaccination continues to be less successful than the work performed by the
regular staff, some improvement in the results is observable.
4. The mean number of operations performed per man during the past
year was 2,303.2. This the Surgeon-General considers a satisfactory figure.
The Lieutenant-Governor observes that the Metropolitan circles continue to be
far ahead of all others when judged of by this standard of efficiency. Next
comes the Eastern Bengal circle, though there the average number of operations
performed is less by one-half and more. In Calcutta and its suburbs there has
been a slight increase, the number of operations performed by each vaccinator
having been 1,436 during 1873-74, and not 1,847, as shown by the. Surgeon-
General. In Ranchee there has been a falling off, and the results shown are not
good, judging by the standard of the previous year. In the Sonthal Per-
gunnahs they were very bad, the number of operations performed by each
vaccinator having decreased from 2,506 to 914. The Lieutenant-Governor