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cow and buffalo are possible, and how far native feeling may prefer them to the
more usual vaccinifers. The report of experiments in the use of donkey lymph
are, as far as they go, very encouraging, and deserve a prolonged trial.
Paragraph 16.
9. With regard to the diagram showing the death rates from small-pox
with reference to the proportion of successful
vaccinations for the years 1881-82 to 1894-95,
the Lieutenant-Governor remarks that as the figures of mortality represented by
the red lines are those of only a single year, and as the degree to which small-pox
prevails in a particular district in a particular year is to a great extent the result
of accidents, it would be unsafe to compare one single district with another. The
only safe comparison that can be made is by comparing the most highly vaccinated
districts, say the first 8 taken as a whole, with the remaining districts, and such
a comparison will be seen to present a striking indication of the efficacy of
vaccination as a preventive measure. Sir Dennis Fitzpatrick would suggest that
in future years a blue line be added for each district showing the average mortality
for the last five years. In comparing the blue lines with the black it would of
course have to be borne in mind that the latter represent the state of things in
the last year of the five years' period, but even allowing for this source of error,
His Honor would say the comparison between the blue lines and the black
would be more reliable than that between the red lines and the black.
Paragraph 17.
10. In regard to the matter of vaccination in the Native States, His
Honor observes that the circumstance of there
having been 76,966 re-vaccinations in the Patiala
State against only 57,535 primary vaccinations is one that requires looking into.
It is to be hoped that the passive obstruction which the Raja of Keonthal has
shown to the progress of vaccination in his State, which borders on the confines
of Simla, will soon be surmounted.
Paragraphs 18 and 19.
11. The Divisional Inspectors seem to have shown considerable activity
in the number of cases inspected. His Honor is
glad to see that the experiment, proposed by
Dr. Roe, of using this agency for the checking of the work of the District
Vaccination Staff, has proved so successful. The percentage of primary vacci-
nations found successful (97 per cent.) is satisfactory, but only about 38 per cent.
of re-vaccinations seem to have left distinct marks of success.
There is much reason to fear that, in the past, statistics have often been
vitiated by the promiscuous vaccination year after year of children, whose parents
raised no objection, and perhaps also by the inclusion of fictitious names. His
Honor is glad to notice that Dr. Roe is taking stringent measures to put a stop
to such irregularities.
12. In conclusion, Sir Dennis Fitzpatrick desires to thank Brigade-Sur-
geon-Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. C. Roe, Sanitary Commissioner, and Surgeon-
Captain H. J. Dyson, Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, for their respective reports
and efficient supervision of the Department.
ORDER.—Ordered, that the above Remarks be published in the
Punjab
Government Gazette and be communicated to the Sanitary Commissioner for
information and guidance; also that they be forwarded with the Report as usual
to the Government of India in the Home Department.
By order of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor,
A. E. HURRY,
Junior Secretary to Government, Punjab.
Punjab Government Branch Press, Simla—15-8-95— 270.