NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
No. 2542 A.
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Bombay, 14th June 1875.
SIR,
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Gov-
ernor in Council and Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India,
the Annual Report on Vaccination in this Presidency and Sindh
for the year 1874-75.
2. Briefly, there is progress in all respects. The number of
vaccinations are 80,401 more than in the preceding year; the success
is higher, the cost of each successful case less, and the conduct of
the vaccinators has been satisfactory.
3. The strength of the Department shows 8 more vaccina-
tors than in the preceding year; in other respects there was no
change.
4. Dr. Pinkerton describes the Bombay System of vaccination
as reorganized in 1871, and says no change either in it or in the
constitution of the Circles took place last year; that as far as he
can see the system is perfect in theory, and in its application it
has realized his best hopes. The work of the year bears out this
statement.
5. The total number of persons vaccinated and re-vaccinated
were 732,624, being an increase of 80,401, and this increase is chiefly
owing to increased exertions of all the officers and vaccinators of the
Department. The itinerant vaccinators of the Local Funds establish-
ment contribute 59,605 of the increase and the Native States' vac-
cinators 20,325 ; the rest is by Municipal and by the 2 Govern-
ment vaccinators. There was a decrease in the army, which appears
to be due to want of subjects.
6. The primary vaccinations were 671,089, and the re-vac-
cinations 60,807; the latter were chiefly in Sindh, where there were
48,504. No attempt has been made to push re-vaccination anywhere
but in Sindh; because in the other Circles the vaccinators have
enough to do to get through their primary vaccinations. By and by
more attention will, I hope, be given to re-vaccination in the other
circles; Sindh has set the example of what can be done.
B 99—A
( 2 )
7. I am glad to observe that the disparity in the sexes is
again less, and that it is now probably pretty correct in general,
but it is very much too high in Aden and Sindh.
8. The percentages of castes differ from the census, but this
is reported to be due to the method of registering the low caste
Hindus. As there is, Dr. Pinkerton thinks, some inclination on
the part of high caste Hindu vaccinators to avoid contact with
the Sudras, it is considered the vaccination columns for castes are
very suitable for the purpose of preventing them being left unpro-
tected. It is shown that the Musalmans accept vaccination more
freely than Hindus, and this is in accord with the general experience
of the Department; but the city of Bombay forms a Striking contrast
to this almost universal rule.
9. One of the best signs of progress in this report is the fact
of there having been 294,841 infantile vaccinations, which is an in-
crease of 55,098 over the preceding year. Since the re-organization of
1871 these have increased by one hundred thousand, and in this
report they stand at 43.9 per cent. on the total number of persons
operated on. This is a very high percentage for itinerant vac-
cinators to reach. I note that the infantile vaccinations are
again highest in the Presidency Circle and lowest in the Southern
Circle of all British Circles; but I am pleased to see that the Southern
Circle, though still the lowest, is 6 per cent. higher than in the last
report.
10. There were 635,254 primary vaccinations, and in them the
successful was 96.4 per cent., which is 1.6 higher than in the
preceding year. It was highest in Sindh, and lowest in the Presi-
dency Circle of all British Circles; but the lowest is only 3.2 less than
the highest. This is considered a very satisfactory rate of success
for an itinerating establishment, such as ours is, to reach. The
re-vaccinations numbered 60,807 ; of these 48,504 were in the Sindh
Circle, and of the total 45,618 were successful, or a percentage of 80 .8.
This is 15.1 higher than in the previous year. The percentage in the
army returns, however, was 44.6, and it is considered that the army
rate is probably, the Superintendent General considers, the most
correctly noted.
11. On our population of over twenty-five millions, as shown
by the census, Dr. Pinkerton calculates that, with a birth-rate of
fully 40 per mille, there might be about 850,000 persons primarily
vaccinated per annum, after writing off 18 per cent. of the births
for still-born, deaths, those having small-pox and those escaping
the vaccinators. On this calculation, the Department vaccinated
eight-tenths of the available children last year. This must be
viewed with much satisfaction, and I fully endorse the words of the
( 3 )
Superintendent General, that " nothing but the utmost devotion
to their duty could obtain such a result " by the officers and vac¬
cinators of the Department. There were 26.7 per mille of the
population primarily vaccinated last year, but the Depart-
ment should aim at 33 per mille if the birth-rate be as high
as it has been computed to be by Surgeon-Major Lumsdaine in the
Census Report. The rate of vaccinations per mille of population
ranges from 39.1 in Sindh to 19.3 in the Presidency Circle. It
is certain, however, that the birth-rate of a city like Bombay can
not be anything like 40 per mille; it is probably not over 25, as
stated by the Superintendent General in his report of last year ;
so that 19.3 in Bombay city is positively higher than 21.7 in the
Southern Circle. On the whole returns it is shown that there were
successfully vaccinated in British territory 26.9 per mille and in
Native States 22.3.
12. The lymph degenerated for a short time in three Circles,
viz., Eastern Gujarath, Western Gujarath, and Sindh, but was
promptly renewed. The lymph which was received from England
succeeded in five Circles, and was unsuccessful in two; sufficient
was, however, obtained to multiply to any extent required. An-
imal vaccination was practised in Bombay, Poona and Barsi.
The cow-lymph in Bombay was abundant and good, and the success
resulting from its use was higher than in any previous year. This
is of special use in Bombay, where of all places it has been found
next to impossible to induce parents to bring their children to give
lymph for further vaccinations.
13. The expenditure from all sources was Rs. 2,20,663, of
which Government contributed about half. This is an increase of
Rs. 4,580 over 1873-74. Government contributed of this increase
about one-half, and the other half was provided by Native States,
local and municipal funds. The cost of each successful case was
5 annas and 4 pies, or 10 pies less than in the preceding year. A
memorandum is now before Government, in which Dr. Pinkerton
shows how a portion of the vaccine expenditure ought to be debited
to general sanitation.
14. The Superintendents and their Assistants inspected 47
per cent. of the persons operated on, without discovering any falsi-
fications in the registers of the vaccinators in British territory;
but I regret to observe that Dr. Blomfield, in Kathewad, discover-
ed ten instances of this very serious offence, and Dr. Raby reports
another in the Kolhapur State. The Superintendent General is
of opinion that the practice is now very limited ; it cannot escape
the searching tests to which the registers are subjected.
( 4 )
15. It is to be regretted that vaccination is still so back-
ward in Kutch, and that it is so costly. The supervision there and
in Gaikawadi territory appears to be really nil, and I concur with
the Superintendent General in thinking these Circles should be
joined to the two Gujarath circles, and supervised by Drs. Cola and
Blomfield.
16. Inoculation is reported to have been practised in 3 vil-
lages in Mahad taluka and in the Thar Parkar, but in both in-
stances to a very small extent. As a matter of fact, the inoculator
cannot compete with the vaccinator; still it is probable, as Dr.
Pinkerton says, inoculation will not entirely cease until all the
old inoculators are dead.
17. Dr. Williams brought to notice a "false vaccinator."
A man went about in the Thar and Parkar pretending to vaccinate
by making punctures, but had no lymph; the people paid him for
the operation. This shows what a firm hold vaccination has on the
people of Sindh. The man was prosecuted and convicted.
18. In regard to vaccino-syphilis, the Superintendent General
says not a single instance has yet come to light of syphilis having
been communicated by vaccination to any person in this Presidency,
notwithstanding every effort on the part of the officers of the De-
partment to discover any such case; and their experience in this
matter extends to over a million and a quarter of observations.
19. The Superintendent General's tour was an extensive one,
including Sindh, the Dekkan and Konkan; the only part not visited
was Gujarath.
20. The tours of Superintendents appear to have been exten-
sive and judiciously arranged. I observe, however, that Palanpur
districts had not been visited by the Superintendent of the Western
Gujarath Circle in the last two years. Dr. Blomfield says he found
so much to do in Kathewad itself, that he could not find time. I
am of opinion that this district ought to have a Native Assistant
Superintendent who should be paid by the Chiefs.
21. As regards small-pox, the year 1874-5 was a non-epidemic
one, and the recorded deaths stand at 3,903 only, and of these it is
known that some were incorrectly returned as having died of
small-pox, when in reality many died of measles and other diseases.
The deaths in the two preceding years were 9,946 and 26,699. If
the returns are not quite correct, still they show this disease to be
much less last year than in the two preceding it. I am afraid the
statistics of births and deaths in this Presidency are at present of
very little value, though it is cheering to know they are improving.
( 5 )
If Government adopts Dr. Pinkerton's suggestion to give the village
returns into the hands of the officers of the Vaccination Department
for compilation as well as inspection, I feel sure that in a very few
years fairly correct figures would be obtained of immensely more
value than the very doubtful ones at present recorded.
22. The progress shown by districts is very interesting.
Belgaum is still the backward zilha, but there an increase of 3 vac¬
cinators will improve matters. It is very evident that in some of the
larger talukas more than one vaccinator is required, and I am glad
to see the Superintendent General is gradually obtaining and plac¬
ing a second where necessary.
23. The work of the officers of the Department in the past
year is in every respect highly satisfactory, and I have much plea-
sure in commending to the favourable notice of Government Drs.
Williams and Cody, as named by the Superintendent General.
Although I mention these names only, yet I most gladly put on
record my entire satisfaction with the work in all British Circles in
the past year. The conduct of the Assistant Superintendents and
vaccinators has also been satisfactory. Each vaccinator on an
average vaccinated 1,828 persons, or 176 more than in the preced-
ing year, which, taken in conjunction with the higher rate of success
and lower rate of cost, is very creditable, indeed, to the Department,
so well and ably conducted by the Superintendent General, who I
would beg specially to commend to the favourable notice of Gov-
ernment, as I fully believe, to produce such results as are here
shown, the guiding hand must possess a great amount of tact to
ensure the harmonious working of so large a Department in a
manner so satisfactory.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. THOM, F.R.C.S.L.,
Surgeon General.
INDEX.
Aid from civil and political officers... ... ...
„ of a peon to help dispensary officers in vaccination ...
Ages, percentages of ... ... ... ...
Animal vaccination ... ... ... ...
Army, decrease in ... ... ... ...
„
number of primary vaccinations in ... ...
„
„
re-vaccinations in
... ... ...
„
percentage of infantile vaccinations in ... ...
„
„
sexes in ... ... ...
„
„
success in primary and re-vaccinations in...
„
rate per mille of population protected in ... ...
Assistant superintendents, conduct of ... ...
„
„
number of, by circles ... ...
Average number of operations by each vaccinator... ...
„
„
„
„
„ by circles ...
„
„
„
„
„ by establishments ...
Bombay Presidency, area and population of, by census ...
„
„
total operations in ... ...
„
System of vaccination described ... ...
Castes, percentages of ... ... ... ...
Circle, Baroda, progress in ... ... ...
„
Central,
„
„ ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ...
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ... ...
„
Eastern Gujarath, progress in ... ...
„
„
„
small-pox in ... ...
„
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ...
„
Kutch, progress in ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ...
„
Presidency, progress in ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ...
„
Southern, progress in ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ...
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ... ...
„
Sindh, a false vaccinator in ... ... ...
„
„
progress in ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ...
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ... ...
„
Western, progress in ... ... ... ...
„
„
small-pox in ... ... ... ...
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ... ...
„
Western Gujarath, progress in ... ...
„
„
„
small-pox in ... ...
„
„
„
tour of the superintendent of ...
Circles, average number of operations to each vaccinator by ...
„
constitution of ... ... ... ...
„
cost of each successful case, excluding superintendents'
pay by ... ... ... ...
Para.
69
53
20
34
11
12
14
22
18
26
30
45
3
60
61
60
3
8
4
19
128
77
70
67
104
70
68
130
70
76
70
84
70
68
65
121
70
68
94
64
68
117
70
68
61
2
38
Page.
34
27
10
19
6
6
7
11
8
12
15
23
2
28
28
28
2
5
3
8
54
40
35
32
47
35
32
55
37
39
37
42
35
32
31
52
36
34
45
30
32
51
36
32
28
1
20
ii
INDEX.
Circles, inspections of superintendents by ... ...
„
„
„
by calling out registers by
„
lymph in use, conditions of, by ... ...
„
„
English, result of the use of, by ... ...
„
number of assistant superintendents, clerks, peons,
superintendents, and vaccinators, by ...
„
operations compared with the preceding year by ...
„
„
of dispensary officers, increase and
decrease in, by ...
„
„
of„Local Fund vaccinators „ by ...
„
„
of Municipal
„
„ by ...
„
„
of Native States „
„ by ...
„
percentages of sexes by ... ... ...
„
„
of infantile vaccinations by ... ...
„
„
of success in primary and re-vaccinations by...
„
population, census, by ... ... ...
„
„
rate per mille of, protected by ... ...
„
re-vaccinations by ... ... ...
„
successful primary operations, by ... ...
Clerks, number of, by Circles ... ... ...
Collectorate of Ahmadabad, progress in ... ...
„
Ahmadnagar,
„ ... ... ...
„
Belgaum,
„ ... ... ...
„
Bombay,
„ ... ... ...
„
Broach,
„ ... ... ...
„
Dharwad,
„ ... ... ...
„
Haidrabad,
„ ... ... ...
„
Kaladgi,
„ ... ... ...
„
Kanada,
„ ... ... ...
„
Karachi,
„
... ... ...
„
Khandesh,
„ ... ... ...
„
Kheda,
„ ... ... ...
„
Kolaba,
„ ... ... ...
„
Nasik,
„ ... ... ...
„
Panch Mahals, „ ... ... ...
„
Poona,
„ ... ... ...
„
Ratnagiri,
„ ... ... ...
„
Satara,
„
...
... ...
„
Shikarpur,
„ ... ... ...
„
Sholapur,
„ ... ... ...
„
Surat,
„ ... ... ...
„
Thana,
„
... ... ...
„
Thar and Parkar„ ... ...
„
Upper Sindh Frontier, progress in ... ...
Civil life, Operations in ... ... ... ...
Commendation of superintendents ... ... ...
Conduct of assistant superintendents ... ... ...
„
vaccinators ... ... ... ...
Cost total ... ... ... ... ...
„ of each successful case, excluding superintendents' pay ...
„
„
„
„ including all charges ... ...
Deaths from small-pox ... ... ... ...
Department, strength of ... ... ... ...
Para.
39
40
31
32
3
47
52
50
49
51
18
22
26
3
30
14
30
3
118
79
85
76
107
86
123
87
88
122
98
105
96
97
106
78
82
81
124
80
108
95
125
126
8
42
45
62
37
38
38
70
3
Page.
21
22
15
17
2
24
27
25
24
26
8
11
12
2
15
7
15
2
52
41
43
39
48
43
53
43
44
53
46
48
46
46
48
40
42
41
53
41
48
45
53
54
5
23
23
29
19
20
21
35
1
iii
INDEX.
Dispensaries, aid of a peon in carrying on vaccinations in ...
„
inspection of ... ... ... ...
„
number of primary and re-vaccinations in ...
„
percentage of infantile vaccinations in ...
„
percentages of sexes in ... ... ...
„
„
of success in primary and re-vaccina-
tions in ... ... ...
„
vaccinations in, by circles ... ...
Excess of operations over persons primarily vaccinated ...
„
„
„
re-vaccinated ...
Government establishment, operations by ... ...
„
„
„
average number of ...
„
„
percentages of success in primary
and re-vaccinations by
...
Infantile vaccinations, progress of ... ... ...
„
„
percentages of, by circles
...
...
Inoculation with small-pox virus
..
...
...
Inspection of dispensaries ... ... ... ...
„
of superintendents ... ... ...
Inspections 47 per cent. of total operations ... ...
Introduction ... ... ... ... ...
Itinerant establishment, number of primary and re-vaccinations by.
Local Fund establishment, cost of each successful case in ...
„
„
„
operations by ... ...
„
„
„
„
average number of ...
„
„
„
percentages of success in primary and
re-vaccinations by ... ...
Lymph, cow, from Belgium ... ... ...
„
English, use of ... ... ... ...
„
in use, condition of ... ... ...
Maps supplied to vaccinators ... ... ...
Methods testing the correctness of the returns ... ...
Municipal establishment, cost of each successful case in ...
„
„
operations by... ... ...
„
„
„
average number of ...
„
„
percentages of success in primary and
re-vaccinations by ... ...
Native State of Akalkot, area and population of ... ...
„
„
Atpadi
„
„ ... ...
„
„
Bansda, progress in
... ... ...
„
„
Bhor, area and population of ... ...
„
„
Cambay, progress in ... ... ...
„
„
Dharmpur, „
„ ... ... ...
„
Janjira,
„
„
... ... ...
„
„
Jat, area and population of ... ...
„
„
Jawar, progress in
... ... ...
„
„
Khairpur, „
„ ... ... ...
„
„
Penth,
„
„ ... ... ...
„
„
Phaltan, area and population of ... ...
„
„
Sachin, progress in ... ... ...
„
„
Sawantwadi „
„ ... ... ...
Native States establishment, cost of each successful case in ...
„
„
„
operations by ... ...
Para.
53
73
8
22
18
26
52
13
14
48
48
27
20 & 22
22
64
73
39
44
1
8
50
50
50
27
35
32
31
72
40
49
49
49
27
83
83
114
83
112
113
102
83
101
127
103
83
115
92
51
51
Page.
27
39
5
11
8
8
26
6
6
24
24
13
10
11
30
39
21
23
1
5
26
25
25
13
19
17 15
39
22
25
24
25
13
42
42
49
42
49
49
47
42
47
54
47
42
49
45
26
26
B 99—B
iv
INDEX.
Native States establishment, operations, average number of ...
„
„
„
percentages of success in primary
and re-vaccinations by ...
„
„
of Central Circle, progress in ... ...
„
„
of Dangs, vaccinations not introduced in ...
„
„
„
method of introducing vaccinations in..
„
„
of Eastern Gujarath Circle ... ...
„
„
of Kathewad, progress in ... ...
„
„
of Kolhapur,
„
„ ... ...
„
„
of Mahi Kantha, „
„ ... ...
„
„
of Palanpur,
„
„ ... ...
„
„
of Rewa Kantha, „
„ ... ...
„
„
of Southern Maratha Country, progress in ...
„
„
of Western Circle ... ... ...
Obstacles to the spread of vaccination ... ...
Operations by circles ... ... ... ...
„
dispensary officers ... ... ...
„
Government vaccinators ... ...
„
Local Funds
„ ... ... ...
„
Municipal
„ ... ... ...
„
Native States
„ ... ... ...
„
in excess of persons primarily vaccinated ...
„
„
„
re-vaccinated ... ...
Peons, number of, by circles ... ... ...
Population of the Bombay Presidency according to census ...
„
computed number of children available for vaccination.
„
rate per mille of, protected ... ...
Primary vaccinations, number of ... ... ...
Rate per mille of population protected ... ... ...
Re-vaccinations, number of... ... ... ...
Sexes, percentages of ... ... ... ...
„
„
compared with census ... ...
Strength of the department
...
...
...
Success in primary vaccinations ... ... ...
„
re-vaccinations ... ... ... ...
Superintendents appointed health officers ... ...
„
commendation of ... ... ...
„
number of, by circles ... ... ...
Superintendent general, tour of
...
...
...
Tour of superintendents ... ... ... ...
„ of superintendent general ... ... ...
Vaccinators, conduct of ... ... ... ...
„
number of, by circles and establishments ...
Vaccino-syphilis ... ... ... ...
Para.
51
27
83
99
100
109
119
90
110 &
116
116 &
120
111&
116
91
99
71
47
52
48
50
49
51
13
14
3
29
29
30
12
30
14
16
17
3
24
25
131
42
3
67
68
67
62
3
66
Page.
26
13
42
46
47
48
52
44
48
50
50
52
49
50
44
46
38
24
26
24
25
24
26
6
6
2
13
13&14
14
6
14
6
7
7
1
11
11
55
23
2
31
32
31
29
2
31
REPORT
ON
VACCINATION THROUGHOUT THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY AND SINDH
FOR THE YEAR 1874-75.
Introductory remarks.
This is the seventh annual report by the Superintendent General of Vac-
cination. It is somewhat different from former ones,
as Government have issued orders not to print the
circle superintendents' reports, but to embody the substance of them in this
one. This report will show : 1st, a general view of the working of the depart-
ment as a whole ; 2nd, the progress of vaccination in each district; and 3rd,
the tables of figures, showing the number of vaccinations, cost, &c.
Constitution of circles.
2. There was no change in the constitution of the circles during the
year, and they remain as described in last year's re-
port at page ii; but it has recently been recommend-
ed that the circles of vaccination be made uniform with the sanitary registra-
tion divisions, which, if sanctioned by Government, will be convenient for
working, and also for making comparisons between the progress of vaccina-
tion and the number of deaths from small-pox, &c. I may here notice that
Her Majesty's Secretary of State has sanctioned the creation of a superintendent
of vaccination for the Western Gujarath circle, and a transfer of Rs. 7,000
from Imperial to Provincial Service has been made for this purpose ; hitherto
the civil surgeon of Rájkot has also been superintendent of vaccination, but
the two appointments can now be separated.
Strength of the department.
3. The following table shows the strength of the department, by cir-
cles, as it existed at the close of the year, and as
compared with the preceding year. The population
and areas are taken from the Census report of 1872. The railway population
of 8,750 is omitted, as I cannot allot it by circles :—
[Table.
B 99—a