( 46 )
The average number of operations returned by the vaccinators of this
district during the year is 22,921, being an increase of 4,749 over the number
vaccinated in the previous year. There were 21,641 primary cases returned as
successful against 17,513 in the previous year; and the percentage of success
96.13 as compared with 97.43, being a decrease of 1.30. The number of re-vaccin-
ations was 408 against 90 of previous year. The number successfully vaccina-
ted per mille of population was 39.64 against 31.78 in the preceding year ;
increase 7.86. The aggregate cost amounted to Rs. 2,487 as compared with
Rs. 1,789, an increase of Rs. 693; and each successful case cost Re. 0-1-10,
increase Re. 0-0-3.
One thousand two hundred and fifty-five primary vaccinations were
inspected by the Civil Surgeon (Dr. J. Bennett), of which 1,250 were found to be
successful, the ratio of success being 99.60 per cent.
The arm-to-arm system of vaccination was invariably carried out, and to
this, no doubt, is due the high standard of success obtained.
The vaccination staff, which had numbered 8 in the previous year, was
augmented by one native supervisor and 4 vaccinators in the month of September
last, and the increase in the numbers vaccinated just alluded to is due to the
increased number of the vaccinators at work during the last three months of the
year under review. The full number of vaccinators sanctioned for this district
in September 1883 was not entertained by the Civil Surgeon, as further
experience showed that the accession of 5 vaccinators to the strength of the old
establishment would be sufficient to meet all requirements.
Years
1882 ...
1883 ...
Male
53.77
54.33
Female
46.23
45.67
Under a
year
36.40
56.49
Above a
year
63.60
37.99
The marginal statement shows the sex and age of the vaccinated. In a
total of 22,921 cases, 12,453, or 54.33 per
cent., were males, and 10,468, or 45.67
per cent., were females. These propor-
tions are almost the same as those
obtained in 1882, and they closely
approximate to those shown for the
whole of the Province in the statement
in which the sex is noted, given in the Annual Reports on vaccine operations in
the Punjab, from 1878 to 1881, a period of four years. Further it may be
interesting to note that the proportion of females to males in the first five years of
life for the Mooltan division, shown in the report on the census of the Province
in 1881, closely approaches the ratios given in the marginal statement; the
figures for the five years average 958 females per 1,000 males, being in the ratios
49 and 51 per cent., respectively. Of the successful primary vaccinations 12,933
were under, and 8,708 were above, a year, or 56.49 and 37.99 per cent., a differ-
ence of 18.43.
Of the vaccinations performed in tahsíls, those of Sarai Sidhu and
Shujabad exhibit the highest ratios, being 25 above the average of the district.
The low ratios shown by Mooltan and Lodhrán are due to the former having been
undertaken at the end of the working season, where, owing to the heat, operations
had to be brought to a close before the whole of the tahsíl had been systemati-
cally covered; while about half of the latter tahsíl was left uncovered at the end of
the year under report. The low ratio in the tahsíl of Mailsi shows that a consider-
able number of children must have remained unvaccinated. The population over
a wide range of this tahsíl, the uplands in the centre of the Doáb, being sparse
and nomadic in its habits, moving with its flocks from pasturage to pasturage
wherever water is to be found, and long distances over wild jungly tracts,
in which there were but few roads, having had to be traversed by the vaccinators,
the collection of children for vaccination was attended with much difficulty and
loss of time, while, as has just been mentioned, not a few of them escaped the
operation altogether. Some opposition also was occasionally met with in the
more densely populated tracts nearer the banks of the Sutlej.
At the suggestion of the Deputy Commissioner the sum of Rs. 50, paid
from District funds, was distributed among 4 vaccinators who were deemed worthy
of reward for efficiency displayed in the discharge of their duties.