55
Progress of vaccination
in Kutch.
130. H. H. the Rao's territory extends to 6,500 square miles and has a
population of 487,305. There is 1 assistant superin-
tendent, and there are 11 vaccinators maintained by
H. H. and by the Bhayads. Over the whole, the
medical officer of H. H.'s hospital in Bhuj, Mr. Dorábji Hormasji, exer-
cises a kind of supervision. Each vaccinator has an average area of 590
square miles and a population of 44,300, but really the vaccinators work in
very limited populations and areas, and little or no attempt has ever been
made systematically to vaccinate over the whole country. The primary
vaccinations numbered only 3,025 and the percentage of successful was 93.9.
There were only 5.7 per mille of the population vaccinated successfully in the
year 1874-75, whereas there might have been six times as many. Each vac-
cinator on an average only operated on 275 persons, while the average for
the department as a whole in Bombay Presidency is 1,828. The cost was 14
annas and 8 pies for each successful case, or 9 annas and 4 pies above the
general average. Vaccination is very backward in Kutch, and if any real wish
exists for the benefits of vaccination, H. H. the Rao's Vaccination establish-
ment should be placed under the superintendence of the superintendent of
vaccination in Western Gujarath circle. If this were done I would guarantee
that the progress of vaccination would soon be as good as in British circles.
H. H.'s establishment is too small to require a superintendent all to itself, and
the cost of one would run up the cost of vaccination even higher than it is
already; but if H. H. will place his establishment under Dr. Blomfield, and
give that officer a small allowance for the charge, I have not the least doubt
but the greater amount of work would amply repay H. H. and be an immense
boon to his subjects.
131. When I returned to India from furlough in 1873 I found on the
records of my office Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India's despatch No.
4 (Sanitary) dated India Office, London, 26th March 1872, in which the Army
Sanitary Commission recommended that the vaccination department should
be utilized in the general sanitation of this presidency, and the Duke of
Argyll, in the despatch, said in reference to this, " I commend to the particular
" attention of your Excellency in Council the views expressed in the latter
" part of the paper received from the Commission."
In my previous report I drew attention to the despatch, and stated my
conviction that the vaccination department might aid in the general sanita-
tion of the country without injuring the efficiency of the vaccination depart-
ment, and since then Government has been pleased to issue the following
orders :—
" No. 664 OF 1875.
" Bombay Castle, 4th March 1875.
u With a view to the improvement of Sanitary Administration generally,
" His Excellency the Governor in Council is pleased to direct that the follow-
" ing orders shall apply on and after the 1st April 1875 :—
" 1. Superintendents of Vaccination are to be the Health Officers of
" their respective Districts, and in all that pertains to their duty as Health
" Officers they will be under the Sanitary Commissioner.
" 2. When on tour they will take every opportunity of inspecting
" Birth and Death registers, and of giving such advice as may be necessary
" with regard to them.