2
The average number of operations performed by each man is 2,235, an increase over
1863 of 669 per man. The greatest number of operations performed by a single individual
was performed by General No. 80, Govind Moray, who vaccinated 4,345, children, and who
was primus last year also. Close upon him, on the descending scale, come General Nos. 223,
159, and 133, all of whom have vaccinated upwards of 3,000 children. The honor of having
vaccinated the smallest number is due to General No. 216, who was dismissed the service
in December last for falsification of returns.
I regret much my inability to report an increase in the proportion of children vaccinated
under one year. The per-centage to total vaccinated is 11.41, or 1.36 per cent. less than
last year : as will be seen below, the per-centage has been diminishing yearly for the last
four years; these years show a per-centage as under—
1861 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1862 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1863 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1864 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Average for the last four years . . . . . . . . . .
13.42 per cent.
13.55
„
12.77 „
11.41
„
12.78 „
12.78
„
I have not failed, whenever an opportunity offered, and they have been many, to explain
to the people the immense benefits to be derived from submitting their children to the opera-
tion at as early an age as possible. Nor have I failed to impress upon vaccinators the
necessity for taking every opportunity " to make parents comprehend its paramount advan-
tages." I have also explained to them how much easier it is to operate on an infant than
on an older child, and how much more satisfactory is the result.
From what I have observed, I think there is considerable laxity in the manner in which
the age of the child is ascertained. Many of them merely ask what the age of the child is :
whether he is above or below one year of age. Now as many, in fact most, of the parents
are very obtuse, and particularly so in respect to the age of themselves or their children,
I am pretty sure that many children of 10 and 11 months old are put down as over
one year: parents scarcely knowing the difference between 10 months and one year.
I have actually observed cases of this sort; but as I have given strict orders to the vaccinators
to be most particular in recording the correct age, and, for their assistance, have directed
them in all cases to ask the age of the child in months before inserting it in the register,
I am sanguine enough to expect that the returns for the current year will show more
favorably in this respect.
The lymph has, except in the case of General No. 216, been invariably good throughout
the year, and has only required renewal where through the sickness of the vaccinator
it became inert. In consequence the vesicles have generally been well formed, and the
cicatrices characteristic.
Small-pox has prevailed throughout the Circle, more or less, but never in an epidemic or
severe form. Two or three reports have reached me of the existence of inoculators in the
Tanna Collectorate, and in each case I immediately requested the Collector to enquire into
the matter, and take proceedings against them. The Collector, Mr. Gordon, has informed
me that he has no power to punish the inoculator. I pointed out that, in my opinion,
paragraphs 269 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code gave him the necessary powers to deal
with such persons.