( 2 )
The increase in the work done by the District Staff is satisfactory,
570,586 operations having been performed against 550,806 in the year be-
fore, and of these 550,788 were cases of primary vaccination, of which 523,845
are reported to have been successful.
The largest number of operations, 36,748, was performed by the Siálkot
Staff; but the Hoshiárpur District shows the highest increase over the work
of the year before. It is noticeable that, although Siálkot shows the largest
number, vaccinations decreased in this district by 10,000 cases. This decrease
is, however, satisfactorily explained by the fact that the work of 1885-86 was
abnormal owing to the Zafarwál Tahsíl and part of the Raya Tahsíl having
been neglected the year before.
6. The inspections by both Civil Surgeons and Native Supervisors may
on the whole be considered satisfactory. In both cases the number of inspections
is in excess of last year's work. It is also satisfactory to observe that in these
inspections the percentage of successful operations reported by each is almost
the same. The following are the number of inspections during the last two
years :—
By Civil Surgeons ...
By Supervisors ...
1885-86.
62,201
348,329
1886-87.
76,107
378,889
Increase.
13,906
30,560
This increase is satisfactory, and it may be observed that in the districts
of Lahore, Gujránwála and Ludhiána the subject appears to have received
especial attention at the hands of Civil Surgeons. On the other hand, the in-
spections in Frontier Districts, where the Civil Surgeons are Regimental
Officers, was comparatively small. The Sanitary Commissioner draws special
attention to the unsatisfactory inspection in the Gujrát District. It is, as
pointed out by the Sanitary Commissioner, very important that this portion of
their duties should receive especial care at the hands of Civil Surgeons. In
paragraph 81 of the Review of the last report, viz., that for the year 1885-86, His
Honor the Lieutenant-Governor expressed his opinion clearly on this point; it
is therefore unnecessary to say more concerning it.
7. Vaccination by lymph from the calf has been resorted to during the
year, but mainly in the districts of Gujrát and Lahore. In the latter district
owing to the tact of Assistant Surgeon Rái Bahádur Brij Lál Ghose, under
whose supervision the experiment was placed, there appears to have been fair
success attendant on it ; whilst in Gujrát, judging from the figures given, the
success was considerable. There can be no question that the use of lymph
from the calf direct will overcome one of the greatest difficulties in the spread
of vaccination, but it must be carried out with caution and due regard for the
prejudices of the people, or it may, and probably will, have a directly opposite
effect and do great mischief.
8. With reference to the remarks made by the Sanitary Commissioner on
the subject of the suppression of inoculation, this matter is before Govern-
ment in another shape and will receive due attention. It is, however, a subject
not unattended with difficulties in its treatment, and will need careful consi-
deration. The proposal to invite professional inoculators to visit the sadr
stations of their respective districts in order to learn how to vaccinate in view
to their future employment as vaccinators is novel, and the result will be
awaited with interest.
9. The Lieutenant-Governor is not in favor of the proposal made in
paragraph 27 of the Sanitary Commissioner's Report for requiring all persons
appointed to any post under Government to accept vaccination during the first
cold weather after their appointment.