Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Lientenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Home (Medical and Sanitary)
Department, No. 418 S., dated 13th September 1886.
READ—
The Report on Vaccination in the Punjab for the official year 1885-86, by Deputy Surgeon-General
H. W. BELLEW, C.S.I., Sanitary Commissioner, Punjab.
OBSERVATIONS.—This Report, which is due on the 15th of June, was
received by Government on the 5th idem. It had, however, to be returned for
corrections, and was finally received on the 22nd of July 1886. A memorandum
of Errata is prefixed to the Report.
2. During the year under review, no changes took place ; but on the
1st of April 1886, one appointment of Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, and that
of the Native Deputy Superintendent of Vaccination were abolished, in pursuance
of the proposals made by the Lieutenant-Governor to meet the financial pressure.
Dr. J. O'Neill, Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, Eastern Circle, went on furlough,
and Dr. Doyle was appointed to officiate for him.
These changes, however,
more strictly appertain to the Report for the current year.
In the month of
August 1885, a proposal put forward by Dr. Bellew for each district to have a
Native Supervisor of Vaccination was sanctioned. This arrangement occasioned
the absorption of certain 1st class Vaccinators, who, under the scheme of 1881
for the re-organization of the Vaccination Department, have been drawing-
personal allowances of Rs. 15 per mensem to compensate them for the loss of
the appointment of Native Superintendent of Vaccination which they held prior
to 1881. It was thought when the scheme of 1881 was introduced that the Local
Dispensary agencies would be able to take the place of those Native Superin-
tendents of Vaccination who, in certain districts, had been reduced to the position
of 1st class Vaccinators. Experience has, however, proved that the Dispensary
agency cannot really help as was supposed ; because the officials cannot leave
their head-quarters to supervise the vaccinators in the districts. Accordingly the
1st cass Vaccinators on Rs. 15 per mensem, who draw a personal allowance
of Rs. 15 per mensem each, have been appointed Native Supervisors, of whom
there are two grades—on Rs. 40 and Rs. 30 respectively. Each district of the
Province has now a Native Supervisor of Vaccination, except the Simla District,
where an officer of this class is not required.
Special Staff
...
...
...
Cantonment Staff
...
...
Deduct savings under District
Staff
...
...
...
...
Total increase ...
Rs.
2,632
650
3,282
1,896
1,386
3. The cost of the Vaccine Department during the year amounted to
Rs. 84,038, against Rs. 82,652 in the preceding
year. This increase of cost (Rs. 1,386) is due to
additional expenditure on the special and canton-
ment staffs, as shown in the margin, there being
a large decrease in the cost of the District staff.
No explanation of this is given ; but in future the
causes which lead to an increase or decrease in
expenditure should be fully set forth. The cost per successful case was Rs. 2.4,
against Rs. 2.5 in the year before.
4. It is satisfactory to find that during the year's operations there
was a large increase, 28,968, in the number of persons vaccinated. In all,
612,468 persons were vaccinated, 332,835 being males and 279,631 females.
Ninety-four per cent. of the primary operations proved successful. The increase in
re-vaccinations attracts special notice, particularly in the Jhang District. Out of
14,196 re-vaccinations, no less than 5,388 were in the Jhang District; and this the
Sanitary Commissioner considers is entirely due to the exertions of the Officer
in Medical charge of the District, Assistant Surgeon Chetan Shah, Khan Bahadur,
who has done much to make vaccination popular in that district.
5. The Sanitary Commissioner appears to consider that vaccinators
have not, during the year under report, done as much work as they ought to
have done. If the vaccinators are not carefully supervised, there can be but
little doubt that they will not work to their full powers, nor will they exert